Loom Knit is a company that makes durable and lightweight golf club covers that are great for any golfer who is on the move. The company was started by Alister McBride in 2014 and began producing their products in the following year. Since then, they have continued to grow and now supply clubs to pros like Rory McIlroy and Jason Dufner as well as recreational golfers around the world. The covers are designed and knitted in Scotland using a diamond-shaped loom that is more stable than traditional circular looms. This allows the yarn to be fed through in a straight line, producing a neater and more consistent fabric.
Table of Contents
The Basics
Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty. First of all, what exactly are golf club covers, and how do they work? Golf club covers are essentially just the outerwear a golf club is protected by. Most golfers will have a set of metal woods that are 6 or 7 inches in diameter. These are used for hitting the ball in distance, usually around the green. If you’re unfamiliar, a metal wood has a head and a handle and looks a bit like a baseball bat with a golf club attached to the end. The handle is usually made of metal, with some exceptions such as the Bridgestone Grit Tour, where it’s made of wood. These handles are usually between 3.25 and 4 inches in diameter, with the thicker the better (thicker handles transfer more energy to the ball when swung).
When golfers hit the ball, they want to make sure that the ball stays in play. This is done by either keeping the ball on the fairway or in a hazard zone surrounding the green. In order to do this, the club head must be covered by some sort of material, which is what golf club covers are made of. Traditional materials used for this include thick feather duvet covers, or thick knit fabrics with a collar that covers the head. More recently, manufacturers have started using synthetic materials like polyester or acrylic for this purpose.
Durability Is At The Core Of Everything
As we’ve established, golf club covers are the outside garment worn by golfers to protect their clubs. It follows that durability is a key requirement. After all, if the material the manufacturers use to make the covers breaks down after just a few months of use, then it’s not very beneficial is it? In order to achieve the maximum benefits from such an investment, golfers want the covers to be as durable as possible. Because of this, many manufacturers put a lot of thought into the design and structure of the cover, as well as the type of yarn used to make it, in order to achieve the best possible results.
Yarn And Slub
The ball and club manufacturing process begins with a slub yarn. This is a heavy yarn that is spun using a spindle. The slub yarn is then fed into a single-fold knitting machine where the pattern is set and the fabric is formed. This process is then repeated on another roll to produce a second fabric.
The way the yarn is constructed determines the durability of the fabric. The more twists the yarn contains, the more durable it will be. This is because more twists mean more knots and less slubs, which cause the fabric to fray. On the other hand, a purebred yarn has no slubs and appears more like a smooth tube when it’s spun. The advantage of a purebred yarn is that it’s less likely to fray but it is also less elastic and less durable than a spindle yarn. You should opt for a spindle yarn if you wish to have a long-lasting garment.
Light But Durable
The other key consideration when designing golf club covers is weight. The lighter the material, the better, particularly in cases where the material is going to be lined. The heavier the lining, the greater the risk of snagging on the rough, as well as the ball, when hitting the ground. Many club cover manufacturers use a synthetic fiber for the inside lining because it is light but durable. Some of the best materials used for club covers include polyester twill, acrylic twill, and heavy denim material. When it comes to weight, the thicker the better. Thicker materials mean thicker stitching which in turn means a tighter and more durable fabric.
When picking a material for the body of your putter, you should look for something in the range of 500 to 600 denier. This will make it the perfect weight for a driving range or an actual golf course while allowing for some give so that the ball doesn’t slip through at high speeds.
When picking a material for your sand wedge, you should look for something between 350 and 450 denier. This will make it light but durable enough to withstand light wind and frequent handling. The perfect weight for a sand wedge is somewhere between 300 and 400 denier.
Appearance
Colors always add a touch of beauty to an outfit, and golfers usually wear either black, white or brown so they can be easily identified on the green. The most stunning appearance comes from materials with a sheen, like brushed metal or faux leather. This is why many of the best looking items are made of a combination of these materials.
Texture
This refers to the surface quality of the fabric. When picking a material for your putter, you should opt for a smoother feeling fabric with a textured surface. This will make the ball easier to grip while also avoiding slubs and breakages. There are various methods of creating texture, such as weaving, bobbinetting or slubbing, which creates a pattern that can be felt through the fabric. These materials are less likely to fray and are more resistant to wrinkles and pilling than solid fabrics.
Fit
The last thing any golfer wants is an oversized item that doesn’t fit properly. This can lead to all sorts of problems, from chipping to breaking. It’s best to go for something that’s going to fit as snug as possible without being too small either. When picking a material for your putter, you should go for something that fits well and has enough give that it doesn’t bind around the collar or arms. This is when picking the right fit is not as important as making sure the item is durable and comfortable enough to keep the wearer cool and protected during play.
Rough
Golfers usually use a leather belt to hold their golf bags, and this surface is the perfect place to attach a cover. There’s also a wide variety of roughs sold pre-treated with any of a number of elastomers, which makes them easier to knit.
The material used for your golf bag’s shoulder strap depends on a number of factors. First of all, they have to be strong enough to support the weight of your bag while also being comfortable to the touch. The best straps are thin yet very durable because they’re made of a proprietary blend of materials. Some of the best materials used for these are neoprene, polyester and acrylic.
Many golfers choose to go for a thin and light fabric for the lining of their bag’s shoulder strap. This is because these materials make the bag lighter and more maneuverable while also allowing for ventilation. When picking a liner for your bag’s shoulder strap, you should go for something thin and transparent so that it doesn’t obstruct the airflow to the back of the bag.
The Pros And Cons Of Each Putter Material
Now that you’re equipped with the basics of what a golf club cover is and how they’re made, let’s take a quick look at the pros and cons of each type of material.
Fiber Blend
One of the most important things to consider when picking a material for your putter is the overall fiber blend of the item. In general, the better the fiber blend, the better the overall durability and strength of the item. There are various grades and types of fibers used in the making of your putter’s covering like linen, hemp, silk, cashmere, and others. Some types of fibers add strength to the cover, while others add flexibility. Your overall goal is to find a balance that offers the best of both worlds. When picking a fiber for your putter, make sure that it is of good quality and has been processed as much as possible.
Polyester And Acrylic
These two synthetic materials are used widely in the manufacturing of golf club covers because they offer a variety of advantages. First of all, they are very light and, as a result, portable. This makes them convenient to carry around all day long. The other important factor is that they are both easy to dye and print on. This adds a touch of customization to your bag’s look.