Know When To Replace Your Golf Clubs: A Club-by-Club Guide

When we looked at the topic of whether my 20 year old irons are ‘too old’ it was clear that golf clubs are built to last and don’t really expire or ‘go bad’.

That’s a different question though to wondering whether your current clubs might be holding you back and it’s time for an upgrade.

A survey in the UK asked over 1,000 golfers revealed some fascinating insights into how often players actually replace their clubs:

• 7% replace their clubs every 12 months
• 2% replace them every 2 years
• 17% change them every 3 years
• Almost a third (31%) change their clubs every 4 years
• Almost half (43%) change their clubs after 4 years

But here’s the thing – what the survey didn’t tell us though was often players replaced different types of clubs.

For example how often did they replace their driver compared to their irons? Did they replace their wedges far more often than their putter?

And the reason for thinking about this is that you should be looking at how often you replace your clubs based on club type rather than your set as a whole.

Your wedges for example, might see action 10 to 20 times per round, and will therefore naturally wear much faster than that 5-iron you that you maybe pull out once every two rounds.

So when it comes to each type of club in your bag here are some top tips for what to look out for to help you decide when it’s maybe time to replace them.

Golfing Focused Takeaways For Time Pressed Golfers

• Different Clubs, Different Timelines: Modern clubs are built to last, but replacement intervals vary significantly by club type – wedges need the most frequent attention, while putters can last decades.
• Focus on Performance, Not Age :While most golfers (74%) keep clubs 4+ years, replacement timing should be driven by performance decline and your playing goals, not just age.
• Watch the High-Use Clubs: Wedge grooves show meaningful wear after about 100-125 rounds, while driver performance can remain consistent for 5+ years with proper care.
• Regular Maintenance Matters: Forged irons need annual loft and lie checks, grips require regular looks, but club heads and shafts can last many years with good care.
• Technology vs. Technique: While club technology continues to advance, improvements are now incremental. Focus on technique and proper fitting before assuming new technology will transform your game.

How Do You Know If Your Driver is Actually Outdated and Needs Replaced?

Is your driver past its prime or is that just what the golf club manufacturers want you to believe?

Let’s be honest drivers are the most frequently changed club by amateur golfers.

This makes sense given how clearly statistics show the connection between driving distance and lower handicaps.

But it’s also influenced by the annual marketing push from manufacturers promising 10-15 extra yards with their latest driver technology that makes many amateurs worry they are falling behind.

Before you rush to replace your current driver, let’s look at what the experts really say about driver technology and performance gains.

Modern driver heads are brilliantly engineered, but manufacturers have largely exhausted the possible technological advances. Here’s why:

1. Rules Restrict Innovation: Golf’s governing bodies have capped driver performance through COR (coefficient of restitution) limits since the late 1990s. The 1.5 ‘smash factor‘ ceiling means manufacturers can’t legally make drivers that convert swing speed to ball speed more efficiently.
2. Pro Distance Gains Have Slowed: PGA Tour driving distances now increase incrementally rather than in huge leaps. The big distance gains of the early 2000s are over.
3. Pros Hit the Gym, Not the Store: A recent USGA/R&A survey ranked player fitness as the third most important factor in increased hitting distance. Just look at Bryson DeChambeau’s transformation as evidence of this!

For substantial distance increases, we’re done in driver head design. There won’t be any other new metal that will be discovered, any new kind of weighting or construction of the head that will increase the ball speed over the 1.5 smash factor that COR controls in the rules …. In terms of the drivers the player’s can’t hit it any further than they’re hitting it right now because they are all locked on the limit.

Tom Wishon, Industry leader in golf club research and shaft design

Yes, manufacturers are continuing to innovate with features like adjustable weights and loft, moveable shaft adaptors and continually using better manufacturing processes and materials.

Some of these will deliver improvements on an older driver but some are more marketing tools rather than game-changing innovations.

Consider this insight from master club fitter Simon Cooper of Precision Golf, one of Europe’s top custom fit and build studios.

Despite having access to every new driver release, Simon played a 2018 TaylorMade M4 for five years straight. It wasn’t until 2023 that he found meaningful performance gains with a Titleist TSR3.

This tells us regular amateurs a few important things:

• New doesn’t automatically mean better for your game and if you look after your driver it should last you at least 5 years and most likely longer.
• The performance gains on a 2-3 year old driver (e.g. G425MAX or even a G430 MAX to a G440 Max) will likely be minimal and not justify the cost
• Better performance on off-centre hits and tighter dispersion are likely with a new driver vs. a 5+ year old one (e.g. G410 Plus to G440 Max) although again pure gains in length from centre strikes might remain modest.

