Help · Condition
Condition guide
One seven-point scale for every listing on Downswing, with golf-specific definitions. Sellers grade to it; buyer protection enforces it.
How to grade a club
Look at five places, in good light, and grade to the worst of them:
- Face and grooves. Ball marks, wear in the hitting area, groove edges. Run a fingernail across the grooves on a wedge: sharp catches, worn glides.
- Crown and top line. Sky marks (the scuffs from teeing it low) and chips on drivers and woods; bag chatter on the top line of irons.
- Sole and leading edge. Scratches from turf and cart paths, bounce wear on wedges, rust on raw finishes.
- Shaft and band. Scratches, dents, bends, and whether the shaft band is intact (buyers use it to confirm flex).
- Grip. Shine, slick spots, cracking, and whether it is original.
A club that arrives better than its grade earns a glowing review. A club that arrives worse earns a case. The price difference between adjacent grades is small; the trust difference is not.
Brand NewBrand New
Unused, in original packaging or with tags.
- Still in the box or plastic, tags on, headcover and wrench sealed
- Store-demo clubs that were never hit
- Discontinued models that were never sold (“new old stock”)
- Hit once at the range: that is Mint
- Missing the headcover or tools that came with it (say so and grade Mint)
If the plastic is off the face, buyers will expect to see the face anyway. Photograph it.
MintMint
Hit a handful of times at most. No visible wear.
- A handful of range sessions or a round or two
- Faint ball marks on the face you have to angle into the light to see
- Original grip with no shine
- Any sky mark, chip or sole scratch you can feel with a fingernail
- A re-grip (fine, but grade Excellent and mention it)
Mint is the grade buyers scrutinize most. If you are unsure, list it as Excellent and let the photos speak.
ExcellentExcellent
Light wear from normal play. Faces and soles clean, minor bag chatter.
- Light face wear with sharp, clean grooves
- Minor bag chatter on the sole or toe of irons
- Hairline sole scratches on woods, clean crown
- Grip with light use but no slick spots
- Visible sky marks on a driver crown
- Paint chips on the head
- Browning or rust on a chrome finish
Most well-kept clubs under two seasons old land here. It is the most common grade in the price guide.
Very GoodVery Good
Moderate wear: some sky marks, bag chatter, or grip wear. Fully playable.
- A small sky mark or two, light paint chips
- Moderate bag chatter and sole wear
- Face wear with grooves still well defined
- Grip wear or a worn-in replacement grip
- Shaft band scuffed or missing
- Dents or cracks
- Grooves that are visibly worn flat in the hitting area
- Loft or lie bent far from standard without saying so
Honest, fully playable, priced to move. Photograph every mark so the grade is never in dispute.
GoodGood
Clear cosmetic wear such as paint chips, sole scratches or worn grips. Plays as it should.
- Several sky marks, paint chips or deep sole scratches
- Noticeable face wear and groove softening on wedges
- Worn grip that should be replaced
- Light surface rust on raw or chrome finishes
- Structural damage: cracked face, loose head, rattling
- Shaft dents or a bent shaft
Clubs that have been played hard but still perform. Say what the next owner will want to fix.
FairFair
Heavy wear, possibly worn grooves or dents. Priced accordingly.
- Heavy cosmetic wear: deep crown damage, large chips, heavy rust
- Worn-out grooves on wedges
- Small dents in the head that do not affect play
- Non-original shaft or grip in rough shape
- Anything that doesn’t hit a ball normally: that is For Parts
Priced accordingly, and often bought for a project or a backup. Disclose any dent or rattle explicitly.
For Parts / Not WorkingFor Parts / Not Working
Broken shaft, cracked face, or otherwise for repair or components.
- Cracked or caved faces
- Snapped or badly bent shafts
- Heads only, with or without adapter
- Loose or rattling internals
- Listing a playable club here just to dodge a condition dispute
Describe exactly what is broken. Component buyers want the head, the adapter or the shaft and will ask.
Things that are not a grade
- Non-standard loft, lie or length. Bent or cut clubs can be any grade, but it must be in the description and the specs.
- Aftermarket shafts and grips. Often an upgrade. List the shaft model and flex exactly; the grade reflects wear, not originality.
- Refinished or re-plated clubs. Must be disclosed; grade the current cosmetic state and say it was refinished.
- Vintage and collectible clubs are graded on the same scale; “original” patina on a 1960s persimmon is still cosmetic wear. Describe it.
If a club arrives below its grade, buyer protection applies. If you are a seller and aren’t sure, ask in the help center before you list.