How do you take care of your clubs?

[GolfBear]

From the GolfPride site:

Golf grips get a great deal of physical abuse. They are handled round after round, swing after swing - often times season after season. They are exposed to ultraviolet light from the sun; intense heat in the trunk of the car; ozone from the atmosphere; and dirt, oil and perspiration from human skin. In most cases they are seldom washed or cared for in any way. Grips are meant to last, but they are not made of steel. They are made of much softer materials developed specifically to feel resilient and tacky. That's why any grip will wear or deteriorate with age and usage. You can prolong the life of your grips with regular cleaning. Most grips can be cleaned with a mild dishwashing detergent. For rubber grips (including cord) a soft abrasive pad or brush may be used. For non-buffed grips like the Sofftie a washcloth should be used instead of an abrasive pad or brush. In either case, after scrubbing, the grip should be thoroughly rinsed in warm water to remove all remaining soap residue. The grip then may be air or towel dried.

http://www.golfpride.com/FAQs.aspx#last_longer

[Mizzoujohn]

No kidding... this is the oddest thread I've seen in a long time. Seriously, who has a regimen for taking care of their clubs while they play let alone at home after a round? Next post will be, "I just bought a new pair of shoes and want to keep them clean. How do you clean your shoes?"

People who like to have nice clubs.

[gators13]

I just cleaned mine for the first time. They've been used 3 rounds now and were pretty dirty. I used the bowl of mild detergent and an old toothbrush to clean them to a like new look. The little wife did the same. We were sitting on the patio at the campground last week while drinking our coffee and cleaning the clubs made good use of the leisure time, but by the time we were done with the cleaning, we sure were wishing we were on the course, making them dirty again.

SpoiledRotten, what part of Ms are you from?

[KyGolfer1988]

I wipe mine with my bag towel after each hole, as, I'm sure everyone else does, but I ever I get home I actually use windex to thoroughly clean them. Never heard of anyone using it or had anyone tell me it was a bad idea. But it works and haven't seen any bad after effects.

[erock9174]

I was at the range the other day with my buddy. It was a pretty soggy day and we were practicing wedge shots. Our clubs got all mucked up really quick. My buddy busted this out.
It's sold at golf galaxy and has a water bottle that sprays onto the club head as you clean it with the brush.
Worked like a charm. I went over today and picked one up I liked it so much.

http://www.golfgalaxy.com/galaxy/pro...SPN5FQ3GPQ3GUC

[SuMoGolfer]

Ok, well I guess I have to be the a-hole that says he polishes them.

During rounds I'll clean 'em with a towel and soft brush after every hit. After every range session I'll use the provided bucket-brush thingy and then dry with a towel. Every few rounds or so I'll polish the steel shafts and irons, just to keep 'em nice and sharp

I treat the drivers and woods just the same, except the polishing, I've found that baby-wipes do a good enough job to clean at home after every round.

[andycook]

All that cleaning between shots - doesn't that slow play down?

[SuMoGolfer]

All that cleaning between shots - doesn't that slow play down?

Not at all, I carry a little hand towel and brush, a quick wipe and scrub, no longer than a couple of seconds, usually done before I get back to the cart.

[Stretch]

You can always practice with one set and play with another.

[Fourputt]

All that cleaning between shots - doesn't that slow play down?

Not unless you stand around doing it while the players behind you are waiting on you. If you walk, then start walking and wipe as you go, or wait till you get to your ball and wipe while your buddies are playing. Just use your head and you can easily keep your clubs clean without holding up play. I'm a rider, but I clean while others in my group are playing their shots, whether I do it before I move ahead or afterward. I never hold up play for it, just like I don't hold up play when leaving the green to put my putter and wedge away... I keep them in my hand until I get to the next tee.

All it takes is a little common sense.

[Nike Markiie]

Personally on my irons I like to use a car detail spray after I wash them to keep a nice shine. I use zymol on the top of the Driver and Wood heads to keep a nice black gloss to them.

[chef35ca]

If i get a huge wad of crud on there i'll dip the offending club in the nearest hazard to wash it off. -for the rules junkies is that a violation of some bylaw?

Otherwise i wash them about 3 times a year. I never wash my grips. 3 years old & still tacky.

[Fourputt]

If i get a huge wad of crud on there i'll dip the offending club in the nearest hazard to wash it off. -for the rules junkies is that a violation of some bylaw?

It's only a breach if your ball lies in the hazard at the time you dip your club.

[dbuck]

This is pretty much what I do, except I am pretty lax on grooves and grips. Wipe the club after every shot with the damp/wet towel and they will STAY clean so you don't have to do major cleaning as often. Not talking about a long time here, just a quick wipe with the damp end and then the dry end of the towel-only takes 5 seconds. If you watch the pro caddies, this is basically what they do.

The painted finish on metal woods get a coat of carnauba car wax 2-3 times a year, and persimmon woods get a couple coats after every round.

[SpoiledRotten]

SpoiledRotten, what part of Ms are you from?

Probably within 15 miles of where you live. I'm not far from Bay Point Country Club. Glen Cove, to be exact.

[rwfastrax]

Wet towel when necessary between shots. Clean (detail) about 3 times a season. RE grips..I may have stumbled onto something cool. I have very hard water in my home. I've cleaned my grips regularly and thought it helped out a bit but not as much as I'd have liked. i got caught in a rainstorm a few weeks ago during a round and all my grips got completely soaked. I brought the clubs in the house and wiped them down. By the time the grips had further dried naturally they felt like they were brand new again. So I'm thinking rainwater...I got a spray bottle and collected some and sure enough...this works much better for me than tap water. YMMV

[WUTiger]

Clubface: Wipe off with damp towl after shot, use tee to get our any stuff caught in groove.

Especially important if you're playing - or practicing - in a sandy/muddy area. If you hit a lot of shots with sand in your grooves, over time it can increase wear on grooves, and can damage your ball.

Grips: Wipe off on dry bag towel in hot weather if they get sweaty. About every 10 rounds, I wash in soapy water with light brush, and dip rinse in hot, clean water. Hot water partially evaporates so it doesn't soak into grip glue. Wipe with dry towel, and let them air out for a half hour.

[dreamsmith]

I have a ball/club washer mounted on the back of my cart. If I see anything on my club after hitting it, I run it through the washer - works great! Then I wipe the clubhead with a towel. Maybe once a month or so, I'll throw my clubs in the utility club and soak them for a few minutes in soapy water. Then wipe them down well.
[
I get a kick out of people who like to make themselves feel more important by knocking other folks' ideas. This is a good thread, and there were many good ideas in the answers that many of us didn't think of! Pay no attention to the idiot who knocked the thread. Every forum has it's trolls, who may as well go around with a sign on their forehead that says, "Look - I'm stupid!"