Golf gloves are a vital part of the equation for golfing well. If you have ever played with a ripped or extremely worn glove, you know the pain of hitting a shot 20-30 yards offline because of the club slipping in your hand during the swing. That’s 1 of the many reasons it is crucial to play with a high quality golf glove that is extremely durable.
The golf glove provides an enhanced grip and feeling on the club as well as protect against blisters and callouses. It acts as a second skin and will help you shoot a better score, keeping your club from slipping throughout the swing in all conditions.
There are limitless options out there for golf gloves as far as materials, sizes, and types of golf gloves. Let us explain all the best options for golf gloves for every condition or circumstance. We also address commonly asked questions you may have in this comprehensive guide.
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Best Premium Golf Glove- Titleist Players
What We Liked:
– Feels like a second skin, the feel on the golf grip is unmatched
Pros:
– Premium Leather for enhanced grip and feel
– Quality fit, precisely placed seems for maximum comfort
Cons:
– Expensive
– Glove is thin, will have to replace more often
– Not Waterproof
Best Golf Glove under $10- FootJoy WeatherSof
What We Liked:
– We believe it is the best value glove on the market
Pros:
– Great price at under $10 per glove.
– Cabretta Leather thumb & palm for max performance (rest of glove is synthetic)
Cons:
– Sizing seems to run small
– Feel is a notch below premium cabretta leather gloves
Best Golf Glove under $20- Titleist Perma-Soft
What We Liked:
– Premium Cabretta Leather for elite feel at a fraction of the price.
Pros:
– Premium Cabretta leather for great feel and performance
– Quality fit with precise stitching for great comfort
Cons:
– Cabretta Leather is thin, will wear out faster than synthetic gloves
– Palm of glove gets discolored easily
Best Golf Glove for Sweaty Hands- Under Armour Medal
What We Liked:
– Quality synthetic glove with unmatched moisture wicking technology
Pros:
– Synthetic Materials are breathable and fast drying for sweaty hands.
– Textured palm for enhanced grip throughout the swing.
Cons:
– Not as good as feel as cabretta leather
-Dual toned color not the most stylish
Best Winter Golf Glove- FootJoy WinterSof Pair
What We Liked:
– Kept hands warm without sacrificing feel in cold conditions
Pros:
– Glove has Weather-Shield Foam (TM) that keeps hands warm in cold, wind, and rain
– Extended Knit Cuff tucks into jacket sleeve to retain heat and keep moisture out
Cons:
– Does not have a velcro strap, may be loose on golfers that are in between sizes
– Only available in black
Best Rain Golf Glove- FootJoy RainGrip Pair
What We Liked:
– Kept hands dry and gave us confidence in our grip in the rain
Pros:
– Great feel due to patented QuikDry II material
– Grip increased as the club & glove got wetter.
– Great for hot and humid conditions
Cons:
– Gloves have little insulation, hands will get cold easily
– Some golfers complained about getting small blisters on inside of the palm
Table of Contents
How We Picked And Tested
We tested each glove independently with hundreds of swings, from drivers to the delicate pitch shots around the green. We also scoured through thousands of reviews on Amazon, Rock Bottom Golf, Golf Galaxy, manufacturers website, etc. to help further validate our ratings.
Below are the top 5 most important factors we considered when ranking golf gloves.
Performance
– How does it perform in all conditions a golfer may face in a round of golf? Does it give you the confidence to swing freely to go hunting for that tucked pin? Does it fit snugly and not slip at all during the swing? Performance is the most important factor for a golf glove in our rankings.
Comfort
– Does it feel like a second skin? Do you even notice that you have a glove on or is it pulling at your palm or fingertips? We value comfort very highly because you need to be able to swing confidently and not think about the glove.
Price
– Is the glove priced fairly compared to the quality of the glove? We understand everyone has different price points and do extensive research to ensure that our recommendations are great value golf gloves.
