When buying golf equipment online many people think of eBay (particularly for used clubs) and the ‘major’ online golf stores as the main places to buy golf clubs. However, there are many more options available to buy golf clubs online. 

AUCTION SITES WHERE YOU MAY BUY GOLF CLUBS

Yes, there’s eBay, and it really can’t be beaten for online auctions. eBay is unmatched for choice and volume. However, it’s possible to get stung on eBay if you’re not careful (see the tips section below). Here are some other auction sites you might want to try:

o Online Auction (US) – I found about 200 golf items available for auction here. Mainly golf balls, gloves and other bits and pieces…..not much in the way of golf clubs. May be worth a look as a place to buy golf clubs.

o Golfbidder (UK/Europe) – mainly sell secondhand golf clubs, sourced from golf club professionals from around the UK (a small % are sourced directly from the public). While most golf clubs are sold as ‘Instant Buys’, some are auctioned. There are usually 30-odd items being auctioned at any one time and you may be able to pick-up a good deal

o Grays Online (Australia) – sellers on this site are mainly manufacturers, distributors or retailers trying to move excess or slow moving stock……not consumer to consumer auctions. Not necessarily a bad thing as this reduces some of the risk, but it also reduces the range. While there were only about 40 golf items for auction when I last looked, there were some good deals. Worth a look

I would generally avoid buying new golf equipment through online auctions. While you can take some precautions, it’s difficult to know whether you’re getting the genuine item or just a knock-off. Large, recognized eBay sellers are probably an exception.

MAJOR ONLINE STORES

There are quite a few well established online golf stores that stock a huge range of equipment and have a lot invested in their brand. Some are better than others, but you shouldn’t get any surprises and you should expect quality service, prompt delivery, a refund policy and plenty of information for buyers (eg buying guides). Some of the better ones include:

o Golfsmith
o The Golf Warehouse
o Callaway Golf
o Rockbottom Golf
o Golf Outlets USA
o Golf Discount
o Austad’s Golf
o Golf Galaxy
o Snainton Golf
o Online Golf

ONLINE GOLF FORUMS

Some great online golf communities have formed over the past few years and you can now choose from literally dozens of online golf forums to be part of. Some of the larger ones have an area for buying, selling and trading golf equipment.

Because golf forums are small communities of people with a shared interest, it’s a pretty supportive and safe environment in which to buy and sell equipment. If you’re not sure whether the seller of the golf clubs is genuine, you can simply ask other forum members.

There’s a lot of combined knowledge in these forums, so the bad apples get found out quickly.

I reckon these are the best and they have a very active buy/sell/trade area:

o Golf WRX – approx. 79,000 members (primarily US)
o Golf Magic – approx. 77,000 members (primarily UK/Europe)
o iseekgolf – approx. 75,000 members (primarily Australia)

USED GOLF EQUIPMENT STORES

Stores that sell used equipment are a very good alternative to eBay, classifieds and other online auction sites. The larger used online stores will often have: (1) a used club inspection and certification process, (2) no questions asked returns policy, (3) 12 month warrantee; and (4) shipping damage guarantee.

While many of the big online golf stores sell used golf equipment as well as new, there are a few online stores that sell only used:

USED ONLY

o Callaway Pre-Owned – sell other brands too, eg Nike, Titleist, Ping, TaylorMade. Offer 12 month warranty, money back guarantee and 90-day buy-back
o TaylorMade Pre-Owned -14 day money back guarantee and 12 month warrantee
o Golfbidder (UK) -7 day ‘no quibble’ returns policy, 12 month warrantee and some good buyer’s guides to help you choose the right clubs

USED & NEW

o Golfsmith – 30 day returns policy. No warrantee – they defer to the manufacturer’s warrantee (which has probably expired!)
o Edwin Watts Golf – 30 day returns policy. No warrantee – they defer to the manufacturer’s warrantee
o Direct Golf (UK) – used clubs sourced from trade-ins at Direct Golf stores. 14 day money back guarantee. No warrantee

AMAZON: A GREAT PLACE TO BUY GOLF CLUBS

The Amazon marketplace is big……..very big. And there’s a good range of new and used golf clubs and other gear here.

Amazon’s marketplace is a bit like eBay in that sellers (big and small) register with Amazon to sell their new or used golf equipment. The difference is that the items aren’t auctioned, they’re sold at the advertised price. It’s also a bit less risky with Amazon’s purchase guarantee – they’ll refund your money if you don’t receive the item you paid for, or if it’s not what you expected.

Amazon also offers a free subscription to Golf Digest or Golf World if you spend more the US$25 (US only).

Check out Amazon Golf.

EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURER SITES

There’s really only one top club manufacturer selling online, and that’s Callaway. The others, such as Titleist, Ping, Nike, etc obviously have websites to market their gear, but generally sell golf clubs through retail stores.

