Golf is a sport that requires precision and accuracy. Wearing the right golf glove can help improve your grip on the club and ultimately enhance your game. This guide will discuss the benefits of wearing golf gloves. It also covers how to use them, including what hand to wear your golf glove on, the best materials, proper sizing, how to select the best one for you, and how to clean them.

Golf gloves offer many benefits to players at all levels, from amateurs to professional golfers. First and foremost, golf gloves give you a secure grip on the club, which can help you achieve more accuracy and distance. They also help prevent blisters, calluses, and hand fatigue caused by gripping the club tightly for extended periods. Additionally, wearing a golf glove can help maintain the cleanliness and condition of your golf clubs, reducing wear and tear on their grips over time. Golf gloves also offer hand protection from the sun, which can harm the skin over time. Certain specialty gloves provide added warmth during colder seasons or moisture control for wet conditions. 

Golf gloves are designed only to be worn on one hand. Right-handed golfers should wear their glove on their left hand, while left-handed golfers should wear it on their right. This is because the lead hand applies most of the pressure on the club’s grip and controls the clubface throughout the swing. The lower hand acts as a stabilizer to support the lead hand. The lead hand requires excellent grip and control, and a golf glove is designed to provide this added support.

Golf gloves can be made from a variety of materials, including leather, synthetic materials, or a combination of both. Leather gloves offer a great grip and feel but can be more expensive and require more care than synthetic gloves. On the other hand, synthetic gloves are often more affordable and durable, but they may provide a different level of feel and grip than leather gloves.

100% Leather Gloves: Most experienced players and professional golfers prefer leather gloves for their excellent grip and comfort. Premium gloves are typically made with Cabretta leather. This natural material is breathable, durable, lightweight, and provides a soft, supple grip.

Synthetic Gloves: Golf gloves made of synthetic materials like nylon and polyester are durable and wick moisture to dry quickly, making them an excellent option for wet weather.

Hybrid Gloves: Some golf gloves are made of a blend of synthetic materials and natural leather. Some hybrid blend gloves have leather on the palm for softness and grip, and mesh in the fingers and knuckle area to provide extra flexibility.

Proper sizing is crucial when buying a golf glove. A glove that’s too small can restrict your movement and cause discomfort. On the other hand, a glove that’s too large can reduce your grip and may cause the glove to twist during your swing. You’ll need to measure your hand length and circumference to find the right size. Then, consult a sizing chart to determine the correct size based on your measurement. If a golf glove fits correctly, the tips of your fingers should reach the inside tips of the glove’s fingers without any stretching or extra material. The glove should fit snugly, like a second skin, without making you feel restricted. If you find excess material pinching upward when you lay your palm flat, your glove is likely too big.

Measure your hand length from the base of your palm (at the wrist) to the tip of your middle finger. Then, measure your hand’s circumference around your knuckles (excluding your thumb) while your palm is flat, and your fingers are touching. Make sure you’re buying the glove for the proper hand. Golf gloves are sold individually, and the sizes are for right or left hands. For example, a size RSM indicates a small glove for the right hand, while LMD means the glove is medium for the left hand. Remember, the “right” or “left” stands for the hand you’ll wear the glove on, not your dominant hand. Men’s and women’s sizes are usually slightly different, so you should check the manufacturer’s specifications. Kids’ sizes are listed with a Y for youth. For example, RYSM indicates a youth-size small glove for the right hand.

If you have short fingers, many gloves will have excess material at the end, making it much harder to get a feel for the club. Cadet gloves are the answer. A cadet glove has shorter fingers and a broader palm and back than a regular glove. Cadet gloves do not come in women’s sizes, but a woman could certainly try a men’s cadet glove. Cadet sizes list a C in the sizes, so RMDC indicates a medium-sized, cadet-style glove for the right hand.

As you consider the best glove for you, think about your game. Consider how often you play, the local climate, and the type of feel you like best.

Material: Choose a glove suitable for the conditions you typically play in. For example, leather can become stiff or lose grip in wet or humid conditions. If you regularly play in this environment, consider synthetic leather or a blend. If you often play in really tough elements, consider investing in a rain glove made of light synthetic materials.

Durability: Choose a glove that’s durable and will withstand frequent use.

Grip: Look for a glove that provides a secure grip and reduces slippage during your swing.

Feel: Make sure your glove provides a comfortable and natural feel.

Micro Perforations: Some gloves have tiny holes that provide ventilation to your hand while playing. These are helpful if you’re playing in hot weather or have sweaty hands.

Wrist Closures: The closure strap should come about 75% of the way across your hand so you have room to tighten or loosen your glove as needed.

If you’ll be playing in cold weather, consider a pair of golf mitts. These are worn on both hands and shaped like mittens. They help keep your hands warm and ready between swings. Golf mitts should be lightweight but warm. They should have a water-repellent exterior and a soft lining inside. They should be big enough to accommodate your hand, even with a golf glove. Some golfers even keep hand warmers inside them on extremely cold days.

Dirt from the course, wear marks from contact with your golf club, and sweat from your hands all contribute to wear and tear on your gloves. If you clean your gloves properly, you’ll ensure they maintain their fit and durability. 100% leather gloves need a bit more special care than gloves made of synthetic material or a blend. Most types of soap can damage leather. Unless you know exactly the material or the blend of your glove, it’s a good idea to err on the side of caution with the below approach, which is safe for 100% leather. Always check the manufacturer’s specifications before applying anything to your golf glove.

Use cold water. Pour cold water over your hands while wearing your glove. You can even mimic washing your hands with the glove on. Don’t use warm or hot water, which could cause your glove to shrink. Then, gently brush the glove with a towel. Make sure you don’t rub hard.

Air dry carefully. Don’t wring out your glove, which can distort its shape. Instead, remove excess water by putting the glove on your hand and alternating between making a fist and extending your hand. After you’ve removed the excess water, lay your glove flat or hang it to let it dry naturally. Never use added heat or put your golf gloves in the dryer.

Get that fit back. It’s a good idea to put your glove on before it’s fully dry so that it can mold to the shape of your hand after washing.

Condition leather gloves. Genuine leather gloves can benefit from conditioning, which maintains the soft leather and helps prevent cracking or tearing. After you’ve cleaned and dried your glove, apply leather conditioner with a microfiber cloth to the entire surface of the glove. 

• Don’t use your golf glove to wipe sweat from your face. Instead, bring a golf towel.
• Remember to occasionally remove your gloves between holes to air them out and let sweaty hands dry.
• Avoid getting sunscreen on your golf gloves. The chemicals in sunscreen can cause the leather to stiffen over time. 
• Resist the urge to stuff a damp glove into your golf bag immediately after finishing a golf round. A balled-up glove will take longer to dry and may lose its shape. Instead, hang your glove outside your bag to let it air out first.

Even with the best care, golf gloves won’t last forever. It may be time to replace your glove if you notice you can’t get it clean even after a few tries, or if you notice any tears or cracks. It’s also time for a new glove if it has stretched, become misshapen, or shrunk to the point where you can’t stretch it back out by wearing it.