How to Fix a Scratched Golf Club Driver

A driver is the prize club in many golfers' bag, and they are often willing to spend big bucks to get the best driver that they can afford. As such, keeping the driver well-maintained is usually a priority. One area of concern with a driver is scratches that appear on the surface of the head when the driver. These scratches can be found on the bottom edge of the driver, called the sole, because of ground strikes. They can also be found on the top edge, called the crown, due to hitting underneath the ball, creating sky marks. Taking a little bit of time to repair these scratches can keep your driver looking almost as good as new.

Fixing Sky Marks

Soak the club head in warm water that has a mild detergent such as dish soap for 10 minutes to loosen the dirt on the head. Use only enough water to soak the head of the driver.

Remove the driver from the water. Dry the head with a clean, dry rag. If there is still dirt inside the scratches, place a soft bristle toothbrush into the water and carefully clean out the scratch with the toothbrush. Brush in one direction along the length of the scratch.

Place painter's tape onto the club head around the scratches.

Shake the bottle of touch-up paint for one minute to ensure that the paint is thoroughly mixed inside the bottle.

Apply the paint to the scratch with the brush. Apply the paint along the length of the scratch, going in one direction. Allow the paint to dry for at least 24 hours. Add a second coat of paint if necessary, and allow it to dry for at least 24 hours.

Smooth the surface of the paint by buffing over the scratch in one direction. Use a soft, clean rag, very fine finish-grade sandpaper or fine steel wool.

Remove the painter's tape from the head of the driver. Polish the head of the driver with a light finishing compound like car wax paste. Apply the polish with a soft, clean rag or the wax paste applicator.

Fixing Scratches on the Sole

Soak the club head in warm water that has a mild detergent such as dish soap for 10 minutes in order to loosen the dirt on the head. Use only enough water to soak the head of the driver.

Remove the driver from the water. Dry the head off with a clean, dry rag. If there is still dirt inside the scratches, place a soft bristle toothbrush into the water and carefully clean out the scratch with the toothbrush. Brush in one direction along the length of the scratch.

Place a small amount of scratch-removal product onto the applicator pad. If the scratches are deep and numerous, use a buffing compound instead.

Wipe the scratch-removal product onto the sole -- bottom edge -- of the driver. Use circular motions that overlap and apply a moderate amount of pressure to the head of the driver. Allow the compound to dry until a hazy film forms on the surface.

Wipe the hazy film off the of driver's head with a super-soft microfiber cloth. Apply a second coat of the compound if necessary.

Tips

Take the driver to a professional if the scratches are so deep that two applications of paint or buffing compound are not enough to repair them or if the scratches cover a large area of the driver's head.