We cover golf equipment, and let’s be honest, most of it is pretty damn expensive. A new TaylorMade M1 ($500) can look like a bargain next to a $750 PXG, but that doesn’t mean either is affordable for everyone. It can be overwhelming, even demoralizing, so we wanted to take a moment to remind all of you that gearing up for golf doesn’t have to break the bank. You don’t have to spend big to play big.
You really can put together a full bag of gear at an affordable price.
Now sure, affordable means different things to different people, but yeah, I’m saying it can be done.
So what’s the right way to do it? There’s some subjectivity to that too, but I promise you that with some patience, a little bit of knowledge, and perhaps a few reasonable compromises, you can put together a totally boss set of clubs for under $500. That’s right, an entire bag of clubs for less than the cost of a new driver.
eBay. Yeah. eBay.
For beginners it might be tempting to go to a big box store and buy a literal big box (set) of clubs. It’s easy, but is that really the best way to get the most bang for you buck?
Nope, it’s not. The right answer is mostly eBay.
I know, I know. It’s in the industry’s best interest for consumers to believe that most of what’s on eBay is fake. It’s not. Yes, it’s true that once upon a time the risk of counterfeits was extreme, but that was before the golf companies over-saturated the market and golf shops ended up with more clubs than they could sell to their brick and mortar customers.
Rapid release cycles from TaylorMade, Callaway, and others have led to quick turn-arounds at the consumer level too. Out with the old and in with the new. The churn often burns like a dumpster fire on eBay.
I’m not saying the risk of buying a fake isn’t real. Counterfeit clubs are still an issue, but not like they used to be.
If you’re smart about what you buy and from where you buy it, it’s actually possible to get yourself started with everything you need to play the game, and – at the risk of repeating myself – you can do it for under $500.
Guidelines & Best Practices for Getting Sick eBay Deals
Buy from Top-Rated Sellers. These guys have a documented, and often long history of satisfied customers. Always check feedback for any red flags, but going the Top-Rated route will lessen the chance of ending up with a bag full of fake crap, which I suppose is real crap.
Avoid Overseas Sellers. Not to sound like a xenophobe, but it’s advisable to avoid overseas sellers. The risk of ending up with less than authentic gear is greater, and with eBay prices being what they are, the discounts aren’t worth the additional risk. You can save big without crossing an ocean.
Ask Questions. Seriously…ask inane, even tiresome questions about the gear you’re considering. If buying used from an individual, ask where it was purchased and why it’s being sold.
Ask for serial numbers too.
It’s as much about forcing a conversation as it is about gathering actual information. The timeliness and the quality of the response will give you a good read on whether or not the seller is trustworthy. Answers (or lack thereof) can also throw up red flags, so never be afraid to walk away.
That’s the beauty of eBay; when you miss out, there’s almost always another one.
Buy Used, but in Good Condition. The rapid turnover means there’s plenty of quality stuff to be had on the cheap. Yeah, we all like shiny new things, but is new worth the extra money over gently used, or even good condition? Let somebody else eat the depreciation.
Nearly everything in my bag right now is in no better than good condition, and the same will be true of anything else I play for more than a couple of rounds. All of us are already playing with used clubs.
Skip PING and Titleist. Unless it’s an absolute must-have for you, don’t even look at PING or Titleist. Longer release cycles, solid inventory management, and outstanding corporate reputations mean gear from these guys holds its value longer and better.
You can find legitimate PING and Titleist gear on eBay, but your discount won’t sniff what you can save by going with other brands.
Don’t Be Afraid of Component Brands – Dynacraft/Hireko is a great example of a small company making solid product – especially in the iron category. The brand power isn’t what it is with the big guys, but if you’re looking to buy new, know that you can get a full set of irons from these guys for under $200.
Look For Package Deals. We all know irons come it sets, but very often multiple fairway woods, hybrids, and wedges are packaged together too. For sellers, the convenience of bundling and shipping in a single box often outweighs the dollar benefits of selling each club separately. For buyers, that can mean better deals when clubs are purchased together.
When The New Ships, Buy The Old. Most of you already know this, but nothing lowers the cost of an existing model like the appearance of a new one. If you’ve got the time, hold on to your money until the newer model arrives. When it does, buy the older one and enjoy your blowout discount.
Shop the Underdogs. eBay is ripe with deals on clubs that are less expensive than they should be (at least less than I think they should be). There are a near-infinite number of reasons why good gear from name-brand companies is so readily available on the cheap. Sometimes its market over-saturation, sometimes a club is released at the wrong time and doesn’t sell, and sometimes a good club slips through the cracks without earning the reputation it deserves. And of course, there’s good old supply and demand.
Do your research and use everything listed above to your advantage. With a little bit of knowledge and some patience, it’s not only possible, it’s highly-probably that you can pull together a boss set of golf clubs for less than $500 bucks.
A Real-World Example
To create this list, we went back and looked at clubs that have sold recently on eBay. Generally, we looked for clubs in good (or better) condition, from reputable sellers. In most cases, the clubs we chose are less than 2 years old. To add an element of difficulty, we looked for products in stiff flex only.
While we provide this list as a specific example of sorts, I’m not saying THIS IS WHAT YOU SHOULD BUY. I’m merely trying to give you an idea of how and where too look in order to maximize the value of your dollar. As with everything else, your actual mileage may vary.
With all of that said, here’s what your eBay bag might look like.
Driver: TaylorMade JetSpeed – $34
This is your textbook example of an underrated club that’s available at positively stupid-good prices.
JetSpeed’s issues were three-fold; it was poorly painted (quality is good, graphics are questionable), it was poorly timed, and it was poorly marketed. It might also be the most underrated driver TaylorMade has ever produced.
If that’s not motivation enough, golfers on a budget should revel in the knowledge that not only can JetSpeed drivers be found in abundance, but that finding one for $50 or less is anything but a rare feat.
3 & 5 Wood: TaylorMade JetSpeed – $33 (Set)
Again? Redundant much? Don’t care. I’m sticking with JetSpeed. Bang for the buck, it absolutely can’t be touched. We’re talking name brand stuff at component prices. Like the driver, TaylorMade JetSpeed Fairway woods are grossly under-appreciated and readily available; often in sets.
$33 for two? Uh…yeah.
#4 Hybrid: Adams Speedline Super S – $3
$2.81 for a BRAND NEW (yes, I’m screaming) Adams hybrid (from a Top-Rated Seller). I can’t promise you this particular deal will be found again, but I’m also not going to tell you this is a one-off anomaly, because it’s definitely not. It’s especially important to be patient with hybrids as insane deals and probably listing mistakes, seem to be a bit more common.
At one point we found a 2014 Adams Tight Lies for $.99, and in December, a Top-Rated Seller sold a PING G30 #3 hybrid in really good shape for $1.00.
While the Super S probably isn’t the most popular Adams hybrid ever, it can more than hold its own – especially for those looking for distance. For $2.81, why not? At that price it’s basically disposable anyway.
Iron Set: Adams Idea CB3 (4-PW,GW) – $159
We’re going back to Adams again, and this time we’re going with a slightly older model We love the CB3 for the mid-handicap golfer. For $160 those feelings border on naughty.
Adams is a smart play because its current status as a barely-existent brand means the really good stuff the company used to make is available for way less than it should be.
You may want a better players iron, or you may want something with a bit more of a game or super-game improvement slant. You can just as easily find either. We went middle of the road from an ability perspective here, but Adams should be near the top of your eBay list regardless of what type of iron you’re looking for.
While the Idea CB3 frequently sells for $250 or more, patience can be rewarded with a full set for as little as $150 (at least two sets have sold for that price recently).
If Adams isn’t your thing, outstanding deals on Wilson, Cobra, and even component brands like Dynacraft are also readily available.
Wedges: Cobra Tour Trusty 56° & 60° – $50 each
We went with standard lofts, but if you’re a 54/58 guy, you can do that too. There are always options.
Unlike the other categories, where we wholeheartedly endorse buying used, you might want to consider buying your wedges new…or at least new-ish. Spin matters, and that means grooves matter too. I’m not saying you shouldn’t buy a used wedge, but you definitely need to consider groove wear before you do.
We get the desire for a Vokey, or a Callaway Mack Daddy and that’s fine, but it’s going to cost you a bit more. At $50 each brand new, Cobra’s often-overlooked Tour Trusty is strong performer. Once again, here’s a spot where Wilson can fill a spot in your bag for a very good price.
Putter: Never Compromise GZ-1 – $8
It wasn’t all that long ago that Never Compromise was a well-known commodity in putter circles. Bad news in general, but good news for you; like Adams, Never Compromise basically doesn’t exist anymore, which makes it that much easier to find good deals in the used market.
With traditional blade shapes, mallets, and even some more adventurous designs frequently available, you’re assured to find something that suits your eyes. For $8, the NC GZ-1 is just fine.
If Never Compromise isn’t your thing, there are literally hundreds of quality putters on eBay for under $25.
Search Never Compromise Putters
Golf Bag – $25
You can definitely find a golf bag under $25 on eBay, you might even be able to get it shipped too, but as a general rule, the shipping costs on bags can be prohibitive for the bargain shopper. Our advice, hit up Craigslist, Facebook garage sale groups, or your favorite For Sale by Owner App. It won’t be hard to find something inexpensive with which to carry your new-to-you clubs.
Golf Balls – $22
You can find golf balls in abundance on eBay, but it’s so much easier to find exactly what you’re looking for at LostGolfBalls.com.
If you’re wondering if it makes sense to buy gently used golf ball…When I think of the countless balls that never made it to a second swing for me, it’s easy to make the case for buying one-hit wonders.
Your options here are nearly limitless, but as far as bang for your buck goes, Bridgestone’s E6 at $10.99 a dozen isn’t a bad place for the beginning golfer to jump in. At that price, why not buy an extra dozen? You’re probably going to need them.
Everything from Top-Flites to Pro V1s can be found well below retail pricing.
Search LostGolfBalls.com
Grand Total – $385 (rounded up, pre-shipping).
You Can Do Even Better
To be fair, you’re not going to stroll on to Ebay today and find everything shown here for the prices listed. Finding the best deals takes time, but it absolutely can be done. And here’s the thing…as I said, when we put this list together we focused on relatively new clubs. Looking at clubs another year or two older probably isn’t going to have any severe performance implications, but it could save you another 1 or 2 hundred bucks…easily.
Know your budget, understand what you can reasonable get with whatever money you have to spend, and then go get your boss bag of gear on the cheap.
If you’re patient, it really is possible.
Carl K
8 years ago
Since learning how to actually make clubs, I’ve been buying clubheads only on eBay for the past 2 years now and pairing them up with shafts that I like. It’s actually very easy to put together your own set of irons or even a driver with a little practice you can do it.
BTW, I own that Jetspeed driver and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. It’s awesome.