Dirt in the grooves reduces spin and control, especially on wedges. And forged carbon steel heads, raw wedges and older irons rust easily, particularly if the bag goes into a cold garage damp.
Cleaning the heads
- Fill a bucket with warm water and a squirt of washing-up liquid. Not hot water, which can loosen the glue on ferrules.
- Stand the irons in it so only the heads are submerged. Leave them five minutes.
- Scrub the face and grooves with a soft nylon brush or old toothbrush. A tee helps pick dirt out of the grooves.
- Rinse, then dry each club thoroughly with a towel, including the hosel.
For woods and hybrids, use a damp cloth rather than soaking them.
Removing light rust
Light orange rust on irons and wedges usually comes off easily. Put a drop of Ballistol on the rust, leave it a few minutes, then rub with 0000 wire wool or a nylon scouring pad. Wipe clean. On chrome-plated heads, use a soft cloth rather than wire wool. Some players like raw wedges to rust for the look and feel, in which case just keep the grooves clean.
Protecting for storage
Wipe a very thin film of oil over each head with a cloth, then buff off the excess so it isn't tacky. That stops rust spots forming over winter. Store the bag indoors if you can, with the head covers off so moisture can escape. Wipe the oil off with a dry towel before you play.
Grips
Never oil the grips. Clean them with warm soapy water and a soft brush, rinse and towel dry. Slippery grips are dangerous.
Shafts and the rest
A quick wipe of oil on steel shafts stops rust where the paint has chipped. Trolley wheels, folding joints and umbrella catches benefit from a drop of oil too.
