Buying Used Golf Clubs

Buying used golf clubs can certainly have a great advantage over buying new clubs off the shelf.

First and foremost is the cost savings you’ll realize.

Particularly if you are a beginner, or just a weekend golfer that enjoys getting out with some regular friends on an occasional basis.

I will assure you that unless you play on a regular basis or more competitively, equipping yourself for less money with a good set of used golf clubs will not affect your game in a negative manner.

And while we’re on the subject let’s not forget the big advantage dollar wise to buying used golf balls as well.

By putting your ego aside, if you are a mid to higher handicapper, your game is not going to notice the difference with used golf clubs or used golf balls but your wallet will.

Buying used golf clubs on the internet:

Callaway Golf  Preowned is a super website for getting a good set of reconditioned used golf clubs at a good price. They offer different levels of buying conditions and have an excellent selection of used golf equipment for you to choose from. They drivers, fairway woods, complete golf iron sets, individual irons, wedges, putters, even starter sets, and golf clubs for juniors.

Needless to say the internet is chalk full of places to buy used golf clubs. As I mentioned the Callaway Golf  Preowned is a great site to work with and you get the Callaway name and backing on their golf equipment. You can literally get a great set of clubs delivered right to your door at a fraction of the price.

For custom made golf clubs, clones and knock-off gosf clubs, another good store that I have used via the internet is Pinemeadow Golf. Pinemeadow custom makes drivers, woods, irons, wedges, and putters. I would strongly encourage you to visit the Pinemeadow Golf  site.

With the competition in the market place for your business, you are only a few mouse clicks away from saving some good money on your golf equipment. And with the two sites mentioned here you can get some great clubs at a discount prices.

Don’t get hung up on the idea of getting used golf clubs. Be realistic about the requirements of your game and taking a load off your wallet.

Golf Driver: The Shaft

The laws of physics are still in play with the golf driver shafts just as they are with the driver heads.

Steel shafts are heavier than graphite shafts. You can get steel or graphite shafts fitted to steel heads.

However, a with titanium head, graphite is your only option. And, as with the golf driver heads, titanium will carry a higher price tag.

Generally, stronger, higher swing speed golf swings match better with steel shafts because they will offer more control.

If your swing and physiology isn’t as strong, you may want to consider the titanium avenue because the titanium is lighter and just as strong, you will realize more distance for your particular swing.

Golf Shaft Flexibility:

This is the amount of bend that will occur in the shaft as a result of your swing. You will want to match the flex of your club shaft to your swing.

Generally speaking beginners and those with less powerful swing speeds will want more flex in their shaft. An average player’s swing speed will be up to around 95mph and will be in the regular stiffness category. If your swing speeds is much higher you will benefit more from a stiffer club shaft as this will provide more control for the more powerful swing, so you’ll want to go with a stiff or firm shaft.

Golf Shaft Swing Weight:

Again, our old friend physics comes into play. The lighter the swing weight of the golf driver, the greater the swing speed (with less effort) can be generated; which means a longer ball flight. Just as with our prior discussions, the lighter swing weight of the golf driver will be of more benefit to the mid to higher handicap golfer. For the more powerful swings, a slightly higher swing weight will offer a bit more control.

Golf Driver: The Head

The strength combined with the weight of the golf driver is the key especially if your handicap is higher.

Titanium club heads fit this bill on both aspects.

Titanium club heads are both stronger and lighter weight than steel club heads.

Since you can create more clubface surface area with a titanium driver head for the same amount of weight as a steel club head, you then produce by default, a larger sweet spot on the club face.

Hence, higher handicappers will find this type of driver more forgiving for their golf game.

So, why doesn’t everyone go with titanium?

Although steel club heads are heavier than titanium, they are cheaper. Good quality steel clubs heads will provide the same distance provided you hit the smaller sweet spot.

Lower handicap players will generally go with steel clubs because they provide a greater ability to work the flight of the ball. Remember, the more ‘forgiving’ the club the less control YOU have over the flight characteristics you can impart on the golf ball. This is why lower handicap players prefer the trade off of forgiveness to get more control.

