What distinguishes a good golfer from a great one is skill, practise and club care. While some of your clubs are capable of driving a ball hundreds of yards, they’re surprisingly delicate. The slightest bit of damage can easily skew the surface of a club head and drastically affect your shots. In a game of such subtlety and fine margins, it’s vital that you tick every box and take care of your equipment so that it can take care of your game. Here, we discuss how to properly clean your clubs and protect them from damage.
How to clean your clubs
Getting dirt and grass on your clubs is unavoidable, but not addressing this debris promptly can hinder your game and damage your clubs. However, there are many different types of club, requiring various methods for cleaning. Remember to thoroughly dry your clubs after washing; putting your clubs away wet puts them at risk of rust and long-term damage.
Irons and wedges
Maintenance is especially important for irons and wedges as they rely on small grooves to increase friction and control the ball’s trajectory with more precision. While you should use a golf cleaning brush every few rounds, a thorough wash at home will improve your game and lengthen your club’s lifespan significantly. Prepare a bowl of warm water mixed with dish soap, dip your brush and scrub the grooves on your club head, using a toothpick to pluck out any stubborn debris, if necessary.
Drivers, fairways or hybrids
These clubs will generally stay cleaner than irons and wedges, but sand and rocks still pose a threat and need to be dealt with. Again, mix a bowl of warm water and dish soap and scrub the head of your driver with a non-steel brush to protect the titanium head from scratches. Finally, dry with a paper towel to avoid unsightly streaks and smudges.
Grips and shafts
These components of your clubs are at particular risk of a shorter lifespan from misuse or lack of care. Use cleaner to remove any sticker residue from the shaft and handle, and clean with a wet cloth to ensure your grip is working as well as it can. Bear in mind, the shaft is particularly susceptible to rust, meaning you must dry it after every use and wash. If you notice small, surface rust, try washing with vinegar water to avoid it spreading.
Safely storing your clubs
While travelling or during storage, clubs can knock into each other or other surfaces and easily become damaged. To avoid this accidental damage, use a golf club bag and head covers from a reputable supplier. Store your clubs somewhere secure, dry and far from anything that might fall on to them. A high-quality club is an investment that shouldn’t be treated lightly. Expanding the lifespan of your equipment will reduce your costs and allow you to improve your game by playing consistently with the same equipment. The best golfers use a small, multi-purpose brush when playing to quickly clean their clubs every few rounds, ensuring that no external factors, such as dirt or debris, are stopping them getting that illustrious ‘birdie’. For more information ‘birdies’, ‘eagles’, and everything in between, read our golf slang debunker.