Hard Case vs. Soft Case

[Packerfan]

I'm travel next month and will be flying for the first time with my clubs. I need to get a travel case, but can't decide between a hard case or a soft case. It would seem that a hard case is the way to go b/c you don't have to worry about the shafts getting bent from the careless airline workers. Then again hard cases might be more difficult to fit in the trunk of a rental car. The soft cases tend to be a little less expensive, but that isn't much of a factor in my decision. Any advise is appreciated.

[dkinser86]

I've never travelled with my golf clubs. But I've heard a lot of people and both Golf Digest and Golf Magazine suggest that you mail your clubs to your destination. I believe that there are services that do this for you.

As for your question, I guess it would depend on what else you are packing. If you are packing more smallish bags for clothes, i think a soft case would be sufficient. Other than that, I would go with a hard case. You don't want to take any chances.

Another idea that I just thought of, and maybe it would work. You might be able to get some sort of flat plastic box that could fit your clubs in it, w/o the bag. Maybe this box could fit in the bottom of the trunk. Might need a little ingenuity, but I think it could work.

Good travels and be safe!

[jrode]

I believe there's some sort of new airline rule where you have to pay (quite a bit, I think) for every bag you check after your first bag. So if you're already traveling with a lot of bags, I'd think about doing what the poster above me said and getting them shipped to your destination. It'll probably actually save you money.

Or, if money isn't an option, just buy a case. I've never traveled with clubs, but I'd go with hard. I'd rather have to deal with a big clunky case than go with the soft one and risk my clubs getting bent.

[tjy355]

Soft case is fine but you must use one of these:

Club Glove Stiff Arm
http://www.clubglove.com/user/ViewPr...p?ProductID=18

[iacas]

Soft case is fine but you must use one of these:

I always just use a broom handle (they unscrew from the broom head) and shove a rubber plunger on the end. $5-$10 vs. $25 and just as effective. Plus you can use the broom handle AND the plunger.

But yeah, I definitely recommend something like that which sticks up above your driver. For some people, maybe that's a long putter. Who cares if that gets broken eh?

[golf hungry]

I have the club glove and really like it. I never thought about the broom handle idea, thanks Iacas.
I am at the airport now so hopefully knowing about the broom stick won't make my driver break!!
Eventhough I was thinking about a new shaft, hmmmm....

[golf hungry]

I have the club glove and really like it. I never thought about the broom handle idea, thanks Iacas.
I am at the airport now so hopefully knowing about the broom stick won't make my driver break!!
Eventhough I was thinking about a new shaft, hmmmm....

[JYB]

i have a club glove with a stiff arm and it works great! i got a bright yellow one so it's easy to spot.

[DDBowdoin]

I just picked up the club glove (smaller version) and the arm extension for my september trip

hope it holds up

[Surefire]

I guess I am too late, but I always use a hard case for travelling.

I prefer the protection it gives, and it is not ambiguous for calculating airline baggage dimensions.

On another note, I often use it to carry clothes with my clubs and I can positions these around my clubs to protect them.

On the point regarding baggage mentioned above, there are different baggage rules depending on whether the flight is domestic, trans-atlantic, or trans-pacific.

[DDBowdoin]

Trans-atlantic flights to Ireland (through Aerlingus) include golf travel covers as a standard bag check

=

FREE!

[shaggy023]

I have always used a soft sided travel bag and have never had any issues. One thing I do to help protect my irons is to put them in the bag head first, so the grips would be sticking out instead of the heads. It balances the bag out and gives a little more protection to the club heads.

kevin

[clemsontiger]

I just order a hard case. I will let everyone know what I think about it.

I wanted a hard case because I have traveled with a soft case and did not like it very much. It is a mental thing, but I like to think with a hard case that I will be a little more protected.