1.   Check the clubfaces for wear and tear. Inspect the grooves to make sure they maintain well-defined edges. Stay away from clubs whose faces show heavy wear, or indentations that can affect ball flight.

2.   Inspect graphite shafts for any signs of weakness. These include worn areas and indentations. The shafts should still have good torque (or resistance to twisting). Grip the club by its grip and its clubhead and try twisting. You should get good, strong resistance.

3.   Inspect steel shafts by sighting down the shaft. Make sure the shafts are straight and show no signs of having been bent. Make sure all shafts in a set are the same type and model. Inconsistent shafts will cause inconsistent shots.

4.   Look for tears or cracks in the grips. Stay away from shiny, slick grips. It makes no sense to purchase used clubs that will immediately require re-gripping - that adds anywhere from $6 to $15 per club to your costs.

5.   If you know what brand and model of clubs you're shopping for, or find a set you like that is no more than a couple years old, check to see if the set is being sold new and what the prices are. Sometimes a manufacturer will deeply discount a model due to high inventory, or when that model is replaced by a newer one. In such cases, new clubs can cost as little or less than used clubs.

6.   If you are shopping in person (as opposed to online), ask to demo the clubs. You can't really know how they'll perform until you hit them a few times. Even at garage sales, take a few swings in the front yard.

7.   Metal woods with steel heads tend to hold up better over time than metal woods with alloy heads, because most alloy heads will include softer aluminum. You would probably choose an alloy head if you were buying new, but with used clubs, it makes sense to consider steel.

8.   Stick to better known brands when buying used. The craftsmanship that goes into, for example, Titleist, will probably still show through even in used clubs.