How to Ship Golf Clubs: A Step-by-Step Packing Guide

We ship hundreds of golf clubs every week at Golf Club Brokers. Most arrive in great shape. But every now and then, a box shows up with a cracked shaft or a driver crown full of scratches — and it's almost never UPS's fault.

Poor packing is the #1 reason clubs get damaged in transit. The good news? It only takes 10 minutes and a few basic supplies to pack your clubs properly.

Here's the step-by-step process we recommend after years of seeing what works (and what doesn't).

What You'll Need

• A sturdy box — double-walled cardboard is best. Golf club shipping boxes from UPS work well, or reuse a box from a previous club purchase.
• Bubble wrap — the large-bubble kind offers better protection than small-bubble.
• Packing paper or newspaper — for filling gaps.
• Packing tape — 2-3 inch wide shipping tape. Not masking tape, not duct tape.
• Headcovers — use them if you have them.

Step 1: Prep Your Clubs

Give the clubs a quick wipe-down with a damp towel. Remove any loose debris from the grooves. This isn't about making them look pretty — it's about preventing dirt and grit from scratching other clubs during shipping.

Put headcovers on any drivers, fairway woods, and putters. If you don't have headcovers, wrap those clubheads in bubble wrap before anything else.

Step 2: Wrap Each Club Individually

This is the step people skip, and it's the one that matters most.

Wrap the head and shaft of each club individually with bubble wrap. UPS recommends at least 2 inches of cushioning between items and the edges of the box. Pay extra attention to:

• Drivers and fairway woods — the painted crown scratches easily. Wrap the head with 2-3 layers of bubble wrap, especially if shipping without a headcover.
• Graphite shafts — more fragile than steel. A layer of bubble wrap along the full shaft length prevents cracks.
• Putters — faces and inserts can dent if they bang against iron heads. Keep them separated.

Step 3: Choose the Right Box

The box should be just big enough to fit your clubs with padding — not bigger. An oversized box means the clubs shift around in transit, which defeats the purpose of wrapping them.

Here's the key number to remember: keep your box under 48 inches long. UPS charges a large package surcharge on anything over 48", and it'll add $30-$40 to your shipping cost. UPS rounds up, so even 48.1" triggers the surcharge.

Watch out for "48-inch" boxes. Most boxes sold as 48" are measuring the inside dimensions. The outside — which is what UPS measures — is actually 48.25" to 48.5". That's enough to trigger the surcharge. An easy fix: cut the corners of the box down slightly and fold the flaps over to bring the outside length under 48".

For a full iron set, you can usually fit everything in a box just under 48". For a single driver or putter, a smaller box works fine as long as there's room for padding on all sides.

Pro tip: If you have a driver or fairway wood with an adjustable hosel (most modern drivers have one), unscrew the head from the shaft. This lets you fit them in a much shorter box — often 10-12 inches shorter. Just wrap the head and shaft separately.

Avoid flimsy single-wall cardboard. If the box feels like it might collapse under the weight of the clubs, it probably will.

Step 4: Pack and Fill the Gaps

Place the wrapped clubs in the box. Fill any remaining space with crumpled packing paper or newspaper. The goal: nothing moves when you shake the box.

Pay special attention to the top and bottom of the box. Clubheads tend to settle to one end, so add extra padding there.

Step 5: Seal It Up

Close the box and tape all seams with shipping tape. Reinforce the edges and the center seam on the bottom — that's where boxes fail first under weight.

A few things to avoid:

• Masking tape — doesn't hold under stress or moisture.
• Duct tape — can peel off during transit and gum up conveyor belts (carriers hate it).
• String or twine — can get caught in sorting machinery.

Step 6: Label and Ship

Stick the shipping label flat on the top of the box. Make sure no seams or edges run through the label — scanners can't read wrinkled barcodes.

If you're selling your clubs to Golf Club Brokers, we email you a free prepaid UPS shipping label. Just print it, stick it on the box, and drop it at any UPS location or schedule a pickup.

Common Mistakes We See

After receiving thousands of shipments, here are the packing mistakes we see most often:

1. Clubs thrown loose in a box with no wrapping. Iron heads bang against each other the entire trip. Guaranteed scratches and dings.
2. Drivers shipped without headcovers or wrapping. The crown is painted. It will scratch if it touches anything.
3. Using a box that's way too big. Clubs slide around and hit the walls. More padding doesn't help if there's 6 inches of empty space on each side.
4. Taping only the top seam. The bottom seam takes the most stress. Reinforce it or the box can split open mid-transit.
5. Shipping clubs in a golf bag. Bags don't protect clubs from impact. If you ship in a bag, wrap the clubs first and stuff the bag with padding so nothing shifts.

What About Shipping in a Travel Bag?

Soft-sided golf travel bags don't offer much impact protection on their own. If you use one, treat it like a box — wrap each club individually and fill the empty space with towels or clothing.

Hard-sided travel cases are better, but still wrap the clubheads. The clubs can move inside the case and knock against each other.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to ship golf clubs?

Shipping a full set via UPS Ground typically runs $25-$50 depending on weight and distance. A single driver or putter is usually $15-$25. If you sell to Golf Club Brokers, shipping is free — we send you a prepaid label.

Can I ship golf clubs through USPS?

USPS has size and weight limits that make shipping full sets difficult. UPS and FedEx are better options for golf clubs because they handle oversized packages more reliably. For a single putter or wedge, USPS Priority Mail can work if the box fits within their size limits.

Should I insure my golf club shipment?

If you're shipping high-value clubs (over $500), adding declared value coverage is worth it. UPS includes $100 of coverage by default. You can add more for a small fee. Keep your receipt and any photos of the clubs before shipping in case you need to file a claim.

What's the best box for shipping golf clubs?

A double-walled cardboard box around 10" x 10" x 48-50" works for most sets. UPS stores sell golf club boxes, or you can reuse a box from a previous club shipment. The key is that it's sturdy enough to support the weight without bending.