Valuation · 5 min read · Updated October 6, 2026
Golf club condition grades, explained
Five grades, what each looks like, and how ClubGauge adjusts value for each.
Retailers all use their own scales — numbers out of ten, words like “Very Good” or “Above Average”. ClubGauge maps all of them onto five plain grades so values are comparable across sources.
| Grade | What it looks like | Value vs Good |
|---|---|---|
| Like New | A handful of rounds at most. Faint face marks only, original grip. | +14% |
| Excellent | Light wear from normal play. Minor sole or topline marks, clean grooves. | +7% |
| Good | Played regularly for a season or two. Visible marks, nothing structural. | Baseline |
| Average | Noticeable wear: sky marks, chips, worn face or grooves. May need a grip. | −14% |
| Heavily Used | Significant wear, paint loss or cosmetic damage. No cracks. | −30% |
How to grade your own club
- Look at the face first. Ball marks in the centre are normal; worn-through finish or flattened grooves push a club down a grade.
- Check the sole and topline. Scratches from turf are expected. Dents, deep gouges or chips on the topline are not.
- Woods: look at the crown. Sky marks (pop-up scuffs on top) are the most common reason a driver drops to Average.
- Wedges: feel the grooves. Wedges lose spin as grooves wear, so buyers grade them strictly.
- Grips and headcovers. A worn grip costs little to replace but buyers notice. A missing adjustable-hosel wrench or headcover is a small deduction.