adidas Pioneers Next Generation of Lightweight Golf Garments

Good ideas generally stem from unsolved problems.

adidas’ newest innovation in materials, TWISTKNIT and TWISTWEAVE, was born to provide golfers with a lighter, more comfortable alternative to the typical knits and weaves of golf apparel.

“The creation of TWISTKNIT and TWISTWEAVE essentially started with the idea to create lighter weight materials for the golf category,” said Chase Aaronson, Senior Manager of Materials Development, adidas Golf. “Lightweight can equate to comfort and less fatigue.”

Less fatigue, you say? More comfort? Sign me up.

The purpose of adidas’ latest innovation is also to provide the golfer with fewer distractions and, thus, more focus. That all sounds great in theory. But if that can’t be done without sacrifices, the end result may not be worth it. Stretch and recovery, among other things, were a particular focus for the adidas team.

“I feel a great way to describe the difference is the stretch and recovery for our Twist materials is what we’ve been referring to as more ‘adaptive stretch,'” said Aaronson. “The materials naturally move with the body, rather than the compressive type of stretch/recovery noticed in spandex. This complements the lightweight nature of the materials since it feels natural on the body rather than the typical drape you may feel from other types of materials.”

“This is where the goal of eliminating distraction and improving range of motion and mental focus comes in. If you’re worrying less about your gear, you can focus more on your game”

adidas thought long and hard about how removing elastane and switching to TWISTKNIT and TWISTWEAVE would affect every aspect of their garments.

Both in the lab and in real-life wear test scenarios, the message was consistent: there was no drop-off in performance when switching to the new, lighter TWISTKNIT and TWISTWEAVE.

“We really tested this thing as much as possible in a variety of conditions,” Aaronson continued. “When golfers or athletes feel the fabric, they noticed something different is in their hands. But I think the real benefit is appreciated after they wear it for five or six hours.”

TWISTWEAVE and TWISTKNIT garments pass along weight savings of 30 to 40 percent. That, coupled with the adaptive stretch Aaronson mentioned, provides a truly distraction-free garment.

You can take TWISTKNIT and TWISTWEAVE out for a test drive now with the new adidas ULTIMATE365 range of golf apparel and accessories.