Durability
– We research and validate that these gloves are of good quality and will last as long as expected. No one has the time or money to continuously buy golf gloves, we value gloves that are made of high quality materials that last all conditions golfers will face (sweat, rain, mud/dirt, etc.)
Style
– A very minor ranking factor, but to some golfers it greatly matters how the golf glove looks. No one wants an extremely ugly looking glove, and a sharp looking glove will give you confidence throughout the round. Look good, feel good, play good.
Best Premium Golf Glove- Titelist Players Glove
It’s Best For: Low Handicapper Who Values Performance and Comfort Over Durability
Titelist Players glove Review
Titelist Players Golf Glove = Highest Quality Glove on the market
There’s a reason it has 4.8/5 stars on Amazon and 4.8/5 stars on Global Golf. If you want the glove that tour pros and the best amateurs trust, get a Titelist Players Glove. Just be aware it is expensive and will need replaced more than normal gloves.
Best Golf Glove under $10 – Footjoy WeatherSof
It’s Best For: Serious Golfer Who Wants the Best Value Golf Glove
Footjoy weathersof Glove review
FootJoy WeatherSof = Best Value Golf Glove on the Market
The feel and comfort of the WeatherSof glove are identical to its big brother the StaSof glove. I used the StaSof glove during my competitive years of high school golf compared to now using the WeatherSof glove for the past 5+ years, I have not noticed any dropoff in performance or durability.
The glove has exceptional durability for the price.
I golf about 18 holes a week from April- September in the Midwest and usually get a pair of these gloves to last a full season and sometimes up to a season in a half!
If you want the best value glove on the market, go get the WeatherSof Glove today!
Best Golf Glove under $20 – Titelist Perma-Soft
It’s Best For: Low Handicapper Wanting Premium Cabretta Leather at a Reasonable Price
Titleist Perma-soft Men’s glove review
Titleist Perma-Soft = Tour Validated Performance at a Great Price!
The Titleist Perma-Soft Men’s Glove gives you tour performance at a discounted price. There’s a reason why Titleist is the most trusted glove among top players like Justin Thomas and Will Zalatoris.
The comfort and performance of this glove makes you feel like a tour pro, except for a fraction of the cost!
This glove is one of the more comfortable ones on the market in my opinion. One of the longer lasting ones as well for a premium cabretta leather.
If you’re looking for a high quality glove under $20, this is the glove to get!
Best Golf Glove For Sweaty Hands – Under Armour Medal
It’s Best For: Golfer who Fights Sweaty Hands or who Plays in Hot, Humid Conditions
Under Armour Medal Golf Glove
Under Armour Medal Glove = Best Glove for Hot, Humid Conditions
The Under Armour Mens Medal Glove is a great glove that delivers amazing feel and comfort while being extremely lightweight for maximum breathability. It is the best glove on the market for hot, sweaty hands and I would recommend buying to avoid the hassle of constantly having to wipe your hands off on towels or switching gloves midround due to moisture.
For $12, it is one of the cheaper synthetic gloves on the market and a great deal for those struggling with sweaty hands!
Best Winter Golf Glove – FootJoy WinterSof Pair
It’s Best For: Golfer Who Wants Superior Grip While Keeping Hands Warm in Freezing Conditions
Footjoy WinterSof Pair
FootJoy WinterSof Gloves = Best Performing Winter Gloves
For those brave enough to golf in the cold conditions of winter and fall, look no further than the FootJoy WinterSof Gloves! The industry leading winter glove provides warmth without sacrificing feel!
These gloves have the best feel of all winter gloves, mainly due to the thin profile of the glove. This is all thanks to patented Weather-Shield Foam technology and the extended cuff that allows the glove to remain thin while still keeping your hands warm.
If you are looking to brave the cold weather to get some golf in, I highly recommend wearing FootJoy WinterSof Gloves to keep your hands warm and your scores low!
