How to Store Extra Golf Clubs

Your extra set of irons from ten years ago, that driver you just can't seem to part with, or the putter you rotate in and out of the bag - every golfer accumulates a collection of extra clubs. The question is what to do with them. Tossing them in a dusty garage corner or leaving them in your car trunk is a surefire way to ruin them. This guide will walk you through exactly how to store your extra clubs so they remain in pristine, game-ready condition for whenever you need them next.

Why Bother with Proper Storage?

You might be thinking, "They're just sitting there, what could possibly happen?" Well, quite a lot, actually. Golf clubs are a significant investment, and like any fine-tuned piece of equipment, they need care even when they’re not in use. Poor storage can lead to a host of problems that can permanently damage your clubs and hurt your performance down the line.

• Rust and Corrosion: This is enemy number one, especially for steel shafts and forged iron heads. Humidity is the main culprit, causing rust that not only looks awful but can compromise the integrity of the shaft.
• Grip Degradation: Rubber grips are sensitive to extreme temperatures and UV light. Too much heat can make them tacky and soft, while intense cold can cause them to become brittle and crack. A rotted grip is useless.
• Epoxy Weakening: The strong adhesive that holds your clubheads to your shafts can be weakened by constant exposure to high heat (like in a car trunk). The last thing you want is a clubhead flying farther than your ball.
• Shaft Damage: While modern shafts are incredibly durable, storing them improperly - like leaning them at a sharp angle for years - can lead to warping or micro-fractures, especially with graphite shafts.

Taking a few simple steps to store them correctly protects your investment and ensures that when you pull that old 7-iron out, it feels and performs just as you remember it.

The Essential Pre-Storage Cleaning Routine

Never, ever put your clubs away dirty. Dirt, grass, and moisture are catalysts for damage. Before you even think about where your clubs will live, give them a thorough cleaning. It’s a simple process that pays huge dividends.

Step 1: Clean the Clubheads

The grooves on your clubface are designed to create spin, and if they're packed with dirt, their performance suffers. More importantly, dirt traps moisture against the metal.

• Fill a bucket with warm water and a small amount of mild dish soap.
• Submerge the clubheads (irons and hybrids) for just a few minutes. Do not submerge the hosel or ferrules for an extended time, as this can seep into the shaft connection.
• Use a soft-bristled brush (a nylon brush or even an old toothbrush works perfectly) to gently scrub the face, making sure to get deep into every groove.
• Rinse the head with clean water and, this is the most important part, dry it completely with a towel afterwards. Don't let them air dry. Any lingering moisture is an invitation for rust. For woods and drivers, simply wipe them down with a damp cloth instead of submerging them.

Step 2: Wipe Down the Shafts

Shafts need attention, too. Wipe each shaft, whether steel or graphite, with a damp cloth to remove any fingerprints, dirt, or residue. Immediately follow up by drying it with a separate, dry towel. This is especially important for steel shafts to prevent any surface rust from forming.

Step 3: Care for the Grips

Your hands leave behind natural oils and sweat that can break down the rubber in your grips over time. Giving them a quick wipe-down helps prolong their life.

• Use a damp cloth to gently wipe avery grip. If they're particularly grimy, you can use that same soapy water from the clubheads, but be sure to rinse them with a clean, damp cloth afterwards.
• Dry the grips thoroughly. A clean, sealed grip is far less likely to degrade while in storage.

The Dos and Don'ts of Picking a Storage Spot

Where you store your clubs is perhaps the most significant factor in their long-term health. The goal is to find a location that is stable, avoiding the extremes that cause the most damage.

The Golden Rule: Climate Control is Everything

Extreme and fluctuating temperatures and humidity are the ultimate enemies of golf equipment. A stable, indoor environment is what you're after.

• Heat is bad because it can soften and weaken the epoxy holding your clubheads on. It also accelerates the breakdown of rubber grips, making them sticky and brittle.
• Cold won't typically damage clubheads or shafts, but it can make grips hard and more susceptible to cracking.
• Humidity fluctuations are the absolute worst. Moisture in the air leads directly to rust on steel shafts and can even get inside the shaft through the tiny hole in the grip, rusting it from the inside out.

