Caring for your golf equipment
Golf equipment is built to take a beating, but a few minutes of care after each round will keep it performing and save money over the years.
Most golfers clean their clubs only when the dirt becomes impossible to ignore. A short routine after each round, and a slightly longer check a few times a year, keeps clubs consistent and stops small problems turning into expensive ones.
After every round
- Wipe the clubfaces. Mud and grass in the grooves change how the ball comes off the face. A damp towel straight after the round does most of the work.
- Dry everything. Take wet clubs, towels, waterproofs and gloves out of the bag. Leaving them zipped in a damp bag encourages rust and mildew.
- Empty the pockets of tees, broken pencils and old scorecards, and check you still have spare balls and a pitch mark repairer.
- Charge the trolley battery if you use an electric trolley, following the manufacturer’s guidance.
Cleaning clubs properly
A thorough clean every few rounds is easy.
- Fill a bucket with warm water and a little washing-up liquid.
- Soak the heads of the irons and wedges for a few minutes. Keep the water below the ferrule, the small collar where the shaft meets the head.
- Scrub the faces and grooves with a soft brush. A nylon brush is safe for most finishes; avoid wire brushes on chrome and soft finishes, as they can scratch.
- Clear the grooves with a wooden tee or a groove cleaning tool.
- Rinse, dry thoroughly with a towel, including the shaft.
- Wipe woods and the driver with a damp cloth instead of soaking them, and avoid getting water into the head.
Woods, drivers and putters
Painted crowns on woods and drivers mark easily. Clean them gently and use headcovers to stop clubs clashing in the bag. A putter cover protects the face from dents, which can affect the roll.
Grips
Grips wear more quickly than most golfers realise. As they age they lose their tackiness, harden and become shiny, which makes golfers grip harder without noticing.
- Clean them with warm soapy water and a soft brush or cloth, rinse and pat dry. This removes the sweat and sun cream that make them slippery.
- Replace them when they are worn. Signs include a smooth, shiny surface, cracks, or a visible worn patch where your thumbs sit. A common rule of thumb is that regular players regrip about once a year, but how often you play and practise matters more than the calendar.
- Consider grip size. If you are regripping anyway, it is a good time to check that the grip size suits your hands.
Regripping can be done at home with the right tools, but many golfers have it done by a club professional or a repair shop.
Shafts and heads
Check shafts for dents, cracks or splinters, particularly graphite shafts that have been knocked about in a car boot. A damaged shaft can fail during a swing. Check that heads are not loose and that ferrules have not slid up the shaft. Wedges wear with heavy use and their grooves become less sharp; this is part of their life cycle.
Balls
Inspect balls for cuts and scuffs and retire damaged ones to the practice bag. Wash dirty balls in warm water. Store spares indoors at room temperature.
Bags
- Empty and air the bag regularly, especially after wet rounds.
- Brush off mud and wipe the base and legs of stand bags.
- Check that the stand mechanism and straps still work smoothly.
- Store the bag upright in a dry place.
Shoes
Stuff wet shoes with newspaper and dry them away from direct heat, which can crack leather. Clean off mud before it hardens. If your shoes have replaceable spikes, check them regularly and replace worn ones, as worn spikes reduce grip and can damage greens.
Trolleys
Wipe off mud and grass, especially around the wheels and folding joints. Check the tyres and brakes. For electric trolleys, keep connections clean and dry, and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for battery charging and storage.
Storing kit through the winter or a long break
- Clean and dry everything first.
- Keep clubs, bags and balls indoors, somewhere dry with a steady temperature. A garage that gets damp or very cold is not ideal, and a car boot is the worst place of all, with extremes of heat and cold and constant knocks.
- Store batteries according to the manufacturer’s instructions, typically partly charged and somewhere cool and dry.
A quick checklist
| How often | What to do |
|---|---|
| Every round | Wipe faces, dry everything, empty the bag, charge the battery |
| Every few rounds | Wash clubs and grips, clear grooves, check balls |
| A few times a year | Check grips, shafts, spikes, bag and trolley |
| Once a year or as needed | Consider regripping and a check of lofts and lies by a professional |
Looking after your kit is also a good moment to think about whether it still suits your game. See our guides to golf balls and choosing clubs.