The sticker price on a used golf club can make just about anything look like a good deal.
With golf club prices still climbing, more golfers are taking a serious look at the used market. Even if a driver was played for a season, there’s often plenty of life left in it. The key is knowing when a used club is actually worth buying and when it’s just cheap for a reason.
I’ve bought, tested and passed on plenty of used clubs over the years. These are the five questions I always run through before I commit.
1. Can this club realistically work for my game?
This is always my starting point.
Before I worry about condition or price, I want to know if the club makes sense for where my game is right now and where it’s headed.
One of the biggest advantages of buying used is familiarity. A lot of these clubs have been around for a season or two. Maybe a friend owns one. Maybe your local range hosted a demo day last year. Maybe you hit it during a fitting but didn’t pull the trigger at the time. If you have a chance to hit the club first, take it.
From there, I look at a few big-picture things:
- The age of the club and the technology it’s built around
- The type of player it was designed for
- Whether it fits how I actually play, not how I want to play
A great-looking set of used blades isn’t suddenly a smart buy if you’re only hitting two greens in regulation.
I also check the loft, shaft flex and general specs. They should at least be in the ballpark. There’s room to adjust some things later but I don’t want to start with something that’s going to take too much work (or money) to fit me.
2. Is the club structurally sound?
Once a club passes the fit test, the next question is about risk. When you’re buying from reputable used retailers like Callaway PreOwned, 2nd Swing or Golf Roots, a lot of the heavy lifting is already done for you. Still, it’s worth knowing what to look for.
I pay close attention to:
- Damage to the clubhead, especially around the face and hosel
- Dents or deep gouges that go beyond normal wear
- The condition of the last inch of the shaft where it meets the head
Cosmetic scratches may not bother you. Structural issues will. If a club is compromised in a way that could affect performance or durability, it’s obviously not worth it.
3. Is the price actually a deal?
Anything is going to look like a deal when you compare it to a new $700 driver. That doesn’t automatically make it a good buy.
Before I buy, I check:
- What the club sold for new
- What it’s currently selling for used (how old is it)
- Whether the price reflects the actual condition
Overpaying for condition or ignoring the current market price can erase the entire benefit of buying used. A little research here will save you a lot of money.
4. Can I live with or fix the condition?
There are a few things I’m fine living with when I buy used:
• A little cosmetic wear on the head
• A worn grip
• Normal face wear
Regripping a club is easy and inexpensive. You can even do it yourself. Once you’re talking about a shaft, change things get a bit more expensive. And if that’s paired with dents or damage on the head, the price you’re paying starts to feel less worth it. By the time you add it all up, you’re no longer getting the deal you thought you were.
5. What happens if it doesn’t work?
This is the final check and it matters more than people think.
I always ask myself what the exit looks like:
- Is there a return window?
- Am I getting a refund or store credit?
- Who pays return shipping?
- What does it cost me if I’m wrong?
That cost might be $10. It might be $50. It might be the full price of the club.
Buying used can lower your risk compared to buying new but the risk never fully disappears. It should still be part of the decision.
Final thoughts
Something tells me a lot of used golf clubs are going to change hands this year.
With prices showing no sign of going anywhere but up, the used market is getting more appealing. Use these five questions to make smart decisions and ensure the clubs you’re buying fit your golf game.
The post How I Decide If A Used Golf Club Is Worth Buying appeared first on MyGolfSpy.