Good Storage Locations (The "Yes" List)

Look for spots inside your home that are protected from the outside elements.

• ✅ A Spare Closet: This is the ideal spot. It's dark, dry, and has a stable temperature year-round.
• ✅ Under a Bed: Another excellent choice, offering the same protection as a closet, just in a different configuration.
• ✅ A Climate-Controlled Basement or Attic: The word "climate-controlled" is the operative term here. If the space is finished, insulated, and part of your home's HVAC system, it’s a great option.
• ✅ An Interior Storage Unit: If you're short on space at home, a climate-controlled storage unit is a perfectly safe alternative.

Bad Storage Locations (The "Avoid at All Costs" List)

These places are common storage spots, but they are a death sentence for golf clubs.

• ❌ Your Car Trunk: Absolutely the worst place you can store clubs. It acts like an oven in the summer and a freezer in the winter, subjecting your clubs to the most extreme temperature swings possible.
• ❌ The Garage or Shed: Unless your garage is fully insulated and climate-controlled (most aren't), it experiences massive temperature and humidity changes. A damp shed is even worse. Leave your rake in there, not your Scotty Cameron.
• ❌ Next to a Heat Source: Don't lean your clubs against a water heater or a furnace. The constant direct heat will bake your grips and weaken the epoxy.

How to Actually Arrange Your Clubs for Storage

Once you have a clean set of clubs and the perfect location, the final piece is how to physically orient them for their hibernation.

Option 1: In a Stand-Alone Golf Bag

For seasonal or short-term storage, keeping a set in an old golf bag works just fine. There are a few best practices to follow:

• Use Headcovers on Everything. Pop headcovers on all your woods and even your putter to prevent clanking, dings, and scratches. For your irons, a set of iron covers is a great small investment for long-term protection.
• Stand the Bag Upright. Avoid leaning the bag at a severe angle against a wall. Keeping it standing upright on its own base puts the least amount of stress on the shafts.
• Give Them Space. Don't try to cram 20 clubs into a bag made for 14. Good air circulation around each club helps prevent any trapped moisture from causing issues.

Option 2: Dedicated Golf Racks

If you're a true equipment enthusiast or have several sets, a dedicated golf rack is an awesome solution. They come in both wall-mounted and floor-standing versions. These racks are fantastic because they keep each club separated, preventing them from banging into each other, and allow for maximum air circulation.

A Final Note on Arrangement

For very long-term storage, the best way to store a club is upright, just as it would sit in a bag or rack. This ensures there's no continuous, unnatural pressure on any part of the shaft. Avoid stacking them horizontally on top of each other, as this can put pressure on the shafts at the bottom of the pile.

Two Final Details That Make a Big Difference

Getting the big things right - cleaning and location - is 90% of the battle. These last two details will take care of the rest.

The Headcover Question

As mentioned, headcovers are your best friends for storage. They protect the finish on expensive driver, wood, and hybrid heads and stop irons from clanging together, which is the main cause of "bag chatter" dings and dents. There's just one rule: make sure the headcovers are completely dry before putting them on for storage. A damp leather headcover will trap moisture directly against the clubhead, making potential corrosion much, much worse.

Protecting Your Grips

Grips are best stored without anything pressing on them. Storing them in a bag or a rack where they can hang freely is perfect. This prevents them from developing flat spots or indentations from being leaned against a hard edge for months or years. Your goal is for the grip to be in the same round shape when you take it out as when you put it in.

Final Thoughts

Storing your extra golf clubs isn't complicated. It simply comes down to cleaning them properly, finding a stable, climate-controlled location away from extreme temperatures, and arranging them so they aren't damaged by contact or pressure. Following these simple steps ensures your gear will always be ready for action, protecting your investment for years to come.

Managing your physical equipment is one side of the coin, understanding it is the other. If you ever have questions about your gear, like "What are the signs I need new grips?" or "Should I be playing a graphite or steel shafted iron?", it's helpful to have a resource you can trust. With our app, Caddie AI, you can ask any golf question, anytime, and get an answer from an expert golf brain. It can feel like having a 24/7 club-fitter in your pocket, helping you make sense of your equipment so you play with more confidence.