Why Don't Pros Use Iron Covers?

[rehmwa]

44 minutes ago, NM Golf said:

Saw this today, thought of this old thread about iron covers. Seems this gentleman, Aaron Rai, wears two gloves and has iron covers. He is a ball retriever away from the hacker trifecta. He's pretty good though!

https://www.nationalclubgolfer.com/news/aaron-rai-witb-2018/

 

Saw that, he just won and they mentioned the iron covers.  It was funny.

I understand wood and hybrid covers - they have a lot of surface that has a cosmetic finish that I just don't know will chip or not.....But I always thought covers were there for the long neck/sleeve to protect the graphite shaft from being damaged by the adjacent iron heads - NOT for head protection.  (So I don't see any real reason to use the newer shortish driver covers really.  I'll buy a nice knit cover only with a long neck and toss the stock cover).

Don't understand iron covers, but don't care what others do - that's just arrogant and kind of sad.  I see all sorts of rituals and quirks by golfers, so whatever gets you in the right frame of mind......If I see someone tease a player with a cover, you bet I'll find something to tease them about - like the idiocy of the ball alignment mark, or marking their tee to a certain height, or obsession where people stand, or their neat watch or matching belt and newsboy cap, or their custom golf cart.....

 

I'm not quite sure about putter covers......maybe some of the face inserts might need protection....OK.

------- So covers for the graphite shafted woods and hybrids, and then the putters.  Not the irons.  (for all these, YMMV, I don't care one way or the other)

yes to ball retrievers, but that's because I'm compulsive about it.  but neither me nor any of my friends ever have to spend a dollar on a new ball - and it keeps me off of the streets and out of gangs

Edited November 28, 2018 by rehmwa

[Buckeyebowman]

Just noticed this, and the answer is easy. Pros get their clubs for free, and iron covers look dorky! 

[dennyjones]

36 minutes ago, Buckeyebowman said:

Pros get their clubs for free

Not as many as there use to be...A lot of the pros sport their own clubs now.   But saying that, they make enough money that the cost isn't something they consider.

[NM Golf]

I don't think the cost of the clubs has anything to do with it. Free, discounted, full retail, it doesn't matter how much you paid for your irons, iron covers are just dorky. Traditionally, only hacks use them, they are the golf equivalent of a pocket protector. They go hand in hand with ball retrievers and chippers.

Edited December 10, 2018 by NM Golf

[boogielicious]

9 hours ago, NM Golf said:

I don't think the cost of the clubs has anything to do with it. Free, discounted, full retail, it doesn't matter how much you paid for your irons, iron covers are just dorky. Traditionally, only hacks use them, they are the golf equivalent of a pocket protector. They go hand in hand with ball retrievers and chippers.

I have been a working engineer since 1982. I have never worn a pocket protector!  I had a friend who did and he also wore a clip on tie!

I think bag chatter on your clubs is a badge of honor.

[Herkimer]

They don't use iron covers because they're idiotic.

[mz975d]

I use them proudly and love them.  I was so sick of hearing my clubs smash back and forth during rounds where I'm using a cart.  And the metal is so soft it protects them from unnecessary dings.  I'm trying to preserve them as long as i can..That said, my priorities are in order,  I won't hesitate to use them how they were intended to be used hah.     

[RussUK]

I used to use them. Got fed up of having to take them off, put them back on, forget to put it back on but not realise till i got to the green then have to run back to where i'd dropped it looking like a total muppet.

Plus i find the gentle claicking of the irons therapeutic these days.

[Lihu]

3 hours ago, mz975d said:

I use them proudly and love them.  I was so sick of hearing my clubs smash back and forth during rounds where I'm using a cart.  And the metal is so soft it protects them from unnecessary dings.  I'm trying to preserve them as long as i can..That said, my priorities are in order,  I won't hesitate to use them how they were intended to be used hah.     

Is cleaning the clubs before putting on the covers kind of a pain?

 

On 12/9/2018 at 6:22 PM, NM Golf said:

I don't think the cost of the clubs has anything to do with it. Free, discounted, full retail, it doesn't matter how much you paid for your irons, iron covers are just dorky. Traditionally, only hacks use them, they are the golf equivalent of a pocket protector. They go hand in hand with ball retrievers and chippers.

So, the “nerdy” golf look? 😂

 

On 12/10/2018 at 3:42 AM, boogielicious said:

I have been a working engineer since 1982. I have never worn a pocket protector!  I had a friend who did and he also wore a clip on tie!

I think bag chatter on your clubs is a badge of honor.

I’ve never had to wear a tie as an engineer before either, but was told clip on ties were used by machinists for safety “back in the day”

Guessing we missed out on the era of the pocket protector? 🤪

 

2 hours ago, RussUK said:

I used to use them. Got fed up of having to take them off, put them back on, forget to put it back on but not realise till i got to the green then have to run back to where i'd dropped it looking like a total muppet.

