Why Tiger Woods doesn’t use a glove while chipping (but does in the bunker)

1. Glove: Full Shots, Pitching, Bunkers

It’s pretty simple, really. On shots that require a bigger swing, Tiger puts the glove on. As he says in the video above:

“I want the traction and the speed,” Tiger says.

A glove is a pretty easy way to protect your hand from getting chewed up, and for giving yourself a little extra grip, which you’ll need when the club is moving faster.

2. No Glove: Chipping, Putting, Flop Shots

But Tiger doesn’t go glove-on all the way to the green: He forgoes the glove on chip shots, putts, and flop shots. He likes that little extra feel he gets with a glove-less connection to the golf club on those finesse shots. It’s a little interesting that he doesn’t use a glove on flop shots, despite it being a bigger, faster swing, but it’s still a finesse shot, so he’d rather opt for the extra feel.