Last Updated on March 12, 2024 by Britt Olizarowicz
As a golf professional who has played the game for nearly 30 years, I like to play with clean clubs. However, I’m also a mom of two young kids, and some of my rounds are nine holes in the afternoon with kids on the back of a four-seater golf cart. Needless to say, my wedges and irons aren’t always as perfectly clean as they were years ago. I wanted to test using the Foresight GC3 launch monitor to see how much of a difference this would make in my golf shots. I’ll show you the dirty vs. clean golf clubs and give you my recommendations on whether this actually matters.
Dirty vs. Clean Golf Clubs: Did it Matter?
When I tested a dirty 56-degree wedge against a clean 56-degree wedge, I noticed 2000 to 2500 more rpm of spin.
With a 7 iron, on average, we saw about 1500 to 2000 more rpm of spin, as well as an average carry distance of 3 yards more.
Here’s a look at our complete results testing the sand wedge and the 7 iron.
| Golf Club | Condition | Shot Type | RPM |
| 56° Wedge | Dirty | Half Shots | 3875 |
| 56° Wedge | Clean | Half Shots | 5724 |
| 56° Wedge | Dirty | Full Swing | 4599 |
| 56° Wedge | Clean | Full Swing | 6975 |
| 7 Iron | Dirty | Full Swing | 4849 |
| 7 Iron | Clean | Full Swing | 6724 |
Testing Process and Results
I tested this concept on a rainy day at the golf simulator. It’s an indoor to outdoor simulator, so we can watch the ball flight. The golf balls were Callaway Chrome Soft Practice.
The ball was a little wet, and the clubface likely was too.
I think spin rates were lower overall than they usually would be because of the moisture.
However, you can see the clear difference between the spin rates before and after. The average difference was 2035 RPM. I also noticed anywhere from 1 to 3.5 more yards in carry distance.
That’s a lot to give up simply because you don’t feel like washing your golf clubs.
How Clean Do Golf Clubs Need To Be?
As you can see from the before-and-after pictures, the clubs I was hitting were not overly dirty. However, the grooves were filled with debris. That’s where you really see the difference in performance. When the grooves are clean, you can get a higher spin.
My favorite way to clean golf clubs is using the Club Scrub. I started using it a few months ago, and we used it in this test. It’s made a significant difference in how clean I’m able to keep my golf clubs.
- WATERPROOF Liner gives you effective clean without the mess. Add a 1/4 cup of water to the club scrub before your round and enjoy a clean club with every stroke.
Best Way To Clean Golf Clubs
For years, I’ve been cleaning golf clubs the same way. I put them in a 5-gallon bucket filled with water and soap (the irons and wedges only) and then used a scrub brush or golf groove brush to clean them.
It worked, but it was time-consuming. In addition, I never felt like my clubs stayed clean enough in between rounds, and I couldn’t spend this much time cleaning after each round.
Now that I’ve found the Club Scrub, it’s been so much easier. Here is the process I follow.
Step 1 – Pre Round Prep
Before you go out to play a round of golf, fill the Club Scrub with about ¼ cups of water. You don’t have to empty it; you can just leave the water in there, but I like to fill it and then dump it out. One time, I put too much water in it and it made kind of a mess. The ¼ cup got it wet enough that it stayed that way the entire round.
Step 2 – Attach To The Golf Bag
The Club Scrub is easy to attach to the bag. Just use the clip and get yourself set up for the day. I have also gone two or three rounds without refilling it with water, and it’s worked fine in cleaning the clubs.
Step 3- Start Cleaning Clubs
All you have to do is put your club into the club scrub and hold it with your other hand. It cleans the clubface and grooves. The materials work well to get into the grooves, and I don’t end up with any scratches or damage to my clubs.
Step 4- Wipe Dry
If you want to, you can use a towel on your bag to wipe the clubs dry. I especially recommend doing this if you are putting the clubs away for the day.
Step 5- Clean The Club Scrub
Every few rounds, I put the Club Scrub in the washing machine. It comes out clean. Sometimes, you find a few pieces of grass stuck in there, but it’s not coming out sandy or muddy. It’s truly the easiest way I have found to clean clubs, and it’s helping me gain spin and maybe even a few yards.
Should You Clean Your Golf Clubs After Every Shot?
Not every golf shot you take will get your club dirty. However, you should clean your club if you can see any dirt, sand, or grass in the grooves. Make sure you at least have a towel on your golf bag to wipe down your clubs and ensure they are ready for the next strike.
When you don’t clean your golf clubs, you give up spin and distance. Over the course of a round, this can easily lead to a stroke or two. Cleaning your golf clubs is a simple way to play more like a professional!
Final Thoughts
This test was really interesting, and it gave me some insight into how much it impacts my shots when I’m not staying on top of those clean grooves. If you find this to be the case with your clubs, I highly recommend trying the Club Scrub. At this point, I know it’s saved me a few shots. I’ll probably play around with some more testing to study this further. The clubs I used weren’t terribly dirty, so the differences in spin rates could be even greater. Let us know what you think. Do you clean your clubs after every swing? Will you now?
