Pros And Cons Of Wearing A Golf Glove – How Will It Affect Your Game

According to The PGA, golf was the first sport to use tight-fitting gloves for protection against blisters.

Research conducted by FootJoy discovered that the first golf glove was developed in 1898. But it was not until the 1950s that tour players began to use them frequently.

These days everyone from the pros to us amateurs don a glove when we take to the course. Although we gravitate to using one. How often do you think about the pros and cons of wearing a golf glove and how it will affect your game?

In this post, we will answer these questions, to help you decide if you need a glove or not.

 

Using Golf Gloves In My Experience

As a kid, I always wondered what the point of a glove was. What was more confusing was that players only used it on one hand.

I didn’t use a glove when I initially started playing. But as my grip strengthened and I began playing three to four times a week, blisters started to plague my thumbs, causing me to employ a glove.

I only use my glove for longer shots as I feel that I don’t grip the club as hard when chipping or putting. This results in less pressure on the skin and a reduced risk of bursting a blister.

 

Why Wear A Golf Glove?

Golfweek’s J.D. Chi suggests that the key reason for us wearing a golf glove is grip.

However, he adds that they also assist in combating blisters and keep your hand warm and dry.

 

The Main Advantages Of Wearing A Golf Glove

Blister Prevention

A glove serves as an excellent preventative to blisters and callouses.

But it won’t help your cause if you are already suffering from them. I have played several rounds without a glove, and my left thumb and palm regretted it every time.

Grip

When your grips are old, or you are playing in the rain, friction is reduced, and our grasp is weakened, putting us at risk of the club slipping in our hands.

A glove provides additional friction, helping to secure the club in our hand during our backswing and follow-through.

Dryness

If you play golf in a high rainfall area, a glove helps keep your hands dry and prevents your fingers from wrinkling and becoming numb.

Warmth

Added to the multiple uses of a golf glove is its ability to keep your hand warm.

We have all endured an early morning tee time, where there is frost on the grass and a chill in the air. A glove excels in this department, helping to keep your hand warm.

If wearing one glove doesn’t warm you up enough. You can be like European Tour pro Aaron Rai and wear two gloves.

Sun Protection

Those who suffer from intense sunburn can use a glove to protect your hand from the elements.

Sunburnt hands are not fun and may keep you off the course for a few days.

 

The Main Disadvantages Of Golf Gloves

Short Lifespan

Irv Warren course pro Andy Devine explains that when you perspire an oil comes off your hand that gets into the glove.

The glove absorbs that oil and it begins to erode the friction, water-resistant qualities, and material of the glove.

As a result, you need to purchase a new glove regularly.

Feel

Have you ever wondered why the pros don’t use a glove to putt?

The reason is that they are looking for optimal feel from their putter, and a glove reduces that. Personally, I don’t use a glove for my whole short game.

Sweat

I have played my fair share of golf in Arizona, the Middle East, and the Caribbean, and I always have the same problem. Wearing a glove causes my hand to sweat uncontrollably, causing significant discomfort.

Although some gloves are supposed to wick away moisture from your hand, I am not sure if they have been tested in 95-degree heat with eighty percent humidity.

 

Why Do Golfers Only Wear One Glove?

The reality is, you don’t only need to wear one glove.

If you prefer, you can use a glove on each hand, or not use one at all. It boils down to personal preference, as we explain in this article.

We use it on the hand that generates the most friction with the club during our swing.

 

What Hand Do They Wear It On?

According to Chi, we use a glove on our lead hand.

That is the hand at the top of your grip. Unless you use a reverse grip like Papwa Sewgolum, your lead hand will be the left. If you are a right-hander and the right for left-handers.

 

Do All Pro Golfers Wear A Glove?

No, not all Pro golfers wear a glove.

It comes down to their personal preference and the strength of their hands to withstand blisters and callouses.

 

Which Pros Don’t Wear A Glove?

