My Take: Ship Sticks vs checked baggage.

[cksurfdude]

Unofficial forum member review.
Just my thoughts on using their service; not a comparative test vs any competitors.

 

OK, you've likely seen the TV ads - beautiful people in a beautiful sunny, warm location playing effortless, stick it close, club twirl kinda golf .. imagery designed to lead you into a daydream of 'wow if I used Ship Sticks then I could play like that!'...

No. Ship Sticks can not make your golf game better.

But otoh - using the service can make travel to or from your golf destination much easier. And if you arrive a little more rested, well who knows? Read on...

A few Pros & Cons...
+ convenient, call it, hands-free travel
+ bulk shipping rate cheaper than retail
+ real time tracking and email updates
+ for only $4.99 more (that add-on cost may vary depending on location) they'll come right to your house to pick up or deliver your travel case
+ $1,000 insurance included; can add more coverage
+ can ship to/from a club or resort golf pro shop

.. but vs...
- extra cost over checked bag fee
- loss of use of clubs for a few days
- at the mercy of the shipping carrier (usually FedEx) and yeah once in a while stuff does get waylaid or even lost
 

(never heard what the "Exception" was all about, but it cleared out the next day - as Ship Sticks says prominently on their site 'allow an extra day before arrival')

Cost examples from the Ship Sticks website...
.. from Huntington, NY to the pro shop at Royal New Kent, VA
.. note these are the full prices, not after a promo code or discount

1. Standard 42 pounds (total shipping weight)

 

2. XL 56 pounds

 

For reference:

• my hard case is about 15 pounds (prefer this when flying);
• a Club Glider is about 12-13 pounds (plus add another pound for a Stiff Arm);
• my loaded carry bag is close to 25 pounds (14 clubs with head covers, torque wrench, gloves, tees, towel, sunglasses, rain jacket, and just a few golf balls in the ball pocket).

So Standard would clearly work, but for this trip I opted for XL so I could load a lot of extra stuff - including extra golf balls! - into the case for the trip down.

(yeah there's a lotta extra stuff in there!)

 

Cost Example based on the above:
Say I have a -15% discount and choose...
.. XL + Ground + $2,000 insurance + Pick-Up at my location
.. all that comes out to approx $72.50 + tax, or 
.. say like $40ish bucks more over a checked bag at $35 

--> Worth it? Or not? ..what do you think?
 

* Notes on cost example...

• XL: This let me throw in almost 4 dozen golf balls, 2 pairs of golf shoes, my back roller (goes everywhere with me!), a 1 lb bag of coffee (gotta have real coffee in the mornings!), rain pants (have not used them yet but ya never know), beach towel (I like to put it on the riding cart seat), extra hats, etc.

• Ground: I have a half set of practice clubs (driver, 4h, 7i, PW, SW, LW, putter) I take to the range and am happy to play an occasional round with.

• Insurance: no $2k won't fully cover the replacement cost.

• Pick-Up: while there's a drop-off location only about two miles from my house for another $4.99 all I have to do is roll the case out to the front door on the morning of pick-up day.

Also - if you look closely at this example it's not a one-for-one upgrade - for 1/3rd (33%) more weight you'll pay +40% more $. So in this example it's more cost effective to stick with the Standard size (Std @ $1.19/lb vs XL @ $1.25/lb). If you use the service then, of course, you need to decide what price point is right for you.

 

(waiting calmly for the nice FedEx Dude)

 

So I look at the cost-benefit decisions as...
(a) 'how much over the $35 checked bag fee .. which I'd have to pay anyway .. is the ease and convenience worth to me?'
.. along with, 
(b) 'how much extra do I want to pack into the case .. and how quickly do I need it there?'

 

A note about DIY...
You should always check and compare shipping prices but one of the benefits of Ship Sticks is you get a negotiated bulk - aka lower - rate vs bringing your loaded case, or packed large cardboard box, into a FedEx or UPS store yourself. You can lookup rate quotes on their respective websites.

If you do go this route, not sure exactly why but I've found that paying online and printing a shipping label at home can save a few $ vs paying at the store counter (please note - if you try to understate the weight or size to get a cheaper rate they can either charge you more or refuse to take your item).

USPS Ground Advantage is often the cheapest way to ship packages, but .. as size + weight + distance go up so does the price. Quickly, too. Arrival date not guaranteed so you would need to ship out extra early.

• For more info go to... https://www.usps.com/ship/ground-advantage.htm

A Few Use Cases For...
+ Day 1 of the MGS Kingsmill Outing - early morning flight out of NY connecting in Philly to a partner regional carrier .. land at Terminal A and depart from Terminal F .. then arrive at Richmond and while a relatively easy walk (for a large airport) from the arrival gate to the rental car desk and on to the rental car, with just a carry-on backpack I could bypass baggage claim and get on my way. Arrive midday at Royal New Kent .. walk in to the pro shop and see my travel case sitting there. 

+ Last day of (up-coming in July) Nebraska Outing - someone else is picking me up and driving, and then dropping me back off late Sunday .. most likely well after the last scheduled flight out so I'm staying over at an airport hotel and booked a flight for early Monday morning. To make it easier on myself and importantly more convenient for my hospitable host/chauffeur .. I can pack the travel case after the Sunday round and just leave it with the pro shop there for pickup/transport home.

+ You know the destination airport is a real PITA to get out of .. e.g. busy, crowded, poorly designed and congested walkways with 90 degree turns, escalators/stairs which force you to hunt for the elevator, etc.; or maybe to get to your ground transpo is another hike with crossing lanes of traffic; or maybe you have to take a shuttle to a rental car and heft your travel case up and down the steps (and that first step is often a big step up).

 

A Few Use Cases Against...
- extra cost over a checked bag fee is a factor; or you've booked a ticket with a price that includes a checked bag (e.g. you accumulate points on an airline or other travel card and use them to upgrade your seat)
- you don't like being without your clubs right before, or right after, your trip
- you're flying direct/non-stop on a major carrier you know and trust; you're familiar with the airports on both ends and know they're easy to (haha) roll in and out of
- international travel .. can get stoopit expensive to ship

 

>> UPDATE ON INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL <<
Linking in a post from further by @funkyjudge with some good info...

 

Other Random Tips...
- highly recommend either a Club Glider or a hard case with four spinner wheels on the bottom, as both roll very easily and will make your travel life much, much easier!
- imho avoid soft travel cases with only two wheels that put a lot of weight on your arm/shoulder .. which you're not gonna want either before nor after a golf trip of multiple rounds over multiple days
- use a "stiff arm" with all soft cases; also remove driver and fairway heads (put 'em back in the headcovers and stick 'em in the pockets of your golf bag - and don't forget to throw the wrench in!)
- get a luggage scale to check your loaded travel bag/case is within the weight limit
- get an Air Tag, Tile or similar RFID chip and put it in your golf bag
- also on packing a soft case: use towels or clothes or bubble wrap or a foam sheet, etc to wrap around your golf bag, inside the travel case, to help protect all the shafts from compression damage (e.g. other luggage dropped on top of your clubs)
- use a hang tag enclosed in clear plastic and zip ties to secure it to your travel case

 

 

(the weigh station)

Sales & Deals...
- Ship Sticks typically runs promos during the week of Majors; typically you must book during that week but it can be for travel at a later date. There's also a -20% discount offered to first time users when you visit their website, create an account and book your first trip with them.
- Partner sites on the web offer discounts at any time .. I've used Nancy Lopez Golf Adventures with a -15% discount when you use their affiliate link.

• See... https://www.nancylopezgolfadventures.com/partners/preferred-partners

Bottom Line...
For me - 68 this year, short and scrawny with a bad back yet also in the very fortunate position to be able to spend extra money on conveniences like this - so for me it can be well worth it in the types of "For" travel circumstances described above.

...
 

--> Have you used Ship Sticks, or a competitor, and have some other info to share?

 

Edited June 10 by cksurfdude
- added update for int'l travel under "Use Cases Against"

[BallsLeon]

Great review! Really useful information! Now to plan a vacation...

[RetiredBoomer]

If you're not changing planes en route to your destination, you're not likely going to lose your clubs. 

If you are, anything can happen, and that's where I'd consider shipping.

 

[rkj427]

Great write-up Chuck, @cksurfdude! Thank you for all the detailed information!   

I may look into using them the next time I fly out for a golf trip/vacation, as the checked baggage fees flying any of the airlines out of DTW is typically $50.00.

I have used that method in the past when I flew into Myrtle Beach, but then had to deal with baggage pick-up and transport through the airports both coming and going.

[cksurfdude]

38 minutes ago, rkj427 said:

checked baggage fees flying any of the airlines out of DTW is typically $50.00.

OUCH!! That's crazy.

Keep in mind many golf courses will have accepted Ship Sticks deliveries, so you can always call ahead to the shop at the course where you're headed and check. It feels like white glove service to have your stuff sitting there, waiting!

And funny story - played 9 this afternoon with a very nice guy .. sees my orange tee and goes nuts .. he's playing, get this, orange balls so I passed a few on to him .. boy was he happy!

[cksurfdude]

5 hours ago, BallsLeon said:

Now to plan a vacation...

Ha HAH!! You're driving to the July one, right? Really looking forward to that!!

[cksurfdude]

5 hours ago, RetiredBoomer said:

If you're not changing planes en route to your destination, you're not likely going to lose your clubs. 

Yeah fingers crossed But in general I'd agree that direct flight baggage "should" (quote-unquote) go straight through.

[Tom the Golf Nut]

Great info.

I travel often for work which includes golf so my clubs usually come on my trips. My status does give me free bags but if not my company pays for everything anyway. Yes I am fortunate in that regard. But I always take them on the plane rather than ship. I do have all the airline apps on my phone and it notifies me when my bags are loaded. With about 100 trips with  clubs in tow I only lost them once. Not really lost but didn’t make the flight because TSA took their time going through it. But they came in on the next flight. So it wasn’t that big a deal.

I did have my hard case damaged three times and the airlines replaced it (gave me the money for a new one). I moved over to a Club Glove and no issues for the last 5 years. I’m going to pick up AirTags for future travel for added peace of mind.

[cksurfdude]

53 minutes ago, Tom the Golf Nut said:

With about 100 trips with  clubs in tow I only lost them once.

Wow that's a lucky streak - are you the guy who just won the $552 million?

Haha but in your case the choice would not be about the cost, I guess, but more if you wanted the convenience of having someone else transport your clubs home -> course.

[Tom the Golf Nut]

5 minutes ago, cksurfdude said:

Wow that's a lucky streak - are you the guy who just won the $552 million?

Haha but in your case the choice would not be about the cost, I guess, but more if you wanted the convenience of having someone else transport your clubs home -> course.

I think for me it is peace of mind knowing I have them with me, see them getting on the plane and getting them at the airport. Worrying about the shipping for me would be worse. I know you can track the progress as you have shown. But I need to control things as best I can.

[Rob Person]

Great comparisons!  Will be saving this post for future reference!

[cksurfdude]

8 hours ago, Tom the Golf Nut said:

I think for me it is peace of mind knowing I have them with me, see them getting on the plane and getting them at the airport. Worrying about the shipping for me would be worse. I know you can track the progress as you have shown. But I need to control things as best I can.

Sounds good. Funny but I have a bit of the opposite hang up .. trusting the airlines less than FedEx/UPS...

 

8 hours ago, Rob Person said:

Great comparisons!  Will be saving this post for future reference!

Thx!! Safe travels when you do get a chance to go golf somewhere new!!

[BallsLeon]

10 hours ago, cksurfdude said:

Ha HAH!! You're driving to the July one, right? Really looking forward to that!!

Yessir, driving up and can’t wait! 

[Preeway]

Great write up @cksurfdude. I’ve used ShipSticks once to avoid bringing clubs on the plane and the biggest downside was not having my clubs for a week before my flight. Otherwise I was very positive about the experience and would definitely use it again. 

[cksurfdude]

3 minutes ago, Preeway said:

Great write up @cksurfdude. I’ve used ShipSticks once to avoid bringing clubs on the plane and the biggest downside was not having my clubs for a week before my flight. Otherwise I was very positive about the experience and would definitely use it again. 

Thx! Planning to use them again on the return from NE in July.

Enjoy the rest of your Bandon road trip!!

[TJ Hall]

Very nice review @cksurfdude!  I’ve never flown with clubs before, always driven any time clubs were with me. 

[cksurfdude]

6 hours ago, TJ Hall said:

Very nice review @cksurfdude!  I’ve never flown with clubs before, always driven any time clubs were with me. 

Thx! Sometimes the drive - from NY - is a little out of comfort zone, so a flight is required. And then the logistics planning of ship vs check on.... Part of the fun

[cksurfdude]

Saw this in a newsletter about pro tour, etc news...

Funny for us .. not for him! Not the first time a pro had to start an event with borrowed clubs .. stuff happens right...

[Swood1994]

I’ve never flown with my clubs.. but will be doing that this month. I’m hoping that a direct flight with a standard route keeps things pretty easy. Because I play during the week at home it’s hard to use ship sticks and to be without my clubs for an extended amount of time. And once you go next or expedited options the cost seems to be too high to be worth it for me. 

[funkyjudge]

I had traveled with my golf clubs at least twenty times prior to my last three UK (England and Scotland) golf trips, where I used Luggage Forward, which is partially owned by Perry Golf, who happened to be the golf tour operator of our recent UK golf trips. Although it is indeed quite expensive vs. domestic travel with golf clubs or having clubs shipped domestically (with Ship Sticks, etc.), Perry Golf gives a sizable discount for its customers if they user Luggage Forward.

Because travel to any golf destination in the UK or Ireland requires at least one change of plane, and in my recent experiences in both 2022 and this year that includes small airports and tiny airplanes, I have found it to be much more desirable to have my clubs shipped to my hotel or the golf course that I will be playing on day one of my trip, and having them picked-up at the last hotel or golf course on the trip. So far, I have had absolutely zero problems, other than the fact that my clubs made a short side trip from JFK Airport to Cincinnati prior to landing in Philadelphia, which is my "local" airport .... at least the most "local" major airport (we won't discuss the Trenton, NJ Airport).

This year's trip was made much more complicated because my wife's sister passed away on the 6th day of our trip, and we had to cut the trip short and make alternate airline and transfer arrangements.  Had I been traveling with my golf clubs, we would never have been able to get the flights that we ultimately did to get home promptly in this family emergency situation. The first leg, between Edinburgh and Dublin was on a small prop plane.  As it was, my clubs were picked up at our North Berwick, Scotland hotel about 30 hours after we checked-out and delivered to my home two days after my sister-in-law's funeral, as I requested that they be.

I find the convenience of having my clubs shipped ahead of me and picked up after my golfing is finished to be well worth a little extra cost (only a pittance compared with what the airfare and other travel costs cost).

[Preeway]

Traveling in August to play golf and the cost to ship is $70. The cost to check them is at least $70, possibly more depending on the airline, so Ship Sticks it is. The only real downside is not having them for 4-5 days on each side of my travel dates. 

[Eltrain41]

Often fly Southwest which includes free checked bags so I've taken my clubs w/ them about 5-6 times all no issue. Those trips were a direct flight, no layover. I would be a bit more hesitant if there was a layover, especially if it was a destination golf trip, etc. For golf trips, I highly suggest ship sticks. Only used them once for a boys trip to Bandon Dunes and the customer service was excellent. 

