Have you ever hit a golf ball with a club and watched as it zigzagged off into the distance? Your golf game may have been going well, but that is now over. You have broken your golf club. Without guidance on how to fix this, you could be left wondering if there was some reason why golf clubs break.

Golf clubs break for one of two reasons. Either it is because of poor care and maintenance when using it or that your storage conditions for the club are not ideal. Therefore, you would want to avoid your golf club breaking. Make sure you use your club correctly, maintain it well, and store it in a cool and dry place.

Hitting a shot with your new or favorite iron and watching it fly off into the bush is not an exciting experience. No one wants to repeat it.

So, we’ve put together these 11 tips that will help you avoid breaking your golf club or clubhead! These steps can make all the difference when trying to keep your clubs in top condition.

We have previously discussed tips to help you take care of your golf clubs. We discussed in detail the best way to clean golf clubs and the best way to clean rusty golf clubs.

Poor care and maintenance

1. Misalignment of your clubs with the shaft

When you buy a new golf club, it is a good idea to check the alignment of the head. If the two have not been made to line up with one another, this could cause an imbalance and breakage.

This means that once you take a swing, you will put all your force into pulling the head out of place. This will cause it to break off in seconds.

2. Misusing your irons

If you try to use an iron outside its guidelines, it can take the heat off the head and allow it to weaken. This can cause breakage in no time as you will be more likely to hit down on your intended shot rather than up.

You have probably heard it said that you should never pull iron shots in and that if you do, your iron needs to be replaced. This is because, more than likely, you will be taking the weight off of the head, causing it to break.

3. Excessive force used when swinging the club

It should go without saying that you should never swing your club above 20 times in one swing. If you are so anxious to make a perfect shot that you take too much of a pull on it, then this can cause stress on the shaft and breakage in no time at all.

4. Storing clubs at the wrong temperature

Golf clubs are made of metals, which are naturally susceptible to breaking if they get too hot or too cold.

The best way to store your clubs is to put them in a temperature that is neither too cold nor too hot as this will cause them to break. Keep your club heads in an environment that is neither freezing nor boiling and there should be no problems!

5. Not getting your clubs checked before a tournament

If you are in the midst of a tournament, then make sure that the club heads are fully intact and ready to go. Your golf game will not be able to continue if your clubs start breaking off in your hands or if you can’t hit the ball. Check your clubs prior to an event and make sure that they are still playing nicely.

6. Using a shaft that is the wrong size for your club

Trusted golfers know that it is a good idea to always make sure that the end of the shaft actually fits with your golf club when it comes to clubs.

If you choose to buy a club with the wrong sized head, you will find yourself breaking your shafts a lot more. It’s best to make sure that both the head and shaft match one another when purchasing new equipment.

7. Using clubs that have been exposed to heat

The best thing to do if you want your clubs to last a long time is to make sure that they are kept out of areas with a lot of heat. Camping near a campfire or leaving them out in the sun for too long can lead to breakage!

8. Using clubs that are not designed for metal golf balls

Using metal golf balls with an iron can cause severe damage as you will be using force on metal, which is a recipe for disaster.

It’s best to use hybrids for a round, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up on your metal balls completely. Use them with respect and never on a course where others can see!

9. Using the wrong swing technique

If you are trying to hit a shot with an iron and you try to pull it in rather than pushing it, this can cause your club’s shaft to break.

This type of shot is better carried out with a hybrid, as once you take a penetrating swing, you have less chance of causing damage.

Poor storage conditions for golf clubs

10. Using clubs that have been kept in the bag for too long

If you leave your clubs in your bag for too long and condensation develops inside, then rust can occur and cause serious damage to your precious golf club heads. If this occurs, then make sure that you remove the rust by cleaning them and making sure that they are working well again.

11. Using clubs that have been stored in plastic bags

If you store your clubs in a bag, make sure that they are clean and dry. If they are inside a plastic bag, then this can cause moisture to form inside of them.

In fact, one study showed that out of every 60 golf clubs tested, over half were found to have rust stains on them from being placed in a plastic bag after use.

The truth is that you won’t know if your clubs are being treated properly until you buy them and test them out. So, in the final analysis, it is crucial to protect your clubs!

Frequently asked questions around why golf clubs break

What should I do if my golf club breaks?

If you find out that your club or clubhead has broken, you should head straight for the nearest golf pro. They will likely have some repair kit or fix for this problem, but again, make sure that you are heading to the right place. It would help if you always asked how much it will cost to repair your club before getting started.

There is a chance that the cost of repairing your clubhead could be significantly more than replacing it if there is enough damage to the shaft.

For this reason, we have lots of review articles to help you choose the best golf clubs.

1. The best golf clubs for seniors
2. The best golf clubs for beginners
3. Best golf irons for mid handicappers
4. Best putters for seniors
5. Pinemeadow golf clubs review

And much more available on our website.

How do I prevent golf club breaks?

If you are a good golfer and practice regularly, you should avoid most of the issues with golf club breaks. You need to ensure that they are both in the right conditions and that the shaft fits well before using them.

What should I do if my golf club breaks beyond repair?

If you do manage to discover that a club head has broken, then this is not a useless piece of equipment, and you should try not to throw it away. It may no longer be in top condition, but that doesn’t mean that there isn’t anything worth using it for.

You can use the club’s shaft whose head has broken to replace the broken shafts of other clubs. Alternatively, you can use the grip to regrip some of your old clubs. We have previously discussed tips for regripping golf clubs.

What is the best way to clean golf clubs to avoid the club breaking?

There are many different ways to clean your golf clubs. We have discussed it in detail in our article on the best way to clean golf clubs or this one on the best way to clean rusty golf clubs.

Final thoughts on why do golf clubs break, how to prevent it, and solutions

Rusty golf clubs are one of the main reasons why golf club heads break. Rust can form on an iron or other club in a matter of seconds if you are not careful.

Keeping your clubs clean and dry is the best way to prevent rust from forming on them. It is so essential that it is worth reiterating! Ensure that your clubs are both dry and clean before storing them away into a bag or box after every use, especially if you play in moist conditions.

You should also make sure you use your golf clubs with lots of care to avoid the club or golf club head breaking. Be especially careful about the method you use to hit a shot and make sure that your swing is not pulling rather than pushing the shaft of your club.

If you are looking for more information on golf equipment, you should check out our best golf clubs article, where we review some of the best golf club brands on the market.