How about head covers?

[Libre]

The glove-no glove thread inspired me to post this one.
Head covers or no head covers?
Long ago I decided that head covers are a useless, irritating encumberance. I suppose if you want to keep your woods in pristine condition, then keep them in covers - but of course that's impossible if you're ever going to play them. What can happen to them while in the bag? They might jiggle against the other woods? So what?
I'm still keeping them on my new Taylor hy 3 and hy 4, because the covers are kind of nifty, but they do get in my way, and once the clubs get played in a little, I'll probably ditch the covers.
Now if you're a pro and have trademark covers, that's another matter.
But for the rest of us - who thinks there's any advantage or benefit to head covers?

[sandwedge]

I always use headcovers on woods and hybrids to keep them from getting damaged while banging around in the cart.

[Andy_79]

Headcovers are often really smart looking, they help to keep clubheads free from dirt, from rust from the rain, from clattering against other clubs in the bag; especially when you are trodding around the place carrying your bag like myself.

There is no contest, whatsoever. . !

[Sandpiper3]

Always use headcovers to keep them in best possible condition. The only marks i get on my woods are brush marks on the sole and ball marks on the face, and i want to keep it that way instead of having any possible scratches or blemishes on the head.

[Libre]

Well, I can see your points of view.
The only exception I take is with the claim:

they help to keep clubheads free from ... rust from the rain,

Actually, it's the opposite. If you're playing in the rain - or any wet conditions, the head covers will get wet too, and hold the moisture. When you put the cover on the club, it is much like putting a wet sock on your foot. The covers can take days or even weeks to dry and by then the finish of the heads inside can be ruined.
Much better to leave the covers in the trunk of the car if it's wet out there. Then you can dry off the heads and put them in dry covers after the round.

[JEFF4i]

Every club is covered.

[MGP]

Originally Posted by Libre

Well, I can see your points of view.
The only exception I take is with the claim:

Actually, it's the opposite. If you're playing in the rain - or any wet conditions, the head covers will get wet too, and hold the moisture. When you put the cover on the club, it is much like putting a wet sock on your foot. The covers can take days or even weeks to dry and by then the finish of the heads inside can be ruined.
Much better to leave the covers in the trunk of the car if it's wet out there. Then you can dry off the heads and put them in dry covers after the round.

I take a total opposite approach to this -- use headovers on the course (especially when riding in a cart) and take them off once the bag is safely at home. I always clean and dry my clubs once I get home from a round so rust is a non-issue. I am not a big fan of bag chatter and despite what a lot of people say, cast irons get bag chatter too (unless they are Pings, which are made out of superhard Kryptonite grade stainless steel, I think ). My irons are quite soft stainless, and ding up just like softer forged clubs. I'd like to keep them new looking for as long as possible.

Earlier this year I was playing a round with YG and my bag fell off the cart (No, I wasn't stupid -- the cart bag strap wouldn't stay locked shut and I didn't notice that until it was too late). It fell clubheads down onto a paved cart path. It shredded 3 or 4 of the iron covers but the irons themselves didn't have a scratch on them. I was very very glad I had the headcovers or my beautiful P2's would have some nasty highway rash on them now.

I've had forged irons before (for about 30 years) and rust was a non-issue. I just made sure the clubs were clean and dry after the round and that I stored them with the club covers off.

[JEFF4i]

Rust is never an issue here in New Mexico, it's drier than a cats ass.

[ualtim]

Every club has a cover. Nothing worse on your resale value than dings on your forged irons or paint chips on your woods/hybrids. Beyond that, I hate to look at dinged up club heads, it makes it appear as though you do not respect your equipment.

[Andy_79]

Originally Posted by Libre

Actually, it's the opposite. If you're playing in the rain - or any wet conditions, the head covers will get wet too, and hold the moisture. When you put the cover on the club, it is much like putting a wet sock on your foot. The covers can take days or even weeks to dry and by then the finish of the heads inside can be ruined.

Lol, have you never heard of a radiator, man ??!! You can dry a headcover in about 15 minutes on a piping hot radiator.

What's wrong with removing the rain-sodden headcover following playing, towel-drying your clubheads and drying out your headcovers ? That makes sense, does it now...?!

Before I go.......

[tn-golfnut-from-nj]

I dont have any head covers, I hear it makes your hair fall out faster.
At 46, still have a head full of hair.
Dont have them on my clubs either.

[5iron]

I have head covers on my... Driver ( got a cool Michigan one), 3W, 5W,3H, and my 4H. I had a putter cover but i dont use that putter lol...

[BStone]

I have headcovers on all of my woods and putters. You can get some really nice paint chips or dings without them. The tee and the green are areas where you are typically waiting for someone else, so I can put them back on while waiting.

[lamebums]

I have headcovers for my driver, 3 wood, irons, and two out of four wedges, and the putter. They start the day on, but when I use it, I toss the headcover into the back of the cart and it stays there for the rest of the round. I make it a point to keep the driver and 3 wood apart from each other so they don't bang. I'm not as worried about the irons.

[Eracer]

Headcovers on every club. Faggoty poofie-looking Jan Craig's on my driver and hybrids, a gay-looking sheep on my Callaway 4-wood to remind me of Rock, and queer-eye-for-the-straight-guy iron covers for my forged 845's. Oh yeah, a truly dorkish NCC-1701D headcover for my pansy-ass mallet-style putter.

Any questions?