Wearing a golf glove is not a requirement to play the game, but wearing one sure can making playing golf less wearing on your arm and hand.
There are pro players like “Mr Skins”, Fred Couples, who is a prime example of a professional who does not wear a glove.
However, they are rare, however, and teaching pros will always recommend the use of a glove.
Why?
It’s pretty obvious: A golf glove helps maintain a secure hold on the golf club.
The human hand simply is not as tacky as a golf glove. The golf glove helps golfer when their hands sweat, or when the grips are wet.
A golf glove will provide a more secure grip on the club.
But does that mean you must wear a golf glove? No.
Golf gloves help golfers keep a good grip on the golf club without having to squeeze too tightly which produces tension in the hands, wrists and forearms. Needless to say, in golf, tension is bad.
Many manufacturers and online retailer websites offer advice for determining your proper golf glove size; for example, see Nike’s sizing guide or Footjoy’s sizing guide.
Which Hand?
The vast majority of golfers wear one glove. However, there are a few who wear one on both hands, like Tommy “Two Gloves” Gainey.
Which Hand Does the Glove Go On?
The glove is worn on your lead hand — that is, the hand that leads the golf club through your swing.
Which hand is the lead hand?
Your lead hand is the hand you place highest on the golf club (closest to the butt end of the grip), the hand that is in front in your downswing into the golf ball. Or, to be more specific
- the lead hand for a right-handed golfer is the left hand
- the lead hand for a left-handed golfer is the right hand.
Wear Golf Glove for All Shots?
If you decide to wear a glove (or even two, you rebel), should you wear it for all the strokes you play — for every shot during your round?
Some golfers do that, but most golfers, virtually all pro golfers, wear the glove only on swings with woods, hybrids, irons and wedges.
Most of the time, when the golfer reaches the green, the glove comes off.
Putting is such a feel stroke, a very, very slow swing compared to most other golf swings, that having that tactile sensation of skin-on-putter-grip provides more feedback on your putt.
There’s also no chance of the putter flying out of your hands during the much more gentle putting stroke (or if there is, you’re doing something very wrong!).
So here’s the advice: Wear a Glove and keep it on. If you turn Pro, then maybe you take it off..I’m sure your glove sponsor would love it hanging out of your back pocket so the TV cameras see it.
Let me know how I can help!!
