Used golf clubs in the UK sell through 7 kinds of seller: specialist used-club retailers, eBay, Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree, club pro shops, charity shops, car boot sales and club noticeboards. Each one differs on price, on who checks the condition and on the rights the law gives you. Here's how they compare, what used clubs usually cost and what to check before you pay.
Quick summary
- A specialist used-club retailer is the safest place for most golfers to buy second-hand clubs online, because each club is graded, photographed and backed by full consumer rights and a returns policy.
- eBay is the place to find a specific or older model, but only a business seller owes you a club of satisfactory quality; a private seller only has to describe it accurately.
- Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree, car boot sales and club noticeboards are usually the cheapest, and you can inspect the club before paying, but a private sale comes with no quality guarantee and no returns.
- A pro shop's second-hand rack lets you hit a trade-in or ex-demo club before you buy, though stock is small and prices sit above most online used prices.
- Used prices vary most by club type: a driver usually costs £150 to £300, a hybrid £60 to £120 and a wedge £50 to £100, and the model year and grade move the price within each range.
Where is the best place to buy second-hand golf clubs?
For most golfers, the best place to buy second-hand golf clubs is a specialist used-club retailer, which grades each club, shows photos of the actual club and takes returns. eBay is best for a specific older model, and local private sales are cheapest if you can judge a club in person.
| Where to buy | Typical prices | Who checks the condition | Your rights | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Specialist used-club retailer | Middle of the used market | The retailer grades and photographs each club | Full consumer rights, plus 14 days to cancel online | Buying online with a returns policy |
| eBay | Low to middle | You, from the seller's photos | Full rights from business sellers; "as described" only from private ones | A specific or older model |
| Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree | Low | You, in person | Usually "as described" only | Local bargains you can inspect |
| Club pro shop | Middle to high | The pro, and you can hit the club | Full consumer rights | Trying a club before you buy |
| Charity shops | Very low | You, in person | Full consumer rights | Cheap clubs to try the game |
| Car boot sales | Very low | You, in person | Usually "as described" only | Old clubs for a few pounds |
| Club noticeboards | Low | You, often with a go on the range | "As described" only | Clubs from golfers you'll see again |
The right channel depends on how well you can judge a used club. If you can spot worn grooves and a dented shaft yourself, private sales save money. If you can't, pay a little more to a seller who has graded the club and will take it back.
Specialist used golf club retailers
A specialist used golf club retailer buys clubs in, checks and grades them, photographs each one and sells it with a returns policy, which makes it the lowest-risk way to buy second-hand clubs you haven't held. You pay a little more than a private sale, and in return you know the spec, the condition and what happens if the club doesn't suit you.
That's how we sell at Next2New. We grade every club on its head, shaft and grip separately, and our condition grades spell out what Brand New, Excellent, Good and Fair each allow: a Good club can't have scratches or marks on its topline or crown, while a Fair one may have 1 or 2 sky marks. Each listing gives the loft, flex, length and hand, and if the photos don't show what you need, we'll send more photos or a video of the club over WhatsApp.
Every UK order comes with 60 days to send it back: a refund to your original payment method within the first 14 days, or store credit, valid for 12 months, from day 15 to day 60. You pay the return postage unless the club is faulty or not as described. Clubs traded in to us are inspected and authenticated when they arrive.
Used prices depend most on the type of club, the model year and the grade. As a guide, this is what second-hand golf clubs usually cost from a specialist retailer:
| Club type | Usual used price |
|---|---|
| Drivers | £150 to £300 |
| Fairway woods | £40 to £90 |
| Hybrids | £60 to £120 |
| Wedges | £50 to £100 |
| Putters | £80 to £180 |
If you'd rather not choose each club yourself, Build a Bag does it for you: you tell us your height, handicap, 7 iron carry, favourite brands and budget, and we send a video of the clubs we'd pick. Specialists buy clubs as well as sell them, so your old set can pay for part of the next one. We take trade-ins and part exchange, with free tracked delivery to send the clubs in and an extra 10% if you take store credit instead of cash.
Good for:
- Buying online without seeing the club, because the grade and photos describe the actual club you'll receive.
- Golfers who aren't sure of their spec and want someone to check flex, loft and length with them.
- Trading in old clubs towards the next ones.
Watch out for:
- Return postage: on a change of mind, you usually pay to send the club back.
