How to Choose Golf Headcovers (and Why They Matter)
Golf headcovers protect your most expensive and most exposed clubs, usually the driver, fairway woods, hybrids and putter, from dings, scratches and weather while they ride in your bag. To choose one, match the cover to the club type and size first, then pick a material and closure that suit how you play, and only then pick the look you love. Get the fit right and almost any style will do its job.
Why do golf headcovers matter?
Headcovers matter because clubs bang into each other every time your bag moves. Cart rides, car trunks and airport baggage handling all mean metal knocking against metal, and the large, thin-walled heads of drivers and fairway woods take the worst of it.
Devereux Golf's headcover guide lists the main reasons golfers use them: clubs knocking together in transit, rain, sun and dust, paint chipping over time, and keeping the alignment markings on the club easy to see.
Which clubs need a headcover?
Most golfers cover four kinds of clubs: the driver, fairway woods, hybrids and the putter. Irons and wedges usually go without, although iron covers exist.
The golf club types differ in shape, so covers are sized by club. A driver cover is the largest, fairway wood covers are a little smaller and hybrid covers smaller again. Putter covers come in two main shapes, which we cover below. A wood cover won't fit a putter, and a hybrid cover may be too snug for a fairway wood, so check the label before you buy one as a gift.
Iron covers are a matter of taste. Devereux's guide argues against them because moisture can get trapped underneath and lead to rust, so if you do use them, let your irons dry before you slip the covers back on.
How many covers you need depends on your set. The USGA's Rule 4 limits you to 14 clubs during a round, and a typical bag might hold one driver, one or two woods, a hybrid or two and a putter, so four to six covers is common.
How to choose the right headcover for each club
Choose by fit first. A cover that's too tight is a fight to pull off on every tee, and one that's too loose falls off in the cart and gets left behind.
| Club | What to look for | Common styles | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Driver | Fits your driver's head size (check the listed cc limit) | Knit pom-pom, plush animal, padded nylon | Covers sized for smaller older drivers |
| Fairway wood | Snug fit, a number tag or numbered dial | Matching set with the driver cover | Mixing up your 3- and 5-wood covers |
| Hybrid | Smaller, shorter cover marked "hybrid" or "utility" | Matching set, small plush animal | Wood covers that slide off a hybrid |
| Putter | Blade or mallet shape to match your putter | Magnetic or hook-and-loop closure | A blade cover that won't close on a mallet |
| Irons (optional) | Breathable fabric, numbered covers | Individual covers or a set | Trapped moisture if clubs go in wet |
For drivers, the product listing will often give a size. For example, the Daphne's animal driver covers in our catalog were listed as fitting drivers up to 460cc.
A long neck, sometimes called a sock, also matters. It covers part of the shaft so it doesn't rub against other clubs, which is useful if your bag has open dividers.
Blade or mallet: how to choose a putter cover
Pick the putter cover by the shape of your putter's head. A blade putter has a narrow, traditional head, while a mallet putter has a larger, deeper head that often extends back behind the face.
Blade covers are slim and usually close with a magnet or hook-and-loop strip. Mallet covers are wider and rounder. If you aren't sure which type you have, look down at the putter: if the head is not much deeper than a thin bar, it's a blade; if it's wide and chunky, it's a mallet.
Your putter is the club you use on every hole, so it's worth covering even if you skip covers on everything else.
What headcover material is best?
There isn't one best material; it depends on whether you want padding, weather resistance or personality. Most covers fall into four groups.
- Padded nylon or synthetic leather. Durable, easy to wipe clean and good in damp weather. The Taboo Women's Golf Club Covers Set in Safari (last listed price $69.95) was described as nylon, polyester knit and mesh, velour lined, with four contoured covers embroidered 1, 3, 5 and X and a nylon sock on the driver cover.
- Knit covers. Classic and lightweight, often with a pom-pom on top. They stretch to fit and fold small, but they soak up rain, so let them dry before you store your clubs.
- Plush and character animals. Big, soft and fun, with plenty of padding.
- Leather. Structured and long-lasting, though usually heavier and in need of a little more care.
Inside the cover, a soft lining such as velour or fleece is what actually stops the scratches, so check for one whatever the outer material.
Closures, numbers and other small details
Small details decide whether you'll actually use your covers. Look at how each one stays on, how you tell them apart and how easily it comes off.
- Closures. Pull-on covers have no closure at all and rely on a stretchy neck. Putter covers usually use a magnet, which is quiet and quick, or a hook-and-loop strip, which holds firmly but makes a noise on the green.
- Numbers. A numbered tag, embroidered number or turning dial stops you from grabbing the 5-wood when you wanted the 3. A matching set with numbers solves this neatly.
Matching sets or mix and match?
Both work; it comes down to your style. A matching set looks tidy and often includes numbers, while a mix of fun covers shows personality. In our golf headcovers section you'll find both, from Daphne's animal driver covers such as the Black Lab and Zebra (last listed price $33.99 each) to the Hedgehog hybrid cover (last listed price $24.50). The full brand range lives on our Daphne's Headcovers page.
If you want your covers to coordinate with the rest of your gear, our golf bags and golf accessories pages are a good place to start, and headcovers also make an easy present: see our gift ideas for women golfers.
How to care for your headcovers
Keep headcovers dry and clean and they'll last for seasons. The main job is to stop moisture sitting inside them.
After a wet round, take the covers off, let both the clubs and the covers air-dry, then put them back. Wipe nylon and synthetic leather with a damp cloth. For knit covers, follow the care label; many can be hand-washed and laid flat to dry. Plush covers do best with spot cleaning so the stuffing keeps its shape. Our guide to washing golf clothes covers the same fabrics, like polyester, if your covers are machine-washable.
When you travel, keep every cover on. Our golf trip packing list has more ideas for protecting your clubs on the way to the course.
Frequently asked questions
Do I really need headcovers on my golf clubs?
You don't need them to play, and no rule requires them. They're still worth having for your driver, woods, hybrids and putter, because those heads dent, scratch and chip easily when clubs knock together in a cart, car or travel bag. Covers also help you keep track of your clubs.
Will a driver headcover fit my fairway woods?
Usually it will be too loose. Driver covers are made for the biggest head in your bag, so on a smaller fairway wood they slide around and can fall off in the cart. Use covers sized for each club, or a set where the driver, wood and hybrid covers are made to fit their own clubs.
Should I use iron covers?
That's a personal choice. Iron covers reduce clanking and scratches, but they can trap moisture against the clubheads if you put them on wet, which can lead to rust. If you like them, choose a breathable fabric and dry your irons before covering them. Many golfers simply skip them.
How do I know if I need a blade or mallet putter cover?
Look at your putter's head from above. A narrow head that's not much deeper than a thin bar is a blade, and it needs a slim blade cover. A wide, deep head that extends back behind the face is a mallet and needs a larger, rounder mallet cover. Product listings name the shape they fit.
Are headcovers a good golf gift?
Yes. Headcovers are one of the easiest golf gifts because they don't need a clothing size. Choose a driver cover or a putter cover so fit is simple, and pick a design that suits her style. If her current covers look tired, a fresh one is an easy upgrade.
Happy golfing, from the Fore Ladies Golf team.
