Fit is everything when it comes to golf gloves. The glove on your lead hand is your closest point of contact with the club. If it doesn't fit right, it can throw off your grip and your swing before you even take the club back.
A prominent golf accessories company estimates that half of all golfers wear a glove that doesn't fit properly, most commonly one that's too big. When the glove is oversized, the hand can shift inside it during the swing, which affects both feel and control.
Here's simple, practical guidance on golf glove fit and sizing.
What a Proper Fit Looks Like
Like a second skin
A golf glove should fit snugly across the palm and through the fingers, with no loose or bunched material anywhere.
Snug at the fingertips
There should be no extra material at the tips of your fingers. If there is, the glove is too big. Try a smaller size, or a cadet glove if you have a wide palm with shorter fingers.
A size for every hand
Golf gloves for men and women run from small to XXL, with a similar range in cadet sizing. As with anything you wear, there's no substitute for trying it on, so slip on a few sizes and go with the one that feels like a second skin.
Between sizes? Go with the smaller glove. And if you're a man, don't rule out a women's glove if it fits better (some male tour players do exactly that).
Sizing Tips
- Don't guess. Try on a few sizes to find a snug fit that helps you perform your best.
- Between two sizes? Start with the smaller glove.
- Fingers swell during a round? Consider a cadet golf glove.
- Check your size periodically. The start of each season is a good habit, since hands change.
Playing in Wet or Cold Conditions
Weather changes the equation. In cold or wet conditions, a dedicated winter glove or rain glove does double duty, keeping your grip secure while also keeping your hands warm and dry.
Golf Glove Care
- Air-dry your glove after every round. Take it out of the bag rather than leaving it zipped up.
- Remove your glove between shots during the round to help it stay drier.
- Carry more than one glove so you can swap to a dry one if the weather turns, or on humid days.
- Store gloves in an airtight bag between rounds to help the leather stay supple longer.
Fit right, and the rest of your grip takes care of itself. Have a glove-fitting tip of your own? We'd love to hear it.