Traveling for golf, whether it’s for a THP Event or a trip with friends, is one of the most exciting things a golfer can do. However, other than your clubs not arriving at all, one of the biggest fears is opening your travel bag to find a snapped or broken driver shaft.

There are plenty of ways to pack your clubs for travel, and a lot depends on whether you use a hard shell or soft shell case. Hard cases offer more protection but can be bulky and inconvenient, while soft cases provide more flexibility and are much easier to maneuver through airports.
Today, we’re taking a look at how I pack my soft shell travel cover. In this video, I’ll show you a few simple things I do to help protect my equipment during airline travel.
If you are in the market for a new travel cover, we recently reviewed quite a few different options including the Bag Boy T-800, CaddyDaddy First Class, Sun Mountain Club Glider Meridian, and the Club Glove Pro Traveler.
Do you pack your travel cover differently? If so let us know in the comments.





I needed something like this. Great reference. Thank you 🙏
Nice vid, and hell of a nice bag 🌴
This is a well dine video. I like the idea of using the towel to keep the shafts connected to the stiff arm.
Some great tips in this video. I never thought to put my wood shafts facing down, but it makes all the sense.
Great heads up for people traveling.
If I were packing 1/4 zips or hoodies (for course use) then I would stuff them inside the rain cover as well to save room in my luggage and add more cushion for my iron heads. Works with rain gear as well.
I use shoe bags and stuff shoes inside the main compartment of the travel cover. I use the outside pockets very rarely. That’s just me.
Great stuff!
[QUOTE=”BigDill, post: 14077127, member: 48932″]
Some great tips in this video. I never thought to put my wood shafts facing down, but it makes all the sense.
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I’m surprised more people don’t, and wrapping the towel around them and the stiff arm to hold together is key.
This is very pertinent information to me as someone that’s never flown with clubs before.
[QUOTE=”echico, post: 14077164, member: 6774″]
If I were packing 1/4 zips or hoodies (for course use) then I would stuff them inside the rain cover as well to save room in my luggage and add more cushion for my iron heads. Works with rain gear as well.
I use shoe bags and stuff shoes inside the main compartment of the travel cover. I use the outside pockets very rarely. That’s just me.
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I used to do that only to find TSA never packed it back the way I had it, so I stopped bothering.
[QUOTE=”Lord Tox, post: 14077411, member: 5944″]
I’m surprised more people don’t, and wrapping the towel around them and the stiff arm to hold together is key.
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I wrap towels around my irons too. Never a bad thing to be extra paranoid
[QUOTE=”Dan.The.King, post: 14077415, member: 85152″]
This is very pertinent information to me as someone that’s never flown with clubs before.
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We reviewed a few travel covers recently, all are linked at the bottom of the article if you are looking to pick one up.
Same. Plus it’s free space for the extra towels
The shafts face down is clever. I will start doing that.
[QUOTE=”Lord Tox, post: 14077411, member: 5944″]
I’m surprised more people don’t, and wrapping the towel around them and the stiff arm to hold together is key.
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If you wrap the towel around them does it really matter if the tips are in the bag or not?
[QUOTE=”Lord Tox, post: 14077439, member: 5944″]
We reviewed a few travel covers recently, all are linked at the bottom of the article if you are looking to pick one up.
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I read them! [USER=6890]@PhillyV[/USER] generously offered to let me borrow one of his. Just need to get time to make it over there
Excellent video and info [USER=5944]@Lord Tox[/USER]! I had planned to do everything you mentioned already for my first time flying with my clubs except for tucking the extra towel in, I was thinking of pilfering some of my wife’s extra hair-ties to keep everything together.
[QUOTE=”Lord Tox, post: 14077411, member: 5944″]
I’m surprised more people don’t, and wrapping the towel around them and the stiff arm to hold together is key.
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Yep – I always bring a beach towel or two for this exact purpose. Great video!
[QUOTE=”echico, post: 14077450, member: 6774″]
If you wrap the towel around them does it really matter if the tips are in the bag or not?
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Probably not, I just feel safer with them down. That way if the towel comes loose they aren’t just all over the place, I’d rather have the grip hit the top of the stiff arm than the tip.