Visions of turning 200-yard drives into 300-yard bombs simply by purchasing a new driver are unfortunately based solely on fantasy.

That is not to say major improvements may not be possible for other reasons with a driver switch.

For example, I gained 25 yards in total distance by switching from a 10.5° to an 8° driver – the improvement came from better fitting, not newer technology.

But it’s highly unlikely you are going find such a gain through a change based solely on age of your driver, assuming of course it’s not a relic from a bygone era.

Wear and tear wise the things to look out for scratches on the face and dents on the head itself which can affect performance.

But if you take good care of it, it should last a good number of years.

And don’t worry too much about ‘metal fatigue’.

While even Titanium faces can eventually wear out, unless you have close to Tour-level swing speed and play and practice endlessly, there’s very little chance of stress-related damage.

The same general rules apply to fairway woods when it comes to how often you should replace them.

Although with one key difference: they typically see more wear and tear compared to drivers due to ground contact, path strikes, tree roots etc.

But again, with proper care, expect 5+ years of solid performance from these clubs too.

Do Golf Shafts Wear Out?

While the discussion about when to replace drivers typically focuses on the the driver head what about the shaft?

After all, the shaft is an equally important part of any golf club. Do shafts wear out and need to be replaced before the driver head?

The good news is that golf shafts are incredibly durable.

According to testing by True Temper cited in Golf Digest, a steel shafts most common in irons will last “two-and-a-half lifetimes.”

When it comes to graphite, now universal in drivers, experts from PING confirm that “graphite shafts should last a long, long time.”

And the proof?

Just look at former USA Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson. He used the same Diamana Blueboard shaft for so many years that the paint wore off from taking it in and out of his bag.

Yet according to Avery Reed, former PGA Tour rep for Mitsubishi, “it never changed the playability of the shaft.”

However, not all shafts are created quite equal when it comes to durability and reuse.

Graphite driver shafts with adjustable cogs can last many years and are safely transferable between compatible club heads using a compatible adapter and wrench.

But by comparison Reed recommends to avoid removing and reusing ‘glued-in’ graphite shafts in another club.

While shafts rarely “wear out,” there can be good reasons to consider upgrading including:

• Performance gains: modern shafts are getting lighter and current fitting trends show driver shafts dropping from 65-70g to 55-60g. Iron shafts now commonly 95-105g (down 20g from 5-10 years ago)
• Lost distance: If your swing speed has dropped with age lighter shafts can help recapture lost yards.

The bottom line is shafts don’t often weaken over time but shaft manufacturers are continuing to innovative and there has never been such a broad choice of shafts than there is today.

You’re much more likely to want to replace a shaft for performance gains therefore than because it’s worn out.

As Tom Bushell, Head of Fitting at Precision Golf explains: “Tour pros are playing lighter driver shafts these days… There’s no loss of feel or stability in going this light, and most of our clients are finding more speed, and therefore more distance, as a result.”

So the right shaft fitting could unlock extra yards and consistency, even if your current shafts are physically fine.

Take the Time To Tell If you Need New Irons

When it comes to knowing when you need new irons, we need to think differently than we do about drivers.

And this is because with irons we’ve got grooves to consider which requires us to look at the club in a bit more detail than we do a driver.

The type of irons you play also makes a big difference in how often they might need attention.

Forged irons for example, which are made by beating soft steel into shape, are more prone to wear and tear than their cast counterparts.

While the metal used in them will last a lifetime golfers with frequent golfers using forged irons can experience changes including:

• Lie angles shifting 2-3 degrees
• Lofts changing by one or two degrees.

Indeed that very thing happened to me when I found out at a recent fitting that the manufactured 3º gap between my 3-iron and 4-iron had narrowed to two degrees causing them to frequently carry similar distances.

There was absolutely nothing wrong with the metal though in my 20-year Mizuno MP-32 forged blades though!

So if you play forged irons and play regularly, it’s worth getting their lies and lofts checked every year or two.

While they’re likely to be fine, it costs nothing to check and can save you strokes if adjustments are needed.

“Given that there are centuries-old samurai swords using basically the same kind of steel found in some irons today, it’s probably fair that your irons aren’t going to decompose in your lifetime.”

 Mike Stachura and E. Michael Johnson (Golf Digest’s equipment editors)

Cast irons, by comparison, are made by pouring molten metal into molds, creating a more robust club that’s highly resistant to changes.

Advances in iron tech also haven’t been as dramatic as it has been with drivers which means your irons are unlikely to become as outdated as quickly as other clubs.

As I’ve already alluded to also I walked away from my recent golf fitting with my 20-year blade irons still firmly in my bag because I like them and no comparable modern blade was giving me any outstanding improvement in performance.

They did however need to be fitted with much lighter shafts than I had in them originally!

That is not to say though that golf club iron design has not improved a lot over the years.

When it comes to cavity back clubs particularly manufacturers have worked hard to improve the elements players lost when giving up their blades such as shot-making capabilities and feedback on the strike.

However the decision to replace your irons should be driven by performance rather than age. Don’t feel pressured to upgrade simply because your clubs are a few years old.

And if you are happy with the ‘performance’ of your existing irons and maintain them well – checking the grooves are ok and making sure the club face doesn’t have any obvious damage, your irons should last a long time.

If you have got a 10 or 20-year-old set like me it’s possible that the latest irons will add some distance and forgiveness to your armoury.

This is particularly true if you’re still carrying old 3 and 4-irons in your bag.

Modern hybrids have taken over almost entirely in the amateur game when it comes to the longest irons so if you keep on persevering with your old long irons you are likely leaving strokes on the strokes.

If those are your circumstances and you deem it time for a change that’s likely a very sensible plan.

But it will be nothing to do with the ‘quality’ of your old irons which likely be as good as they always have been when hit correctly.

It’s All In The Grooves When It Comes To Replacing Wedges

Wedges are the most versatile clubs in anyone’s golf bag.

They are therefore the most used and often in conditions (e.g. sand, paths, other ‘debris heavy’ areas etc) which means they are likely to wear out much faster than the other clubs

But before you rush to replace them as often as the pros do, let’s look at what the experts say about wedge wear and when replacement really makes sense.

Club experts and fitters explain that wedge grooves serve a crucial purpose beyond just creating spin.

They channel moisture and debris away from the point where the ball meets the clubface. And therefore the sharper the grooves are, the better they perform this vital function.

When wedges wear out, it’s also not always obvious to the naked eye.

A key sign of wear though is when the top edge of the groove begins to round off.

Once this happens, the groove can no longer effectively cut through to the back of the ball, leading to reduced spin and control.

And this becomes particularly noticeable in two specific situations:

• Half-wedge and other partial shots
• Wet conditions where moisture management is crucial.

The research numbers tell a compelling story about wedge performance over time.

Testing from the Titleist Vokey R&D team has shown that new wedges can generate up to 2000 RPM more spin than their worn counterparts.

Even more telling, fresh grooves produce less than half the rollout distance compared to wedges that have seen 125 rounds of use.

To put this in perspective for the average golfer, 125 rounds typically equals about three years of play for someone getting out 35-40 times per year.

That’s a significant lifespan, especially when compared to how often pros change their wedges.

“I probably changed my lob wedge between six and eight times a year and I’d maybe use two sand wedges a year and two pitching wedges.”

Rory McIlroy

For us mere mortals who can’t just go and get a new wedge at will how important is that potential loss of spin rate over time?

Consider how often you actually strike your wedge shots from the centre of the clubface.

Think about what percentage of your wedge shots genuinely require maximum spin.

And reflect on whether you regularly play in conditions where those sharp grooves matter most. The answers to these questions should guide your replacement decisions more than simply following what the pros do.

Simon Cooper of Precision Golf also again suggests a practical approach to assessing wedge wear.

Start by examining the top edges of the grooves for signs of rounding. Look for any stone chips or significant wear marks that might affect performance.

And pay particular attention to how your wedges perform in wet conditions and on those delicate partial shots around the green.

The importance of sharp grooves also increases as club speed decreases.

This means your highest-lofted wedges, used for those delicate shots around the green, may need replacement before your gap wedge that you primarily use for full shots.

Also, 125 rounds of golf will take someone playing 35-40 yearly games three years to get to.

So although wedges are definitely worth keeping the closest eye on when it comes to wear and tear and consequent performance degradation you need to ask yourself honestly how much a replacement may help your game.

Like irons, and particularly if they are forged irons, just keep an eye on the grooves, lies and lofts every couple of years and they should be fine for a while.

Putters Can Last A Lifetime

Your putter might be the most personal club in your bag.

But let’s cut through the marketing and superstition to answer a simple question – do putters really wear out?

Alongside the driver, putters tend to be switched out of golfers’ bags the most frequently.

While drivers and putters are the most frequently changed clubs in golf bags, the reasons couldn’t be more different.

Driver changes are often driven by genuine technological advances and performance gains.

