5 Things Every Golfer Should Swap Out Before The Start Of The Season

You don’t need a complete set of new clubs to feel like you get a fresh start heading into the golf season. Some small swaps can clean up your gear and maybe help you save a few shots in your first rounds of the season. Here are five things worth replacing before your first tee time of the year.

The glove that’s been through a few too many rounds

If your glove feels more like cardboard than Cabretta, it’s time. A stretched-out glove with worn fingertips and slick patches doesn’t help your connection to the club. When the weather starts to warm up, you may be better off taking that worn glove off than even attempting to play with it.

Start the season with a fresh glove. We just tested 60 gloves and the best was the PXG Players. However, there are also gloves on the list for under $10 if you’re on a budget.

That sunscreen that’s older than your driver

Did you know that sunscreen expires? If you’ve kept that same tube of sunscreen in your bag for the last four seasons, toss it. Sunscreen breaks down with heat and time so if you are going to protect your skin, try to do it the right way.

Sweat-resistant sunscreens are a good choice for golfers. I recently tried the 1st Tee Sun Blessed Skin Golf Sunscreen. It’s made to be grease-free so if you have to reapply in the middle of the round, it’s not going to ruin your golf grips. It’s lightweight, non-greasy and dries quickly but I’ll still always wash my hands before touching my grips.

The “water ball” collection in your golf ball pocket

If your golf bag is stuffed with balls you “found,” it’s probably time for a clean sweep. My kids call these their water balls. These are the ones they save for tee shots over a pond so they don’t lose a “good” ball like their favorite Vice Shade or Drip.

Smart? Maybe. But if your entire stash is made up of scuffed-up, random-brand golf balls, throw a few in the backyard for short-game practice and treat yourself to a fresh dozen. I’m all about using golf balls for more than one round but, at some point, they have to go.

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Wedges with worn-out grooves (or shoes with worn-out treads)

Most golfers don’t realize you should replace your scoring wedges, especially the 56- and 60-degree, every 75 rounds or so. If you look at your post-season recap from the last year or two and see that you played 75 or more rounds, it’s probably time for new wedges.

When grooves wear down, you lose spin and control where it matters most.

If you already have new wedges, check your shoes. Spiked shoes may need replacement spikes and spikeless shoes that are starting to get slippery won’t provide the necessary traction.

(Here are the results of the best golf shoes of 2025: Best Golf Shoe Testing)

Dead rangefinder batteries (and do a quick tech check)

Your rangefinder will always die at the worst possible time. If you left the batteries in the rangefinder and your bag was put away for the off-season, it may be time for a replacement. Replace the battery now and save yourself the trouble of running out in the middle of the sixth fairway.

If you’re not a rangefinder user, double-check your GPS app. Many of them update their features before the season with new course maps, improved tracking and even green-reading technology. It’s worth checking if you’re due for an upgrade or if there’s a better app out there that offers more features.

Final thoughts

One more thing to consider is your golf grips. They don’t wear evenly but examine them all and consider whether you might need to replace a few. You don’t need a total overhaul to start the season strong. Perform a thorough cleaning of your clubs, golf bag and shoes and use this as the first step towards achieving your golf goals this season.

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