Great video [USER=5944]@Lord Tox[/USER]
The T-800 with a Backbone from [USER=75506]@BagBoy[/USER] absolutely nailed this setup.
[QUOTE=”Lord Tox, post: 14077495, member: 5944″]
Probably not, I just feel safer with them down. That way if the towel comes loose they aren’t just all over the place, I’d rather have the grip hit the top of the stiff arm than the tip.
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Good video sir.
I even throw the irons in upside down. 🙃
Great info!
It’s been about 18 months since I flew with my clubs, so this is a good reminder before our trip this summer.
[QUOTE=”blazinden, post: 14077551, member: 52080″]
Good video sir.
I even throw the irons in upside down. 🙃
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I actually do the same. Not for safety, but because then most of the weight is lower and easier to wheel around
Very helpful video. Thanks [USER=5944]@Lord Tox[/USER]
Nice. Great video and great tips as well. I team to wrap the top in a cheap pillow with bungee cord. Over kill I’m sure, still does the job.
Only thing I do differently is I put a little painters tape around the adapter end of shafts. I once had the small metal ring on a Titleist driver adapter come off. I did find the cog and had to go get a small rubber oring to keep it together.
good stuff… I like to add extra towels inside the rain hood to try to give the irons and wedges some cushion
[QUOTE=”BigDill, post: 14077127, member: 48932″]
Some great tips in this video. I never thought to put my wood shafts facing down, but it makes all the sense.
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Same here. Wouldn’t have thought to use the towel in the same way.
[QUOTE=”shanewu, post: 14077940, member: 38120″]
good stuff… I like to add extra towels inside the rain hood to try to give the irons and wedges some cushion
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Genuine question, why? They are bouncing around in the back of a cart all the time, what is different here?
[QUOTE=”Lord Tox, post: 14077961, member: 5944″]
Genuine question, why? They are bouncing around in the back of a cart all the time, what is different here?
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I like the idea of minimizing overall movement of the clubs and shafts and reducing the potential for extra damage I guess. I’m a push cart 90% of the time guy so still cringe from all that bouncing and banging around while riding. 😆
I never thought about using the rain cover. Great idea. You’re bringing it anyway. I also run a towel through the irons just because I hate hearing the clacking.
[QUOTE=”Hawk, post: 14078385, member: 1193″]
I never thought about using the rain cover. Great idea. You’re bringing it anyway. I also run a towel through the irons just because I hate hearing the clacking.
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You know what helps with that?
Iron covers :ROFLMAO:
[USER=5944]@Lord Tox[/USER] great video!!! I throw as much crap in my golf travel bag as possible. I throw all my golf apparel and footwear in there, hats and some shoes. So all i have to check is my golf bag. I have not take the heads off my long clubs but for the Titleist experience that will happen. I am also in serious pondering mode for a new travel bag. Caddy daddy seems to be exactly what i am looking for and you can not beat the guarentee
[QUOTE=”Lord Tox, post: 14077411, member: 5944″]
I’m surprised more people don’t, and wrapping the towel around them and the stiff arm to hold together is key.
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I’ve been doing it this way for a long time. I however do not use a stiff arm. Great video!!!
[QUOTE=”blazinden, post: 14077551, member: 52080″]
Good video sir.
I even throw the irons in upside down. 🙃
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14-way bag users are trying to figure out how you accomplish this. Don’t tell them…
[QUOTE=”MMaynard11, post: 14078429, member: 19877″]
14-way bag users are trying to figure out how you accomplish this. Don’t tell them…
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You take the heads off just like the woods…. duh
WAY different than the last travel bag packing video I saw…
[QUOTE=”MMaynard11, post: 14078429, member: 19877″]
14-way bag users are trying to figure out how you accomplish this. Don’t tell them…
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[IMG alt=”Dennis Hanging GIF by Beano Studios”]https://media1.giphy.com/media/KZSseUkpvvYB3Xd3qz/200.gif[/IMG]
Great vid. Love seeing THP doing more general videos like these and I think they will drive some good traffic.
