Cheap used golf clubs?

One question I regularly encounter is where to get cheap used clubs. There are several answers to that question, depending on your motivation for buying.

If you want a particular club

If you’re after a specific club, but don’t want to pay normal retail prices, then there are two options.

Option 1: Yes, look to the used golf club market.

The main benefits of this option are — doh! — price. But there are plenty of disadvantages too.

Used clubs are not likely to be the latest models (otherwise they wouldn’t be “used.”) Although I wouldn’t worry too much about this issue. Manufacturers like you to think that golf club technology progresses in leaps and bounds. The reality is that last year’s models are really pretty good.

More importantly, used clubs are not custom fit. New clubs today are adjusted to fit your body and/or swing. You miss that with used clubs.

Also, you’re unlikely to get any kind of refund or credit if your club breaks a day after buying it. Or if you simply don’t like it. If you buy a used club online, you can’t always be sure that what you’re getting is what the seller says you’re getting. Especially in terms of the club’s condition. Is it really “like new?”

One way to avoid some of these problems is to buy certified preowned clubs from official sites like those run by Callaway. Or from the preowned sections now found at the websites of most major online golf retailers (check to see if your favorite has one.)

Then you get peace of mind through knowing that you’re getting the genuine article from a trusted source. With the customer service guarantees associated with well-known names in the golf equipment market. The downside is that the price reductions aren’t that spectacular. Cheaper than new, but not necessarily cheap.

There is no doubt you can get better bargains through unofficial exchanges, such as a big auction site like eBay’s golf section. But while there are definite price benefits, you are likely dealing with individuals or businesses you don’t know well enough to trust to the same degree you would a Callaway or Edwin Watts.

Option 2: Buy at discount

If you wait long enough, you’ll find you can get a new version of your desired club from a normal online golf retailer at a discount. All the big stores like Austads, The Golf Warehouse, Edwin Watts, Golfsmith etc. run regular promotions, often offering money-off coupons and similar.

Also, once your desired club is no longer the latest in the range, then prices tend to come down anyway. Retailers start shaving prices to free up shelf and storage space for newer products. Patience may be rewarded with a cheaper, new club.

If you don’t have a particular club in mind

If you’re not after a specific club, but are put off by high retail prices, then you also have two options.

Option 1: As above, look to the second-hand or used golf club market.

Option 2: If you’re not after a particular brand or product, then consider a new club that’s just as cheap as used ones. If that seems a paradox, I invite you simply to browse the rest of this site to see what clone golf clubs can offer.

If you buy a clone from a reputable online store, then you’re getting a new club with modern technology, custom-fitted to your requirements and with all the guarantees and warranties you’d expect from a proper retailer. But the main point is this: a clone costs no more than a decent used club would cost.

You get the advantage of a used golf club (price) without all the potential disadvantages. So if you’re not fixated on a particular brand or name, then it’s a no-brainer.