A Guide to Keeping Your Clubs in Tip Top Shape
Golf clubs aren’t just the main tool in the game; they're an investment in your enjoyment and performance in the game. To maintain their effectiveness, a good regular cleaning is recommended. Let’s be honest, no one wants to follow up a beautiful fairway tee shot with a 6 iron that has rock hard dirt stuck on it from your last trip out west. But how often should we really be cleaning our golf clubs? Let's chip into it:
After Every Round:
Well in a perfect world you should be cleaning them after every round of play. This makes sure that dirt, grass, and debris doesn't accumulate on your clubs, which can and will affect your performance. Taking a few extra minutes after a round to give your clubs a quick wipe down with a towel and some water can help remove any debris you picked up on the course.
Every Few Rounds:
While a quick cleaning after each round helps, you should do a deeper cleaning every few rounds. Now this is where a good ole soak comes in handy. This involves soaking your clubs in warm, soapy water for 2-5 minutes to remove any stubborn dirt or debris on your clubs. After taking them out, cleaning out the grooves with a brush or tee is recommended. This deep clean can help maintain the integrity of your club’s, ensuring performance and longevity.
Monthly Maintenance:
Monthly maintenance isn’t always necessary but getting some specialized club cleaning solution with a good club cleaning brush is a good way to get your grooves fully cleared. Make sure you give special attention to the grooves and club-heads, as both of these locations are important for maintaining control and ball spin on your shots.
Off-Season Care:
During the off-season the most important thing you can do is keep your clubs stored properly. The ideal place to store your golf clubs is in a dry and cool place. Head-covers are a great way to protect the club-heads and keep them in tip top shape during the off season.
Special Considerations:
- If you are playing in wet or muddy conditions often, you will want to make sure your clubs are dry at the end of the round and cleaned off to prevent rust and debris.
- For those of you who use forged clubs, which are prone to rust, cleaning and drying regularly are important.
- If you notice performance of your clubs going downhill, such as lack of spin or control, it may be a good idea to do a deep cleaning.
Conclusion:
The key to maintaining the performance and longevity of your precious clubs is by doing regular cleaning. By following these simple principles and cleaning regularly, you can ensure that your clubs look perform well, look good, and most importantly last a long time. So, go grab your bucket and towel, and start keeping those clubs in tip top shape!