This answer depends on the golfer and how often they want to pay for new gloves. Some golfers will replace their glove at the first sign of any wear on the palm or fingers while other golfers will play with gloves that have dime-sized holes.
Most golfers have their golf glove last anywhere from 15-40 rounds.
There are many variables that go into how long a golf glove lasts, such as the amount of golf played, care of the glove, how often the glove gets wet from sweat or rain, how often it gets washed, etc.
How to Maximize the life of a Golf Glove:
To maximize the life of the glove, do these 2 simple steps after every round of golf:
- Air the golf glove out and make sure it is completely dry before putting back into your bag.
- (Optional) Wash the glove if it is dirty, here is how to quickly clean a golf glove.
- Put the golf glove in your bag completely flat and not crumpled up
- Some people swear by putting it in a ziploc bag or using a glove holder. This is a waste of time and money, so I would not recommend it.
To get the most life out of your golf glove, I do the following with my golf gloves.
Cycle through 2-3 gloves at a time.
A rotation of golf gloves really helps slow down the wear of your gloves and it is crucial to have multiple gloves on rainy or extremely hot days to help ensure maximum grip on the club.
If you are swinging with moisture on the glove, the club will slip throughout the swing causing excess wear on the glove.
This is why it is ideal to have a rotation of gloves for hot, humid days and rain gloves for the days you have to play in the elements.
Buy high-quality golf gloves.
This doesn’t mean the most expensive Titelist or Footjoy glove. There are great values to be had on quality gloves for half the price of the pros’ gloves.
The old saying, “You get what you pay for” rings true with golf gloves. The cheapest gloves are made of thinner, low quality materials and often wear out or rip at the seams after 5-10 rounds.
My personal preference is the FootJoy StaSof. At around $20-$25 for a 2 pack, I can make Footjoy StaSof gloves last between 1-2 seasons. FootJoy has been #1 glove in golf for years, so you know they will deliver a high-quality glove at a great price!
Make sure your grips are in good shape.
Old, worn down grips will cause your grip on the club to slip throughout the swing.
This causes excess friction and will lead to the glove wearing down and eventually tearing.
New grips will not only prolong your golf glove life, you will get more accuracy and distance out of every club.
Wear rain gloves when playing in the rain
This may seem obvious, but the majority of golfers do not own rain gloves or even golf while it is raining.
Rain golf gloves are specifically made to increase the grip between the club and the glove when they get wet.
Regular golf gloves do not do this and actually get a little slicker when wet.
This causes the club to slip and leads to premature wear of the glove as well as decreased accuracy and distance.
Never throw your glove in your bag crumpled up and/or wet.
Never take your sweaty or wet glove off immediately after a round and throw it in the golf bag. I was guilty of this until sometime in high school when I had to start paying for my own golf gloves.
This damages the leather, the glove will lose its tackiness, and it will significantly shorten the life of your golf glove.
Pay attention to the wear spots on your golf glove(s).
If you consistently get thin spots and eventually small holes on the padded palm area, the butt of the club is twisting and rubbing during your swing.
This causes friction between the glove and the club, wearing down the material until a hole forms.
Golf.com has a great article on how to fix your grip to increase your golf glove life.
Instead of laying the club in the palm of your hand, try to keep the club more in your fingers.
Laying the club in your palm not only wears golf gloves out quicker but restricts your wrist from naturally hinging, costing you speed and power.
You will want it to sit diagonally across your fingers and have the tips of your fingers lightly touching your palm.
The more the club sits in the fingers, the less the glove wears out and the easier it is for your wrist to naturally hinge for maximum speed and power.
Buy a proper fitting golf glove
A proper fitting golf glove will have a snug fit, yet comfortable.
It should feel like an extension of your skin, tight across your fingers and palm with no loose material.
The tab should be about 75% across the velco strap, allowing for adjustment during the round.
Too tight of a fit is highly uncomfortable and could cut off blood circulation to the hand.
Too loose of a fit causes the club to slip in the swing and premature wear of the glove leading to a shorter glove life. Golf glove fitting is essential to maximizing the life of your golf glove.
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