Buying Used Golf Clubs: Where and What to Look For | Golf Gear Ranked

I bought a “Like New” Titleist TSR3 driver off a used club site last year for $289. The same club was $549 new. When I put it on my Garmin Approach R10, the numbers were identical to the demo model I’d hit at my local fitter — 156 mph ball speed, 2,400 rpm spin, 289 yards carry. The face showed one faint sky mark. That’s it. I saved $260 for a cosmetic blemish I can’t even see at address.

The used golf club market has matured significantly over the past few years. You’re no longer rolling the dice on eBay listings with blurry photos. Dedicated retailers now offer standardized grading systems, return policies, and verified club specs. But the landscape still has traps if you don’t know what to look for.

Why Used Clubs Make So Much Sense Right Now

Here’s the uncomfortable truth about golf club technology: year-over-year performance gains are marginal. I’ve tested drivers from 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 on a Trackman 4, and the differences between generations are typically 1-3 yards of carry. That’s within the shot-to-shot variance of most amateur swings.

Meanwhile, depreciation hits new clubs hard. A driver loses 30-40% of its value the moment you hit a ball with it. By the time the next model year drops — usually 12-18 months — that club has lost 50-60% of its retail price on the used market. You’re essentially paying a massive premium for the privilege of being first.

The math gets even more compelling with irons. A set of Titleist T150 irons that retailed for $1,400 new can be found in excellent condition for $750-$850. The forgings are the same. The grooves are the same. The only difference is someone else absorbed the depreciation.

When New Actually Makes Sense

I’m not saying never buy new. Custom fitting with specific shaft and grip combos is easier to get right when ordering new. If you need a 1-degree flat lie angle with KBS Tour 130X shafts and midsize grips, finding that exact spec used is a needle-in-a-haystack situation. But for standard specs? Used is the smarter play almost every time.

The Big Three: Where to Buy Used Clubs

Three retailers dominate the online used club market, and each has distinct strengths. I’ve bought from all three multiple times, so this is based on real experience, not marketing copy.

GlobalGolf

GlobalGolf runs one of the largest used club inventories online, typically listing 40,000+ clubs at any given time. Their grading system uses a 1-10 scale, which offers more granularity than most competitors.

What they do well: Selection is the main draw. If you’re looking for a specific club in a specific shaft and loft, GlobalGolf usually has it. Their “Value” grade (rated 5-6 on their scale) offers the best bang for the buck — clubs with visible wear that still perform identically to new. They also run frequent sales, especially around holidays and new model launches. I’ve stacked coupon codes with sale prices and saved over 65% off retail.

Where they fall short: Photos can be generic rather than of the actual club you’re purchasing, especially for lower-condition items. I’ve received a couple clubs where the condition was slightly worse than expected based on the description. Their return policy is solid (30 days), but you’ll eat the return shipping cost.

Pro tip: Sign up for their email list before buying. They send 15-20% off codes regularly, and these stack with already-reduced used pricing. Also, check their “Closeout New” section — sometimes last-generation new clubs are priced lower than used current-generation models.

2nd Swing

2nd Swing started as a brick-and-mortar shop in Minnesota and has grown into one of the most respected used club retailers in the country. They now have multiple physical locations plus a robust online store.

What they do well: Individual club photos. Every single used club listing on 2nd Swing includes actual photos of that specific club from multiple angles. This alone sets them apart. You know exactly what you’re getting before you buy. Their fitting services are also excellent if you’re near one of their physical stores — they use Trackman in their fitting bays and can match you with used inventory on the spot.

They also have the strongest trade-in program in the business. If you’re looking to cycle out old clubs while buying used replacements, 2nd Swing’s trade values are consistently 10-15% higher than competitors. They offer cash or store credit, with store credit running about 15% higher than the cash option.

Where they fall short: Prices tend to be 5-10% higher than GlobalGolf for equivalent condition clubs. You’re paying a premium for the individual photos and curation. Their inventory, while extensive, is slightly smaller than GlobalGolf’s.

Pro tip: Use their “Make an Offer” feature on clubs that have been listed for more than 30 days. I’ve had offers accepted at 15-20% below the listing price on clubs that were sitting. The longer a club has been listed, the more flexible they tend to be.