Buying golf clubs on eBay
eBay is the place to find a specific or older model, because its listings come from shops and private sellers across the UK, but your protection depends on whether the seller is a business or a private individual. A business seller is a trader, so the club must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and as described, and you get 14 days from delivery to cancel. A private seller only has to describe the club accurately.
eBay marks business sellers on the listing, so check before you bid. On top of the law, eBay's Money Back Guarantee covers a club that doesn't arrive or doesn't match the listing, as long as you pay through eBay's checkout. A seller who asks for a bank transfer to "save fees" is asking you to give that cover up.
Before you bid or buy:
- Check sold prices, not asking prices. The Sold items filter shows what a model has actually gone for, and the model year, shaft and condition all move the price, so compare like with like.
- Ask for the photos that matter. The face, crown, sole, shaft label and grip of the club you'd receive, not the manufacturer's stock photos.
- Rule out fakes. Counterfeit drivers and putters turn up on marketplace sites, and the giveaways are a price far below similar listings, several identical "new" heads from 1 seller, and fonts, paint or serial numbers that don't match the real club.
- Add the postage. A golf club ships as a long parcel, and on a cheap club the postage can be a large share of the cost.
Good for:
- Golfers who know the exact model and spec they want.
- Older or discontinued clubs that specialists and pro shops no longer stock.
- Left-handed golfers, who get a wider choice from sellers across the country than from any local sale.
Watch out for:
- Private sellers on clubs you can't judge from photos: without a grade or a quality guarantee, the description is all you can hold them to.
Buying golf clubs on Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree
Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree are where local private sellers list their clubs, so prices are often the lowest you'll find and you can inspect the club before you hand over any money. Sales are usually collected in person and paid on the spot, which means that once you've paid, there's no returns policy and no platform guarantee behind you.
The best deals go quickly. Save a search for the model you want, or for golf clubs in your area, and turn on alerts. Sellers clearing a house or a garage sometimes price clubs low because they don't know what they are; just as often, an old set is priced as if it were new, so know the model year before you go. Asking prices usually leave room for an offer.
Local buy-and-sell groups for golf equipment on Facebook work the same way, with the same private-sale rules. To stay safe:
- Never pay a deposit or a courier fee to a seller you haven't met.
- If the seller posts the club, pay with a method that has buyer protection, such as PayPal's goods and services option, never as a payment to friends and family.
- Meet in a public place in daylight, and take a friend who plays if you're unsure what you're looking at.
- Ask about faults in a message before you travel, so the seller's answer is in writing.
Good for:
- Buyers who can judge a club in person and want the lowest price.
- Full sets for a first go at golf, which are often sold locally because they're awkward to post.
Watch out for:
- Clubs you can't check on the spot: a hairline crack or a rattling head is your problem once the money has changed hands.
Club pro shops and their second-hand racks
A golf club's pro shop is the easiest place to hit a used club before you buy it, and the professional behind the counter can tell you whether it suits your swing. Most pro shops keep a second-hand rack filled with members' trade-ins and ex-demo clubs.
Ex-demo clubs are recent models that customers have hit while trying them, which is a different history from a pre-owned or refurbished club, so ask which one you're looking at. Expect some marks on the face and the latest technology at a discount on the new price.
Stock is small and changes slowly, and prices tend to sit above online used prices. A pro shop is a trader, so the club must be of satisfactory quality, but there's no legal right to change your mind on a shop purchase: returning a club you simply don't like is up to the shop. Ask the pro to let you know when something in your spec comes in.
Good for:
- Trying before you buy, in a hitting bay or on the range.
- Advice from someone who has seen your swing, especially if you have lessons there.
Watch out for:
- Limited choice: a small rack rarely has the model, flex and loft you want at the same time.
Charity shops, car boot sales and club noticeboards
Charity shops, car boot sales and club noticeboards are among the cheapest places to buy used golf clubs, and they suit clubs to try the game, a junior's first clubs or a spare for the practice net better than a bag you mean to keep for years.
Charity shops
Charity shops sell as traders, so the Consumer Rights Act covers what you buy, though "satisfactory quality" on a £10 club takes its age and price into account. Expect older clubs and odd irons rather than matched sets. Older clubs can still work for learning the basics, but a small-headed driver from the 1990s is much harder to hit than a modern 460cc head.
Car boot sales
Most car boot sellers are private, so the clubs only have to match what the seller tells you. Shake each head and listen for a rattle, look for rust or dents on steel shafts, and check the grips for splits. Take cash and go early, because the best clubs go first.
