Golf gloves are a frequently overlooked piece of golf gear. But nearly every single golfer uses at least one. In light of that, we’ve gathered all the important information about golf gloves that you need to know, whether you’re a beginner or a low-handicapper.
Once we’ve covered the essentials, we’ll present the best golf gloves available at retail right now, as well as the top models from specific companies and even the best glove for bad weather situations on the course.
But first let’s cover the basics.
What hand do you wear a golf glove on?
This is one of the most common questions out there, especially for a golfer more new to the game.
The answer is simple, sort of. Traditionally, players wear one glove on their weak hand. So, a right-handed golfer would wear one on his left hand, while a left-handed golfer would wear one on his right hand.
In the same vein, not every golfer wears a single glove all the time. Some players never wear a golf glove at all. Others, like PGA Tour pro Tommy “Two Gloves” Gainey, wear two gloves, one on each hand.
Many traditional golfers on the PGA Tour and at your local course will wear their glove for full swings (drivers, longer irons from the fairway), but then remove their gloves for putting and shots around the green. The theory here is that a player needs better feel on short-game shots, and a glove might inhibit feel on those shots.
Why a golfer might want to wear a glove
The reasons for why you would potentially wear a golf glove are pretty straight-forward.
The first is much like the reasoning for using gloves in other sports: to improve grip. That’s not to say it will help you master the proper finger positioning to emulate Tiger Woods‘ perfect grip. Instead, it will simply make it easier to keep the golf club from slipping out of your fingers, thanks to extra friction the golf glove provides.
Second, the grip will help protect your hands from wear and tear. Most golfers are familiar with how painful the first long range practice after a long winter can be. Most golfers get callouses on their hands from playing frequently. These can be both painful and annoying and, not to mention, can hurt your play. Golf gloves help prevent or at least limit the damage done to your hands.
But then why do most golfers only wear one glove? That’s because the weak hand does the most work hanging onto the club, and, therefore, needs the most protection.
How to properly clean a golf glove
Cleaning golf gloves can be tricky as many are made from soft leather, which is susceptible to damage from washing.
Additionally, you can expect your glove to get very dirty, relatively easily.. So if you need to clean your gloves, go ahead and place them in a bucket of cold water with a touch of dish detergent. To scrub out stains, first put the glove on your hand for support, then work on the stains while applying gentle pressure.
Once you have met the desired cleanliness, rinse the glove off in cold water. Be sure to wash away all the soap because it can dry out the leather.
Once all the soap is washed away, let the glove air dry for a couple of hours. Then, put it on your hand to form the desired shape to prevent any unwanted shrinking. Finally, let the glove air dry on its own for a few more hours, and then it will be ready to go.
What are the best gloves we have seen this year?
Identifying the best models on the market is no easy task. There a ton of options available from a large number of manufacturers. Gloves can also vary widely in price, so it largely comes down to personal preference.
If you’re a beginner in the game of golf, one of the cheaper options will adequately provide you with everything you need. Here’s a look at some of the new golf gloves from various manufacturers.
Nike
The Nike Dura Feel VIII makes use of natural leather in the palm for quality grip, while the rest of the glove is made from synthetic leather and stretch fabric for natural movement and comfort.
The Nike Tech Extreme VI includes many of the same features as the Dura Feel, but with more complete coverage of the palm with premium, grippy leather, as well as a different pattern of stretch fabric.
FootJoy
The FootJoy Pure Touch Limited is one of FootJoy’s most-expensive models currently on the market. It features Cabretta leather for exceptionally soft feel, as well as a strategically-placed elastic for a snug fit.
FootJoy Contour FLX offer a more affordable alternative to the Pure Touch Limited. The gloves are made from Cabretta leather as well as a FiberSof material along the back of the hand that combine to create a classic golf glove look.
Callaway
The Callaway Tour Authentic is the model that many of Callaway’s PGA Tour staff players wear. It is also made of Cabretta leather, but the leather golf glove is infused with Griptac material for improved fit and grip.
Callaway’s Opti-Fit are made from a a premium Japanese synthetic material for increased flexibility.
Titleist
Titleist Players golf gloves are made of leather with precisely-placed seams for maximum feel and performance.
The Titleist Players Flex are similar to the standard Players gloves, but with a technically advanced satin net. It’s the glove played by most Titleist pro golfers.
Under Armour
The Under Armour Spieth Tour is the company’s signature golf glove for its signature golfer: Jordan Spieth. It features Under Armour Fit technology that delivers a comfortable, zero-distraction fit.
A more affordable model compared to the Spieth Tour, the Under Armour Iso-Chill includes Under Armour Tour Cool fabric that the company claims can actually make you feel cooler.
TaylorMade
The TaylorMade Tour Preferred golf gloves are the company’s flagship gloves. They feature AAA Cabretta TM Soft Tech leather and engineered perforation holes for breathability.
The TaylorMade Tour Preferred Vivid golf gloves are the same model as the standard Tour Preferred, except the Vivid features multiple attractive colors to choose from, including this camouflage model.
Zero Friction
Zero Friction Cabretta Elite gloves feature the company’s unique Compression-Fit technology and are available in at least six different color designs.
The Storm golf gloves from Zero Friction are what they sound like: golf gloves designed to hold up in even the worst weather conditions on the golf course.
Women’s Golf Gloves
Ultimately, all golf gloves are gender neutral and can be worn by any golfer, including all the models listed above. However, as with other golf equipment, manufacturers do make women’s models for those golfers who wish to buy them.
Some examples of top women’s golf gloves are the TaylorMade Ladies Kalea, the TaylorMade Tour Preferred Ladies glove, the Callaway Women’s Tour Authentic, and the Titleist Players Flex Women’s glove.
Best Golf Gloves for the Winter
There are actually a large number designed for cold or rainy weather. The gloves are normally thicker with more insulation and dry more easily than standard models. This makes for more comfortable winter golf, but it also means the other performance aspects will not be optimal.
A few great options for when you find yourself playing in bad weather are the Under Armour Storm, Zero Friction Storm, TaylorMade Rain Control, FootJoy WinterSof, and the FootJoy RainGrip.
The product(s) featured in this article has been independently selected by GOLF.com’s editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn a small commission.