A few manufacturers (listed below), while not selling equipment online, provide information and tools that would be helpful to online buyers:

o Titleist – Titleist provides really comprehensive description of their products (incl. Vokey wedges and Scotty Cameron putters), as well as a catalogue of their previous models. There’s also some information on spotting fake Titleist gear
o Ping – the Ping site has an online club fitting tool that would be useful if planning to buy Ping equipment online elsewhere. Ping also has some information about spotting fake gear
o Odyssey – here you can find a pretty good online tool to find the right putter. You can buy Odyssey putters from the Callaway website
o Callaway – can buy golf clubs and other golf equipment direct from Callaway at their online shop

ONLINE CLASSIFIEDS

Online classified sites are another option, mostly for used golf clubs. The local classified paper has moved online, so it’s very likely that you’ll find a classifieds website for your local area. While you may not find the biggest range of golf clubs, if the seller is close by you can drive over to check the golf clubs out.

Craigslist hosts classified ads that service the entire globe, so you should also have a look here. It’s the 8th most popular website in the US, with around 50 million unique visitors per month and plenty of opportunities to buy golf clubs!

What is the longest hitting driver in golf? All the major golf manufacturers claim they make the longest hitting driver. The Internet is filled with all sorts of ads about finding the driver with the most distance off the tee. Even your local paper golfing magazine has features about special products that guarantee you can drive like a champion. So, what’s the great secret to finding the longest hitting driver?

The answer may already be in your bag or as close as your golf professional or online Internet golfing store. But, before dashing off to purchase that magical driver, lets look at what really makes drives go long and straight.

A longer club shaft – Conventional wisdom suggests that a driver with a loner shaft will hit a golf ball farther than a shorter shafted golf driver. The pun is intended. The bad news is that not everyone can hit a long shaft driver and the results can often be disappointing. Tests have shown that if a golf ball is mis-hit by as little as ½ inch, driving distance can be reduced by as much as 20 yards. The more you miss the sweet spot, the shorter the drives. And we’re talking about distance, not accuracy. Unless you are a low handicap golfer, by itself, a longer shaft could, in fact, hurt your distance off the tee.

Lighter club – It certainly helps, but it depends where the weight is removed. The theory is that the lighter the club, the faster the swing. The faster you swing your driver, the farther the golf ball flies down the fairway. Since the shaft has the most weight, that is the best place to remove club weight in order to speed up the swing. Here is where shaft flexibility enters the picture. If the driver’s shaft is too stiff, a lighter shaft weight may cause your shot to be short and a bit to the right. If you want to lighten the shaft, make sure shaft flexibility is part of your calculations.

More loft – Conventional wisdom also weighs in on loft. Simply put, the slower your swing speed, the higher the required trajectory necessary to keep the ball in the air. Check this out by comparing the distance with a three wood, versus the driver. If they are about the same, a common occurrence, consider a driver with a little more loft with the CG (center of gravity) slightly back from the club face.

Club head Design – This is where modern technology and strong club head design can really help the average golfer and is the place where technology has really helped long hitting drivers. Most of the above techniques work great if the ball is struck directly on the sweet spot. Unfortunately, only PGA golfers do that almost every time. Perimeter weighted clubs like the Callaway Big Bertha and drivers from Ping (who pioneered the technology), King Cobra and TaylorMade have become extremely popular driving companions for golfers, worldwide.

The Grip – The grip is one of the most overlooked aspects when choosing a driver, but one of the most important. This is the connection for you to the club and if everything isn’t comfortable and natural, your swing, and the resulting distance off the tee, hasn’t a chance.
The size of the grip is totally dependent on the size of your hands. The bigger the hands, the thicker the grip. If the grip is uncomfortable or irritates your hands, change it quickly. This is where totally comfortable is really good.

Believe it or not, grip weight is also a distance factor. A light grip increases the relative weight of the club head. This is good for players with good strong swings. A heavier grip decreases the relative weight of the club head and makes it feel lighter. This helps the golfer with a slower swing.

There are many answers to the question of what is the longest hitting driver in golf. Almost as many as there are golfers. Modern technology can help you find the best driver for your game. It also wouldn’t hurt to work on your swing so you can take advantage of the advanced weight and flexibility features on the big name clubs. Match your driver to your skills and play within yourself. That old sports saw really fits finding the longest hitting golf driver.

Playing golf can be one of the most favorite past times for a wide variety of people, and if you own a set of clubs then you need a golf head cover to protect each club. If you have the time, the right golf technique, a good movement coordination, and of course, the resources to acquire golf equipment and to get to a golf course where you can play golf, you are almost all set to enjoy golf. However, although many may seem to nod to the idea that golf is all about those mentioned basic requirements, some beg to disagree. There’s more to golfing if you are a fun-loving person and that is making your equipment top of the line, golfing accessories included, such as golf head covers. 

