Last Updated on March 6, 2024 by Britt Olizarowicz
I’m a 5’2″ female professional golfer. If you think that stock clubs work for my game, they don’t! Years ago, I would have had to pay a lot of money for custom golf clubs just so that I could find equipment that would work with my swing. Luckily, custom golf clubs are not quite as expensive as they once were. I’ll explain why custom clubs get a bad wrap for being too expensive. In addition I’ll give you a better indication of how much custom golf clubs cost. I’ll also give you a few of my tips for budgeting custom golf clubs and whether or not a golf club fitting is worth your money.
How Much Do Custom Golf Clubs Cost?
Custom golf clubs cost anywhere from $150 to $1500 per club. The thing that most amateur golfers misunderstand is that custom golf clubs don’t need to be any more expensive than stock golf clubs.
The ability to purchase golf clubs with the correct shaft flex and length for your game does not have to cost extra. However, shaft and grip upgrades can significantly increase the price of your clubs. This table breaks down the low- and high-end costs of custom golf equipment for you.
| Club Type | Low End ($) | High End ($) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Driver | 399 | 600+ | Price varies by brand and customization level |
| Iron Set (7 pcs) | 699 | 1500+ | Custom fittings can increase the price |
| Putter | 175 | 400+ | Highly customizable, including grip and length |
| Wedges | 145 | 200+ | Cost depends on materials and finish |
| Fairway Woods | 199 | 400+ | Price varies widely with shaft and head options |
| Hybrid | 199 | 300+ | Custom fit options available |
What Are Custom Golf Clubs?
Golf manufacturers design clubs a certain way, and they are called stock clubs. Years ago, you could purchase these stock clubs and then take them somewhere for customization. Now, you can order directly from the manufacturer so that they are customized to your needs. Anytime you change a golf club so that it is no longer the stock model it is considered custom.
Factors That Increase The Cost of Custom Golf Clubs
Most major golf manufacturers do not charge extra for new clubs that are simply longer, shorter or a different flex in the shaft. In fact, most will also change the lie and the loft of the club to fit your game without costing anything extra. However, there are various factors that can increase the cost of custom clubs. This includes the shaft and the grip.
Custom Golf Shafts
Custom golf shafts are what make individual clubs so expensive. Any professional (myself included) will tell you that the golf clubhead matters, but the shaft is most important. During your golf club fitting process you may have been told that a custom golf shaft is better for your new driver or set of irons. Custom shafts usually start around $25 extra per club, but they can also be well over $300 extra.
Let’s say you find a $499 driver that you really like. You went for a full bag fitting and the fitting professional said it would be a good idea to upgrade to a better shaft. The upgrade price will be added to your $499. So, a $100 shaft upgrade leaves you with a $599 driver.
Custom Golf Grips
The other area where you will see custom golf clubs get more expensive is in the grip. Luckily, the price point of a new grip is not nearly as high as that of a custom shaft. Grips cost between $5 and $30 extra per club.
If you want the best results with your new custom clubs, having the proper grip is important. The only real issues you can run into with grips is when you want to customize them throughout the entire set. It can add up rather quickly.
How Do I Know I Need CUstom Golf Clubs?
The only way to know if you truly need custom golf clubs (especially expensive shaft upgrades) is to use a launch monitor. A few years ago, I may have told you that you could go to a professional at a club and get a custom fitting, or you would have no idea what you need. However, with launch monitor technology improving, if you have your own, you can learn quite a bit about the equipment you need.
Here’s the thing . ..
If I was going to spend $300 EXTRA on a golf driver shaft, I need to see it on a launch monitor. In addito, have a skilled professional show me that this is the right equipment for me.
The ball flight, distance, feel and accuracy would essentially have to be perfect. Regardless of skill level in order to justify the expense.
In other words, don’t purchase a high-end shaft in a custom club if you haven’t even seen the impact it will have on the golf ball.
Comparison: Custom vs. Non-Custom Driver
I think to really see the way that custom golf clubs can increase in price is to compare custom vs. non custom. The Titleist TSR2 is a great driver with forgiveness for amateurs but impressive distance and ball flight control as well. Let’s take a look at how the standard build compares to the custom build.
| Build Type | Price | Shaft | Grip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Build: Titleist TSR2 Driver | $599 | Mitsubishi Chemical Tensei Black 65 | Golf Pride Tour Velvet |
| Custom Build with Shaft Upgrade | $948 | Mitsubishi Kuro Kage LE 50 Graphite | Golf Pride MCC Plus 4 Align |
The shaft upgrade is really what increases the price of this TSR2 build. If you have gone for a custom fitting and the professional recommended an upgraded shaft, you could be looking at total prices that are nearly double the original price of the club. The type of club will also play into this, on average iron shafts are not as expensive of an upgrade as graphite shafts.
Are Custom Fit Golf Clubs Worth It?
As a golf professional (a short one at that) I can tell you that custom fit golf clubs are a smart investment. However, I will also tell you that you don’t need to order upgraded custom-fit golf clubs. There is a big difference.
