Over time, our golf gear starts to experience normal wear and tear. Golf bag zippers stop working, grips get worn, and even our golf club heads will start to rust. While this wear and tear is normal, golfers can take steps to lessen the amount of the damage.
Proper maintenance and care for your golf gear will ensure that you have them for years to come. This is especially true when it comes to preventing the rusting of clubs. Rust prevention and fixing rust build up is part of this normal golf gear maintenance.
Rust is an interesting topic when it comes to golf clubs. While most find it as a nuisance and eye sore, some see it as an opportunity. In fact, some manufactures go as far as promoting the rusting of their equipment as a way to enhance your game.
With all this information, understanding how to stop your clubs from rusting or if you should even stop it, are important questions. In the article below, we are going to cover all you need to know about rusty clubs. From what causes it, to how to prevent rust build up, and its impact on your game.
5 Tips To Stop Golf Clubs From Rusting
The adage of ‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure’ holds true when it comes to caring for golf equipment. Golf clubs are expensive so be sure to handle your equipment with care to protect them from rust and wear. Check out the 5 tips below to prevent your golf clubs from rusting.
1.) Proper Club Storage Is Key
Proper golf club storage is a key factor in preventing club rust. Be sure to store your clubs in a dry place, ideally where the temperature is relatively constant.
Avoid storing your clubs in humid environments, as this will lead to rusting. Following this tip will give you the best chance of keeping your golf clubs rust free.
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Himal Soft Sided Golf Travel Bag
The Himal Soft Sided Golf Travel Bag is a versatile travel bag that doubles as an excellent storage bag. This durable and spacious bag provides protection and keeps your golf gear safe from the elements, ensuring your clubs are in perfect condition for each round.
2.) Wash Your Clubs Frequently
Washing then thoroughly drying your clubs after each round will go a long way in preventing rust build up. Grass fragments and dirt that get stuck on the club can retain water which over time will lead to rust build up. Cleaning and drying your clubs after each round ensures that your clubs are in the best condition to be stored.
3.) Use Headcovers On And Off The Course
Using headcovers to minimize your club’s exposure to moisture is a great way to avoid club rusting. Headcovers provide protections from the elements while on the course.
Headcovers are especially useful if you play in damp or wet conditions. They will help prevent moisture from getting onto the clubheads. They are also handy for protecting your clubs when you’re traveling, as they can help prevent damage during transit.
Overall, headcovers are a simple but effective way to keep your clubs in good condition and prevent rust from forming.
Magnetic Leather Club Head Covers
Introducing the All Teed Up Premium Magnetic Leather Golf Club Head Covers. Crafted with premium leather and featuring magnetic closures, these head covers offer both protection and style for your irons and wedges. Keep your clubs in pristine condition with this convenient and luxurious solution that enhances the look of your golf bag.
4.) Clean Using Rust Remover
In severe cases, when rust has already started to build on your clubs, you may need to resort to using a rust remover. Use a product such as WD-40 or CLR when cleaning your clubs.
Spray a little WD-40 or CLR on the rusty area. Let the rust remover set in for 10-15 mins, scrub the rusty area, then wash clean. Do this step as many times as need to remove the rust from the club.
For a complete guide, check out our article on removing rust with WD-40 or our article on removing rust with CLR.
5.) Know When It Is Time To Upgrade
In some cases, club restoration may not be worthwhile. Luckily, for today’s golfers there are plenty of affordable options for upgrading their rusty clubs. Fixing rusty clubs is doable but a smart golfer knows when its time to move on.
What Causes Golf Clubs To Rust?
Golf clubs can rust due to a variety of factors but the main culprit behind rusty clubs is moisture. The amount of rust and how fast it builds on your clubs will depend on the frequency and duration of exposure.
The type of moisture also plays a role in rust build up. Salt water, specifically, can speed up the rusting process. Golfers that live near the beach or salty water will need to be extra careful when cleaning and storing their clubs.
Now that we know what moisture is the main culprit of rust formation, lets cover how we can best prevent club rusting and what damage it causes.
Can Rust Cause Club Damage?
It is common for clubs to rust but what does that mean for your game? Are rusty clubs just a cosmetic blemish or can your shots be impacted by a rusty club face.
Club rust, in most cases, is a superficial feature. It’s impact to your shot is negligible for most shots. However, rust can affect the ball at impact if it is located on the face of the club. This impact is almost certainly minor, but it is something to take into consideration.
Do All Types Of Clubs Rust?
Golf clubs are made from a variety of materials. From graphite, iron, and a virtually endless list of metal and carbon compounds. Does this mean that all clubs will rust or are some clubs immune from this fate?
“Technically, only iron and alloys that contain iron can rust. Other metals, including precious metals like gold and silver, can corrode in a similar way.” (Source)
This means that almost any club with metal in it can corrade over time. This means that materials such as graphite and compound grips will wear over time but are not subject to rusting.
How To Stop Golf Club Shafts From Rusting
Anything containing iron can rust overtime. This means that both golf club faces and shafts are at risk of rusting. If you find your clubs shafts rusting, you can use WD-40 to clean them. It can be an effective way to remove rust from the shaft.
Are There Any Benefits From Rusted Clubs?
Rusting or weathering your clubs was a bit of a fade back in the day. Golfers would purposefully rust their club face, specifically wedges, to increase the abrasion of the club face which was thought to increase spin.
This intentional rusting has since been disproven as benefit. Clean club grooves are what allow for optimal backspin on the ball. Rust build up actually interferes with this process.
Rusting clubs can also help prevent glare. Chrome or other shiny metals can reflect sunlight back up into a golfer’s eyes. Rusted clubs will not glare back into a golfer’s vision.
Final Thoughts
Every golfer wants to protect their golf gear from damage. This is especially true with their golf clubs. Rust prevention is an important part of this club maintenance and upkeep. Remember to keep your clubs dry, store them in a proper location, and use headcovers when possible, to best protect your clubs from moisture.
For clubs that already have rust build up, there are a couple options. Use rust removing products for moderate cases or opt to upgrade to new clubs when the rusting has gone too far.
Rust build up is a nuisance but it can be prevented. Follow the steps above to prevent or fix your rusty clubs.
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