| There are plenty of opinions when it comes to buying | | | | to suit their game, but there are relatively few pros |
| golf gear online - what to do, what not to do, where to | | | | who feel the muscleback is better for their game. If |
| buy, where not to buy, etc. The buying tips in this | | | | you're on the fence, you should probably take a set of |
| section are a combination of my personal experiences, | | | | each out for a test run! Alternatively, you could look for |
| feedback in golf forums and research. I hope (and | | | | a set of irons that are a cross between the |
| expect) that they'll be something in here to help you | | | | muscleback and cavity back - the Titleist Forged |
| get what you want for the right price, with as little | | | | 695CB is such a club that has the feel of a |
| hassle as possible. | | | | muscleback with some of the forgiveness of the |
| GET THE BEST PRICE | | | | cavity back.....it's had some good reviews as well. |
| One of the quickest and easiest ways to get the best | | | | GET THE RIGHT FIT |
| price is to shop around....very easy to do on the | | | | Some people wouldn't even consider buying golf clubs |
| internet. Also, don't be afraid to ask an online store to | | | | anywhere else but in a retail store, where you can get |
| price match, particularly on big ticket items such as full | | | | properly fitted. I can understand this view, it's very |
| sets and new drivers. | | | | important to get clubs that are right for you. That's not |
| Here are some other ways to save: | | | | necessarily easy to do when you are buying |
| PRICE COMPARISON SITES | | | | online.....how do you make sure that you get the right |
| You can look around online for the best price, or take | | | | shaft length, shaft flex, lie angle, grip size, etc? |
| the lazy way out and use price comparison sites. On | | | | Club fitting is probably one of the biggest barriers to |
| these sites, you enter the details of the golf club(s) | | | | people buying golf clubs online, so it's not surprising that |
| you're looking to buy and they'll return a list of online | | | | online stores are investing in the technology to make |
| stores selling it, with the price. It's not always easy to | | | | online fitting possible. |
| know whether you're comparing apples with apples, so | | | | Here are a handful of stores with online fitting |
| these sites are often just a good starting point to | | | | systems......expect others to follow:o PING Web-Fit - |
| narrow your options. | | | | shaft flex, shaft length, grip size but NOT lie angleo |
| Here are a few of the better ones, all of which also | | | | Golfsmith SmartFit - shaft flex, shaft length, grip size |
| include equipment sold through Amazon and eBay:o | | | | AND lie angleo GigaGolf eFit- shaft flex, shaft length, |
| shopping.como bizrate.como pricegrabber.como | | | | grip size AND lie angleo The Golf Warehouse - |
| pricerunner.co.uk | | | | provides online fitting for some brands/models onlyo |
| SIGN-UP | | | | Odyssey Putter Fitting Tool |
| Many, if not most, online golf stores let you (beg you | | | | GET THE GENUINE ARTICLE |
| to!) sign-up to a regular newsletter. While you don't | | | | One of the biggest issues with buying golf equipment |
| want your inbox filled with junk mail, if you're selective | | | | online, particularly golf clubs, is counterfeit equipment |
| you can get some good discounts and special offers. | | | | originating primarily from China.eBay is notorious for |
| I signed up to The Golf Warehouse newsletter and | | | | selling counterfeit equipment and is the place to |
| was impressed with the value and frequency of their | | | | exercise the most caution. I wrote an article at about |
| discount offers, including free shipping. | | | | avoiding eBay scams, so I won't go into too much |
| DISCOUNT COUPONS | | | | detail here. |
| Most online golf stores offer discount coupons from | | | | Here are a few general tips:o Buy only from large, well |
| time to time (or all the time). Usually % off or free | | | | known online storeso Use golf forums to ask for |
| shipping. There are a few ways to take advantage of | | | | advice if you're concerned about the authenticity of |
| these coupons:o Visit Coupon Sites: there are a few | | | | something. has a forum section called 'deal or no deal' |
| sites that provide a list of all online stores offering | | | | specifically for helping people figure out whether |
