Do you buy your driver new or used?

[shades9323]

Years ago I would buy new. Now I buy used so I can still get a driver with a smaller head. I don't like the 460's. I am playing a 975J and at about 315cc it is a good size. I need to stock up!

[RCF]

Used but I did not buy it. My cousin gave it.

[lumpuckeroo]

Current driver I bought new, but I have bought several used. I tend to find a driver, wait for the new model year to come out and then buy the driver I want for a greatly reduced price. My current 2007 Burner was purchased in the summer of 2008, paid less then $150.

[Dub]

Current driver was new....on sale for thess than half price.

We have a couple of local shops that sell pre-owned clubs that I've had success with in the past.

[Chief Broom]

If you pay full retail for anything you're getting ripped off, but if you absolutely have to have the newest and latest things on the market you're going to be stuck paying full retail. I'm a big believer in buying stuff that is at least one or two generations old in order to be able to get it on clearance or used. As far as golf clubs go buying used is a no brainer. If you play much at all your new clubs will be used in fairly short order. We're lucky in golf in that there is such a huge used market out there. Options like ebay, local retailers who deal in consignments and used sales, online retailers who specialize in used, etc., are all available to us. At the very least I always check around all of these venues to get an idea of pricing before I make any purchase of new or used. Buying used isn't risk free, but if done wisely a savvy consumer can easily procure stuff 50-75% below retail, and to me that is simply too much of an opportunity to pass up.

[RocketSauce]

i also like to buy last years equipment that is still brand new, or even older BRAND NEW equipment. ive bought a lot of cool clubs over the years that were old, but never hit. recently i bought a BRAND NEW Odyssey 61º Lob Wedge. it still has the plastic on it. i think its about 10 years old. i also have a set of BRAND NEW Top Flite irons from the early 1970's that have never touched a ball (matching woods too). the wedges in my signature were all bought brand new but they are last years models. got them DIRT cheap

[kfowler]

One problem with buying used drivers is if you're getting fitted, they generally only carry the latest equipment. If you know exactly what head and shaft you want, buying used can save you big time. However, if you want to be fitted, you're usually stuck with new.

[Elvisliveson]

i pretty much get all my drivers new. same with irons and wedges. i have bought used fairway woods though (but always in MINT condition)

Me too. I can't help but picturing the prior owner pounding the club into the ground or tee marker after a bad shot.

I will purchase used putters (only Scotty Cameron), but basically when it's only shop worn and there are no signs that the headcover wasn't used at all times.

[Beantown Beancounter]

I have bought new but wait until the new models come out so I can get the last year's at a discount. Will even trade-in my old one to get a better deal, unless I think I might game it down the road.

[HytrewQasdfg]

If your additiced to buying drivers, then whatever you do don't start building them yourself. Once you start looking at component companies and their offerings, it's like opening Pandora's box.

You wouldn't believe how many combinations and ways there are to "tweak" a driver. As soon as you get it assembled, you start to think "I wonder what would happen if I made this one little change."

[SteveSimp]

A few of my buddies have started 'building' drivers and you're right: they are even more addicted than me. I'm really considering swooping up a Callaway Diablo. Anyone hit one of these?

[Danattherock]

Anyway, I was just wondering if you guys bought more of your drivers new or used. .

Take a look at Callaway Preowned website. I just ordered a FT-i LCG Tour 9.5 degrees with Matrix Icon 6 stiff shaft for $184 in "Like New" condition. I ordered my irons from there years back. Great way to get good equipment without paying a fortune for it.

[Danattherock]

A few of my buddies have started 'building' drivers and you're right: they are even more addicted than me. I'm really considering swooping up a Callaway Diablo. Anyone hit one of these?

The Diablo comes with a free fairway wood on The Golf Warehouse and other sites. Pretty good deal if you need a 3 or 5 wood to go with it.

[misty_mountainhop]

I get everything (except my recent Scotty) second-hand although I try to get stuff in good condition. The technology doesn't change that much and the prices (generally) fall through the floor after 6-12 months, especially for drivers.

[umpiremark]

As you can see by my signature, I build all my own clubs. Through years of tweaking (and reading Tom Wishon's books) I have found that my best "feel" in clubs is a swingweight of D0.0 + or - 0.3 SW's. The iron set I bult this past winter is my first real "full" set of matched irons, all SW the same and actual weight within a few grams.

I'm so particular about my club weight "feel" lengths and matching, that I would never - i.e. could never - go into a store and buy a club off the rack.

This doesn't help with your question, but someone up higher said the same thing. If you're addicted to changing, wanting, needing a new driver every year, maybe club components is the way to go. Just my opinion ...

[ItsAllRelative]

I'm in college. The only club in my bag bought new was my putter, lol. I can't wait for the day I can go be fitted for irons and a driver.

[willirt]

I've bought both new and used, both have worked just fine. In the end it's the swing that fails me, not the equipment.

[Eveleth]

I always buy new, since I put each Driver /shaft combo through a lot of testing before I buy, so most times new is the only option.