Let’s talk briefly about clubface loft. Most generally a typical golf driver has a loft of 8-12 degrees. The lower the number the lower the natural trajectory of the ball flight will be. A lower loft (lower number) will produce more distance if all things are equal. How does this equate to your game? Well, if you tend to slice the golf ball of the tee, you will want to opt for a higher lofted driver. Lower lofted drivers tend to accentuate any spin you put on the ball. Thus, a lower lofted driver will often add to your slice and your handicap.

Put a number on it?

O.K. Higher handicappers will probably want to go 10 degrees or higher on their drivers.

Hope this is somewhat helpful. Let’s talk about the golf driver shaft.

The Golf Driver: Big And Sexy

As you know, technology has changed the game of golf immensely over the past several years.

One of the biggest (or at least the most marketed) is that surrounding the golf driver. The driver is the biggest, longest, bad-est, sexiest, and most expensive golf club in your bag.

For the golfer, no other club in the bag sets the tone for the for round like our driver. The golfer’s driver…truly a love/hate relationship. And with today’s technology, who doesn’t like to go for the green in one on those beguine par fours!

As I mentioned a moment ago, no other golf club receives the marketing hype that the driver does. A lot attention to a golf club to be sure, but a club that, if you are not comfortable with will add strokes to your round off some 14 different tee boxes if you are really struggling. That’s a lot of strokes.

So, what type of golf driver should I be looking at? The short answer is one that gives you a feeling of confidence when you address the ball and execute your swing. If you’d like a bit more information on getting custom fitted clubs, I have a couple articles on custom golf clubs already written.

Where can you buy good clubs online?

Here are a couple of good resources for golf club drivers, irons and complete sets that I have had very good luck with.

There are some great variations for your that aren’t covered in our discount warehouse that I would recommend that you check out.

For custom made clubs and clones, Pinemeadow Golf has always been one of the top 50 custom golf club manufacturers in the world.  They sell a complete line of custom golf clubs.   If you are looking for a nice driver but don’t want to pay brand name PRICES then consider a clone golf driver. Compare to name brands such as Adams, Callaway, Cleveland, King Cobra, Taylor Made, Nike, Titleist and Ping but at 1/3 the price.

They also have an automated Custom Fitting Wizard to tailor the clubs for your frame. And if you are perhaps thinking about introducing a junior golfer to the game the Pinemeadow Nitrix Junior Golf Set for Ages 10-14 set is perfect for players between the ages of 10-14. The woods and irons are built with custom matched Pinemeadow NRG graphite shafts that are lightweight yet durable enough for junior golfers. All the clubs are built and designed with easy to hit characteristics making it simple for the new player to pick up the game.

Callaway Golf preowned is another very good option for you they offer largest selection of used Callaway golf equipment.  You can choose from over 40,000 thousand used Callaway golf clubs, drivers, fairway woods, iron sets, individual irons, wedges, putters, starter sets, and junior sets.  These are excellent clubs at a fraction of the price of new.

Golf Club Grips And Shafts

As your swing progress and improves it becomes more important to start matching the golf club shaft to your swing.

Golf Club Shafts

The shaft of the golf club will flex when you swing and although the golf club shaft is not directly responsible for the power in your swing it does transmit this stored energy via the flexing to the club head at (hopefully) the precise moment.

In terms of golf shaft materials there are two basic types; steel and graphite. Steel shafts are less expensive but heavier and are preferred by advanced golfers and the pros.

The graphite shafts are lighter, but more expensive and are preferred by average and older golfers. Remembering that the distance you get on your golf shot is a matter of physics is the main allure of the graphite shaft. Since it is lighter than the steel, the average golfer can generate a higher club head speed. And with the lighter weight of graphite, more weight can be added to the head without increasing the actual swing weight of the golf club.

A shaft that is too flexible for your swing speed will produce much inconsistency at contact since the flex of the shaft is going to vary greatly based on your swing. If the shaft is too stiff for your swing you will have a tendency to leave the ball out to the right (for right handed golfers). This is why it is very important to match the type of shaft to your swing once you get your swing to a fairly consistent level of execution.

