Gear 04
New, used, or rent?
When it's worth buying new, when last year's model is the smart money, and why renting first is underrated.
1 min read
Disclosure— some links on this page are affiliate links. If you buy through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend gear we'd genuinely put in a beginner's bag.
Before you spend anything, match the spend to where you are. Here's our honest split between the three ways to get clubs in your hands.
Rent or borrow first
Most courses and ranges rent clubs by the round. For your first few outings this is the smartest move: zero commitment, and you learn what you actually like before buying. If you've played fewer than five times, start here.
Buy used
Once you know you're hooked, a quality used set is the best value in the game (see Buying used with confidence). Last year's game-improvement clubs perform within a whisker of this year's at a fraction of the cost.
Buy new (sometimes)
New makes sense for a few things: a putter you'll keep for years, wedges (grooves wear with use), and gloves and balls (consumables). For the big stuff — driver, irons — new rarely beats a good used buy for a beginner.
You'll hear
Buying brand new is always the safe, sensible choice.
What's true
For irons and drivers, new mostly buys you depreciation. Rent to learn, buy used to play, and save 'new' for putters, wedges, and consumables.
Key takeaways
- Played fewer than ~5 times? Rent or borrow first.
- Hooked? A used set is the best value by far.
- Buy new for putters, wedges, gloves and balls.
- New irons and drivers mostly buy depreciation for a beginner.