Plus i find the gentle claicking of the irons therapeutic these days.

Yes, agree. I can sometimes even tell when a club is missing by the “group clack”. 😁

[Herkimer]

Speaking of clacking:  Remember when golf shoes had spikes? The greatest sound in the world for me was people walking on cart paths with their spike golf shoes. That sound was just heavenly to me.  I really miss those golf shoes and the sound they made.  My second favorite sound is the clacking and jangling of clubs in a golf bag, especially when you're carrying your bag and walking down the fairway.  Yes, I'm weird, I know.  

[NM Golf]

9 hours ago, mz975d said:

I use them proudly and love them.  I was so sick of hearing my clubs smash back and forth during rounds where I'm using a cart.      

You can actually hear your clubs hitting each other while riding in a cart? Must be so quiet and serene where you play. I can barely get my group to shut up long enough to hit my shot! 

9 hours ago, mz975d said:

 And the metal is so soft it protects them from unnecessary dings.  I'm trying to preserve them as long as i can..

What clubs do you use that are that soft? I have used the same set of forged blades for 4 seasons and while they show definite signs of use, they look and play just fine. Heck I see a little bag chatter as a badge of honor.

9 hours ago, mz975d said:

That said, my priorities are in order,  I won't hesitate to use them how they were intended to be used hah.     

 Not sure how priorities fit into this, but if you want to use those iron covers, you use them. Just watch your bag for the appearance of ball retrievers and chippers. I hear they like to run in packs. 😜

[jimnm]

If I'm riding in a cart, I leave the covers on. If I'm walking (push cart), I take them off. This has resulted in only a few marks here and there. And the covers always go back on when transporting, storing at home, or practicing. Covers also force me to clean and dry my irons thoroughly after each round as I'm paranoid about trapping any moisture. 

My irons are only a few months old and are my first forged set. I've found that they get dinged pretty easily so I'm glad I bought the covers. I plan to keep these irons for several years and want them to age slowly.

When I had cast irons, I did not use covers...

[Yukari]

7 hours ago, Herkimer said:

Speaking of clacking:  Remember when golf shoes had spikes? The greatest sound in the world for me was people walking on cart paths with their spike golf shoes. That sound was just heavenly to me.  I really miss those golf shoes and the sound they made.  My second favorite sound is the clacking and jangling of clubs in a golf bag, especially when you're carrying your bag and walking down the fairway.  Yes, I'm weird, I know.  

Well, count me as weird also.

I too like the sound of metal spikes on the cart path and clacking sound of golf clubs when walking down the fairway.

As for the pros not using them, I would think most have sponsors that provide clubs for free.

[mz975d]

15 hours ago, Lihu said:

Is cleaning the clubs before putting on the covers kind of a pain?

 

I don't have them on when I walk, which is probably 75-80% of the time.   Brushing my clubs after each shot is habitual anyways so no its not a pain

9 hours ago, NM Golf said:

You can actually hear your clubs hitting each other while riding in a cart? Must be so quiet and serene where you play. I can barely get my group to shut up long enough to hit my shot! 

What clubs do you use that are that soft? I have used the same set of forged blades for 4 seasons and while they show definite signs of use, they look and play just fine. Heck I see a little bag chatter as a badge of honor.

Yes of course i can hear them they are right behind me.  The suspension (or lack thereof) in the carts coupled with ruts in some fairways, and also cart path dips and drains cause some serious thrashing of clubs...  I simply want to avoid unnecessary dings in the clubs since i worked very hard on building this set with my buddy.  Big thanks to Club Glove they work great!   And I am using the 718 MBs. Normal usage is totally fine.  Its that cart thrashing I hate. 

[Patch]

I have read a few articles on iron head covers. 

One stated that an iron is designed to hit the ground under, and/or in front of the ball. That being the case, why protect a club head when it's not in use. 

Another is that iron covers are for newbies to the game of golf. Newbies tend to buy anything associated with the game of golf. The "kewl beans" scenario. PGA Pros are not "newbies". 

Next is the old stand by, of preventing the constant "clanking" noise when transporting the bag full of irons. 

Another is that iron covers are just another thing to keep track off. A waste of time. That sometimes the wrong number cover could wind up on the wrong club, which could cost the golfer strokes. .

One article went as far as saying that in the begining,  wood covers were used to protect the shaft more so than the actual club head/face.

I suppose one could take their pick of any of the above. 

 

[Piz]

I think it's one of those deep, philosophical, questions that can only be answered by ignoring it entirely.

[Double Mocha Man]

The guy who uses iron head covers is also the same guy who has a coronary when his car door is lightly dinged.

To be fair I suppose those little covers help to improve the resale value of the irons.  Otherwise I see no reason to use them.

[Double Mocha Man]

When you hit a bad iron shot and are angry you need to be able to violently shove your iron back into the bag while uttering a juicy swear word under your breath.  Messing with a head cover first would ruin all the fun.