Our reviewers evaluate products and services based on unbiased research. Top Consumer Reviews may earn money when you click on a link. Learn more about our process.
One thing that can make all the difference between golf being "a good walk spoiled" (source unknown) and "a universal language" (Ben Hogan) is the right golf clubs. Whether you're exploring this popular sport for the first time or a seasoned player looking for an edge, you need golf clubs that are a good fit for your height, strength, and experience - not to mention your right- or left-handedness.
If it's possible where you live, you should try to go in for a fitting before you buy your clubs. A professional will take your measurements, check your swing speed, and figure out your average trajectory, then recommend the wedges, drivers, and other golf clubs that are best suited to you.
Friday, March 15th
Rock Bottom Golf should be at the very top of your list when choosing where to shop for golf clubs. After all, can almost 170,000 five-star ratings from shoppers be wrong? You won't find a better blend of selection, customer-friendly perks, and excellent service. And, be sure to check out RBG's club and ball trade-in program if you're looking to upgrade your gear. Rock Bottom Golf is our first-place winner among golf club stores.
Amateur and pro golfers alike have trusted Callaway to provide cutting-edge golf clubs and consistent game play since the early 80s. All clubs come with a two-year warranty and a 30-day performance guarantee, and when you buy direct from Callaway you can earn rewards points and get free shipping. We also recommend checking out their free Distance Fitting if you need help picking just the right features for your golf clubs. You'll have to shop at a different store if you want a brand besides Callaway, Odyssey, OGIO, TravisMathew, or Jack Wolfskin, but definitely go here first if those are the names you prefer.
Worldwide Golf offers a great selection of golf clubs, a generous 90-day satisfaction guarantee, and free shipping on all orders over $99. You can also use their trade-in program to upgrade to the newest clubs at a discounted price. We had to slightly lower their ranking here because of some changes in their BBB rating, but Worldwide Golf Shops can still be counted on to deliver quality golf clubs from today's top brands.
Custom-made golf clubs that rival the top brands? Pinemeadow Golf delivers them at prices you can afford. The clubs here are all "clones" that mimic the best features and technology of the big names in the industry, without compromising performance. You've got 30 days to try your clubs and return them for a full refund or exchange, and all of the golf clubs here come with a generous one-year warranty. Shop elsewhere if brand names are a must-have, but don't sleep on Pinemeadow Golf for golf clubs that have a terrific reputation without a scary price tag.
Budget Golf may surprise you with its easy-to-use online store, generous 90-day "test drive" on most golf clubs, and stellar feedback from loyal customers. Family-owned and in operation for about three decades, this is a retailer that you can trust. The only downside is inventory: on many golf clubs we wanted, many of the specific configurations (for loft, hand, and so on) were out of stock at the time of this review.
Family-owned Fairway Golf is a staple of the San Diego golf community, with two brick-and-mortar locations there and over 30 years of experience. Their store is known for having hard-to-find golf clubs and accessories, and you can expect great service whether you buy in person or online. The site isn't the easiest to shop, and policies regarding shipping and returns aren't going to impress you, but Fairway Golf isn't a bad option overall.
At first glance, TGW (The Golf Warehouse) is a great place to shop for golf clubs: the store is easy to browse, there are more than 800 clubs to choose from, and customer reviews on individual products make it obvious which ones perform well (and which ones to avoid). Unfortunately, over many years, TGW has failed to deliver with respect to customer satisfaction, with almost half of all shoppers giving them a dismal one-star rating. Try a higher-ranked golf club store for a better overall experience.
In The Hole Golf used to be one of our go-to stores for affordably-priced golf clubs with an amazing money-back guarantee: 60 days, even if you've used them, full refund. We were really disappointed that this retailer's reputation tanked since our last review: we saw for ourselves that a large number of items shown as available really weren't, but you won't know for sure until you try to add clubs to your cart. Even the BBB has taken In The Hole from an "A+" down to an "F" rating. You've got much better options for buying your golf clubs online.
Golf Outlets continues to be a retailer we recommend that you avoid when shopping for golf clubs. Their reputation keeps dropping, with no one answering the company's toll-free number and customers getting no help when they receive the wrong items. There are better ways to save money on your golf gear, and Golf Outlets is likely to be a disappointment.
If you don't have a golf store nearby that can fit you, don't worry. Many of today's top online golf shops have tools you can use to assess yourself, and a small number will even do a live consultation with you over the phone or video call (usually at no charge).
Once you know what you need, your best bet is to buy your golf clubs through an online retailer. You'll get the best possible inventory - since local shops may be sold out of the clubs you need or not even carry the brand you want - and typically the best pricing too. Look for price matching and trade-in programs as an additional way to make your purchase even more affordable.
What if your golf clubs are delivered and they just don't feel right in your hands? Or worse: you discover the first time you hit the links with them that you made a mistake in your measurements? That's where satisfaction guarantees come in (often called "playability guarantees" ): while policies vary from one retailer to another, you can usually count on having anywhere from 30-90 days to try out your clubs. At the end of that period, as long as they're just in good used condition and not damaged, you'll either get a refund or a store credit towards a purchase of replacement golf clubs.
Overwhelmed yet? Don't be. Here are several criteria that can help you choose where to buy your golf clubs:
To help you play your best game ever, TopConsumerReviews.com has evaluated and ranked today's top golf club stores. While we can't guarantee your new gear will get you that elusive hole in one, you're sure to find clubs that are the right fit for your playing style. Fore!
Select any 2 Golf Club Stores to compare them head to head