Golfers frequently ask us how often they should replace the clubs in their bags. As with anything in the golf equipment world – especially topics around fitting and improvement – the answer is a less than definitive: “it depends.”
But since “it depends” doesn’t make for compelling reading (and would make this the shortest article in MyGolfSpy history), let’s dig into the key questions you should ask yourself before shelling out another $600 for that shiny new driver that promises an extra 2.7 yards… which is coincidentally the distance from your wallet to the PGA Tour Superstore cash register.
How much has technology actually evolved?
We’re living in an era where technology moves slower than a foursome of retired dentists with low-budget rangefinders. This is the unfortunate consequence of those pesky governing bodies putting limits on everything fun. There will always be new materials, manufacturing techniques, and, of course, marketing buzzwords, but the days of 10 MORE YARDS!!! are behind us.
That’s not to say that band aids aren’t available. That slice you can’t shake? Sure, there might be a driver that helps tame it. Clubs like the PING G440 SFT and the Callaway Elyte X exist for exactly this reason. But the performance jumps in speed, distance, and forgiveness from generation to generation are increasingly marginal.
Evolution happens in phases. We had the introduction of adjustable weights, then movable weights, then carbon crowns, then AI-designed faces, and now we’re talking about aerodynamics and “closure rates” like we’re all aerospace engineers who just stumbled into the pro shop. The question isn’t whether equipment is improving – it is (albeit slowly) – but whether those improvements matter to your game specifically.