Golf Club Grips

The size of your golf grips can indeed play an important role in the results of your golf swing. Remember, it is on the grip where you have the only contact on the golf club and such is the on point from which you send information about the feel of your upcoming shot to your brain.

If your golf grips are too small or thin you will have the tendency to introduce more hand action into your shot and vise verse if your grips are too thick. The proper fit for your golf grips would be to have your middle finger just able to touch the pad on your thumb once around the golf grip.

Most grips are either of a cord material or rubber. These materials offer good resistance to wear and good playability. I wouldn’t recommend leather wrap grips for those just starting out as they are more expensive and less durable.

Golf club grip maintenance is a must. You should replace your grips on a regular basis. You won’t have to replace all of your grips each go around only the ones that are the most heavily used.

But it’s important to keep your grips fresh and of consistent feel across all of your clubs. Any pro shop can do this for you or you can certainly replace them yourself.

See my article on replacing your golf club grips.

Replacing Golf Club Grips

Replacing your golf club grips or re-gripping your clubs is not only a good maintenance practice but it is also very easy to do.

Depending upon how many rounds per year or season you play, you should seriously consider re-gripping your golf clubs annually. Or, at the very least the clubs that you most often use.

Remember the amount you practice also will have a great bearing on how often your re-grip your clubs and which clubs will be in need of a re-gripping.

Each spring, for example is the time to get this done. You’ll want to begin each season with each of your clubs having the same feel to it. Since golf grips deteriorate gradually over time, you don’t always notice that a club is in need of new grips until they get well past the point of needing it.

Re-gripping your clubs is not a difficult task at all. All you need are just a couple of basic tools and a couple hours of your time and you can save yourself some pretty decent money.

Let’s take a look at what you’ll need.

• Your new golf grips (of course)
• A utility knife (with a sharp blade)
• Double sided tape (available at any retail golf shop)
• Mineral spirits (check the paint department)
• Work bench with a vice

First place your club in the vice with the grip fully exposed.

I like to wrap a towel around the shaft to keep from scratching it. Also, I like to set the vice as close to where the grip begins so as to not to be able to exert undue leverage on the shaft or the hosel of the golf club.

Take your utility knife with just enough of the blade exposed to cut through the old grip, cut the length of the grip.

Start with one cut down each side. Then pull the old grip off the golf club. Use your mineral spirits at this point to soften up the old tape and remove the old tape from the shaft of the club. Once done, let the shaft dry for just a couple of minutes.
Next, getting the double-sided tape on the shaft is a matter of preference, but this is what works for me.

I take the club out of the vice and hold it like a plumb bob. Then I take my double-sided tape and start at the bottom area of the where the new grip will be and begin wrapping the tape up the shaft toward the top.

I go up with the tape at about a 30 to 40 degree angle. I leave a small space in between each wrap of tape so when I have reached the top of the club the tape on the club resembles an old style barber pole look. The key is to just take your time and not to wrinkle the tape.

Now you’ve got re-gripping your golf club whipped.

Once you have the double sided tape spiraled up the shaft, simply remove the outer layer of the tape to expose the other sticky side of the double sided tape.

Next I put the club back into the vice. Take your first new golf grip and with one finger over the small opening on the top of the grip, pour just a bit of your mineral spirits into the grip and give it a couple good shakes the pour out the mineral spirits over the top of your new tape job. I like to work with a bucket underneath to catch the mineral spirits.
With the grip and the tape now prepped with the mineral spirits, work the new grip over the end of the shaft and slide it down the tape.

While the grip and the tape are still wet, take the club out of the vice grip and make the final adjustments to the golf grip.

All of the golf grips will either have some sort of pattern on them or a ‘nick’ just at the bottom of the grip you can use for alignment.
And there you have it. Set that club aside and go on to the next.

Once complete, let your new golf club grips dry for a few hours and you’ll be all set.

