Clean golf clubs are actually a really important factor in how well you hit the ball. It also makes them look good.

Cleaning your golf clubs is especially important for those just starting to play golf. Think about it. Beginners are often chunking the ball and picking up lots of dirt in the process.

For me, I like to take care of my clubs the same way I take care of my other belongings. Clubs can be expensive and they should be treated as such.

If you landed here you’re probably asking yourself what is the right way to clean them. In this article I’ll outline the best way to clean your golf clubs, without damaging them.

How to clean golf clubs

Cleaning your clubs is an ongoing effort. You’ll want to keep your clubs clean on the course, but also, clean your clubs regularly as part of general upkeep. Luckily, it’s not an involved process and won’t take more than a half hour.

Before I talk about how to actually clean your clubs, it’s worth mentioning that every golf bag should have 14 clubs. This will be a combination of irons, woods, hybrids, driver and putter. It’s important to know that cleaning your irons is slightly different than cleaning your other clubs. 

Make sure to follow the specific instructions for each type of club to make sure you don’t damage them.

Cleaning your irons

It’s actually a pretty painless process to clean your irons. Make sure you have 30 minutes before starting though. You’ll want time to soak your clubs before washing and then after for drying.

Before you start, make sure you have a…

I recommend setting up to clean your clubs outside because the water can spill and create a mess. This is not an indoor activity.

Once you have everything together, set up your bucket and place your irons in the warm, soapy water. Let them soak for at least five minutes before doing anything. This allows for the cleaning solution to break down the dirt and make removing it much easier on you.

Now that the clubs have had a chance to sit, grab your golf brush or toothbrush and start scrubbing. Make sure to get in between the grooves. That is the most important part of the club to clean. If you need to, grab a tee, or something pointy, and run along each groove to make sure it’s all cleaned out. I’ll cover why this is important later on in the article.

Next, scrub the rest of the club face, making sure no dirt or grime is left. This is important too. Not only because you want the club to look shiny and new, but also because there are ball markings on your club face that can impact your shot.

It’s worth mentioning that you can damage your club face if you’re trying to clean it with something that can scratch it. If you use a golf brush or toothbrush then you shouldn’t have to worry. I’ve seen golfers use steel wool and leave a bunch of scratch marks behind. That’s a big error and I certainly don’t want anyone to ruin their clubs.

After the club face is clean, take the microfiber cloth and wipe any excess water and dirt off. Use the now slightly wet cloth and run it up and down the shaft. This is obviously less important, and less impactful to your game, but more of taking pride in your stuff type of thing..

At this point, you should have a clean club. Give the club one final wipe with a dry cloth. You can use a rack, or something similar, to let any remaining moisture on the club club air dry. I prefer to just put the club back in my bag at this point because I’m done with it.

You’ll want to make sure the club isn’t stored wt, as this can lead to rust.

Repeat this process for the remainder of your irons and then you should be good to go.

Do you need to clean your grips?

You should absolutely clean your club grips. Many golfers skip this step but it’s actually a really important step. You can prolong the life of your grips, saving you money in the long run, since you won;t have to replace them as often.

Take a warm towel or microfiber wash cloth and wipe down the length of the grip. This will help remove any excess dirt. Just make sure not to use water that is too hot. It can damage the grip, which is what we’re trying to avoid.

Also, don’t submerge the grip in water. It’s unnecessary and can damage the grip.

You can even use a cleaning solution or lightly soapy water if you want. This won’t deteriorate the grip and will help prevent getting that black smudge on your hands after a round of golf.

Cleaning your fairway woods, driver and putter

Cleaning your woods, driver and putter follow a similar process to your irons. The biggest difference is that you don’t want to submerge any of these clubs in water. They are made of different materials and it could damage them.

Instead of soaking them, use a soapy microfiber cloth or soft bristled toothbrush to lightly clean the dirt off the club face. It’s less important to get into the grooves for these clubs as they don’t affect your ball in the same fashion as an iron. I should add that you want to be careful here as to not scratch the club face.

A cautionary tale, your putter face can easily be damaged by scrubbing too hard. You should only need to wipe these down as they won’t be nearly as dirty as your other clubs. Unless of course you’re using your putter in an unconventional way, like out of the bunker.

Benefits of cleaning your golf clubs

Most don’t realize but cleaning your clubs can actually help you hit the ball straighter and further. Think about it. Grass, dirt or even scuff marks on your club face can result in an imperfect ball trajectory. 

Debris in your club face grooves can also affect the ball rotation, especially for higher lofted clubs. This will impact your spin rate, and in turn your distance. Overall this will leave you with inconsistent shots.

All of these things contribute to the flight of your ball.

Cleaning your clubs is more than just a pride thing. It also affects your performance. So why not just take the time to clean your clubs? Set yourself up for success and give yourself the best chance at scoring low with clean clubs.

Can you damage your clubs from cleaning them?

Yes, you can damage your clubs when cleaning them.
If you clean your clubs and don’t dry them properly, storing them wet can result in rusty clubs. So, dry your clubs after cleaning them to avoid rust.

Using steel wool, or something with stiff wires, to clean your club face can damage the head. Especially your driver or fairway woods. Stick to the brushes meant to clean your clubs, or a toothbrush, and you won’t have any issues. 

How often should you clean your clubs?

A more thorough clean is only necessary every few weeks, but that’s all personal preference. The more frequently you clean them, and the better you maintain them, the longer they will last. Some golfers will clean their club after every shot with a golf brush and towel

Should you clean your clubs during the round?

Yes, ideally you should clean your clubs after every shot on the course. 

I carry a golf towel attached to my bag for when I hit a shot “chunky”. You can use this to wipe the club after your shot, especially if you pick up any ground in your follow through.

You should also carry a golf brush with you. I have a dual brush head that has nylon bristles on one side and brass bristles on the other. The nylon is for woods while the brass will clean your irons.

If you don’t have a brush, a little trick to clean your club on the course is to use a tee to get all the dirt out of the grooves in your irons. This will help ensure you hit consistent shots.