| discounts through the use of online coupons. | | | | something is real or fakeo Don't just buy new |
| Monkeybargains is one such site where you can find | | | | equipment from eBay, there are plenty of alternatives |
| coupon codes for discounts or free shipping for many | | | | onlineo Reconsider buying used on eBay - there are |
| online golf stores (incl. Austads, Pinemeadow, | | | | also plenty of online stores selling used equipment, with |
| Callaway, The Golf Warehouse and TaylorMade)o | | | | warrantees and a returns policyo Check out the |
| Use Google: you could find the golf gear you want | | | | manufacturer's website for information about |
| online, but before ordering, go to Google and enter the | | | | counterfeit activity. Some provide tips on what to look |
| seller's website with the word "coupon" or "promotional | | | | for when buying their equipment online |
| code". You may be able to get a discount on your | | | | GET THE RIGHT TERMS |
| purchase or shipping costs, or both | | | | While price is important, there are other factors to |
| CASH BACK OFFERS | | | | consider when buying golf equipment online. |
| There are websites that give you cash back on | | | | CUSTOMER SERVICE |
| purchases from quite a few online golf stores. The | | | | Just because you're shopping online doesn't mean that |
| basic model is that these websites send customers to | | | | you shouldn't expect good customer service. Look for |
| online golf stores and receive a commission for doing | | | | online stores that have a number you can call and/or |
| so. Instead of keeping the whole commission, they | | | | email you can use to ask questions, etc. All of the |
| share it with you (the buyer) in the form of cash back. | | | | larger stores will have people you can talk to, and you |
| It depends on the program, but you'll usually receive the | | | | should expect to speak to competent and |
| cash back by check at certain intervals, eg monthly. | | | | knowledgeable staff. |
| The cash back isn't huge, usually between 3%-8%, but | | | | RETURNS POLICY |
| better than nothing! | | | | Make sure that the online store you're buying from has |
| Here are a couple of programs you might want to look | | | | a no questions asked returns policy. Online golf retailers |
| at:o - includes Edwin Watts Golf, Pinemeadow Golf, | | | | are aware that many people aren't comfortable with |
| Golfsmith and Golf Outlet USAo bing.com/shopping - | | | | buying golf equipment online, so offer a 'trial period' (eg |
| BING is a fairly new search engine by Microsoft, which | | | | 7 days) during which you can return the equipment and |
| includes a cash back program. Cash back percentage | | | | get your money back. This gives you a chance to |
| looks to be a little higher than other programs. For | | | | take the gear to the driving range and try it out. Some |
| example, you can get 12% cash back at Golfsmith. | | | | online stores will offer money back only if the |
| Other online golf stores that are part of this program | | | | equipment is in original packaging. Look for the ones |
| include Callaway Pre-Owned and GET SOMEONE | | | | that allow you to try the gear and return it if you're not |
| ELSE'S OPINION | | | | satisfied. |
| Before you 'proceed to check-out' on your new set of | | | | Remember that you'll have to wear the cost of |
| clubs, take some time to read equipment reviews | | | | shipping if you need to send the equipment back. |
| online. There are plenty of sites offering reviews on | | | | SHIPPING |
| golf clubs, and some of them are actually objective! I | | | | Even if your golf clubs are heavily discounted at an |
| prefer the reviews from not only industry experts, but | | | | online golf store, the cost of shipping may negate any |
| actual golfers who have bought and used the clubs. | | | | savings. It seems obvious, but many people think |
| Golf forums (such as those mentioned above) are a | | | | they're getting a great deal until they get to the |
| good place for straight talking views on golf clubs. | | | | checkout and see the shipping costs. Look for special |
| Here are some sites that are worth checking out:o | | | | offers for discounted or free shipping and also |
| Golf Review - lots of reviews/comments from golfers | | | | consider buying from an online store that ships from |
| who have bought and are playing with the clubso Golf | | | | your region. |
| Magic - good section on equipment reviews, with | | | | BUYING USED GOLF CLUBS |
