TWISTKNIT and TWISTWEAVE: Helping Golfers Unwind on the Course
Learn how adidas Golf’s latest materials concepts aim to improve the physical aspects of the game for golfers as well as help them stay focused on the course.
Whether on the court, course, or field, professional athletes are no strangers to playing under pressure. They depend on their team, practice, and skillsets to get them through their toughest moments, often watched by millions worldwide. But what if the clothes on their backs could help alleviate the hindrances that often stop them from playing their best? The adidas Golf Materials Development team and I created TWISTKNIT and TWISTWEAVE to do just that.
As the Senior Manager of Materials Development for adidas Golf, I have spent the last seven years working with footwear and apparel materials to make the best product for the athlete. With a background in biology and a passion for design, I led the three-year initiative to bring TWISTKNIT and TWISTWEAVE to the course as part of adidas’ Ultimate 365 apparel range.
The Best for the Athlete Means Crafting the Best at the Microscopic Level
The inspiration for TWISTKNIT and TWISTWEAVE started with the goal of reducing the weight of apparel garments without compromising the physical characteristics important to golf: stretch and comfort. Generally, developers rely on spandex or elastane to create stretch and recovery in product materials, but that can lead to unwanted weight or drape in the finished product. However, reducing the weight too much can make the materials thin or papery – which may lead to improved breathability but often results in a loss of stretch and increased material transparency. TWISTKNIT and TWISTWEAVE were crafted at the microscopic level to help bring together the best of both: materials that provide stretch for a full range of motion while reducing weight for improved comfort and feeling.
The magic really happens at the fiber level, where the material undergoes a transformative process that allows the fibers to coil or “twist,” creating mini springs within the fabric. These springs store potential energy and not only create great stretch and recovery but also increase the surface area of the material with reduced weight and density.
Yet, the most exciting part of this project was the unexpected features discovered while using these new ingredients. The coiled fibers not only helped to reduce weight but maintained excellent UV protection, a uniquely soft hand feel, and a rich appearance. The benefits became a difference that golfers can both feel and see.
While the characteristics of this concept align with the performance features needed for golf, we hope other adidas development teams can utilize the concepts to push innovation within their sports.
Asking questions propels us to dig deeper into the unknown and often ignites new discoveries—TWISTKNIT and TWISTWEAVE are perfect examples of why it’s important to always stay curious.
Explore, experiment, and, most importantly, have fun.
The Best for the Athlete Means the Best for Their Mind
While the physical attributes of TWISTKNIT and TWISTWEAVE are important, the unsung hero of the concepts are the mental benefits.
Mental benefits are obviously something we can’t quantify, but, for golf, it’s a question of ‘why’. Why is lightweight important for sports like running? It means running faster. For basketball, it means jumping higher. For golf, lightweight means improved comfort and less fatigue, which leads to better focus throughout the round. Better focus can lead to improved performance and overall fun and enjoyment.
Athletes such as LPGA’s Linn Grant and PGA’s Brandon Wu have already worn TWISTKNIT and TWISTWEAVE as part of the Ultimate365 range. Golfers aren’t wearing the materials for 45 minutes; they are wearing them for five or six hours of play, so it’s rewarding to see the pros notice a real difference in what they wear.
By emphasizing the importance of a positive mindset when creating new materials, I hope to unlock a whole new benefit for the athlete. While we can’t guarantee that TWISTKNIT, TWISTWEAVE, or the Ultimate365 range will remove pressure and increase enjoyment as they head to the course, it is an innovative way of thinking that could make a difference in an athlete’s performance.
