Luke is an avid weekend-warrior golfer from the East Coast who plays golf more than he cares to admit.
When playing golf, one of the most essential pieces of equipment is the golf glove. However, whether you’ve played golf yourself or watched it on television, you may be wondering why some players only wear one glove.
For enhanced grip, wearing two gloves sounds like the better option. However, this isn’t always the case.
With this in mind, this article will explore the reasons behind wearing only one glove when playing golf and why it may be better than wearing two.
Let’s get straight into it!
Answer: Which Hand Should You Wear Your Glove On?
If you’re looking to wear your glove on one hand as opposed to two, then the answer to which hand to wear your glove on is simple.
For right-handed people, you should wear the glove on the left hand. For left-handed people, you should wear it on your right. Those new to the sport may not even know which hand they are until they first take the club and give it a swing.
Here, if you’re unsure which hand to use, you’ll find out pretty quickly. If your club is feeling awkward on one hand, switch to the other hand. It should feel more comfortable and convenient, allowing you to hit powerful swings.
If you’re right-handed, then position yourself with the outer soles of your left shoe pointing towards the target. They then rotate right when performing an upswing, and left for a downswing.
The hand closest to the body is the left hand for right-handed players, therefore, this is the hand with the glove.
For left-handed players, their steps are the same but opposite. After positioning themselves, they swing left to create an upswing and right for a downswing. Here, the hand closest to the body is the right hand, therefore, this one is wearing the glove.
Why Are Gloves Worn While Playing Golf?
Sometimes, wearing a glove can be down to personal preference, there are no golf rules or etiquette that require you to wear one.
In fact, some players prefer to play without gloves, completely – and still make perfect swings without needing them.
Other players claim that wearing gloves leaves them with blistered hands, therefore, they prefer putting without them.
Moreover, there are also players who prefer to play with gloves on both hands. These players, too, perform great on the green.
However, the most common practice you will find is players wearing one glove on a specific hand. Below, we have outlined some reasons for this.
- They also protect your hands from wear and tear, especially for beginners and during practice sessions. Those practicing for professional tournaments will typically have to play in a range of different weather conditions at different ranges, leading to calluses on the hands. Sometimes these can be painful and annoying, irritating even the best players. Therefore, gloves prevent this from happening.
- The main reason players choose to wear gloves is for the additional friction that improves the grip on the golf club. While wearing gloves won’t transform you into the best player on the pitch, what it does is prevent the club from slipping out of your hands, especially if you’re sweating or during rainy conditions.
- Some senior golfers tend to suffer from arthritis, therefore, gloves help them endure and minimize the pain that is brought by this illness.
- When holding a grip, the weaker hand tends to do most of the work. Thus, this is the hand wearing the glove.
- Since golf is an all-season game, sometimes the weather conditions make it impossible to play. Gloves help to keep your hands warm during the winter.
What Gloves Should You Wear In Each Condition?
In fair and fine weather conditions, you may opt to wear something like the premium Cabretta leather, or a similar style golf glove.
Many manufacturers, such as TaylorMade, Callaway, and Ping, produce the kind of soft leather gloves that are typically the first choice for Tour players and amateur golfers. Moreover, you can find a wide variety at FootJoy, too.
Opting for leather gloves not only provides you with optimum comfort but also ensures a tacky grip on the golf club.
That being said, leather gloves tend not to be the most durable and are unlikely to withstand the wettest conditions. However, for sunny conditions, they are great for delivering feedback and feel through swings and shorter shots.
During changeable weather conditions, you may opt for something like an all-weather synthetic glove.
Generally, these are constructed with a more durable fabric that is typically longer lasting and can stand up against wetter conditions than its leather counterpart.
However, when the rain really starts to come down, you may want to turn your attention to the best rain golf gloves available on the market.
Rain golf gloves are usually designed with wet conditions in mind, providing you with more necessary grip on the golf club.
In addition to allowing you to hold onto the golf club, they will also allow you to score all your hole-in-one’s even when the heavens begin to open. You can find many rain gloves coming in pairs.
This is simply due to the fact that when worn on both hands they are more effective and comfortable, especially in a downpour.
These are similar to winter gloves, allowing you to keep your hands warm while playing to the best ability during the winter months.
Final Thoughts…
Whether you’re an avid golfer or prefer to watch the sport, you may be wondering why some players only wear one glove on their hands, is there a reason behind this?
The main reason for this is grip. However, it generally comes down to personal preference, what works for one person may not work for another.
Hopefully, this guide has informed you about everything you need to know about golf gloves.
