1. Shaft length
2. Shaft material
3. Shaft flex
4. Lie angle
5. Grip Size

1. Pay attention to grip size. If the grips are too small then you will have a tendency to turn your hands over through impact and this results in pulls and hooks. If the grip is too large your ability to rotate your hands through the ball decreases resulting in a slice.
2. The lie angle of the golf club can have a significant impact on ball flight. If the angle is too flat (heel in the air), the toe of the club will impact the ground first and have a tendency to push the ball to the right. If too upright (toe in the air), the ball flight will tend to be to the left especially with the more lofted irons.
3. Shaft material and flex is about squaring the head at impact and speed as it contacts the ball (accuracy and distance).
4. A proper shaft length will allow you to feel comfortable, will help you strike the ball more effectively and maximize your distance.
In addition to the above, a person may also desire particular degrees of loft in a club set - often spaced evenly in the higher irons through to the Lob Wedge (60*).

Four types of club fittings

1. Static - measurements of your body you can take yourself at home or someone can do at a shop.
2. Dynamic A - measurements and assessments taken by a fitter while observing your swings at a range or in a shop with a net. (electronic measurements are usually limited to swing speed. Other measurements or visual assessments are Lie Board, different clubs, different shaft materials, different stiffness, different lengths, and tempo observation).
3. Dynamic B - sophisticated electronic swing booth - data taken by a high tech computer in an indoor booth regarding readings of swing speed, tempo, club path, club face tracking, with shot distance and direction projection. The salesperson/fitter should also observe your data and give you additional tests. (Lie Board, different clubs, different shaft materials and different stiffness).
4. A combination of static and dynamic. - This is the preferred method.

Here is why I hadn't done it before;
1. I didn't have my swing consistency yet
2. I was a little embarrassed about being evaluated with my "beginner/cheap" club set
3. I was unsure about the cost
4. I knew it probably meant spending big bucks on a better set of clubs
5. Some people I encountered made me feel that I would be wasting their time if I wasn't going to buy clubs right then and there (e.g. "pick out a club you want to buy then I'll fit you for it"). What I didn't understand or believe, was that a proper fitting MUST be done with a particular set of clubs. I probably thought it was a sales ploy to rush a club set purchase.

I did a little research and located a golf store with an electronic swing booth.  I was curious about trying a swing booth and to see how well my current "off the rack" clubs fit me. I found out that my club length was too short and my regular flex graphite shafts were not stiff enough for my swing speed and tempo. Since re-shafting and re-gripping my "beginner set" clubs would cost about $150.00, I would still end up with cheap heads on good sticks. Based on that, it was definitely better to buy new fitted clubs.

Research Clubs & Initial Testing
1. I got on the FGI Forum and received some ideas on brands/models of game improvement irons from the group (Topflite XL2000, Cleveland TA5, and Callaway Big Bertha 2002).
2. I went to a number of shops and ranges I tried a number of brands and decided on one of the FGI recommended sets that looked, felt, and hit right time after time. It was the TA5 by Cleveland. I liked the sensicore shafts and preferred the gunmetal finish to the stainless.

Find a fitter
Fitter Locations
1. Internet  Custom Clubmaker (GCA recommended), or some golf super stores (e.g. TGW.com) have static measurement info.
2. PGA Pro (careful here, many Pro Instructors are not Pro fitters)
3. ProShop at @ a Golf Store, @ a Range, @ a golf course

My Experience

Since I really didn't know what to do, I did them all as follows;.

1. Internet - TGW.com - I got enough info to do a static fitting of myself
2.Went to Fitter A - a local PGA Pro @ a golf course - Partial fitting didn't go beyond static because they had a limited selection of clubs
3. Internet - More fitting ideas from a clubmaker's website
4. Went to Fitter B - a  ProShop @ a range but they didn't seem interested in doing more than a static fitting and lie board test
5. Went to Fitter C - a  Golf Store with Electronic swing booth and lie board. After a short warm-up,  I got fitted for TA5 irons. My fitting results: swing speed = approx 87, tempo = approx 9.4, Lie board = center, Shaft = steel, regular flex, standard length, and midsize grip. They were out of stock (including the warehouse) so I didn't buy anything.
6. Went to Fitter D - a  ProShop @ a range (not #4 above) Fitter was recommended to me by a PGA Senior Tour player. After a 20 minute warm-up with my clubs, he started passing me clubs to try in different brands, models, lengths, flexes. The two brands I hit the best were also the two that felt the best, Cleveland TA5, and Callaway Big Bertha 2002. I then did the lie board test and shared my tempo data from the E-booth.. My fitting results: swing speed=approx 84, tempo=faster than regular, Lie board= slightly off-center, Shaft = Steel, TA5 Stiff, Big Bertha Uniflex, Shaft length= +1/2", and midsize grip.
7.Went to Fitter E - back to the Golf Store (see #5) for something else and got back into the electronic swing booth with the TA5. Different fitter recommended a stiff flex..

Note: I was troubled that I got different recommendations from the fitters regarding flex (S & R) and Lie (std and +1/2").

Who do you believe?

Well apparently my swing speed is in-between a regular and stiff flex but,  Fitter C didn't equate my fast tempo to tip the scales toward a stiff flex like Fitter D did in #6. When I went back to the same Golf Store in #7 with Fitter E, he also ignored the tempo until I pointed it out, then he agreed - stiff.

In regards to my lie specs, I remember Fitter C (#5 Golf Store) appeared to focus just on the tape marks and since I was basically striking in the center, he thought no adjustment was necessary. The ProShop/range fitter also paid close attention to the tape but, although the strike marks were close to center, he observed that I was correcting for the shaft length deficiency during my swing. He was the first person to not just focus on the technical specs but he also watched me. 

I really liked both the Cleveland TA5 and Callaway BB2 and would buy either brand, (both were easy to hit and very forgiving) but I believe Callaway (at twice the cost) has better quality, better resale and the heads are bendable should I need a downstream lie adjustment. I chose the Big Berthas with the custom specs done at the factory. NEW However, I just found a set ot Cleveland gunmetal TA5s at a price I couldn't refuse with a 100 day playability guarantee so I bought them.

Of all the fitters, only Fitter D charged me and I think he was the best actual fitter of all. Well worth the $35.00. I'm also glad I had all the swing booth tech data when I went to see him. I think that made a total fitting.

Knowing what I know now, I would recommend;

A. If you have never been fitted and want to keep your clubs if possible, get a fitting with your current clubs.
B. If your considering new clubs;
1. Come up with a $$ range.
2. Research clubs and go to a place where you can hit balls with different clubs and flexes. Try to see and feel which clubs you might want. Here's a neat research link on top clubs.
3. Look at the club aestethics. Look at the ball flight. Try to feel the club while swinging, feel the balance of the shaft and the comfort of the grip as you make contact.
4. Get it down to one or two brands.
5. Find an experienced fitter (recommended if possible) at a place that sells your desired brand(s) not just a salesperson.
6  Verify that at a bare minimum they can electronically test for swing speed and do a lie board test. Find an electronic swing booth if possible (preferred).
7. Do a satisfactory warm-up just prior to the testing/fitting.
8. Get tested for swing speed, tempo, lie board, ball flight path and distance with the clubs you intend to purchase.
9. Get your specs in writing or on a print-out.
10. Remember flexes vary from shaft to shaft (steel/ regular in one brand may = steel/stiff in another brand).
11. Ask to see the shaft/flex selection chart for those shafts/clubs and look up your swing speed and tempo vs. flex. Here's a neat link for steel shaft fitting
12. Ask what is the after purchase process to verify all is working well and what happens if it isn't.
13. If satisfied, order them.