Best rain Golf Glove – FootJoy RainGrip Pair
It’s Best For: Golfer Who Wants Superior Grip While Keeping Dry in Wet Conditions
Footjoy Raingrip Pair
FootJoy RainSof Gloves = Best Waterproof Gloves
FootJoy RainSof gloves will turn that miserable rain soaked round into a confidence boosting low round real quick. The glove has superior grip with the grip only getting tackier the more wet the club and glove get.
If you are looking for extreme confidence in your game during the wettest conditions, do yourself a favor and buy a pair of FootJoy RainSof gloves.
golf glove faqs
Which hand do you wear a golf glove on?
This may seem fairly obvious to seasoned golfers, but it is a great question for new golfers just starting out.
You wear the golf glove on your lead hand which is the highest on the golf grip. For right-handed golfers, this is the left hand. Left-handed golfers this is the right hand.
The reasoning behind this is the top hand will have the most contact surface with the club. This makes it crucial to maintain a consistent grip with the club throughout the swing, which is why golfers have trusted golf gloves for 100+ years.
Golf glove packaging will say “Right” or “R” and it will actually be a left-handed glove, and vice versa. So new golfers will want to be aware of this and try the glove on before buying it to see if it is a good fit.
Is there any etiquette for Golf Gloves?
A quick summary from our golf glove etiquette guide is you should never take the golf glove off or put it on while someone is hitting the golf ball or in their pre-shot routine. The velcro on the glove is loud and can startle someone enough to make them restart their preshot routine or hit a wayward shot.
For wearing a golf glove, you can wear it whenever you want. Most golfers take it only off for putting, golfers such as Tiger will take them off for putting and short game shots around the green, and Jack Nicklaus kept his glove on for every shot.
Golf Gloves Without a Seam in the Thumb
I did extensive research on the internet looking at hundreds of gloves and asked around and I could not find any golf gloves that do not have a seam in the thumb. It would be helpful, as I know a few golf buddies who claim the seam in thumb is uncomfortable and throws them off their game.
Another reason is because some golfers will wear out the golf glove first at the thumb seam due to too tight of grip pressure on the glove hand. This leads to friction and twisting of the golf glove throughout the swing.
I’ve also heard of bowlers using a golf glove for their bowling hand and having issues ripping gloves at the thumb seam due to their thumb sticking in the bowling ball and messing up their release.
Can you bowl with a golf glove on?
Yes! According to USBC, there are no restrictions on wearing a golf glove while bowling. Hall of Fame bowler Pete Weber uses a FootJoy WeatherSof glove with the thumb cut out.
Reasons to wear a Golf Glove
The main reason people wear a golf glove is to maintain a consistent grip on the club throughout the swing.
Sweaty hands could cause the club to slip or slightly move in your downswing causing a wayward shot. Try to keep your hands as dry as possible on a hot day and the glove will provide a barrier between your sweaty hands and the club.
Another common reason to wear a golf glove is to prevent blisters and callouses.
Blisters often happen after long practice sessions or 18+ holes in one day because of the club rubbing against your skin for hundreds of swings.
Golf Gloves with Wrist Support for Arthritic Wrists and Hands
Golf can be very painful for people with arthritis.
The pain of gripping and swinging a club may be too much to bear and cause people to quit the game they have grown to love over the years.
Thanks to modern technology and research, there are golf gloves for wrist support and arthritic hands such as the Bionic ReliefGrip and the TheraTec Glove to allow people to play the game they love.
Golf Gloves to Wear with a Watch
Some golfers have issues with their glove rubbing against their watch, accidentally pressing buttons or just being a plain annoyance.
Luckliy, there are some low profile gloves to wear with watches such as the Titelist Players Glove and the Footjoy WeatherSof.
Wearing these gloves will eliminate the pain of accidentally changing holes on your app or the watch rubbing against your glove on every swing.
What size of golf glove do you need?
For starters, the ideal fit for a golf glove should be snug on the palm and fingertips, but not so snug that it feels constricting.
It should feel like an extension of your skin, you should be able to clench your fist and stretch your fingers out without any restrictions from the glove.
Unless you have ordered the same brand and size before, it would be smart to try it on first before buying.
