Used Clubs vs. New Clubs
You should now know the difference between the different clubs in your bag. Now, it is time to purchase your entire golf set. You might not know where to start, especially considering all of the different manufacturers and models. This section will help lead you in the right direction.
You can choose to buy either a new set or a used set of clubs. Your budget will be the main factor in determining if you can buy a new set. If you are new to the game of golf, it might be a good idea to buy a used set. Once you start to play more, it is easier to justify spending more money on a new set. Also, if you decide that golf is not something that you enjoy, then you're not out too much money. Some stores might even allow you to trade in your used set towards the purchase of a new set of clubs. If you do decide to buy used clubs, a great place to look is Callaway Golf Pre-Owned and Outlet
 store.
Buying Individual Clubs
Some beginners choose to buy individual clubs to make their set but this is generally a more expensive and time-consuming alternative to buying a set. Also, this mix and match method is not really helpful to the golfer, especially if the shafts vary greatly. It is important to note that drivers, wedges, and putters are usually bought seperately. I am only referring to iron sets and fairway wood sets here.
Inspecting Used Clubs
Used clubs can save you quite a bit of money. That being the case, you are going to want to inspect the clubs before buying. When inspecting a used set, you are going to want to look at the shafts, clubheads and the grips. Steel irons can rust (in the shaft and clubhead) if the previous owner did not dry them enough. This is mainly a cosmetic defect, but also should tell you that the clubs were not maintained that well. Steel shafts can also be inspected by making sure the shaft is not bent. Graphite shafts can be tested by holding the grip with your right hand and twisting the clubhead with your left hand. If it is easy to rotate the head with minimal resistance, then the graphite shaft is not in good shape. The shafts should look the same from one iron to another.
The main thing to look for in the clubhead is to make sure that the clubface is not worn. The center of the clubface is where the sweet spot is located and is typically the area that gets worn the quickest. In any case, the clubface should not have a shiny area near the center. The groove lines should also be clearly visible. The clubface can wear so that the groovelines become less and less defined. This is similar to how tires wear. Once the tread is worn, it is time to trade up. Finally, the clubface should not have dents. All of these properties of the clubface will affect proper contact with the ball and the associated ball flight.
 The grips also need to be checked. There should be no worn areas or cracks. If so, then you will need to pay to re-grip the clubs. The cost of grips is usually pretty reasonable Replacing the grips should not be a deal-breaker though, especially since it is doubtful that all of the clubs will need to be re-gripped. Some clubs are used more than others, and therefore get worn sooner.
Before you buy a used set, ask the seller if you can borrow (demo the clubs) to see if they work for you. Many people will allow you to do this to get a sale and to have a satisfied customer. If, for some reason, they won't let you demo their used clubs, then maybe you should be concerned. Make sure to check the price of a new set for the same clubs, assuming that the new set is still being offered by that manufacturer. It is possible that the manufacturer has dramatically reduced the price just to get rid of the clubs from their store. Sometimes they do this to bring in another product line.
If your budget allows you to buy a new set, then go for it. There are some great options out there. Whether you buy a new or used set, it is a good idea to check reviews online and to even ask friends for recommendations. Maybe you can even convince your friends to borrow their clubs. Some local pro shops can provide some assistance on finding a good set for your ability level.
Clone Clubs
If you definitely want to buy a new set, but do not want to shell out the cash needed to do so, you might want to look at clone clubs. These do not have the name brand like Titleist, Ping or Callaway. However, clone manufacturers offer similar quality clubs at a fraction of the price. They are offered much cheaper because they do not have the advertising costs, endorsement contracts and other expenses that name brand companies have. If you happen to find a popular name-brand set of irons, then there is a strong probability that you will find a clone set made of very similar materials and workmanship. It is very common for a clone set to have the same shaft and grip as a similarly designed brand name set. An additional benefit of buying clone sets is that many manufacturers give you a money back guarantee. Given the cheap cost of new clone clubs, you can't go wrong with taking them up on their offer. Regardless of what direction that you go, it is important to understand that your golf swing is the most important aspect to your golf game. The right clubs do certainly help though.
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