A Short Guide On How To Polish Golf Clubs

Golf is an interesting and high-end sport that requires time, money, and effort to learn and practice. Golf equipment is also considered the top expensive among many sports.

How to Polish Golf Clubs

Method One – The Conventional Method

Prerequisites Before Polishing

Before getting into the polishing procedure, it’s a must to do some prerequisites steps first. You should ensure that you have all the necessary tools and ingredients by your side so that you won’t be frustrated while polishing.

Here is the checklist of what you need before getting started:

Warm water (heat boosts the polishing effects)
Soap or dishwashing liquid (to remove blemishes)
A bucket or basin
Soft towels to dry the balls after polishing
Polishing cloth (optional, but recommended)
A nylon brush

Water Temperature

Now, let’s dive deep into the top important factor: water. We have mentioned “warm water,” but, more specifically, how warm is enough?

First of all, let us clarify: you should never soak golf clubs into hot, boiling water because boiling water can tear down the club’s ferrule. Besides, thanks to it, the head of the golf club can be loosened down and become more fragile.

Therefore, you must use mildly warm water to soak the golf club’s head so that the object can slowly get used to high temperatures, avoiding damaging the ferrule.

Soaking the Clubs

The next step is to add dishwashing soap to warm water. The recommended ratio is about two tablespoons of dishwashing soap to half a liter of water-based on our experience. However, you can pour more soap in case the cleansing effect is not strong enough.

Stir the soap quickly so that it can dissolve fully into water. Next, dip the golf club into that mixture. Suppose your club isn’t too dirty, or you haven’t used it in muddy places, then five minutes of bathing is enough. If the club is too dirty, increase the time to 10 minutes.

However, we have to remind you that only one part must be soaked: the head. Please don’t bathe the whole club into the mixture, just the head. Otherwise, you will damage the ferrule in other parts of the golf club.

Brushing the Clubs

After five to ten minutes of bathing in the dishwashing soap mixture, now all the dirt remaining on the golf club starts falling. It’s time to brush out all residues retained.

Next, take out the nylon brush and scrape down the residue slightly until all the dirt gets out from all corners. If you don’t have a nylon brush, then a used toothbrush is acceptable.

Please scrape the head moderately but carefully in the grooves’ direction so that all dirt can fall out more quickly. Remember, brush, not scratch the golf club. Otherwise, your golf club will look completely worn out.

For specks stuck in the grooves, you can take them out by using toothpicks. After finishing the cleaning job, dry the golf club with a soft towel.

Proper Storage

The final step is to polish the club with chrome polish or steel polish substance. Dip the polish cloth into the polish mixture, then wipe it on the golf club’s head. For this stage, you can rub the substance over the whole club.

With such polishing moves, the golf club will look shinier than ever. Besides, the polishing gel also protects the golf club from erosion and oxidant process.

Therefore, we suggest you repeat the above process at least once a month if you play golf weekly. If you are not a frequent golfer, then once per two months is acceptable.

After cleansing and polishing, you now put the golf club back to the bag, and protect the head with a specialized golf club headcover or cellophane. Keep the package in a dry space.

Method Two – The Drill Method

The Prerequisites

Besides the conventional method, using drills is another way to polish the golf club. Compared to the previous technique, the drill method seems more effective.

Before getting into the guide, we must be aware that, even if it is super quickly-effective, it requires wearing gloves, safety goggles, and noise-blocking ear protection gears, so if you don’t have these tools, you cannot try this way.

So, let us list out some essential tools of drilling method:

A drill (cordless is better)
Cleansing tissues or rags
Vise or clamps (optional)
Polishing gels and cloth

Starting With Steps

Have you completed the prerequisite steps above? Suppose you checked all the items needed above; it’s time to go directly to the procedure.

First of all, take out the tissues (or rags), dip in alcohol (optional), and clean the golf club, from top to bottom, from left to right. It’s a must to do this step to wipe away the oxidation and rust.

The next stage is to use the cotton polishing wheel of the drill to buff the club. Make sure to use the lesser compound.

When the polishing effect is enough for your demand, stop the drill operation. Clear the golf club surface with rags or tissue to ensure no drilling residue remains because residue can cause scratch and discoloration.

Last but not least, apply the white polishing substance and rub it slowly along the golf club. This stage will help achieve the glossy and shiny look for the golf club.

After cleaning and polishing the golf club, put it back to the bag, and protect the head with cellophane or headcover. Store the golf club bag in a cool, dry place to maintain a good status.

Method Three – While On The Go

We have discussed two complicated polishing methods above, but what if you are too busy to spend time preparing for all steps mentioned above? How could you polish the golf club then?

Well, let us introduce you to another method to polish the club, quick and effective on-the-go. What you need is an old yet damped towel. Yes, that’s it – only one tool.

There are two parts on the towel, right? Then, use the towel’s damped part to wipe along the golf club mildly and rub the head part carefully. Once finished wiping away the dirt to leave the shiny layer, change to the towel’s dry part to clean up the residue if needed.

This technique is basic and quickly-conducted on-the-go, so, without a polishing compound, warm water, and other tools, of course, the performance cannot be as great as the previous two. However, it is acceptable for those who are in urgent need.

Method Four – Using The Washer

Last but not least, you can use a power washer to clean up the golf club. The process is simple: pull out the power washer, then put the golf club between your legs or hands. Next, hold the face of the club in place.

Now the preparation is complete. Turn on the washer. Focus on washing the grooves and the face for better cleaning efficiency.

This method has some pros and cons. In terms of advantages, the power washer provides the best cleaning effect among the four approaches. However, because the water forces are too powerful, your golf club will be severely torn out if being washed frequently.

How To Clean Golf Club Grips

We have discussed cleaning and polishing golf club heads, but if you want to perfectly clean even in small grips, it’s necessary to do some additional steps.

What you need to prepare is a bucket of warm water, toothbrush (or nylon brush), washing liquid (or soap), and towel. First, add washing liquid to warm water, mix it to make bubbly water.

Second, submerge the golf club, up to the wedges, in the mixture and let it sit out for about 2 to 5 minutes. Next, brush the club and scrape off the dirt, especially in grips and grooves.

Once finishing, clean the whole golf club under clear tap water. Next, use dry towels to remove excess water and residue.

Final thoughts

Through this article, we have discussed how to polish golf clubs as well as the technique to clean their tiny grips. There are four methods given, varying from complicated to simple on-the-go.

Your job is to flexibly pick out the most suitable approach based on your status in the meantime. When you don’t have time, then just wash with a damped towel. When there is much free time, chilling and polishing with the conventional way.

We hope this article is resourceful enough for your golf club polishing project. Enjoy your golfing time!