Hey folks, caught the golf bug again lately, right? My trusty old putter finally gave up the ghost last week, head cracked clean. Figured it was time for an upgrade, maybe that flashy Spider model everyone’s buzzing about. But man, new putters? Sticker shock hit hard. So I thought, screw it, let’s hunt a used one.
The Plan: Used vs New?
Grabbed my phone first thing Tuesday morning. Opened a bunch of different places people sell stuff – you know the usual suspects, big online sellers, used gear spots, even local club trader groups. Searched just “Spider putter”. Wow. Chaos. Prices all over the place, different years, different models. Got confused real quick.
Realized I needed specifics. What year Spider was I actually looking at? Settled on the 2021 model. Way easier now. Started writing down prices I saw:
- Brand New 2021 Spider: Everywhere I looked? $300+. Ouch. Felt steep.
- Used “Mint” 2021: Found a bunch. Sellers shouting “Like New!!”. Prices hovered around $220 to $260. Hmm.
- Used “Good Condition”: More scratches, maybe a bit dirty. Saw these popping up for $150 to $190. Okay, interesting drop.
- Used “Okay/Project”: Beat up, dents, ugly grips. Found a few under $120, even one for $85. Yeesh.
Digging Deeper & Dodging Bombs
Decided to actually talk to some sellers. That’s where things got real. Found what looked like a sweet deal on that used “Mint” one advertised at $225. Pictures weren’t super sharp. Asked the guy for more pics, real close-ups. Got ’em. Big old skymark scuff right on the crown! Seller was like “Oh, hardly noticeable when you play.” Yeah, right. Dodged that bullet.
Then there was the “$150 Good Condition” one. Seller honest about face scratches – sent pics showing they were minor. Also mentioned he’d put a new grip on it already. That? Actually felt decent.
Saw a new listing pop up Thursday afternoon – claimed “2021 Spider, Barely Used, $170”. Messaged instantly. Guy lived only 30 mins away! Met him after work. Putter looked solid. Only played maybe 3 rounds he said. Face was clean, some minor sole scratches. Checked the serial number against known fakes online – all good. Bought it cash on the spot. Boom!
The Big Reveal
Here’s the breakdown plain and simple:
- New: $300+. Shiny, perfect, full warranty. Straight from the factory.
- Used “Mint” (Realistic): Found actual good ones around $190-$250. Still gotta be SUPER careful about pics and sellers though.
- Used “Player Grade”: $130-$170. Shows wear, might need new grip ($20), but totally playable. This is where I landed.
- Used “Fixer-Upper”: Under $100. Honestly, unless you love tinkering, probably more trouble than it’s worth for a gamer.
So what did I learn the hard way? New costs a pretty penny for that untouched shine. Used is WAY cheaper, no doubt. But? It’s not simple.
- DON’T trust the seller’s rating word (“Mint” means squat).
- DO get detailed, close-up pictures of every angle BEFORE you meet or commit.
- DO ask WHY they’re selling. “Upgrading” usually means it’s decent. “Lost interest”…
could be hiding problems.
- DO know the EXACT model year and features you’re hunting.
- DON’T be shy walking away if the putter isn’t what was advertised. Saves headaches.
The whole used search sucked at first – confusing, annoying sellers, bad pics. But once I got picky and stubborn? Saved myself close to $150 bucks for a putter that still rips. Feels pretty damn good knowing I didn’t get played. Gotta run, practice green calls!