Golf Head Cover Information

What is a golf head cover, a newbie in golfing might ask. It is that golf accessory that protects the golf driver, and even irons if you have a full set, from getting damaged during travels or just when you are in a hurry to pull a club out or drop one into the bag.

What’s the use of a golf head cover, as mentioned, it is for protection. Since golf is a not-for-the-pauper game, golf equipment can be with very hefty price tags. The expensiveness of golf equipment is the very reason that many golfers need to protect their stuff. A golf head cover can help in this arena.

Golf clubs need utmost care and one of the most critical parts of golf clubs that require care is the golf club head. Why? The golf club head can make or break your game since this part of the golf club is the very part that gets in direct contact with the golf ball. Using golf head covers can solve a golfer’s dilemma about how to care for this important part of his or her golf clubs.

Why should you protect each golf club with a golf head cover?

One of the greatest nemesis of many golfers is rust on their golf club heads. And as nature has made it to be, rust can’t be avoided. A golf enthusiast can be very particular in maintaining their golf club heads clean and safe from rust. But it’s just impossible to expect rust to never visit your golf club heads because these golf equipment are made of carbon steel which is plated with chrome. As one uses a club, it gets exposed to abrasion, friction, and moisture, which builds up to produce rust. And rust on golf club heads can eventually turn a great golfer’s greatest hit into a bad one. You can slow down the process of allowing your priced golf club heads from succumbing to annoying rust – use golf club head covers. The golf head cover will keep the club head dry, which will consequently delay rusting.

Now after the uber-functional discussion about golf head covers, let’s go to the fun part. Golf head covers are also considered status symbols. The style of your golf head cover will indicate what your preferences are in terms of aesthetic value and of course, it will show what you can afford to buy. This is because there is a myriad of golf head covers, even designer ones that the more sophisticated type of golfer will definitely love.

So what are your golf head cover design options? Choose among the following popular designs by deciding which will suit your personality best.

Plain golf head cover exists for those who do not want too much trinkety sporting equipment. It can be less taxing if you are someone who gets disturbed by too much color or attention, especially from other golf players.

Popeye golf head cover is available for those who never get tired of the Popeye cartoon show. You will almost hear your golf club head munching on spinach if you use this style of golf head cover. Just kidding!

A bulldog golf head cover is for you if you simply love dogs, especially bull dogs. Great for really virile guys who want more fun from golf and some attention from other golfers, say girl golfers. Arf!

State flag design head covers are for those who are very patriotic and would always appreciate anything that symbolizes his or her country.

Your own golf club might be giving away free golf head covers. Just ask.
Enjoy protecting your golf club heads with a fun golf head cover!

A challenging and stimulating game like Golf has always been thought to be the domain of the privileged but off late, things have started to change. Golf training clubs and academy have been mushrooming at a rapid pace and because of that there are more youngsters getting into golf. This is not all; the game is drawing not only people and ardent fans but also a lot of sponsorship as well. This is good for the game as well as golfers.

It has often been seen that many skilled golf players have not ventured into playing the game due to lack of resources and financial aids. This is exactly where most people will find their love for the game of golf fading a little. Sports including golf however stimulating or challenging might be requires a steady flow of money for sustenance. The question is where one can really start from? Is there any specific company that would offer a sponsorship or financial aid for people who want to play golf?

The truth is that there are many companies who have started to get sponsors for the game as well as amateur or budding golfers. Sponsorship is important because it will help sustain the game on the long run and also ensure that there are enough people playing the game. A couple of years back getting sponsorship was not easy but the only good thing is that now there are more organizations like pro-launch who have opened their doors for amateur players by introducing golf training as well as golf sponsorship.

Most of the golf sponsorship companies today are trying to help amateur golfers as well as golf pros to raise sponsorship money to support their full-time golf career. Most of the golf sponsorship companies including pro-launch offer a guidebook that has been created by golf professionals and is targeted as golf amateurs. This guide book is designed in such a way that it will ensure that amateur golfers are able to understand the sport and take it seriously enough to be able to get sponsorship.

Most of the golf sponsorship companies can get a golfer – amateur or professional, financial aid through various ways including corporate sponsorship. Corporate sponsorship is actually the new and revealing thing in the arena of sports and golf is seen no differently. Some of the most popular sponsors of the golfing circuit include Sprint, Nike, Nokia, and Buick apart from many others. Different golf sponsorship companies have different ways of approaching the issue of providing financial aid. For example: pro-launch philosophy states that:

o They will provide a plan to all golfers so that they can be financed to ensure that golfers are able to sustain their golfing career

o They will also provide a support team

o They will teach golfers about golfing ethics, the competition and model them into becoming a complete player instead of just being another golfer.

With such kind of support, that day is not far away when golf sponsorship will hit mainstream and will be associated with the likes of NBA tournaments, FIFA, UEFA, and others.

You’ve paid for your new custom headlights online, got them shipped to your door, ripped open the package in excitement, and now you’re standing in front of your Golf scratching your head.

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