Many people wonder do expensive golf clubs make a difference vs. cheap golf clubs. There is a wide variety of prices for golf clubs on the market.
This article will help explain whether high-priced or low-priced clubs make a difference and whether expensive clubs match their quality.
Do expensive golf clubs make a difference? Key Factors To Consider
What is expensive?
It all depends on the person and what they consider expensive depending on their wealth.
There is a multitude of drivers, irons, wedges, and putters that can be found at high prices.
For example, a more expensive driver such as the TaylorMade SIM can be found for between $500-$600 at most stores.
If you’re using a $350 TaylorMade M1 and you upgrade to the SIM, there are a variety of factors to consider that can determine whether you improve or not.
Price and quality don’t always match up.
A company like Honma will aggressively market its clubs and sell them at high prices due to their high-end materials.
Another company such as Ben Hogan Golf will focus more on a direct to consumer business model and sell clubs for much cheaper despite having good technology and materials in their clubs.
Player ability
Depending on your handicap and your ability as a player, switching to the more expensive driver could make a difference.
If you consistently shoot in the mid-80s or mid-70s, the technology in the more expensive, the newer driver could give you more length and its customizability could help you fix your slice or hook.
If you play once a month and don’t practice it probably won’t be worth swapping to the more expensive driver.
The club won’t miraculously make you a better player overnight.
The Club
People often ask ‘why are golf clubs so expensive?’ It’s due to the quality of material that was used to build the club as well as the technology and customizability of the club.
There are different clubs that have different characteristics.
In the driver category, some drivers are adjustable and others aren’t.
If you own a Cleveland HB Launcher that isn’t adjustable but you hit it well and like the simplicity, then there really isn’t a point in paying an extra $150-$250 on a 2020 adjustable driver.
If you want to experiment with moving weights around to promote a draw or fade and enjoy being able to change the loft, then a more expensive customizable driver is a good choice.
It’s ultimately up to the consumer.
Getting Fitted
One variable that can make buying expensive clubs worth it is getting fitted at your local golf store.
Is getting fitted for golf clubs worth it? Our hyperlinked article goes into more detail on this.
For those of you with an existing set, we also cover – how often should you replace your golf clubs?
A professional can assist you with trying out different clubs and adjusting them for your height and swing style.
Technology Differences
A golfer who is using a Taylormade R7 (released in 2005) or Titleist 680 irons (released in 2003) might strongly consider upgrading to a more expensive and newer club.
Most club brands implement more forgiveness in their newer clubs and more distance thanks to larger sweet spots and “spring” technology that allows the ball to jump off the face.
Many people ask themselves: ‘Do expensive drivers make a difference?’ The newer technology makes a massive difference.
The player will probably easily see longer drives and more solid iron shots when switching from 15-year-old technology to more modern designs.
Are expensive clubs worth it for beginners?
For people who are just starting to learn the game of golf, expensive clubs probably are not worth it.
They should be more interested in learning what is the best golf club to learn with.
If you’re just learning to swing the club, the technology won’t make much of a difference and neither will be getting fitted.
It is a better investment to pay for lessons and practice at the range before buying fancy clubs.
Doing this will get you ready to hit the course and make you more comfortable when playing.
It also will give you a better feel and aid in making solid contact on shots which is extremely key.
Are custom built golf clubs more expensive?
Buying custom built golf clubs is a lot pricier than buying standard clubs off the rack. This goes for both complete sets and individual clubs.
Custom golf clubs do have their pros though. They allow a player to choose options such as what kind of shaft, lie angle, length, flex and loft.
These different options can suit a golfer for their style of swing, swing speed and angle of address.
Spotting Counterfeit Golf Clubs
The worst thing to do is accidentally purchase counterfeit clubs.
You will likely pay a high price for a product that is advertised well and seems authentic, but actually is fake and clearly won’t increase your performance.
Below are some tips on how to spot counterfeit clubs.
- Compare photos of the club being sold to photos of the club on a company’s authentic website.
- Look for differences in color and differences in the font of the brand engraved on the club.
- Make sure the grip on the club is new because some counterfeited clubs will have older grips on them.
- Counterfeit shaft bands will usually peel quicker when placed on a fake shaft than on a real shaft.
- On irons look for the branding and loft locations, they will be in a different spot on a fake club.
- On drivers, try the magnet test. A magnet won’t stick to a titanium driver head but will on a counterfeit steel head.
- Look at the shape of the authentic clubs compared to the ones being sold.
- Be sure to see the paint on the real club. The color will usually be off for counterfeit clubs.
Most expensive golf brands
Honma Five Star Golf Clubs:
These golf clubs are the most premium Honma has to offer. Priced at $32,000 for the set, these clubs are used by celebrities.
The Japanese company made the clubs from platinum and gold. Each club costs around $5,000 each.
Miura IC-601
Another Japanese clubmaker that makes high-end clubs is Miura. The brand’s IC-601 irons are some of the most expensive irons on the market.
For seven clubs including a four-iron through a pitching wedge, the price is about $2,700 coming out to over $380 per club.
The company’s wedges aren’t cheap either, retailing at about $400 each.
PXG
A newly developed company created in 2014 by billionaire and golfer Bob Parsons, called Parsons Xtreme golf, took the PGA Tour by storm.
Some professionals who have used these clubs include Pat Perez, Billy Horschel, Ryan Moore and Wyndham Clark.
A set of irons can be sold in the range of $3,300 while the drivers sell for around $1,000.
PXG’s high-end wedges come with a price tag of over $1,200.
Conclusion On Importance (Or Not) Of Expensive Clubs
Switching to expensive golf clubs is up to the golfer themself. Upgrading from a 2019 driver to a 2020 driver might not benefit someone because the technology isn’t much different.
Upgrading a 20-year-old club is certainly worth it.
Remember to try out different golf clubs at your local golf store or at the range. Be sure to comment in the queries about your experiences with expensive golf clubs.
FAQ
What features make a golf club more expensive?
Some golf clubs are more expensive than others because of the technology packed features and materials they were created with. Clubs such as the TaylorMade Stealth or Callaway Epic are going to be more expensive than budget clubs such as the Callaway Strata’s. Materials such as titanium, stainless steel or carbon fiber will shoot up the price.
What average price should beginners pay for new golf clubs and why?
Beginners can pay a wide variety of average prices for new clubs. A range from $300 to $1,000 is normal for a quality budget set or high end set. It’s up to them whether or not they want to shell out more money on the more expensive clubs.
