Through the years I have owned 5 sets of golf clubs and double the number of specialty clubs. Over 40 years of play, I have only fixed 3 clubs. They were part of a full set of Ping Eye 2 Red Dot that belonged my father. He gave them to me at his passing and I still have and cherish them. Because of their value to me, I retired them many years back in the hopes of preserving them a little longer. I happen to come across these clubs recently and among other things, it start me thinking about the nature the golf club market.
During 2016, all the club manufacturers there were approximately 70 different new clubs for all the manufacturers. In 2015, approximately 47 new clubs were released. I am not professional club maker, however, it find it unlikely that all 117 new clubs have new innovations as claimed by the club manufacturers. With so many golf club releases, is there really any reason to fix your clubs?
Like in many other areas of our lives, golf clubs seem to have become throw away. If we do not like a particular club, we buy a new one. When new clubs are released, some players believe they need (confusing need with want) to have this new technology and find a way to buy it. They believe they need the slightest technology advantage and the club manufacturers have created the illusion that chasing the new clubs is the best path. Personally, I do not follow this illusion and only replace clubs as required.
Once and a while, I see a sign on the side of the road indicating golf club repairs, but I never go in. I wonder what these entrepreneurs charge and if their prices are competitive with buying new clubs; I guess that research will left for another day. In the meantime, I have only fixed 3 clubs in my career and only because they had sentimental value.
Have you ever had a golf club fixed?
I am a grateful golfer! See you on the links!
The Grateful Golfer 
Jim
Good article, I tend to agree that fixing is passe (fr). I have replaced the shafts in my clubs and I did have a head break off and I had to get it replaced. As for re-gripping, that is a regular activity for me. I have a friend who does it for me.
Linley
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Linley
That seems to be the consensus, however, from the sounds of things you have repaired your clubs more than most.
Cheers
Jim
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Jim, you’ve tapped into an interesting trend. Yes, I think the industry has moved from a “fix” to “full replace” mentality over the last 30 years. That has largely been associated with the removal of wooden clubs from the game because metal “woods” require much less maintenance. Also because of the marketing and money making aspect of driver technology. If you’ve re-gripped your clubs regularly, I would propose you’ve fixed your clubs a lot more often than three times over the last 40 years! 🙂
Thanks,
Brian
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Brian
I never thought of regripping of my clubs. Using that as a benchmark, I have fixed my clubs. I was thinking shaft or head repairs. Still you have grasped my point. I guess throw away is easier with the “fix free” style of clubs. Great point about the grips. Thanks.
Cheers
Jim
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Jim, I can offer the perspective of the club repair shop because when I worked in the business, my club had a full service club fitting/building/repair center. The vast majority of repairs were regrips. They were the most lucrative because we bought our grips in bulk (typically less than 50 cents each) and charged $5 for a replacement. The other prominent repair was refinishing of wooden clubs. That took much longer and was not nearly as profitable. Of course, that work is not done any more and the other types of repairs (reshafts, loft and lie adjustments) were done infrequently. If you walk in any Dick’s Sporting Goods and go to the golf section, you’ll see repairs offered but only regripping is prominently featured.
Thanks!
Brian
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Brian
That is great information. I guess the bottom line is always at the forefront of any business and golf is no different. I regrip my clubs myself and it costs me 2.50 a grip. Still half the cost of the big stores. My buddy Blair and I usually do them at the same time, he took a course on club repair.
Cheer
Jim
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Jim, $2.50 a grip is very reasonable. Who do you purchase your grips from, if I could ask?
Thanks,
Brian
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My friend ordered they from golf works out of Ottawa. It was well over a year ago and they were on sale. He takes care of all the logistics because of his knowledge. I am not sure what it costs today. I figure if I can replace all my grips for under 75 dollars, I am doing well.
Cheers
Jim
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