Callaway Pre-Owned (Callaway Golf Pre-Owned / CPO)

This is Callaway’s official certified pre-owned operation, and it covers not just Callaway but also Odyssey, Apex, and occasionally other brands they’ve acquired or partnered with.

What they do well: Condition accuracy is the best in the business. Their grading system (Certified Like New, Certified Very Good, Certified Good, Certified Average) is conservative — a “Very Good” from CPO is often equivalent to a “Like New” from other retailers. I’ve received clubs rated “Very Good” that I genuinely could not distinguish from new.

They also offer a 90-day satisfaction guarantee. Ninety days. If you don’t like the club for any reason, send it back. No other used club retailer comes close to this return window.

Where they fall short: Obviously, you’re limited to Callaway family brands. If you’re looking for a Titleist or TaylorMade, CPO can’t help you. Pricing also tends to be on the higher end, reflecting the brand’s control over its own resale market.

Pro tip: CPO runs major sales around major championships and at the end of each calendar quarter. Their best sales typically happen in late January/early February and again in late September/October. I’ve seen “Like New” condition clubs drop to 50% off during these events — at that point, you’re getting essentially new clubs at used prices.

Understanding Condition Grades (And What Actually Matters)

Every retailer uses slightly different terminology, which makes comparison shopping confusing. Here’s a practical translation guide:

Cosmetic vs. Performance Condition

This is the most important concept in buying used clubs: cosmetic condition and performance condition are almost completely unrelated for clubs less than 5 years old.

A driver with bag chatter on the sole and a small sky mark on the crown will perform identically to a new one on a launch monitor. The COR (coefficient of restitution) of the face doesn’t degrade from normal play. I’ve tested this extensively — drivers with 50+ rounds of use still produce the same ball speeds as fresh-out-of-the-wrapper models.

Irons are slightly different because grooves wear down over time, which affects spin rates, especially on wedges and short irons. For full-swing irons (4-iron through 8-iron), groove wear from normal amateur play is negligible for the first 200-300 rounds. For wedges, you’ll notice spin degradation after about 75-100 rounds of heavy use.

The Condition-to-Value Sweet Spot

Here’s my general rule after years of buying used:

Mint/Like New (90-95% of retail price): Not worth it. The savings are too small to justify buying used.
Very Good/Excellent (65-75% of retail): Decent value. Minor cosmetic marks, full performance.
Good (45-60% of retail): The sweet spot. Visible wear on sole and top line, maybe some face wear, but the club still performs within 99% of its original specs.
Average/Below Average (25-40% of retail): Great for beater clubs, range drivers, or clubs you’ll experiment with before committing. Not ideal for clubs you want in the bag long-term.

For a specific example: I found a TaylorMade Qi10 3-wood in “Good” condition on GlobalGolf for $119. Retail was $299. The sole had clear wear marks, and there was a small nick on the leading edge. On the launch monitor, it produced 165 mph ball speed and 4,200 rpm spin with my swing — right in line with what I’d seen from the new model during testing. That’s a 60% savings for a club that performs identically.

What to Check Before You Buy

Shaft Spec Verification

This is where used club buying can go wrong fast. The listing might say “regular flex,” but is it the stock shaft or an aftermarket option? What’s the actual weight and torque? A “regular flex” Fujikura Ventus plays completely differently than a “regular flex” stock shaft.

Always verify:

Shaft model and flex (not just “stiff” or “regular”)
Shaft length (some clubs get cut down by previous owners)
Grip condition (plan to regrip everything you buy used — it costs $5-8 per club and makes a huge difference)

If you have access to a launch monitor — even a budget option like the Garmin Approach R10 — take your used purchase to the range immediately and compare the numbers to what you’d expect. Spin rates that are way off from published data could indicate a shaft issue or a club that’s been altered.

Hosel and Face Inspection

Look at the hosel area closely in photos. Any signs of bending, re-finishing, or epoxy residue around the shaft-to-hosel junction could mean the club has been modified. That’s not necessarily bad — but you should know about it.

On irons, check the face for deep ball marks or groove damage. Light ball marks are cosmetic. Deep divots or grooves that look rounded rather than sharp could impact performance on scoring clubs.

Counterfeit Awareness

Counterfeits exist in the used market, particularly for drivers from major brands. Stick with the three retailers covered in this article and you won’t have this problem — they authenticate everything. If you’re buying from eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or other peer-to-peer platforms, be much more cautious.

