Welcome to another edition of the Fully Equipped mailbag, sponsored by Cleveland/Srixon Golf, an interactive GOLF.com series in which we field your hard-hitting gear questions.
My clubs look tired and worn out, but they still perform great. Anything I can do? Michelle M. – Oregon
No matter how your clubs look, if they’re still performing how you want them to, then they’ll likely deliver the goods for another season, if not several more to come. But every now and then it doesn’t hurt to make a few tweaks to keep your clubs looking sharp. Because when you look sharp, you’ll feel better — just as you do when you’re wearing a new outfit — and feeling good may be just what you need to play your best golf.
Hey, it’s science. Sort of.
Lucky for you we have some answers. Below, you’ll find some advice on how to help you keep your sticks in tip-top shape. And, in some cases, looking better than they ever did before. Let’s get into it:
1. Custom paint fill
If you’re a gearhead like us, you know that those who have custom setups tend to also have custom paint fills in their clubs. You can sometimes get custom paint direct from the manufacturer, but many golfers get after-market work done on their clubs to give them that custom look. Or, if you’re adventurous, you can do it yourself with some enamel. Just remember, these paints can sometimes be pretty dangerous and noxious — especially when dealing with industrial-grade paint remover to remove the existing paint fill in your set. Speaking of, here’s a great product that’ll get you started:
2. Scuffs don’t have to be permanent
This one might require some custom paint fill, too, but if you have a scuff, chip or small dent in your iron or another club that doesn’t have a paint job, a simple sanding can sometimes erase those blemishes. If you have a sky-ball mark or something like that on the crown of a wood or driver, it’s a little more difficult, but not totally unfixable.
You have to remember that your woods have a similar paint job to your car. There’s usually a clearcoat above the paint, meaning to fix it you’ll need to fix the problem underneath the clearcoat and then fix the clearcoat itself. A quick tip: Rubbing compound, if used properly and sparingly, can be a godsend. For a quick shine, this is the best stuff we’ve found.
Cleveland Launcher XL irons
3. Colorful grips
A change in color from black to gray, or even white, or a dual-colored grip could make your set look and feel fresh in a hurry. And unlike the previous fixes, this is one aesthetic upgrade that will help your clubs perform better, too.
