In the market for a set of golf clubs, but don't have the budget (or desire) to pay full price? Pre-owned clubs can be a great bargain.

Of course, pre-owned clubs can cost a fraction of what new clubs fetch. It's fairly easy to find used clubs in excellent condition, sometimes barely used. Even clubs that are a little beat-up generally function properly, so you're mainly sacrificing cosmetics.

Here are a few things to look for when shopping for pre-owned golf clubs:

• Grip wear: Are the grips slick and worn down, or do they retain plenty of tackiness? Worn-out grips aren't necessarily a deal-breaker, but require an additional investment to replace. Re-gripping prices run from $6-15 per club, depending on the type of grip.
• Shaft length and flex: Since pre-owned clubs aren't custom-built to match your specifications, make sure the length and flex of the shafts are a fit for you. Reputable sellers will provide shaft information in their product descriptions or on request.
• Clubface blemishes: Deep nicks on iron clubfaces and dents on woods, while relatively rare, can affect club performance. Inspect each club before buying; if you can't see them in person or online, ask the seller about any damage.

There are countless options for purchasing pre-owned clubs, including websites, retail stores and classified ads. Thomas Golf offers a wide and deeply discounted selection of its own clubs, with shaft specs and grip size listed for each, at www.thomasgolf.com.

For more information on Thomas Golf Pre Owned Clubs:

Are Pre-Owned Golf Clubs a Good Value?

When you decide to buy some new golf clubs, you will likely either head to your local golf shop to browse the selection, or you'll just get online to see what is available. At first, the news can be a bit shocking – some new clubs are extremely expensive! Golf has a reputation in some circles as an expensive game, and it is easy to see why when you view the retail prices of the top name brands in the business. Without a doubt, buying a complete set of new clubs from a name brand is going to take a significant bite out of your budget.

So, is there a better alternative? For some golfers, buying pre-owned clubs will be a smart way to go. When you shop for used clubs, you'll quickly find that you can purchase an entire set for just a fraction of the price of a new set. And, perhaps surprisingly, you'll still be able to consider some of the top name brands in the game today. With a little bit of patience and some careful shopping, you just might be able to put together an impressive set of clubs for a modest cost. Shopping for pre-owned clubs will likely be a bit more work than just picking out a new set, but your effort will be rewarded in the way of significant savings.

We have created this article to help you have a more successful shopping experience when you decide to purchase a used set of golf clubs. While it is true that there are great deals to be had, you need to know what you are looking for, and what mistakes to avoid. Fortunately, thanks to the presence of the internet, it is easier than ever before to find used clubs. Once you know what you want, and how much you are willing to spend, a quick surf around the web may be all it takes to track down the right equipment. Of course, there are still ways to buy pre-owned clubs in person, so we will discuss that option as well, later in the article.

Any time you think about buying golf equipment, you should always remember that it is your own skill and preparation which is going to go most of the way toward determining your score for a given round. In other words, you shouldn't think that you can simply buy your way to a better game. You can make minor improvements through equipment changes, of course, but simply buying some clubs is not going to turn a bad golfer into a good one. Improving at golf requires practice, attention to detail, and determination. Choosing the right equipment can augment all of your hard work, but it certainly won't replace it.

All of the content below is written from the perspective of a right-handed golfer. If you happen to play left-handed, please take a moment to reverse the directions as necessary.

Three Things to Understand

Before you make your first used club purchase, or before you really even start to shop seriously, there are three things you need to understand about opting for used clubs over new. These three points are not meant to steer you away from used clubs, as the money you can save is often worth the trade-offs that you have to make. However, it is still necessary to point these things out, just so you know what you are getting into.

• Drivers age faster than irons, in most cases. When trying to decide whether to buy a new or used driver, remember that the face of a driver is likely to wear out faster than the face on a typical iron. Drivers have thin faces which are designed specifically to launch the ball far into the distance. This is great when the club is new, but the face can break down – and even crack – over time. If you do decide to purchase a used driver, it would be a smart bet to stick with one that has been used relatively lightly. Irons, on the other hand, can last easily for many years, as long as they are cared for correctly. You don't really have to worry about the face breaking down, with the exception of the fact that the grooves may shallow out. In the next section on used club shopping tips, we'll talk about how to find the right irons (and drivers) when browsing the pre-owned market.
• It's almost always better to buy wedges new. If you need to replace the wedges in your bag, or if you are just getting started and need to buy wedges for the first time, you'll probably want to stick with new models. The performance of your wedges is directly tied to the condition of the grooves, and used wedges will likely have lost much of their groove depth and sharpness already. Unless you find wedges in particularly good condition with almost no wear, this is one part of the bag where sticking with new equipment makes a lot of sense.
• Putters are nearly indestructible. Unless a putter has been treated badly by its previous owner, you should be able to count on it for many years of reliable performance. The beauty of buying a used putter is the fact that putters aren't used to hit the ball hard – meaning the club face and the rest of the head shouldn't wear out at all. If a putter looks to be in good condition when you purchase it used, it should stay functional for as long as you would like to keep it in your bag. If anything, you may need to replace the grip of the putter, but that is a quick – and cheap – fix.

