Denting a fresh golf club isn’t exactly a good feeling. Even more budget-friendly sets can easily run you several hundred dollars. The question is, do dents affect golf clubs or is it usually just cosmetic damage?
Depending on where you look online, you’ll find a broad spectrum of responses ranging from “your club is completely ruined” to “your clubs’ fine – what are you talking about?”. On this page, we’ll take a common-sense approach and explore an answer that will apply to the vast majority of players.
Read on to up your golfing knowledge.
Are Dents Bad for Golf Clubs? The Bottom Line
Decent golf clubs are designed with fairly tight tolerances in mind. The aerodynamics of a given model will have been closely considered. The shape and size of the club’s head will have been perfectly calculated to afford the best possible drag and loft when striking the ball.
It stands to reason, then, that dents to your club’s head can indeed affect its performance. Keep in mind, however, that you’d need a pretty huge dent to be able to actually notice that something has changed.
Just because the aerodynamics of a club have been altered slightly, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’ll be perceptible to you when playing. Common sense suggests that most small dents or chips are usually cosmetic in nature.
Watch out for dents in your club’s shaft, though – these can easily lead to a shattered club and are more serious than head damage.
Are Dents on the Head an Issue?
In the sense that they tarnish the appearance of your favorite cub? Absolutely. In terms of affecting your game? This is questionable. Even small chips and dents can alter the aerodynamics of an object as it moves through the air, but these changes will usually be so small that they basically amount to cosmetic damage.
If you’ve knocked a huge chunk out of your club’s head, you might want to get it fixed. Otherwise, you’re probably in the clear.
What About Dents on the Shaft?
If you notice a dent or chip on your club’s shaft, this can absolutely impact the performance of your club. As you swing your iron or hybrid through the air, a surprising amount of force is exerted on both the handle and shaft. The resulting tension from these forces could easily cause your club to shatter or break if it’s already been weakened by a dent.
Check your shaft regularly and take good care of your clubs to maintain their performance for many years to come. We explore good club maintenance further down this page.
Dents and What they Can Mean
In this section, we’ll explore the consequences of leaving dents in your clubs. The more you know about what to expect, the easier it will be to make the right decision for your gear.
Read on to learn what to do.
Your Perception
We know this one sounds foolish, but you’d be amazed how much your mindset can affect your point average. If you’re training in a professional or semi-pro environment, your coach is probably going to be unhappy with you if they spot dents in your club.
Dents are often (but not always) a sign of poor technique or low accuracy when swinging the club. If your gear has collected its fair share of dents, your self-confidence can quickly start to slip.
Some regular practice (and good club maintenance) can go a long way in this regard.
Future Durability
There’s no two ways about it – golf clubs are expensive. For most people, a top priority is maintaining them for as long as possible. While a small dent on your club’s head is unlikely to have a huge impact on your swing, it might make it more likely that future damage can occur.
The more dents and chips your club collects, the less durable it becomes. If you care about the durability of your kit (and you should), it’s best to keep damage like this to a minimum.
Swing Path
As mentioned above, larger dents may cause a perceptible difference to the swing path of your club. That said, the dent would have to be pretty significant for this to be the case. If you’re familiar with how your club usually feels, pay attention and use your best judgment.
How to Protect Your Clubs
So, how do you protect your clubs to stop things like dents from occurring in the first place? In this section, we’ll run through some basic club maintenance tips to help you maintain your kit for many years to come.
Use Head Covers
Using head covers like these can work wonders when your clubs aren’t in use. Storing your clubs in their bag without a cover can easily cause dents and scratches to build up over time.
For less than $20, you’ll be able to protect your clubs’ appearance for many years to come.
Dry After Every Game
Moisture is the enemy when it comes to golf club durability. Letting your clubs sit in damp conditions can cause problems like rust to rear their ugly heads. After each game, it’s best to thoroughly wipe down your clubs with a soft towel or cloth, even if they don’t feel wet.
Storage
When it’s time to put your clubs away, make sure you store them in a relatively cool room with low humidity. Higher temperatures and, as previously mentioned, moisture can cause unwanted damage to your kit.
Regrip Regularly
Maintaining a firm grasp of your club when swinging is a huge part of avoiding damage like dents. When was the last time you re-gripped your clubs? Replacing the grip material from time to time will help to improve your club’s appearance and performance when playing.
Learn more about regripping clubs.
Why should you cover golf clubs?
Conclusion
We hope you’ve found the suggestions on this page helpful. No matter how dented your clubs are, we hope you have fun out there on the green!
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