Red flags for counterfeits:

Price that seems too good to be true (a brand-new condition Titleist GT2 for $150 should raise eyebrows)
Slightly off font or alignment on head stampings
Serial numbers that don’t match the brand’s database
Weight that feels wrong in hand

Building a Full Bag Used: A Practical Budget

Let’s build a competitive bag using current used market pricing as of early 2026. All prices reflect “Good” to “Very Good” condition from the retailers above:

Club	Model (Year)	Used Price	Retail Price	Savings
Driver	TaylorMade Qi10 (2024)	$219	$549	60%
3-Wood	Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke (2024)	$139	$299	54%
4-Hybrid	Titleist TSR2 (2023)	$99	$249	60%
Irons 5-PW	Ping G430 (2023)	$449	$937	52%
Wedges (2)	Vokey SM9 (2022)	$69 each	$165 each	58%
Putter	Odyssey Tri-Hot 5K (2023)	$109	$249	56%

Total Used: $1,153 Total New (Retail): $2,613 Total Savings: $1,460 (56%)

That’s a full bag of premium, recent-generation equipment for about $1,150. And every one of those clubs will perform within a yard or two of the current models when tested on a launch monitor.

Timing Your Purchase

Used club prices follow predictable cycles tied to new product releases. Here’s how to time your buying:

Best time to buy: 2-4 weeks after a major brand launches a new model. When TaylorMade drops a new driver, the used market floods with the previous generation as golfers upgrade. Supply goes up, prices drop 15-25% almost overnight.

Second best time: January and February. Golfers who got new equipment for the holidays trade in their old gear, and retailers run New Year sales to move inventory before spring.

Worst time to buy: March through May. Everyone’s buying clubs for the upcoming season. Demand spikes, and retailers have less incentive to discount.

Also, watch demo day and fitting events at your local courses and retail shops. Clubs used as demos for a single day often end up in the “Like New” bin at used retailers for a significant discount.

Trade-In Strategy: Selling Smart

If you’re replacing clubs, trade-in values vary significantly across retailers. Before you sell, check values at all three:

2nd Swing tends to offer the highest trade-in values, especially for store credit
GlobalGolf offers competitive cash values through their trade-in program
Callaway Pre-Owned buys back Callaway gear at solid prices but won’t take other brands

Compare these against what you’d get selling privately on platforms like eBay or Sideline Swap. Private sales usually net 15-25% more, but require more effort — photos, listings, shipping, dealing with flaky buyers. If your time has value, the convenience of retailer trade-ins often makes more sense.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Buying the wrong flex because the price is right. A stiff shaft at 50% off is still a bad deal if you need regular flex. I see golfers do this constantly. They find a screaming deal on a club that doesn’t match their swing speed, and then wonder why it doesn’t perform. Use your launch monitor data to know your specs before shopping.

Ignoring shaft weight. Two clubs with identical heads but different shaft weights will feel and perform very differently. A 55-gram shaft and a 75-gram shaft in the same driver head are essentially two different clubs. Always check the shaft model, not just the flex.

Skipping the regrip. Old grips destroy your ability to hold the club properly, which changes your swing mechanics, which changes your results. Budget $5-8 per club for fresh grips on every used purchase. It’s the single cheapest performance upgrade you can make.

Chasing the latest generation. A 2023 model in excellent condition will almost always be a better value than a 2025 model in average condition at the same price. Performance differences are negligible, but the newer club with more wear is closer to needing replacement.

Putting It All Together

Buying used golf clubs is one of the smartest moves you can make as a golfer. The performance gap between a one- or two-generation-old club and the latest release is almost immeasurable for most players, while the price gap is enormous. Stick with reputable retailers — GlobalGolf for selection and deals, 2nd Swing for transparency and trade-ins, Callaway Pre-Owned for guaranteed Callaway quality — and focus your buying in the “Good” to “Very Good” condition range for the best value.

Know your specs before you shop, plan to regrip everything, and time your purchases around new model launches and off-season sales. That $1,400 you save on a full bag could go toward a quality launch monitor to actually improve your game — or, you know, a couple of really nice golf trips.

For more help choosing the right equipment, check out our equipment comparison pages and individual tool reviews to find the gear that matches your game and your budget.

Disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you make a purchase, at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep the site running and produce quality content.