And while there have been advances in putter technology in an effort to make them more balanced, and therefore give golfers a better chance of keeping their putts on target, it is hard to argue the changes have been earth-shattering.

Putter switches, on the other hand, I would venture to guess have more to do with ‘confidence issues’ rather than any new magic design formula or any physical deterioration of the club.

Think about how a putter is used.

Unlike drivers or wedges, putters face minimal stress during use. There’s no violent impact, no digging into sand or soil, and no high-speed collision with the ball.

The gentle nature of putting means these clubs can last decades while maintaining their performance.

So if you have a putter you trust, there’s likely no physical reason to replace it.

And if you’re struggling with your putter like I was you may be equally lucky following a putter lesson and discover that simply bending your existing putter to alter the lie angle can make all the difference!

Replacing your old putter because it doesn’t feel like you could hole a 5ft putt even if the hole were the size of a bucket is a different story.

Just remember though it’s highly unlikely because your current putting wand has deteriorated to such a terrible extent it’s now unusable!

After all Tiger Woods, arguably the greatest player of all time, has almost always used the same Scotty Cameron Newport 2 GSS and he’s done ok!

Grip Replacement Time Should Be Easy To Tell

Your grips are your only point of contact with your golf clubs, yet they’re often the most neglected piece of equipment in the bag.

Thankfully though they are the easiest piece of equipment to know when to replace and typically the cheapest which is an added bonus.

Golf grips don’t suddenly fail also – they gradually lose their effectiveness through a combination of use, weather exposure, and natural degradation of materials.

So because the process happens slowly you usually have plenty of time to work out if you need new grips without it significantly affecting your game.

And here are a few indicators to help tell if your grips are worn:

• Visible cracks or tears
• Worn or missing grip texture
• Smooth or shiny patches that make them slippery and leading you to grip tighter than usual to maintain control.

Changing Your Golf Clubs Too Much Can Be Bad Too

The standard advice for determining if your clubs need replacing is simple – “Go see a professional fitter.”

That is solid advice and I for one benefitted massively from my own expert fitting.

But it needs to be acknowledged amateur golfers also occasionally complain of getting different results at every fitting and therefore being recommended to change their clubs each time they go.

Like every service there are obviously going to be bad experiences and you should definitely beware of fitters simply trying to flog you new equipment every time you go to them.

But a good quality fitter will always try to give you the best advice and won’t automatically push you to buying new equipment.

If they feel your current clubs are fine and the different results you are getting are simply down to the inconsistencies of your golf swing they will tell you.

Sometimes the best advice a fitter can give is to spend more time on the practice fairway rather than in the golf shop.

If that’s the case then the answer if you want to improve is to spend some more time on the practice fairway rather than in the golf shop.

While professional golfers also change their equipment frequently in search of marginal gains, there’s an important detail many amateurs overlook.

Every club change pros make is followed by hundreds of hours of practice to dial in the new equipment.

So even if you get a regular fitting and are consistently told its time to change by a legitimate fitter just confirm that you’ve put enough hours into playing with your new clubs to ensure they are definitely not the ones for you.

It’s very unlikely that you will have done so therefore save your money and hit the practice fairway in that instance rather than change yet again.

Before You Go …

Golfing Focus has spent days and days putting together a list of the best golf club fitters in the US, Canada and the UK.

So if you think you need some guidance to help you decide if you need to replace your clubs check out this post,

Best Places To Get Fitted For Golf Clubs – Full Guide (With Best Fitter Search List)

Or if you’re wondering if like me you can get your current clubs fitted take a look here.

Can You Get Your Existing Golf Clubs Custom Fitted? Complexity = Cost

Other great posts related to this topic:

• How Much Does a Golf Club Fitting Cost? Is it Worth it?
• Should All Your Golf Clubs Be The Same Brand? Results Matter More
• Should Your Driver Match Your Woods? Don’t Waste Your Money!
• Should Your Wedges Match Your Irons? Consistency Is Key
• Should All Your Wedges Be The Same? Focus On Gaps & Variety
• Should You Have The Same Grips On All Your Golf Clubs?
• What Handicap Should Play Blades? Don’t Bother!
• How Much Do Golf Clubs Cost? A Giant Guide With 32 Examples
• Are Hybrid Irons Easier to Hit? 7 Reasons to Choose the Easy Way
• Should I Play Blades or Cavity Back Irons? Use Your Head
• Golf Club Depreciation: Do Clubs Hold Their Value?
• How Do Pros Hit The Ball So Far? It’s Not About The Equipment!