Golf Glove Size Chart
Below is a common size chart for most glove manufacturers.
You want to measure the circumference around your knuckles as well as the first crease on your wrist to the end of your longest finger.
Regular vs. Cadet Golf Gloves
The difference between a Cadet glove and a Regular Glove is that the Cadet has a wider palm and slightly shorter fingers than a Regular glove.
You will want to go to a local clubhouse or a sporting goods store to try on and verify if a Cadet glove would be a good fit for you.
What are Golf Gloves made of?
The three common materials for golf gloves are Cabretta leather, synthetic material, and a hybrid mix of synthetic and Cabretta leather.
Cabretta leather is more breathable and offers more cushion than a synthetic glove, but leather gloves are generally more expensive than synthetic gloves.
Many glove manufacturers put Cabretta leather on the inside of the hand while making the backside of the hand a synthetic material to optimize performance while keeping production cost down.
Most golf professionals use a 100% cabretta leather glove because of its superior performance and feel compared to a synthetic glove.
The average golfer will not benefit enough or may not even notice the enhanced feel and grip to pay the extra $15-$20 per glove.
If you have any sort of allergic reaction to golf gloves, check out our article for the best allergy-free golf gloves. You should also check out the best allergy free golf grips as well if you are suffering from an allergic reaction.
Different types of golf gloves?
A typical golf glove made up of cabretta leather or synthetic material that is for your everyday weather conditions. There are also gloves made specifically for winter weather and rainy weather.
Winter gloves are often thicker and made to retain heat, so you sacrifice some feel and performance in order to keep your hands warm.
Winter gloves are sold in pairs and may be a slightly different size compared to your normal glove due to the increased padding and layers.
You can also buy golf mitts which are essentially large mittens to wear in between shots to keep your hands as warm as possible.
Rain gloves often are made of materials that the fibers will increase the friction between the glove and the club as they are introduced to moisture.
When to take golf glove off
The most common times to not wear a golf glove are when you are putting, it is raining, or it is extremely hot and/or humid.
Most golfers (myself included) prefer to putt with the glove off because it gives you a better sense of feel between your hands and the putter. A light grip is preferable with the putter, so a glove is not necessary and may hinder your feel on putts.
When it is very hot out or raining, you will want to keep your glove in your pocket or golf bag in between swings to prevent it from getting moisture on and in it.
Moisture on and in the golf glove will make it harder to grip the club. I have found bringing an extra towel and an extra golf glove or two does wonders on rainy days where it may be impossible to keep yourself and the golf glove dry.
how to make golf gloves last longer
Golf gloves can get expensive if not properly cared for and you have to replace them every 2-4 weeks, depending on how often you play.
If you are looking to save a few bucks, there are several great golf glove alternatives such as taping up fingers, using spray to enhance grip, and using corded grips.
Here are a few tips on how to maximize the life of your golf glove.
- Hit range balls with an old glove
- Cycle between 2-3 golf gloves if getting sweaty or wet
- Take off your glove between shots
- You can make your glove last longer by quickly cleaning your golf glove at home or on the course.
- Put glove away neatly after round (not all crumpled up)
When to replace a golf glove
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 this, such as amount of golf played, care of the glove, how often the glove gets wet from sweat or rain, how often it gets washed, etc.
My piece of advice is to cycle through 2-3 gloves at a time, I’ll usually make 2 golf gloves last about a season and a half to two seasons, always making sure to take care of the golf glove using the advice above.
The answer for most golfers is you want to try and maximize the life out of the golf glove and play it until the material is about to wear away completely.
In my broke college days I have golfed with small holes in my glove for a month or 2 and didn’t really notice a drop in performance, so it all depends on personal preference.
Conclusion
There’s a complete guide on all of the factors you need to consider to buy your next golf glove. You will need to make sure the glove is a good fit, you get the right material of golf glove for your game, and you take good care of it to maximize the life of the glove.
Whether you are a beginner or a club champ, a golf glove is a huge part of helping you shoot lower scores.
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