Opinion & Analysis
How Often Should You Change Your Golf Clubs?
Opinion & Analysis
AVL: My U.S. Amateur local qualifying experience
This past Monday, I played in the U.S. Amateur local qualifier at Rock Creek Country Club in Portland, Oregon. A full tee sheet from 7:30 a.m. to 1:55 p.m., the top 11 scores would make it to the U.S. Amateur final qualifying.
I teed off at 10:48 a.m.. With the 7:30 am tee time, you can get a feel for the leaders’ pace, and they were off and running on the challenging setup at Rock Creek.
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Getting to the highlight of the round on the par five 17th, a drive up the left side and 212 yards left to the front hole location. I took out a 5-iron with plans of middle of the green. The ball ended up 8 feet left of the hole, pin high. A slight downhill putt dropped in for an eagle 3 on the 17th. With the cut line looking to be anywhere from -2 to even par. This was the boost I had been waiting for all day.
With making par from the trees on 18, it was time to wait for a potential playoff with a posted score of one under par 71.
Three hours later, it was playoff time. 8 players for 6 spots. I made par on the playoff hole, which was good enough to advance to the U.S. Amateur final qualifying in July. USGA qualifiers sure deliver on all of the emotions in golf!
Club Junkie
Building my 2026 gamer WITB: Ranking the contenders and new putter projects – Club Junkie Podcast
The annual What’s In The Bag build is underway, and on this episode of Club Junkie, Brian breaks down the clubs currently leading the race for a spot in his 2026 gamer setup. From drivers and fairway woods to irons, wedges, and shafts, he ranks the equipment that’s performing best and explains what’s separating the front runners from the rest of the field.
Brian also heads into the workshop to discuss several putter projects currently on the bench. From head options and shaft choices to build ideas and testing plans, he shares what he’s working on and which putters could become serious contenders for the bag this season.
If you’re a gear junkie who loves equipment testing, club building, and the never-ending pursuit of the perfect setup, this episode is for you.
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Club Junkie
Tour Edge Exotics mini driver review + TaylorMade Spider ZT Max first look – Club Junkie
On this episode of Club Junkie, I put the new Tour Edge Exotics Mini Driver to the test and break down the performance, forgiveness, distance, and where it fits compared to a traditional driver or strong fairway wood. If you have been curious about adding a mini driver to the bag, this one is worth a look.
I also dive into the new TaylorMade Spider ZT Max putter that was recently spotted and discuss the growing zero torque putter trend. Plus, there is a closer look at the new Project X Titan Yellow shaft showing up on the PGA Tour and what makes it different from other profiles currently out there.
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News2 weeks agoCharles Schwab Challenge Tour Report: MacIntyre, Åberg and Spaun all switch putters, TaylorMade launches new Spider
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Equipment2 weeks agoDetails on J.J. Spaun’s surprise putter switch

Joel
Nov 11, 2022 at 12:46 am
this is my image. please stop using it or drop a link to my golf course, and photo credit to Joel Young, in your article. https://www.udemy.com/course/bondygolf/
Jon Dodd
Mar 24, 2017 at 7:56 am
I actually re-grip my clubs every round at the turn.
Scott
Mar 22, 2017 at 7:42 pm
Driver: 2016 Fairway Woods: 2013, 2014 Hybrid: 2015
Irons: 2010 Wedges, 2016 x1, 2015 x2 Putter 2016
Aside from getting loft/lie on my irons checked out there won’t be any changes to the bag this year.
Jim
Mar 22, 2017 at 3:03 pm
It’s good to see an article like this every once in awhile. “How often to change clubs” is not something that needs to be done annually or even close to it. Contrary to what manufacturers want us to believe, the objective of golf is to enjoy and get better at the game (practice and improve), NOT buy equipment that will make it easier for you. I actually prefer playing with the challenges of older, more traditional clubs and tell my friends that if they need a 460cc driver to hit a ball, they should take up bowling. Today’s gear is certainly no better than that of 30-60 years ago, it’s just bigger and easier to hit. The game should not be about “forgiving” clubs that make it all so much easier.
john
Mar 22, 2017 at 2:47 pm
Wedges wear out, I play once a week so replace my 58 every 5 years..I can tell when the one hop and stop shots stop happening.
Driver, my rule of thumb is every 4 generations, altho I had my r580 for 10 years.
Fairway woods, when they look tired and embarrassing.
Irons, hardly ever. I switched from blades to x14 pro series to 2009 xforged . I changed drips every other year
Putter, had the same one since witle hot number 7 2000, just this year trying the versa 7H
joro
Mar 22, 2017 at 11:39 am
I have a set of 2002 Big Berthas that were great and still are, The only difference tween them and my new Apex Irons are loft, the 02s are about 1/2 a club shorter doe to the strong lofts of the new ones. The Steelhead Woods are still great, and just not quit as good as the new GBB woods, The VFT Driver is still long and straight although I am not as strong as I was then and have trouble with the 8 degree VFT and the 10.5 GBB works better for me. But I do believe with a softer shaft and more loft the VFT would still be a very good Dr.
So what is the bottom line. Golf is getting too technical, people are getting too confused, there is a lot of pressure to have the newest and the greatest, and Golf Companies survive of SALES.
Beachsidegolfer
Mar 22, 2017 at 11:12 am
Michael Breed would probably suggest you change out your equipment once a month
joro
Mar 22, 2017 at 11:40 am
Yes, and he would probably scream it.
Sebastian
Mar 22, 2017 at 1:31 pm
LET’S DO THIS!!
golfraven
Mar 22, 2017 at 8:42 am
The link to the Titleist video mentioned would have been great here otherwise I need to open Youtube and search for above link. Cheers
cwr117
Mar 22, 2017 at 6:40 am
Curious about the irons, I play 2007 Callaway X-20 and I love them. For me I have tried every new set of irons out there over the last year, and I am just not seeing a $900-$1200 difference in the new irons so I have a hard time justifying spending that kind of money. Now, I take very good care of my clubs, keep them clean and use a groove sharpener, new grips every year or so, but shouldn’t we all be doing that? I typically play around 100 rounds a year.
I did get fitted for a new driver a few years ago and I am swinging a 913D3.
joro
Mar 22, 2017 at 11:45 am
They were and are still very good clubs. If you really look and todays models you will see the same basic design with minor changes. The biggest changes are the length and lofts which make the clubs hit it farther. There are other things mainly to the hitting surface, but most of it is just salesman talk, the reality is in the loft, length and weight to make them longer, and as you know our ego says we have to be longer.
Enjoy your Golf with what you like, not what they say you should like.
Dave
Mar 22, 2017 at 5:32 am
What bull! Golf clubs should be changed when they break.
Dill Pickelson
Mar 21, 2017 at 11:45 pm
interesting about irons. i have noticed gaps developing between clubs, will get the loft and lie checked.
if you sharpen grooves on old wedges, i imagine they will not be better then new. but, is it legal in tourney play?
i used a groove sharpen on the wedges and it reduced roll out by 50%. still not a good as new but good enough to keep in the bag.
Devilsadvocate
Mar 23, 2017 at 12:47 pm
Legal as long as you don’t sharpen them past conforming levels… or change the general groove shape … if you are in doubt they can be checked by an official if you are at a large tournament