Club noticeboards
Members selling clubs after an upgrade put them on the noticeboard, in the club's WhatsApp group or behind the bar. These are private sales, but you can often take the club to the range before you pay, and the seller is someone you'll see again in the clubhouse.
What are your rights when you buy used golf clubs?
Your rights depend on who sells you the club: a trader must sell clubs that are of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and as described, while a private seller only has to describe them accurately.
Goods from a trader must be of satisfactory quality, judged against their description, their price and everything else relevant (Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 9). For a used club, wear that matches its age and grade is fine; a cracked head, a loose ferrule or a shaft that isn't the one described is not. A faulty club can be rejected for a full refund within 30 days of delivery.
Buying online from a trader adds a right to cancel for any reason, ending 14 days after the day the clubs arrive (Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013, regulation 30). Our 60-day returns run longer than that. Buying in a shop gives you no legal right to change your mind.
A private sale is different. The law only implies a quality term where the seller sells in the course of a business (Sale of Goods Act 1979, section 14), so a private seller has to describe the club accurately but doesn't have to sell you a good one. If the description was wrong, a "Regular flex" shaft that turns out to be Stiff, for example, you have a claim. A fault the seller didn't mention, and you didn't ask about, is yours to fix.
Some people who deal in clubs list them as private sales. A seller with dozens of clubs on the go is almost certainly a trader, and the trader rules apply to them whatever the listing says.
What is the best way to buy used golf clubs?
The best way to buy used golf clubs is to fix your spec first, check what the model really sells for, inspect the club or the right photos, and pay in a way that protects you. In order:
- Know your spec. Hand, flex, loft, length and grip size. A bargain in the wrong flex is still the wrong club.
- Check the real price. Sold listings, or a graded listing for the same model and condition, tell you what the club is worth.
- Look at the parts that wear. The checks that matter on a used club are the same wherever you buy it: grooves on irons and wedges, the face and crown on woods, dents in steel shafts, splinters in graphite ones.
- Rule out fakes. A price far below every similar listing is the first warning sign, and a seller with several identical "new" heads is the second.
- Get answers in writing. Ask about faults, refits and replacement shafts in a message before you pay.
- Pay with protection. Use a card or the platform's own checkout online, and pay cash for a private sale only once you've checked the club.
- Budget for grips. Grips wear out long before heads do, so price a regrip into any club whose grips are shiny, hard or split.
Frequently asked questions
Is it worth buying second-hand golf clubs?
Yes, for most golfers. Club heads last for years, so a well-kept club from the last few seasons plays much as it did new, at a used price: a hybrid usually costs £60 to £120. The parts that wear are grips and grooves, and both are easy to check before you buy.
What is the best site to buy used golf clubs?
For most golfers, a specialist used-club retailer's own site is the best place, because each club is graded and photographed and you can send it back. eBay is the best site for a rare or older model, as long as you check whether the seller is a business.
Is it safe to buy used golf clubs online?
Yes, if you buy from a trader with a clear returns policy or pay through a platform checkout with buyer protection. The risk sits with private sellers paid outside a platform, where you have no returns and only the description to rely on.
Where is the cheapest place to buy second-hand golf clubs?
Car boot sales, charity shops and private sellers on Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree are usually the cheapest. The saving comes without a quality guarantee, so these work best for buyers who can judge a club in person.
Can you return second-hand golf clubs?
From a trader, yes: a faulty club can be rejected within 30 days, and an online purchase can be cancelled for any reason within 14 days of delivery. Some specialists give longer, and ours is 60 days. A private seller doesn't have to take a club back unless it wasn't as described.
How can you tell if a used golf club is fake?
Look at the price, the seller and the details. Fakes sell well below genuine used prices, often from sellers with several identical "new" heads, and they give themselves away in fonts, paint fill, missing or repeated serial numbers and a head that feels too light or too heavy.
What are the best second-hand golf clubs to buy?
Forgiving models from the major brands, made in the last 5 or so seasons, give the most for the money, and the right one depends on your swing. Our pick of second-hand clubs for beginners includes a PING G425 Max driver and a PING Eye 2 sand wedge.
Where can you buy used left-handed golf clubs?
Online, from a specialist with a left-handed range or from eBay, because left-handed clubs are scarce in local private sales and pro shop racks. Our used left-handed clubs are graded and described in the same way as every other club we sell.
