Are You Looking at Used Putters? Here’s Some Information That Might Help

Used putters can be a great way to save money, but buying one can be tricky. Sometimes a little information can be a big help.

Golfers have several reasons for buying them. Here are a few of them, along with some suggestions for places to shop for used golf equipment. I’ll end with some things to watch for while you’re shopping.

Why People Buy Used Putters

Putters are very “individual” clubs. What works well for one golfer may not work at all for another. And when you find one you like, you tend to stick with it as long as possible. Unfortunately, a putter can get banged up, lost, or even stolen. And, if any of those things happen to your putter, you might want to replace it with the identical model. But what do you do if the putter you want to buy is last year’s model, or even older than that? You probably won’t be able to just zip down to your local sporting goods store if that’s the case. So replacing an older, out-of-stock putter with the same model is one reason people buy them.

Other golfers just want to save money on their golf equipment, including their putters. Instead of buying something brand new, they focus on finding used clubs. In many cases, following this strategy allows them to buy top-shelf used golf clubs at bargain-basement prices.

Still other people are just starting to play golf. Buying used clubs, including putters, lets these beginners find out whether they want to continue playing the game without making a tremendous investment. That way, if they play a few rounds and decide they’re not all that interested (shame on them!), they haven’t lost an arm and a leg.

The situation is similar when parents, grandparents or aunts or uncles want to encourage kids to play golf. Why spend a ton of money on equipment until you find out whether the youngster is actually interested in pursuing the game and willing to continue playing? Used clubs, including putters, are almost always less expensive than clubs that are brand new. They can be the solution to this dilemma.

Places to Shop

Not surprisingly, you can find used putters in a variety of places. Big-box sporting goods stores (Dick’s, Edwin Watts and the like) often take trade-ins when people buy new clubs. Guess what happens to those trade-ins? The store offers them for sale, of course – often at drastically reduced prices. Finding used golf clubs for sale at one of these stores is hit-or-miss, but if you keep trying you might luck out and find the specific putter you want.

Yard sales, flea markets, swap meets and thrift shops are other possibilities when you’re looking for used golf gear. Again, this strategy is hit-or-miss, but you never know.

Shopping online is probably the quickest and easiest way to find used clubs for sale. Many of the larger golf equipment and sporting goods store operate websites, and it’s often possible to buy used putters on these sites. They don’t always have what you’re looking for, so you might need to come back more than once to find the right putter.

Shopping on eBay (www.ebay.com) or Amazon (www.amazon.com) might be quicker and more efficient, however. Both sites offer large numbers of used golf clubs for sale, including used putters. There’s a great chance you’ll find exactly what you want on one of these sites.

Some Things to Keep in Mind When You’re Buying a Used Putter

Condition is everything, no matter what type of used golf club you’re buying. When you’re shopping for used putters, it’s best to see them in person before you buy. That way you can pick up a putter, inspect it for damage, and even take a few practice strokes to see if you like its balance. If you don’t like something about it, you just move on. If you like what you see, you can buy it right then and there.

Unfortunately, it’s not always possible to see a used club in person. If you’re buying online, you’ll need to rely on pictures and the seller’s description of the particular used putter you’re considering. So, read that description carefully – it should describe the putter’s condition thoroughly and mention any damage or flaws. To avoid any nasty surprises, look at as many pictures of the putter as possible. If the seller has only posted one or two pictures of a putter, try asking for a few more before you buy. The more pictures you see, the more you’ll know about the putter’s actual condition. Never base your purchasing decision on a “stock” picture of a putter – always insist on seeing pictures of the specific putter you’re considering.

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