Headcovers are undoubtedly one of the most talked about topics in golf, and that’s for a reason. Many golfers believe that head covers should be immediately put back on after every golf shot, while some choose not to use any headcovers at all – except for maybe the driver. 

So should you use a headcover? For which clubs should you use them? And should you take them on and off after every shot? In this article, we will cover what headcovers are, what they’re great for, and ultimately help you decide which headcover practice is the best for you.

What Are Headcovers and Why Should I Use Them?

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Easily put, headcovers are barrel or sock-shaped covers to drape over your clubs. They usually come in either a knitted retro style design or a more modern and stretchy neoprene design.

Headcovers’ number one priority is to keep your precious golf clubs safe and prevent damage to the heads and shafts.

When you carry or drive a golf cart, there will always be clubs clanking around. Not only is this an annoying sound, but there’s also a significant risk of scratching the club heads and shafts, with some clubs being more prone to damage than others.

How to Use Headcovers Depends On the Club

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Woods

Your woods include the driver and other fairway woods, and they are usually used for tee shots or travel shots on par 4s and par 5s. The woods are also probably the most expensive clubs in your bag, with drivers more often than not coming in at hundreds of dollars. 

Woods often come in graphite shafts which are easy to scratch.

This is not very aesthetically pleasing, and it tremendously impacts the resale value of your clubs. These listed reasons are why almost all golfers use long headcovers that go over the clubhead and a good part of the shaft for their woods.

Irons

Iron headcovers have become a relatively controversial topic, and the two different camps usually don’t get along very well. Because of the frequent use of irons – often multiple times per hole – it might get tedious taking on and off headcovers after every shot.

However, irons can still get scratched and damaged, especially when handled roughly in and out of the car. That’s why it makes sense for some golfers who really care about the looks and resale value of their clubs to at least wear iron covers when they aren’t used, and then take them off on the course.

Putter

Putters are also one of the most expensive clubs in the bag, and when you’re standing over the ball trying to make a putt, you don’t want any major scratches drawing focus. That’s why many golfers choose to use a putter cover. 

And if you’ve ever looked at the used putter section of your golf shop, you’ve probably found it hard to believe how bad the condition of many putters are, which is easily preventable by using a putter cover. 

Headcovers also add personality to your golf gear, as you can choose headcovers with your favorite animal, favorite color, or something that fits your favorite golfer – like tiger woods’ tiger Frank.

Using Headcovers – The Fastest Method

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If you decide on using headcovers – which is almost always a great choice – there are multiple ways of using them.

The fastest method will depend on how many clubs you use headcovers on.

If the driver and woods are the only clubs you use headcovers on, leaving the headcover on until you get to the course is very common. If you’re in a cart, you take it off for your first shot and then leave it in the cart for the rest of the round, meaning that you won’t have to take them on and off.

However, if you carry your clubs or push them around in a trolley, you might not have enough storage to keep them away safely. That’s why many golfers who carry their clubs put the headcovers on again after a shot.

The same goes for the putter, but if you have headcovers on all irons taking them on and off will get tiring after a while. So instead, you should have a place to leave them after taking them off, either in your cart, somewhere in the bag, or at home.

Using Headcovers – The Maximum Protection Method

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If maximum protection is what you desire, then there really is no alternative to keeping the headcovers on at all times except for when making a shot. So immediately after taking the headcover off for a swing, it needs to be put back on to avoid any possible damage when carrying or driving the clubs. 

If you want maximum protection, it’s also crucial to use the right headcovers. Primarily featured in woods, graphite shafts in particular are quite fragile, and need headcover protection to ensure that the irons don’t scratch them. This means that you need long headcovers to protect an adequate part of the shaft.

Where Do You Put the Head Covers During a Shot?

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There are a few different ways to use headcovers. If maximum protection at all times is what you’re looking for, you simply take the headcover off for the shot and then slip it right on. In the meantime, you can leave it in the cart, inside the bag’s pockets, or just on top of the bag. This process goes for all headcovers, no matter the club type.

Conclusion: Research by Tellmemoregolf.com

Headcovers aren’t exactly the most exciting part of golf gear, but using them gives you many benefits. Not only will your clubs remain prettier and not risk any game-impacting damage, but the better looks will provide them with a much higher resale value if you ever decide to make an upgrade down the road.

Headcovers are suited for all clubs, but which ones you decide to use them on is up to you. However, we strongly recommend that you at least use them on your woods, as they are both fragile and expensive. Thank you for reading this article from TellMeMoreGolf.com – your golf comparison site.