Simply making sure that your lie angle, length, and shaft are a good fit for your game is what is most important. Even if you get an extra yard with a $400 shaft upgrade, that may not be worth the money. Here are the other things to consider when determining if custom fit golf clubs are worth it.
Fees for Club Fitting Services
A golf club fitting for a new set of clubs can range from $45 to $400. The fitting fee is sometimes incorporated into the purchase price of the clubs. Find an affordable club fitting in your area with professional and great launch monitor technology. They will get you into the right clubs, and the fitting fee will be worth it.
Here’s a great tip: If you don’t plan on spending any money on upgraded golf shafts, tell the club fitter this right from the start! THey have plenty they can work with from a stock standpoint and be able to stay in your price range.
Entire Bag or One Golf Club
Some golfers have a hard time paying a higher cost for a fitting and customization for one club. I have always found it easier to do it in pieces when purchasing new golf clubs. I may replace my irons one season and then my wedges the next.
You may pay a little more to be fit at a custom fit facility. Howeve, it’s easier than spending $3000 all at once to replace every one of your current clubs.
Try to find a local golf shop where fitting is affordable. Fitting can almost work as a golf lesson because you will learn quite a bit about your ability and progress.
Pay close attention to spin rates and speeds. You’ll get some insight into what golf ball you should be playing with.
How Often You Play
The more often you play, the easier it is to justify the pricing of custom-fitted clubs. For golfers who play once a month or are looking for beginner golf clubs, it’s just not worth it to purchase a $300+ shaft upgrade.
Instead, find clubs that are affordable, built for your speed and your height, and use them until you are playing golf on a consistent basis.
If you play golf at least once a week (but more in the 2-3 times a week) range, you are likely considered an avid golfer. This is the point that custom fitting services and equipment make sense.
How Long You Plan To Keep The Club
Finally, if you are a golfer who wants to invest good money in a set that will last you the next 5-7 years, custom fitting is the best option. Again, remember the fact that clubs that are the right length and proper lie angle do not need to cost extra. They just need to be a new model that is still available from the manufacturer.
Custom Golf Club Set vs. Stock Golf Club Set Pricing
To get a better idea of what a full custom set of golf clubs could cost verse a stock set I put together a table for you. The first column shows that you can expect a stock set of clubs to cost right around $2000. If you add custom grips, you’ll expect to see pricing in the $2100 range.
This is assuming grips are in the $8 to $14 a club range.
When you add in the custom shafts and custom grips, that’s when pricing goes closer to the $2600 and up range. It’s easy to spend as much as $1000 on just a driver, so this number for custom shaft and grips could easily go over the $5000 range.
| Club Type | Stock Price ($) | Custom Grips Price ($) | Shaft & Grip Price ($) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Driver | 499 | 511.5 | 599 |
| Wood | 200 | 212.5 | 300 |
| Hybrid | 180 | 192.5 | 280 |
| Iron (set) | 800 | 884.0 | 1000 |
| Wedge | 120 | 132.5 | 220 |
| Putter | 150 | 162.5 | 250 |
| Total | 1949 | 2095.5 | 2649 |
Tips To Save Money on Custom Golf Clubs
Now that you have a general idea as to how much custom golf clubs cost let’s take a look at how you can save some money on these products. Golf clubs are not cheap, so don’t expect custom golf clubs to really be “on sale”. However, here are a few of the best tips.
- See if the model for last year is still something you can order custom – it will be a lower cost
- If all you need is custom grips, you can consider purchasing the club and then just changing the grip yourself
- If a club fitter recommends a very expensive shaft, make sure you are seeing and feeling the benefits
- Different brands have different price ranges. Take a look at a variety of options so you can see if something fits in your budget
- Some places offer a free fitting as an incentive to get you to try clubs, take advantage of this when you can
- Always bring your current clubs with you to a fitting. If there isn’t a significant difference, it may not be time to upgrade
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are a few answers to questions about how much custom golf clubs cost.
How much should a good set of golf clubs cost?
A good set of golf clubs typically costs between $2000 and $2800. For high-end clubs with custom shafts, the clubs could be $3500 or more.
How much is a custom club fitting?
Custom golf club fittings range from $0 to $500. The free fittings are for people who end up ordering clubs as part of their fitting. The $400 and up fittings are typically for complete set fittings that take several hours of time to complete.
Can you get fitted for clubs you already have?
Some golf clubs can be tweaked from a lie angle and or length standpoint to accommodate your needs after you purchase them. However, the better way to do this is as part of the buying process.
Is it worth it to buy expensive golf clubs?
Expensive golf clubs are worth it if you plan on playing a lot of golf and you care about getting better at the game. When you have equipment that fits your needs as a player, your goals are easier to achieve.
Final Thoughts
Don’t let custom fitted golf clubs scare you. The cost of fitted golf clubs shouldn’t be more than the cost of new stock clubs as long as you are not upgrading the shaft or grip. Grip upgrades cost between $8 and $20 per club, shaft upgrades can reach as much last $500 extra per club, although some may be just $20 or $30 extra per club. Take into account how often you play, your skill level and what your current clubs are missing and you will end up with a set of golf clubs perfectly suited to your game.
