DQOTD: Do Irons (other clubs) actually wear out?

[Midpack]

I've seen a few people here and elsewhere say their irons are just worn out, time to replace. And I read a thread here re: do shafts wear out, that seemed to suggest metal and especially graphite shafts don't wear out if they're given reasonable care. So the only other reasons I found were grooves wear out and you can't spin or work the ball, and grips wear out. Obviously grips can be easily replaced at very low cost. I can't tell if my iron grooves are worn or not, but I still stop the ball within a few feet or even back up higher lofted irons a foot or so most of the time. IF irons do eventually wear out, is there an easy way to know?

Edited September 28, 2017 by Midpack

[Vinsk]

19 minutes ago, Midpack said:

I've seen a few people here and elsewhere say their irons are just worn out, time to replace. And I read a thread here re: do shafts wear out, that seemed to suggest metal and especially graphite shafts don't wear out if they're given reasonable care. So the only other reasons I found were grooves wear out and you can't spin or work the ball, and grips wear out. Obviously grips can be easily replaced at very low cost. I can't tell if my iron grooves are worn or not, but I still stop the ball within a few feet or even back up higher lofted irons a foot or so most of the time. IF irons do eventually wear out, is there an easy way to know?

A cro-bar will eventually wear out.

[Lihu]

1 hour ago, Midpack said:

I've seen a few people here and elsewhere say their irons are just worn out, time to replace. And I read a thread here re: do shafts wear out, that seemed to suggest metal and especially graphite shafts don't wear out if they're given reasonable care. So the only other reasons I found were grooves wear out and you can't spin or work the ball, and grips wear out. Obviously grips can be easily replaced at very low cost. I can't tell if my iron grooves are worn or not, but I still stop the ball within a few feet or even back up higher lofted irons a foot or so most of the time. IF irons do eventually wear out, is there an easy way to know?

Not only are your grooves likely still good, but your swing must be really great  too! I'd have to attribute your higher handicap to really awful putting or driving or both. . .

[The Club Nut]

Clubs do not "wear out" they fail.  The age old statement "my driver lost it's pop" is complete baloney. the only reason a driver would underperform on an exactly identical strike and swing is if it were broken.  Drivers and woods actually wear IN and become hotter with time. A driver is best just before it cracks. 

As for irons, they can wear out because the metal will age and rust, eventually becoming flatter and opening up the grooves - but that doesn't necessarily mean it's "Worn out" as it will still work - just not as good at what it's meant to do. Titleist just did a study on the effect of play on wedge grooves. I don't have it in front of me, but you can google it. I believe it was a little over 70 rounds and there was a pretty good drop off in spin vs a new wedge. This could be attributed to the "wearing out" of the club, but it's not like it was unusable or wasn't traveling as far. 

 

in both cases, the same goes for shafts to a point. You have to physically change the characteristics of a shaft to have it "wear out". Steel shafts need to rust heavily and i suppose it's TECHNICALLY possible by overloading a steel shaft enough times that you COULD bend it and therefore need a new one. But we're talking Dustin Johnson swinging an L flex overload. Graphite again, mostly breaks. Not because it's "Worn out" but because of damage.  Laminate layers come loose. Heat damage could cause it to soften, but merely swinging a shaft enough times isn't going to cause a noticeable "wearing out" where it has to be replaced. Shaft manufacturers test shafts for hundreds of thousands of flexes with their designs. If you shoot 100 on a round, using only that one club, it'll take you 1000 rounds minimum before just flexing use starts to hurt you. MINIMUM. every shot.  You've got time. They're not just going to fatigue and become a more flexible shaft in your lifetime of use. You'll do something to break it first like hit a tree, or drop your bag, or leave them in your car at the heat of the summer for a few days.   

Fix your swing, don't buy more clubs.