[cksurfdude]

13 hours ago, Swood1994 said:

I’ve never flown with my clubs.. but will be doing that this month. I’m hoping that a direct flight with a standard route keeps things pretty easy. Because I play during the week at home it’s hard to use ship sticks and to be without my clubs for an extended amount of time. And once you go next or expedited options the cost seems to be too high to be worth it for me. 

Yes the shorter the shipping time the higher the cost. For me, I'm ok using extra clubs I've hung onto (I only play casual rounds; no competitive ones). Anyway hope it all works out well for you .. maybe come back after and update us on how it went? .. but whatever happens, hope you have a great trip and enjoy!!

 

 

13 hours ago, funkyjudge said:

I had traveled with my golf clubs at least twenty times prior to my last three UK (England and Scotland) golf trips, where I used Luggage Forward, which is partially owned by Perry Golf, who happened to be the golf tour operator of our recent UK golf trips. Although it is indeed quite expensive vs. domestic travel with golf clubs or having clubs shipped domestically (with Ship Sticks, etc.), Perry Golf gives a sizable discount for its customers if they use Luggage Forward.

That's great info, thanks!! Gonna keep that in mind if/when I do an international trip with my clubs!
(- also edited my original post to add a link to yours )

 

 

13 hours ago, Preeway said:

Traveling in August to play golf and the cost to ship is $70. The cost to check them is at least $70, possibly more depending on the airline, so Ship Sticks it is. The only real downside is not having them for 4-5 days on each side of my travel dates. 

SEVENTY??!!? Or more to check a bag??!!? Wow that is crazy .. curious which airline that is, and where is the flight to?

[Preeway]

@cksurfdudeIn this instance it’s for two golf bags. I can get both bags in one box and shipped with ShipStix for the same cost. 

[10Hockey]

I always have checked my golf bag on my trips. I have good and bad about ship sticks .  Also, the price you pay is not worth it in my mind.  If you don't have an airline card that gives you free bags it might be a wash on the cost factor.  Another reason for not using ship sticks is that I may have made up my mind on where I am going to play the first day of my trip when I land until the last minute.  I have never experienced a broken club as I use the pole in the middle of my bag and stuff towels around the irons .  I always take my range finder and sky caddie on my carry on , these are too expensive and easy to steal out of a bag.  

[Shankster]

I am using this tomorrow to ship my sticks to Honolulu.  Honestly I kind of hope they get tan over by a baggage truck multiple times so I can get new ones.

[cksurfdude]

Just now, Shankster said:

I am using this tomorrow to ship my sticks to Honolulu.  Honestly I kind of hope they get tan over by a baggage truck multiple times so I can get new ones.

Well better pack your throwaway clubs then! Haha but good luck with the whole move .. hope it all works out (which it should .. I mean it's *Hawaii* man!!)

[Shankster]

Just now, cksurfdude said:

Well better pack your throwaway clubs then! Haha but good luck with the whole move .. hope it all works out (which it should .. I mean it's *Hawaii* man!!)

Appreciate it.  I don’t think it can be too bad.  You’re right it is *Hawaii*… and the house we are looking at to rent is absolutely Amazing.  

[Prodigal Duffer]

Great write up.

I considered using Ship Sticks last year, but did not for a few reasons. One was that I did not think to try and book it until it was too close to my trip, so I could not choose an option where the clubs would beat me to the destination. The other was that the cost was pretty significant, I had a direct flight, and I get free checked bags.

In the right circumstances, I would absolutely consider using the service.

[cksurfdude]

9 minutes ago, Prodigal Duffer said:

In the right circumstances, I would absolutely consider using the service.

Yeah agreed, I think that's the key. 

Direct flight and free checked bags are definitely an argument for carry with you / don't ship!