Used Golf Clubs: How To Choose

When it comes time to actually choose a set of used golf clubs for your self you may not be thinking too much about the technical specs of the used golf clubs you may be looking at.

In fact, you may only grab them, take a few practice swings, check to see if they look and feel OK for your swing. Although, not the best way to fit yourself to your clubs, many people take this approach in buying used golf clubs.

Needless to say, this approach takes nothing about your physical structure, your swing, or your current ability into account.

If you are a beginning golfer or just underway with the game, all of the technical specs may not be that big of concern to you, but you should be a bit familiar with some what and why’s of golf clubs.

Choosing the right golf clubs for you is important; especially for those beginning golfers who are just establishing their golf swing. If your posture, grip, and setup are affected by improperly fitted golf clubs, then your swing and golf game may be off on the wrong foot right out of the gate with bad habits. So, keep in mind the importance of properly fitted golf clubs and

When it comes time to actually choose a set of used golf clubs for your self you may not be thinking too much about the technical specs of the used golf clubs you may be looking at.

In fact, you may only grab them, take a few practice swings, check to see if they look and feel OK for your swing. Although, not the best way to fit yourself to your clubs, many people take this approach in buying used golf clubs.

Needless to say, this approach takes nothing about your physical structure, your swing, or your current ability into account.

If you are a beginning golfer or just underway with the game, all of the technical specs may not be that big of concern to you, but you should be a bit familiar with some what and why’s of golf clubs.

Choosing the right golf clubs for you is important; especially for those beginning golfers who are just establishing their golf swing. If your posture, grip, and setup are affected by improperly fitted golf clubs, then your swing and golf game may be off on the wrong foot right out of the gate with bad habits. So, keep in mind the importance of properly fitted golf clubs and how to determining the proper fit.

By definition in the rules of golf you are allowed to carry a maximum of 14 clubs in your golf bag at any one time. There is not any restriction on what type of clubs these must be… just a maximum number allowed. This is why you should opt for clubs that best fit your ability as a golfer.

For instance, long irons (such as the 1, 2, and 3 irons) are the most difficult to hit. As a beginner, you should opt these clubs out and look for as they are too difficult to hit and too unforgiving. You should replace your long irons with a 5 wood and 7 wood. So, let pause for a quick review of what we have in the bag so far.

Driver
3 – 5 – 7 woods
4 – 5 – 6 – 7 – 8 – 9 irons
and a putter.

So, were up to 11 clubs with 3 remaining. This leads us to the very important short game clubs. I would suggest that is were you use your three remaining choices with a pitching wedge, a sand wedge and an in between the two (in terms of yardage) wedge know by most terms as the gap wedge.

If you opt to only carry two wedges (the pitch and the sand wedge) you may find that the yardage difference between these two clubs will leave you wishing you had that gap wedge to use.

In summary, although you may be in the market for a set of used golf clubs, do completely sacrifice functionality and what fits your game solely for the sake of price. Take a few moments to check out the Callaway Golf Pre-Owned Clubs web site and other such quality sites as Pinemeadow Golf.com.  With these two sites you can combine price, quality, and fit, into a good set of used golf clubs that will work for your game.

Golf Clubs: Choosing The Right Ones

The marketing of the game of golf to regular golfers is an interesting phenomenon.

I can’t think of another sport that puts so much credence on how the equipment can improve or make and break your game.

If someone landed here from some foreign galaxy, they would be led to think by much of the marketing that all they would have to do to be proficient at the game would be to purchase the best equipment…

and wa-lah…

No matter the swing the golf clubs will compensate. Of course we know this not to be true, however, choosing the right golf clubs for your game and swing is important enough to consider. But, with all the golf club

marketing out there going on, what’s a golfer to do? Well, let’s take a look at a few points worth considering when you’re in the process of choosing golf clubs.

First of all, know your skill level. If you are just starting out, picking out golf clubs that are designed for an expert or a more advanced golfer will only hinder your progress.

