I know how you feel OP...I was in exactly the same boat. I've been playing this game solid for about a week and a half after originally signing up here back in 08 and have been where you are now. In the week and a half I've been back I've advance to Pro level with a 67 average all on the starter clubs but was realising after advancing to Pro level, the starter clubs were really holding me back. So I first upgraded my driver to a R11 which got me closer to the green and a decent Ansah pudder to make me deadly on the green with it's better precision than the starter pudder. I played this way for a few days, really encouraged with the outcome. At that point though I was only at lvl 33 I think and had my eye on the lvl48 Raptures for irons but they were so far off. So I hit level 37 and took the plunge yesterday and bought the Taylor Made lvl 37's. Played a couple rounds with them to get used to them, then hit the single try at Bethpage this morning..Put in a 32 which was good enough for 2nd...annoyingly though it should have been a 30, I missed to real easy 10 footers that I class as gimmes for my putting ability but completely finger farted and missed the ding lol.
My goal now is to play with these till I hit Master (two tiers) then reassess what I need from then on. I say just purchase now if you can, if you get into the mindset of waiting, you'l always be waiting for the next thing. Just buy to suit your tier then move on.