Okay, let’s talk about finding a solid used putter. My old trusty blade, bless its heart, just wasn’t feeling right anymore. Started feeling kinda… I don’t know, dead in my hands? Putts were going everywhere but the hole. So, I figured it was time for a change, but no way was I dropping serious cash on a brand new one. Those prices are just crazy these days for what’s basically a fancy stick.
The Hunt Begins
First thing I did was hit the internet. You know the drill – eBay, Facebook Marketplace, maybe some golf-specific forums. Spent a few nights just scrolling, scrolling, scrolling. It’s a jungle out there. Lots of stuff listed as “like new” clearly wasn’t. Pictures can be deceiving, right? Saw one Scotty Cameron priced like it was solid gold, but the pictures showed dings all over it. People asking top dollar for stuff that’s clearly seen better days.
Then I decided to try the local route. Went to a couple of big chain sports stores, the ones with used sections. Mostly junk, honestly. Clubs that looked like they were used to hammer nails. Found one or two maybes, but they wanted almost new prices. Not happening.
I even checked out a pawn shop. That was an experience. Mostly old, no-name brands, stuff from the 80s. Nothing really caught my eye, felt like digging through a bargain bin hoping for a miracle.
Getting Hands-On
Realized pretty quick I needed to actually feel the putter. Can’t do that online. So, I remembered this smaller, independent golf shop on the edge of town. More of a repair place, really, but the guy always had a rack of used clubs.
Went over there one Saturday morning. And yeah, this was better. He had a decent mix. Some newer models traded in, some classics. I started grabbing a few, taking some practice strokes on the little patch of fake turf he had.
What I was looking for:
- Feel: This was number one. Had to feel balanced and solid at impact.
- Style: Leaning towards a mallet this time, thought maybe a bit more forgiveness would help my shaky stroke.
- Condition: Used is fine, abused is not. Didn’t need it to be perfect, but wanted something well-cared-for.
- Price: Definitely wanted to stay under a hundred bucks if possible.
Picked up an old Odyssey Two-Ball. Felt okay, but a bit light. Grabbed a TaylorMade Spider – nice, but the guy wanted a bit more than I was willing to spend. Then I saw it – tucked in the back, an older Ping Anser. Not a mallet, back to a blade, but man, it felt different. Simple, classic look. Had some scratches, sure, but the face was clean, the grip was decent. Took a few strokes. Felt solid. Really solid.
The Decision and The Test
Chatted with the shop owner. He gave me a fair price, way under my budget. Figured, what the heck, let’s give this old Ping a shot. Felt better than anything else I’d held, even the pricey ones.
Took it straight to the course that afternoon. Headed to the practice green first. Spent a good 30 minutes just rolling putts. Short ones, long ones, breaking ones. It wasn’t magic right away, took a bit to get used to the weight and balance compared to my old one. But after a while, things started to click. The ball felt like it came off the face much smoother. Started sinking a few longer putts I usually leave short.
Played nine holes with it. Didn’t suddenly turn into Tiger Woods, obviously. Still missed some short ones (that’s on me, not the putter!). But overall? Felt way more confident standing over the ball. The distance control seemed better. It just felt… reliable.
Final Thoughts
So yeah, finding that “best” used putter took some legwork. Sifting through online junk, visiting shops, actually trying stuff out. It wasn’t quick. But finding that old Ping, saving a bunch of money, and actually liking how it performs? Totally worth the effort. Sometimes the old classics are classics for a reason. You don’t always need the latest, fanciest thing they’re trying to sell you.
