The Top Mistakes Amateur Golfers Make When Buying Used Clubs

With the end of the outdoor golf season quickly approaching in certain parts of the country, there is no better time to start looking for new equipment, or at least new equipment to you. Yes, I’m talking about used or pre-owned clubs.

Used golf clubs can offer a ton of value, and depending on how far back you go in terms of golf club generations you can pay as little as 25% of the original cost for a modern golf club with most of the technology you’re going to find in new equipment. But, just because a deal sounds good doesn’t mean that it’s right for you, so here are the top 5 used-club buying mistakes amateurs make and how to avoid them.

First of all know your club specs and the specs of the clubs you’re considering.

If not they’re not mentioned in the description online or when talking to someone in person the key club specs you should ask about are: length, lie angle, and shaft flex.

If you are new to golf or just not sure what specs you are looking for, take the time to talk to a golf professional or club-fitting expert to help give you a baseline for what you need — even if that means standard, off-the-rack clubs. The closer your clubs are dialed in to the ideal fit, the better you’re going to be and the more fun you are going to have on the course.

Check for the clubs for component issues.

Key components of the clubs you are buying can tell you a lot about them.

Ferrules: Are the small plastic pieces that sit between where the shaft meets the club head may only be cosmetic but if a set has one or two that don’t match, it’s definitely a sign that those clubs have been repaired at some point. If this is the case you need to ask for some extra clarification, and potentially the club’s history if available.

Shafts: For steel-shafted clubs, it’s simple — if they’re bent, dinged or show visible signs of rust, say no thanks. For graphite shafted clubs check for any excessive paint wear or cracks around the area where the shaft goes into the head — if this high-stress area of the club shows any cracks it means there is damage and the chance of breakage is high.

Grooves: For irons and wedges, make sure the grooves are in fairly good shape and clean. Ideally, you want the grooves to be as fresh and sharp as possible. This can be tough in used gear, but if they look REALLY shallow or non-existent, that’s a bad sign. One other thing I’d suggest is to make sure there aren’t any major dings or gouges in the grooves. This doesn’t necessarily mean the end of the world, but may as well find something else that doesn’t have that.

Again with the irons and wedges, just make sure the soles and “leading edges” don’t have any major damage to them. Minor dings and nicks will be ok, but sharp chunks and glaring blemishes…just avoid them.

Last but not least, when buying an iron set, make sure the shafts match for brand and flex.

Check the grips

Grips deserve their own section, and when buying used, if the grips are in acceptable condition or just need a good cleaning, you’re in luck.

For any older clubs going back multiple generations, you should be prepared to get them re-gripped, so factor that cost into your used-club budget. Here’s the kicker, though: new grips, even on older clubs, will make those clubs feel like new and uniquely yours. Plus used clubs with new grips still can cost way less than a brand new set.

If you need help selecting a grip be sure to check out our optimum grip guide for tips on selecting the style, shape, and size that’s best for you.

Look for adjustable whenever you can.

If you’re not going to get custom fit — we understand it can be prohibitive when buying used clubs depending on your budget— at least buy clubs that offer adjustability. That means drivers, fairway woods, and hybrids.

Modern adjustable clubs offer one of the fastest and easiest ways to get you dialed into some extra distance, more consistence and straighter shots. The best part is that every club manufacture now offers an online guide on how to adjust their clubs so you don’t need an engineering degree to do it yourself — just a few moments and a torque wrench.

Test the Gear

This may require a little ego swallowing, but I encourage you to test used golf clubs before you buy them. This will give you a sense of what works best for you, any hidden flaws you can’t see just by looking at them, and a generally better perspective. I think this is especially important if you aren’t really sure what kind of golf gear works for you. This is also a great time to see if you’re swinging the right flex, weight, and maybe lofts. Regardless of anything, I strongly encourage you to test the gear if it’s an option.

Trust who you’re buying from, Buy from reputable sellers.

This one is really simple — if you want to avoid buying fake or counterfeit clubs, buy them from trusted sources. Whether it’s online or a local retailer, reputable sellers always take the time to confirm the authenticity of clubs before taking them in and can help remove one of the biggest issues from buying used, especially from less experienced golfers.

Final Thoughts – Used Golf Clubs

My biggest piece of advice is to take at least a little time to look around, see some things, do some research, and figure out differences between some of your options. Like anything else, there’s no reason not to get to know what you’re spending your money on. And have an idea of what your goal is. Are you trying a new athletic hobby? Are you getting back into the game? Do you just need an equipment refresh and anything the least bit newer is better than what you have? Might as well be prepared regardless of your reason to buy some used golf clubs.

One last point worth making is to pay attention to the age of the club. True, you can buy super old clubs and save a ton of money, but you will be missing out on some big advances. A lot of new technology and designs have made clubs more forgiving and better performing. This could make a huge difference in your enjoyment of the game. By all means, work within your budget, but try and have an idea of what you’re actually getting for your money.

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This is Golf as You've Always Imagined!

Daniel is the Head of Golf Instruction at IMAGEN Golf the area's leading golf instruction and advisory firm, host of the IMAGEN Golf Podcast and Best-Selling Author of "Unleash The Golfer Within".

For more information visit www.ImagenGolf.com or call 215-595-6299 Reach out to Daniel directly at:Daniel@ImagenGolf.com

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