| feedback from industry experts as well as forum | | | | Buying used golf clubs is not for everyone, the primary |
| memberso Golfalot - excellent range of golf club | | | | reasons being (1) that they were made for someone |
| reviews, many with video reviews as wello Golf WRX | | | | else, so aren't going to be suitable for them, (2) they're |
| - a forum section dedicated to equipment reviews. | | | | old technology, (3) there's no warrantee; and (4) there's |
| Educated, honest and independent views | | | | no returns policy. |
| GET THE RIGHT SET | | | | These are valid concerns if you're buying on eBay |
| Muscleback or Cavity back? Performance | | | | from your average seller, but there's no reason why |
| Improvement or Performance Enhancement? Before | | | | you can't have the same piece of mind buying used as |
| you start looking too closely at specific golf clubs it's | | | | you would with new........with a little effort and some |
| important to understand what type of irons are suitable | | | | common sense. Here are some tips for buying used |
| for your game. There are two main categories of | | | | clubs online:o Determine your measurements so that |
| irons, 'muscleback' (game enhancement) and 'cavity | | | | you can make sure you get clubs that fit you. Go to |
| back' (game improvement). They're referred to by | | | | one of the websites mentioned above for an online |
| various other names but we'll stick with these for now. | | | | fittingo Find out from the seller what length the clubs |
| Muscleback Irons | | | | are, type of shaft, grip size and lie angle. If they can't |
| Muscleback irons are so-called because more weight | | | | tell you, then don't buy from them......unless you're happy |
| is placed behind the sweet spot on the club. This | | | | to take a punt on getting the right fito Buy from an |
| produces a longer, straighter ball trajectory if hit in the | | | | online store that has a formal inspection and rating |
| center of the club, ie the sweet spot. Because most of | | | | structure for their used clubs. For example, Callaway |
| the weight is centered around the sweet spot, shots | | | | Pre-Owned has separate ratings for the grip, shaft, |
| that aren't hit pure are difficult to hide.....they'll be shorter | | | | face, sole and top of the clubo Stay with the better |
| and with an unpredictable trajectory. Muscleback irons | | | | known manufacturers. Lesser known names aren't |
| are more suited to lower handicap golfers, who can | | | | necessarily worse clubs when used, but the |
| take advantage of the greater feel and workability of | | | | craftsmanship that goes into, for example Ping, should |
| the irons. | | | | carry over to used clubs as wello Don't assume that |
| Cavity Back Irons | | | | you can't get a warranty or returns policy on used |
| Cavity back irons are just that, there is a cavity behind | | | | clubs. See Section 2 above for online stores that offer |
| the center of the club, rather than the mass | | | | warranties and returns policieso Consider paying a little |
| associated with the muscleback irons. This design | | | | more for piece of mind. You might get a better price |
| distributes weight around the perimeter of the head, | | | | on eBay, but consider the riskso Keep in mind that |
| producing a larger sweet spot and therefore greater | | | | woods with alloy heads are more susceptible to aging |
| margin for error. Off-center shots are more forgiving, | | | | than metal woods as the alloy is softero Before you |
| producing a longer, straighter ball flight than off-center | | | | buy those used clubs, check how much they're selling |
| shots hit with a muscleback iron. Cavity back irons are | | | | for new. Occasionally, it's possible to pick-up a new set |
| more suited to middle/high handicappers, who are | | | | for less than used as online retailers may heavily |
| looking for more consistent results from their shots, | | | | discount older stock......worth a quick check. |
| rather than being able to work the ball. | | | | If you can't, or don't want to, buy a new set of brand |
| If you're a single figure handicapper you may want to | | | | name clubs I reckon buying used from a recognized |
| consider muscleback irons. However, consider | | | | online store is the next best thing. You'll get similar |
| this.......slightly more than half of the pros on the USPGA | | | | terms to new clubs, and you can make sure that |
| tour use cavity back clubs. Sure, they're custom made | | | | they're the right fit. |