Golf Monthly’s  Elliot Heath explains that contrary to his name.

Lucas Glover does not don a glove on the course. And neither does the legendry Fred Couples.

 

Should Beginners And High Handicappers Wear A Glove?

Speaking from experience and much hand pain, I firmly recommend that beginners and high handicappers wear a glove.

Your leading hand will thank you, and you won’t have skin like leather.

 

Should You Wear Golf Gloves On Both Hands?

As is the case with wearing a glove on one hand, it comes down to personal preference.

In this video, Rai explains why he wears two gloves. Other pros find that wearing two gloves reduces the feel you have of your club.

 

Should You Wear Gloves While Chipping?

When it comes to your short game, you want to optimize the feel of your club.

It helps with the weight of your chips and putts to ensure precision around the green. When I wear a glove, I don’t have the feel and control I have without a glove.

However, if it is raining and I feel I am not generating enough friction on the grip, I may use a glove to chip.

 

Do Pros Wear A Glove While Chipping?

It depends on the preference of a pro, but most of them will want to maximize the feel and grip on shots around the green.

Golf.com’s Luke Kerr-Dineen writes that Tiger Woods uses a glove for shots that require a fuller swing.

Tiger says that for those shots, he wants speed and traction. However, he forgoes the glove on chips, flop shots, and putts because he desires optimal feel.

 

Bionic StableGrip Golf Glove

Bionic gloves employed the services of a hand specialist to deliver optimal grip and performance.

Bionic’s patented pad technology levels out the surface of the glove, enhancing your grip on the club.

Furthermore, the glove contains a pre-rotated tapered finger design that embraces the shape of your fingers and the contours of your hand.

Finally, the addition of terrycloth micro pads helps to wick moisture away from your hand to keep it dry on warm days out.

Pros

• Provides optimal grip over your club
• Comfortable closure of the hand
• Wicks moisture away
• Velcro strap to conveniently fasten and remove the glove
• Optimal airflow

Cons

• The thick leather that provides a second-skin sensation reduces the feel of your club, which is not suitable for short game shots.

Overall Score: 96/100

Check Out More Reviews Here:

 

Under Armour Men’s UA Iso-Chill Golf Gloves

Under Armour’s Iso-Chill golf gloves are designed to deliver comfortability and optimal grip.

Their trademark Tour Cool fabric wicks sweat away from your hand to keep it cool during your swing, and the micro-perforations increase airflow.

Pros

• Optimal airflow
• Removes heat from your skin to ensure optimal breathability
• Maximum comfort
• Dries fast
• Premium grip system delivers ultimate control

Cons

• Short lifespan
• The leather may result in the glove being too thick for some golfers.

Overall Score: 95/100

Check Out More Reviews Here:

 

FootJoy Men’s WeatherSof Golf Gloves

The WeatherSof golf gloves from Footjoy come in a pack of two and offer an advanced level of durability that protects high-pressure point areas around the thumb and the palm.

Furthermore, the company’s proprietary ComforTab enables you to conveniently adjust the glove for a secure fit, while the breathable mesh covering the knuckles promotes breathability.

Pros

• Excellent durability
• Wide variety of sizes for the perfect fit
• Optimal traction
• Breathable
• Comfortable
• Affordable

Cons

• An entry-level glove that will not last as long as other products
• Only available in white

Overall Score: 94/100

Check Out More Reviews Here:

Conclusion

While golf gloves only began to grow in popularity in the 1950s, they have progressed to become a standard feature on the golf course.

Our review on the pros and cons of wearing a golf glove has revealed that it delivers optimal grip and prevents blisters. But, it reduces the feel you have of a club.

As a result, a glove makes sense when you desire optimal traction and speed on long shots. However, around the greens, it is worth going gloveless. The reason is that you enjoy more feel, which helps you achieve better distance control on your short game shots.

The next time you are in the market for a glove, I recommend considering the Bionic StableGrip golf glove.