Iron covers occupy a strange place in golf.
They protect some of the most expensive equipment in your bag, help keep your irons looking tidy and stop them clattering together as you walk the course. All perfectly sensible.
Yet pull a set of iron covers out in front of the wrong group of golfers and you may receive more grief than someone laying up from 180 metres.
So, why do iron covers get so much hate? Are they a genuinely bad idea, or have golfers simply decided they are not cool?
Why golfers make fun of iron covers
Golf has always had its unwritten rules. Some are useful, some are traditional, and some seem to exist mainly so golfers have something else to argue about after the round.
Iron covers have somehow ended up on the wrong side of golf fashion. Drivers, fairway woods, hybrids and putters are all expected to wear covers, but protecting your irons is treated very differently.
Part of that comes from the belief that irons are tools and should show signs of use. A few scratches and marks can give a set of clubs some character. There is also the image of a golfer carefully removing and replacing eight or nine little covers during every round, which can look a bit fussy from the outside.
Then there is the simplest explanation: golfers enjoy giving their mates grief. Once iron covers became a running joke, they were always going to be difficult to rehabilitate.
The case for iron covers
Strip away the jokes and there are some very good reasons to use them.
They reduce bag chatter
That familiar clattering sound comes from your clubheads knocking together while you walk or ride around the course. Over time, that contact can leave small scratches, dings and marks on the backs and edges of your irons.
Iron covers create a barrier between the clubheads, keeping both the noise and the cosmetic damage down.
They help keep your clubs looking good
Golf clubs are made to hit the ground, so no cover will keep the faces and soles looking brand new forever. That is part of playing golf.
What covers can protect is the part of the club that is not involved in the shot. If you have invested in a new set and enjoy keeping your equipment in excellent condition, covering your irons makes sense.
They may help with resale value
Condition matters when it is time to trade or sell a set of irons. Normal face and sole wear is expected, but a set without excessive dents and bag chatter will generally present better to its next owner.
Iron covers will not transform a heavily used set into a mint one, but they can help preserve its cosmetic condition.
They offer extra protection while travelling
Even golfers who would never use iron covers during a round may find them useful when travelling. Clubs can move around considerably in a travel cover, particularly while being handled through airports or loaded into a vehicle.
A set of iron covers is an easy way to add protection before the bag begins its journey.
They show that you care about your gear
Some golfers clean their clubs after every shot. Others are happy to let the mud dry until the next round. Neither approach changes the scorecard, but there is nothing wrong with taking pride in equipment you have worked hard to buy.
The case against iron covers
The critics do have a few legitimate points.
They add another step to every shot
Removing and replacing a cover takes only a few seconds, but those seconds can add up. If you use iron covers, the important thing is to stay ready to play and avoid turning each club selection into a full ceremony.
They are easy to lose
Small covers have a habit of being left beside greens, dropped between holes or buried in the bottom of a golf bag. Losing the cover marked with your favourite iron can also be surprisingly annoying.
Wet clubs should not be sealed away
Covers should go onto clean, dry clubs. Putting a damp cover over a wet or dirty club can hold moisture and grit against the head. After a wet round, remove the covers, dry the clubs and let everything air out properly.
Not everyone likes the look
There is no escaping this one. Some golfers think a full set of iron covers makes a bag look overly busy. Others like the clean, organised appearance.
That part is entirely personal, even if your playing partners insist their opinion is official.
Are modern iron covers actually cool?
Iron covers have come a long way from the loose, anonymous covers people might remember from years ago. There are now fitted neoprene options, premium matching sets and designs from major golf brands.
You can keep things subtle or choose something with a little more personality. Just like a driver or putter cover, they can be part protection and part personal style.
We stock options ranging from practical Masters covers through to premium sets from brands such as Callaway and Mizuno. Availability changes, but there are far more choices now than the plain old versions that probably helped create the stigma in the first place.
So, should you use iron covers?
If bag chatter does not bother you and you like your irons to develop a little character, you probably do not need them.
If you want to protect an expensive set, reduce noise, keep the clubs looking tidy or preserve their condition for a future trade-in, iron covers are a perfectly sensible purchase.
Will someone still make a joke about them? Almost certainly.
But unless that person paid for your irons, their vote probably should not count for much.
The real rule is simple: use what works for you, look after your equipment however you choose, and keep up with the group in front.
Give your golf bag some personality
While you are protecting your irons, you can also check out our full range of golf headcovers, including covers for drivers, fairway woods, hybrids and putters.
There are clean branded styles, premium options and plenty of novelty designs, including our popular Daphne's golf headcovers and PRG original headcovers.
Whether you want to keep your clubs immaculate or simply make your bag easier to spot, there is nothing wrong with giving them a little protection.
Even if your mates have something to say about it.
Happy golfing,
Scott
