Golf has always been an expensive sport to play, that’s no secret. With dedicated golfers spending hundreds or even thousands on the clubs they need to lower their scores and enjoy the golf course, the biggest golf brands enjoy fantastic profits year after year.
That’s not the same story for every golfer, though. Recent data suggests the cost of living crisis has driven many golfers toward the second-hand golf club market, in the hopes of picking up bargains and saving a few precious pennies on the clubs in their golf bag.
While there are advantages to buying used golf clubs (mostly financial), in our humble opinion, nothing can compare to the level of quality and benefits enjoyed by players who focus on brand new golf clubs. And even though brand new golf clubs are expensive compared to second-hand alternatives, it’s always money well spent. You wouldn't walk into the Masters with second-hand golf balls, would you? So why treat your clubs any differently?
With this in mind, if you’re considering second-hand golf clubs, here are just a few reasons why you should avoid this move and stick with new golf clubs that are fresh off the shelf when you play golf.
The disadvantages of second-hand golf clubs
Surface damage
When purchasing a second-hand car, minor scuffs and surface scratches may not be too much of a concern. After all, if everything is fine under the hood, the car should run as it needs to, right? Well, that’s not the case with golf clubs.
Being such intricately designed pieces of equipment, and needing to produce accurate, consistent results time after time, even the slightest hint of damage on a golf club’s surface could cause wildly different shots when compared to a brand-new model.
For example, surface damage on the clubface of golf irons may only be millimetres in diameter, but these minute marks could cause the ball to fly drastically off course, throwing your entire game into anarchy. While most reputable second-hand golf club sellers will do their utmost to avoid selling clubs with such problems, some will always sneak through undetected.
And even if the surface damage is on the back of the golf iron - nowhere near where the ball will connect with the club - this impact may have resulted in internal damage within the club head that can cause just as much anarchy.
Speaking of which…
Hidden issues
Damage that could cause problems in your game isn’t always as obvious as a deep scratch or eye-catching scuff. Sometimes, there can be issues inside the club that will send your ball flying off in a wide array of directions - none of which you were shooting for.
Golf drivers, for instance, may feel hollow in the head, but the craftsmanship and specific weighting that has gone into their designs are the results of years of development and research. When this internal structure and weighting are compromised as a result of damage, it can’t possibly hope to produce the same results the manufacturer intended - or the results you need to lower your score effectively.
You may even be able to feel the difference when you strike the ball, too. Rather than that knife-through-butter effect you’re used to, you may experience a sharp clunky sensation when the club hits the ball, with a lack of that distinctive ‘PING!’ sound you know and love when you hit the best shots.
Value for money
Just because something is cheaper than another option doesn’t mean it’s automatically better value for money. True value for money should be determined by looking at all involved factors, including the results provided by the product or service, not just how much it costs.
If you purchase a second-hand golf fairway wood or hybrid, for example, and pay less than two-thirds of the price you would have paid if the club was brand new, it sounds like a deal that’s too good to be true. But, in practice, if you find that club isn’t able to produce the result you’d expect from a competent wood and get your shots off the deck and up towards the green consistently, you’ll quickly start wishing you looked at brand new fairway woods or hybrid golf clubs instead, no matter how much money you saved.
In short, if you really want the best value for money out of your golf clubs, there’s a reason most people are willing to shell out at the higher price point.
Buy the best brand-new golf clubs at Clarkes Golf
If you want to avoid the pitfalls of second-hand golf clubs and stick with the right golf clubs that will serve you well, explore brand new golf clubs for sale at Clarkes Golf.
We’re home to one of the biggest selections of new golf club sets, golf putters, golf wedges, golf equipment and so much more, all from the world’s leading golf manufacturers. So you always know you’re getting top quality.
Take a look at our selection of new golf clubs and package golf sets here. Or give us a call on 01744 419914 if you need a hand with your purchase - we’re always happy to help!