More advanced levels of golf clubs are basically less corrective in their design. This is because more advanced players don’t want the design to the club to be attempting to always correct the flight of the ball. Advanced golfers want to control this themselves so they will play with ‘less forgiving’ clubs than you should if you are just beginning.

Don’t blow your bank account. As mentioned in the very first paragraph, all lot about golf clubs and golf equipment is marketing. Combine this with being honest with your skill level and choose your golf clubs accordingly.

• Are you a weekend golfer?
• Barely occasional?
• Do play golf regularly?
• Do you play competitively?
• Is your goal to play more and play competitively?

All questions to consider.

If you don’t golf all that regularly now but are definitely going to golf more in the near future and work seriously on you game then you may want push the upside of your budget more if not and you only occasionally get out with your friends, then there is no need to go high end with the golf clubs. The key is to be very honest when you answer these questions.

Golf Putters II

As far as golf putters and heads and shapes go, there are really only a couple of definitions here. These are the blade and the mallet.

There is an abundance of both on the market. Even the less traditional looking golf putter heads are really a hybrid of both styles.

The classic shaped golf putters are the blade design or where the term ‘flat stick’ comes from.

This design probably still reigns most popular with the higher skilled, steadier nerved players because of the ‘feel’ they afford the player.

You’ll notice that most of today’s blade putters employ cavity back technology. This type of design is to help reduce any twisting of the putter face at contact.

The mallet golf putters resemble their namesake. The mallet design allows for an even weight distribution across a large area which will give the feel of a pendulum and allow for a consistent smooth stroke and get the distance needed with having to feel like you need to accelerate the putter head.

Other design considerations that you will see with golf putters will be center shafted or heel shafted. You’ll also note various degrees in the offset of the hosel.

This is where is looks like the shaft is bent forward of the putter head just before the two come together. Golf putter faces may also have inserts in them to provide the golfer with different ‘feels’ to the sweet spots. Putters even have varying degrees of loft to the putter face themselves.

I am often asked “what is the proper length of a golf putter?”

Today there isn’t a length that a shaft can’t be cut to. So the proper length of the putter is what feels best and above all what works best for you. You should pick out a putter length that matches your height and your posture over the ball.

The bottom line when picking out a golf putter that is right for you is to try out as many looks and feels as you can. Needless to say is to hit as many puts as you can when you are demo-ing golf putters for yourself.

Hit long puts, short puts, and in between puts. Golf putters that may work for me may be the worst choice you could make.

Don’t go by recommendations go by what you like. And never ever give away or get rid of that old putter… one day it might be your best friend again.

Golf Putters

The most important club in your bag, yet probably one of the least used in any given practice session is probably the golf putter.

Oh sure, you see people on the putting green.

Some with a few golf balls around them. But rarely do I see much of any serious practice time spent with golf putters.

So… it’s time for some talk about golf putters.

When it comes to reducing (or maybe better said, saving) your score the putter should become your closest friend.

Golf putters, the flat blade, the club you literally live and die by, is a club of many styles and faces.

Players of all levels pick and choose their putters by how the putter looks and feels to them. And above all, how much confidence they have in this club.

All of the mechanics of putting aside, the art of putting is as much look, feel, and confidence as anything else. The putter, more than any other golf club is in a players bag because they like they way it looks and feels and the confidence level it brings to their putting stroke. Choosing and settling on a particular putter can be a difficult task.

Since there are so many different makes, models, and styles of golf putters on the market, let’s take a look at a few of the aspects that make up this old friend of ours and maybe this will give you some food for thought.

The vast majority of the focus when considering buying a putter is on the putter head. As far as the material used in putter heads, this is as varied as the number of metals, and alloys there are available.

But again, putting is such touch and feel, don’t get caught up in what the putter head is made of, be comfortable with how the length and weight feel in your hands.

Keep in mind that lighter golf putters heads will have a tendency for you to impart a quick more hands oriented stroke while a heavier putter will probably slow your stroke down.

Keep in mind, if this is a weight change for you, you may see your putts come up short or long for awhile depending upon if you move to a lighter or heavier putter head.

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