As you can see, the desirability of used golf clubs depends on the category of club you are trying to find. Buying putters and irons on the pre-owned market is an easy choice, and you can have pretty good luck with drivers, as well, in the right circumstances. For wedges, it will usually be better to stick with new, unless you happen to come across a great deal on a very lightly used wedge.

The other thing to think about when shopping in the pre-owned department is that the clubs will have lost some of their luster and shine. If part of your motivation for buying clubs is to impress your friends with your new set, purchased used equipment might not do the trick. Of course, we would encourage you to think more about your performance on the course than the appearance of your bag, but that's another matter. Buying used clubs can be a great way to compile a quality set for a discount cost, but your clubs probably aren't going to win any beauty contests as you step up to the first tee.

Used Golf Club Shopping Tips

Shopping for used golf clubs doesn't need to be particularly complicated. As long as you know what you're looking for, and you know where to look, you should be pretty well set to have a successful experience. With that said, there are a few tips that might help you along the way. Review the points below to make sure you have all the information you need when setting out to look for some quality used gear.

• Know the new price. Before you can decide whether or not a particular used club is a good deal, you need to compare it to what you would have to spend to buy a similar club new from a golf shop. Only when you know both prices can you really make a fair evaluation of whether or not you are saving a meaningful amount of money. For example, you might find a pre-owned driver which is in excellent condition, and the owner is asking $250 in exchange for the club. That doesn't seem too bad – until you learn that a brand-new driver of the same model would only cost you $300. In that situation, most golfers would agree that it is worth spending the extra $50 in order to have a new piece of equipment. On the other hand, if the new price of the driver is $500, you would feel great about the deal you are getting on the pre-owned model. Always do a quick evaluation of the new vs. used cost before you make a buying decision.
• When buying a driver, look specifically at the face. As we mentioned in the previous section, it is likely to be the face of a used driver which will wear out before the rest of the club. So, with that in mind, you'll want to carefully inspect the face of any used driver before making a purchase. If buying online, ask the seller to provide you with an up-close picture of the club face, so you can see for yourself what kind of condition it is in. If the seller refuses to offer such a picture, he or she is probably trying to hide something – and you should move on. The condition of the club face is going to be important no matter what kind of club you are buying, but it is the key ingredient when trying to find a quality driver.
• Don't worry too much about grips. We alluded to this earlier when talking about putters, but it bears repeating here – don't worry too much about grips when buying used clubs. Grips are easy and affordable to replace, and you'll probably want to do so not long after buying a pre-owned club. After all, you may have a specific type of grip that you already like and use on the rest of your clubs. As you shop, simply consider the cost of getting a new grip as part of the overall cost of the club or clubs you decide to buy.
• Consider the source. It is important to think about the source of your pre-owned clubs before committing to a purchase and actually sending money. Are you confident that you have found a reputable seller? If you shop somewhere like eBay, you can use the feedback of other, previous buyers to help you find someone you should be able to trust. The same common sense applies here just as it does when buying anything else, especially online. Do your homework, trust your instincts, and always move away from a deal that just doesn't feel right. Remember, there are countless golf clubs for sale at any given time, so you don't need to rush into any purchase.
• Beware of an amazing deal. As the old saying goes, if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. If you are being offered a name brand driver that looks to be in great condition for less than $100, something's up. There is simply no reason for people to give away quality items for way below market value these days, since it is so easy to track down buyers online. You want to look for a fair and competitive price, of course, but think twice before agreeing to any deal that just seems a little too good.

Overall, you just need to be smart when shopping for used clubs, whether online or in person. There are good deals to be had, but you can also wind up wasting money on lousy equipment if you aren't careful. Give yourself plenty of time to make a buying decision and remember that there are always other clubs available in a particular deal just doesn't work out.