I put my detachable heads in my carry on for extra protection. Love the idea of wrapping the loose shafts in the extra towel and using the rain cover! very smart.
The only other thing I do is before putting my bag in the soft case, I lay a caddie towel down where the heads go and then put the golf bag in, finally wrapping the caddie towel around everything. With the rain hood though that is probably not necessary.
Thanks for the video. Perfect timing for me.
One added benefit of packing a golf bag is it gives you a chance to clean out your bag as you gotta keep that bag under 50lbs, and some airlines don’t let you add a bunch of extra stuff even if it is under 50lbs.
One tip I would like to add to this awesome video is for those like [USER=5944]@Lord Tox[/USER] who pack a carry bag is to restrain the legs of the bag using the little clips built into the bag to keep them from trying to open should the bottom of the bag get jostled in just the right spot. It seems like a nothing move, but it might just save you from opening your travel cover and finding a bent or broken leg
And a question for those following along; does anyone keep an older golf bag specifically for travel purposes?
I have kept and used an old SM carry bag whenever flying and the airline finally managed to destroy it last year after roughly 25-30 trips. But because I only used it for travel it didn’t hurt near as much as if I had been travelling with a more expensive bag
[QUOTE=”Junkyard, post: 14081245, member: 12544″]
One tip I would like to add to this awesome video is for those like [USER=5944]@Lord Tox[/USER] who pack a carry bag is to restrain the legs of the bag using the little clips built into the bag to keep them from trying to open should the bottom of the bag get jostled in just the right spot. It seems like a nothing move, but it might just save you from opening your travel cover and finding a bent or broken leg
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That’s a really good point! I forgot my bag has little Velcro straps to hold them down until I was packing it up
This is a great video, and one of the best I have seen on YouTube.
The tip to wrap the towel around the shafts and stiff arm is a great one and I’m going to be adding that to my routine for next time.
What do I add / do differently:
– Make sure my stand legs are secured with the strap at the base of them to hold them in so they don’t try to flex within the travel case (mine went in legs down)
– I do have some neoprene iron covers specifically, and only, for travelling
– Usually minimize movement further inside the rain hood with a towel wrapped around the entire set of clubs, and packing the hood with my rain gear
– I will make sure the putter head is inside the circumference of the bag as it protrudes normally
– I put my shoes in a shoe bag and have them on the inside of the bag rather than in the external pockets
– I use a TSA approved lock to secure the zips
One I added on my return journey from ArborLinks was to pad the area of the Club Glove travel case just above the plastic sled with the jeans I brought with me. This is where the knuckles of the legs were which had rubbed on the bag during transit. It was a temporary fix and I would probably build a pad from bubble wrap and stick it to that area next time – I should prevent any leg damage or wear/holes in the travel case.
Good stuff guys. While this is a basic how to, there are always other ways to do things. I may incorporate some of your tips next time.
Great vid and advice! I need to travel more with my clubs to actually do this now.
I packed my bag tonight to drop off at Ship Sticks tomorrow. I do mine very similar. Like @echico I usually put my rain gear and bucket hats up top to fill some of the space under the rain cover. I also like to pack my golf shorts and shirts in the bag with belts. If my clubs make it, I have everything that I need to step on the course. I usually just use dry cleaning plastic for my clothes. The last thing that I do is weigh it; there is nothing worse than flying too close to the sun and have to remove things from the bag at the airport/FedEx.
Took a few photos for this thread and appreciate the video.
[QUOTE=”oumagic, post: 14100395, member: 52535″]
I packed my bag tonight to drop off at Ship Sticks tomorrow. I do mine very similar. Like [USER=6774]@echico[/USER] I usually put my rain gear and bucket hats up top to fill some of the space under the rain cover. I also like to pack my golf shorts and shirts in the bag with belts. If my clubs make it, I have everything that I need to step on the course. I usually just use dry cleaning plastic for my clothes. The last thing that I do is weigh it; there is nothing worse than flying too close to the sun and have to remove things from the bag at the airport/FedEx.
Took a few photos for this thread and appreciate the video. [ATTACH type=”full” alt=”IMG_0411.jpeg”]9438873[/ATTACH]
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That diaper is full! :ROFLMAO: