The Best Golf Sunglasses — A Complete Guide

There are many equipment decisions a golfer needs to make, and they do not all relate to clubs. One accessory many players could give some thought to is sunglasses.

The best golf sunglasses protect your eyes from harmful UV rays and painful glare. You can more easily see your shot and the lie of your golf ball. All of this could really help your enjoyment of the sport.

But before we get into our golf sunglasses review, let’s first learn a little about golfing sunglasses.

How We Test Golf Sunglasses

After reading reviews online of the top-rated golf sunglasses on the market, we took members of our team out for a round of golf wearing the top picks, and we rated them against the following criteria:

Photochromic Lenses

A round of golf takes a few hours to complete, and the light conditions vary during the game’s duration. Photochromic lenses vary tint levels based on light intensity. Bright light will darken the tint, while the tint lessens when the light is fading.

• Advantages – Photochromic lenses are the best golf glasses for golfers with light-sensitive eyes. They will seamlessly adjust to the light conditions for a clear view by reducing glare, aiding you in reading greens better. Most photochromic lenses come standard with some level of UV protection.

• Disadvantages – Photochromic lenses often offer less UV protection than polarized lenses. Hence, they’re not the best golf lenses in terms of protection and may offer too much optical clarity for golfers that are not used to them.

When selecting sunglasses based on the UV protection rating, consider that most eye doctors agree that your sunglasses should be rated to 99-100% for all UVA and UVB rays.

Appearance

Although the main purpose of your sunglasses is to protect your eyes and minimize glare, you still want to look great when wearing them.

Faces vary in shape and size, and so will the style of the sunglasses that suit your face the best. We will describe a few pointers to look out for when assessing the appearance of sunglasses.

The Design

Manufacturers offer various designs to suit almost any shape and size. So there should be no reason for you not to find a pair of sunglasses that will make you look great.

Many people use prescription sunglasses, and the good news is that many manufacturers offer golf sunglasses with prescription lenses as well.

Sporty design sunglasses could look awesome on the golf course but not appear at their best when worn away from a sporting event. And more traditional-looking sunglasses are suitable for everyday use but may not have all the functionality required for golf.

Frame

Lightweight plastic frames are extremely popular as they are not susceptible to elevated temperatures. They also never become uncomfortable during your golf games due to weight. High-quality plastic frames are more durable than metal frames and less likely to get damaged when dropped.

Lens Quality

There are different tints of lenses available.

High-quality lenses are an essential part of your sunglasses as this is the part that will provide you with clarity of vision on the fairways as well as the greens. There are cheap lenses available from various convenience stores that will protect you against UVA and UVB rays but do not provide the view required for golf.

High-quality lenses will provide you with an in-depth perception crucial to reading the course and making good contact with the golf ball.

The Lens

Many golf sunglasses manufacturers provide multiple interchangeable lens types offering you a selection of tints and colors.

Educate yourself to be aware of the various lenses that are most suitable for the various weather conditions. You may have to change your lenses accordingly.

Material

Most lenses are manufactured using polycarbonate as it is lightweight and weighs approximately a third of a glass lens. Another benefit is that polycarbonate material is more durable and scratch-resistant than glass.

Durability

Sunglasses are subjected to prolonged periods of wear and many removals from your face, so they must be durable enough to cater to all the handling.

Comfort

Sunglasses must fit perfectly on your nose and around your ears to prevent them from becoming a burden when worn for prolonged periods. Ensure that they fit snugly enough to stay attached while swinging the club without pressing too hard against pressure points.

Resistance

Most sunglasses have a hydrophobic coating in the lens or the frame, which makes them water-resistant to a good extent. Over and above being water-resistant, you would want them to be scratch and impact-resistant.

Accessories

To protect your investment, the best glasses for golf should feature a case so you can store them when not in use. Sunglasses that are specifically used for your golf game should ideally have a hard or semi-hard case for storage in your bag, together with other accessories.

Another important accessory is a soft microfiber cloth to keep the lenses clean without causing damage or scratches.

Investigate the replacement policies for lenses and frames, warranty conditions, and period.

Read Next: Common Problems New Golfers Have

Best Golf Sunglasses – The Reviews

1. Oakley Flak 2.0 XL Sunglasses — Best Overall

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Pros:

• Variety of frame and lens colors
• The lens technology is specifically created for golfers
• Impact and scratch-resistant
• Clarity of vision
• Premium look and feel
• Considerable glare reduction
• Lightweight and comfortable
• Protection from UVA, UVB, and UVC rays

Cons:

• Expensive option
• Not suited to golfers with larger faces
• Heavier than non-music sunglasses

Specifications:

• Materials: Plutonite lens
• Weight: 0.05bs
• Colors: 37 different color combinations
• Warranty: 2-years

Key measurements

• Bridge: 12mm
• Temple: 133mm
• Lens width: 59mm
• Diagonally: 63mm
• Lens depth: 38mm
• 8.5 mm base curve

In our opinion, the best golf sunglasses for men are Oakley Flak. The lenses found on the Oakley Flak are PRIZM lenses that deliver sharp contrast, great visibility, and the clearest views all-round. They have become the gold standard of golf sunglasses. The PRIZM lens technology is known for its enhanced ball tracking.

Aesthetically, the Oakley Flak is generally considered an incredibly good-looking pair of sunglasses. They provide 100 percent UV protection keeping your eyes safe from the harmful UVA, UVB, and UVC rays while blocking out strong sunlight, reducing glare, and improving optical sensitivity on the course.

The Oakley Three-Point Fit System ensures a snug fit while improving your field of vision. And the anti-slip rubber pad across your nose and the ear sock ensures that the sunglasses remain in place even when your face is wet or sweating and even in extremely windy conditions. Wearing a hat will present no problem as the Oakley’s fits comfortably under a golf hat.

The lightweight lenses are made from scratch-resistant plastic and are impact-resistant. They can accommodate many cycles of removal and re-application to your head, and Oakley can manufacture prescription lenses for those that need them. The large lenses are interchangeable, while the base curve extends peripheral view and side coverage for improved vision.

The Oakley Sports Soft Vault case protects the sunglasses from harm’s way, and you can clean them with the provided microfiber cloth.

These Oakley golf sunglasses deliver on functionality, looks, and price. Many golfers have indicated that it is almost like looking at a high-definition view when they use the Oakley Flak golf sunglasses, which is one of the main reasons these are the best sunglasses for golf in 2023.

Our rating: 9.8

2. Callaway Sungear Smart Sunglasses — Most Advanced Tech

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Pros:

• Look great
• 100% UV protection
• Excellent depth perception
• Lightweight and very comfortable
• Adjustable nose pads
• Accessories included

Cons:

• No color customization
• Not suited to golfers with small heads

Specifications:

• Materials: Unlisted
• Weight: 0.1lbs
• Colors: Brown/gray-green
• Warranty: 1-years

Key measurements:

• Bridge: 16mm
• Temple: 130mm
• Lens width: 59mm

These are a pair of gold sunglasses with built-in Bluetooth speakers. they allow you to listen to music or take calls while still having free hearing on the course.

Within a stylish frame, the lenses of the Callaway Kite Sunglasses have been specifically tailored to provide optimal vision and protection out on the course. In terms of protection, there’s an 8 Base lens configuration to keep UV rays away from the eyes. In addition, they provide 100% protection from UVA, UVB, and UVC rays.

Thanks to the polarized lens block glare, these Callaway sunglasses manage to enhance the user’s vision without sacrificing any protection. The noticeably lighter lenses let in twice as much light as the average sunglasses lens, offering excellent depth perception. Users have widely reported an enhanced ability to read greens whilst wearing these sunglasses.

The frame is ultra-light and complements the overall design with comfort. Hydrophilic Megol temple tips provide a secure fit regardless of conditions. While the adjustable nose pads offer great versatility, providing fitting options to suit a variety of head shapes, these sunglasses are best suited to medium and large head sizes.

As a bonus, the Callaway Kite Sunglasses come fully kitted out with numerous accessories, including a lens cloth, a carry pouch, and a hard case with a hanging clip.

Performance and comfort aside, these sunglasses, as many people agree, look pretty fantastic. Simple yet stylish, with a brown frame of rich wood and a gray-green lens.

Our rating: 9.6

3. Under Armour Ua 7000/s — Best Budget Choice

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Pros:

• Inexpensive
• Unisex
• Clear peripheral vision
• Large wraparound lenses
• Flexible resistant frame

Cons:

• Lacks the looks of modern sunglasses
• The plastic frame creates a cheap feeling

Specifications:

• Materials: Plastic frame and lens
• Weight: 0.3lbs
• Colors: Gray/blue, gray/green, gray/infrared, white/blue, white/orange
• Warranty: 2-years

Key measurements:

• Bridge: 9 mm
• Temple: 125 mm
• Lens width: 69 mm

The Under Armour Ua 7000/s uses a TR90 frame for ultimate flexibility and durability. It is even hypoallergenic for an added bonus.

The Multiflection coated mirrored lenses are approximately 10 times stronger than polycarbonate lenses. This makes them scratch-resistant and excellent value for many outdoor sports. The Under Armour golf lenses are not polarized, so it does not protect against glare. But it does provide full protection against UVA, UVB, and UVC rays.

The lightweight frame is manufactured from plastic, which, granted, doesn’t have a particularly premium feel, but it does save on the cost. The adjustable nose pad also provides extreme comfort. Included with the sunglasses is a branded case to keep them well-protected when they are not in use. We wouldn’t recommend these as golf prescription sunglasses. You should opt for a more sturdy frame.

Our rating: 9.1

4. Maui Jim Ho’okipa Sunglasses — Best for a Natural Look

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CHECK PRICE ON MAUI JIM

Pros:

• Colors come to life with the lenses
• Durable, impact and scratch-resistant
• Premium look and feel and an affordable price
• Lightweight and comfortable
• Snug fit
• Practically unbreakable frames

Cons:

• Nose pads tend to lift
• Polarized lenses are not everyone’s preference
• Expensive

Specifications:

• Materials: Nylon frame with MauiPure lens
• Weight: 0.06lbs
• Colors: Black/bronze, black/grey, grey/blue, tortoise/rose
• Warranty: 2-years

Key Measurements:

• Bridge: 17 mm
• Temple: 130 mm
• Lens width: 64 mm ​
• ​Lens depth: 39mm
• 8 Base Curve

The rimless Maui Jim Ho’Okipa sunglasses are designed and manufactured in Hawaii and have become extremely popular. They provide exceptional protection with a minimalist design. They are durable, tough, scratch, wind, and dust resistant and come with a good 2-year guarantee.

The original design seeks to improve the view of the true colors of the Hawaiian island and ocean. This is because it is frequently reduced by the glare caused by the Hawaiian sun.

The PolarizedPlus2 lens technology used on the four polarized lenses features Clearshell hard coating treatment in a lightweight frame. And the saddle-style nose bridge provides exceptional comfort. The polarized lenses decrease glare created by water, snow, and dust, and the rectangular shape of the lenses makes them versatile. They will fit nearly any face shape.

These lenses contain blue-light protection to protect your eyes from UVA and UVB rays. The neutral grey lenses provide sharp contrast and reduce glare excellently. Through the use of Clearshell coating, the lenses are highly scratch resistant and virtually shatterproof.

The lightweight and flexible Grilamid TR 90 nylon frames are impact-resistant and have extreme bending strength while retaining their shape. The frame has a thickened area for protection and comfort behind your ears.

There is an anti-corrosive stainless-steel hinge providing strength to the frame. Whereas a non-slip, rubber nose pad provides increased comfort.

Maui Jim Ho’okipa sunglasses are protected in a semi-rigid black Mau Jim case. You can clean them with included soft cloth.

Our rating: 9.4

Want more options? Check out the latest Maui Jim Golf Sunglasses

5. Bolle Bolt 2.0 Sunglasses – Most Comfortable

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Pros:

• Lenses made from premium-grade resin
• Anti-fog
• High-quality nylon frame

Cons:

• Polarized lenses are not everyone’s preference

Specifications:

• Material: Nylon frame with polycarbonate lens (NXT)
• Weight: Unlisted
• Colors: White
• Warranty: 2-years

Key Measurements:

• Bridge: 16mm
• Temple: 129mm
• Lens width: 43mm

The Modulator V3 Golf Oleo AF’s are a great pair of anti-polarizing sunglasses that give you super vision throughout your entire stay at the golf course. The lenses are constructed from a polycarbonate known as NXT. Not only is NTX renowned for its visual clarity, but it is also extremely resilient. Making these glasses a great choice if you’re a bit clumsy and tend to knock your glasses around a bit. You also don’t have to worry about fog build-up whatsoever.

For the frames, the Modulator V3 Golf Oleo AF uses premium nylon. This ensures the frame has a comfortable feel, but also, so it shares the strength of its lenses. A great pair of golfing sunglasses that can take some beating.

Our rating: 9.2

Related Reading: The Best Golf Ball Display Case

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are the Best Sunglasses for Golf?

The Oakley Flak Series have some of the best features in golf sunglasses including crisp sharpness and clear visibility. They have 100% UV protection protecting your eyes from the sun for hours on the course and the 3-point Fit System will keep them comfortably on your face.  our golf sunglasses reviews in this article to help decide.

Do You Need Golf Sunglasses?

A good pair of sunglasses has become an essential part of golfing gear over the last couple of years. And as the technology has improved, it is now providing fantastic protection against the sun and delivering improved color differentiation. This sharpens depth perception, especially on and around the greens.

The use of sunglasses is highly debated all over the golfing world. Some players have made this part of their golfing attire, while some swear never to don a pair of sunglasses while playing golf.

Many golfers use their everyday sunglasses when playing golf, but the technology built into golf sunglasses is specific and is not found in a regular pair of sunglasses. Golf sunglasses are specifically designed to lower the distortion of your view on the lower half of the lenses. They also wrap around much of your peripheral vision through the use of larger lenses.

This protection is especially required by golfers that have light-sensitive eyes. Prolonged exposure to sunlight considerably increases the risk of cataracts and other eye diseases.

Your sunglasses not only serve as protection against harmful UV rays but provide an unimpeded green backdrop against a blue sky. The strain on your eyes in sharp sunlight is extremely high when you have to squint to locate the golf ball after your well-struck shot. Sunglasses help you see golf balls in flight as well, so you can see your amazing shots in all their glory.

Do Pro Golfers Use Sunglasses?

You may have noticed that most pro golfers are not sporting sunglasses. This is simply because they haven’t throughout their career so they feel no need to start. Pro players are also wary of the distortion that some sunglasses can cause to depth perception (we’ll touch on this shortly). However, we are seeing an increasing number of players wearing sunglasses. Especially in the younger generation, and this will likely continue to rise at a rapid rate.

What Sunglasses Does Tiger Woods Wear?

Despite many pro golfers going without, the famous Tiger Woods is not one of them. He usually wears a pair by Nike, such as the Nike Show X2 or Nike Siege 2. However, he tends to favor Oakley sunglasses as well.

What Type of Sunglasses Are Best for Golfing?? Polarized or Photochromic Lenses

Just as the use of sunglasses is highly debated, the use of polarized lenses vs photochromic lenses splits the golfing community. Each technology has followers that will defend the technology to the ends of the earth. Ultimately it comes down to personal preference when selecting your pair of sunglasses.

Are Polarized Lenses Better for Golf?

The primary function of polarized golf sunglasses is to reduce glare reflected from flat surfaces, which diminishes the contrast between objects and the color you see. This is highly visible when there is a body of water or you want to find your ball in the water. If glare is a major concern, you should consider a polarized pair of golf glasses.

However, some golfers have claimed that polarized lenses make them nauseated, and a few argue that it impedes their depth perception. This has never been proven scientifically.

• Advantages – Polarized lenses help you see clearer and farther while reducing the strain on your eyes when trying to find the target or golf ball. Polarized lenses are available with UV protection to keep your eyes healthy.

• Disadvantages – Polarized lenses do not adjust the color according to the prevailing lighting conditions. They remain the same regardless of the light exposure. These lenses could be effective some days while being ineffective on exceptionally bright days.

Are Mirrored Sunglasses Good for Golf?

Mirrored sunglasses have mirror-coated lenses that reflect light away from the lens. This results in a darker look. You may also sometimes notice that the outside color appears different from the actual color of the lens. To some golfers, they are appealing, while others avoid them altogether.

• Advantages – Less ambient glare makes its way to your eyes which means you never get blinded by the sun. Also, due to the limited light, it lets in it hides your eyes. Some people like this feature in sunglasses.
• Disadvantages – Because mirrored sunglasses reflect so much sunlight, very little makes its way through the lens and into your eyes. This makes it harder to see as your vision is fairly dark.

Which Color Lens Is Best for Golf??

The best sunglasses for golfing are specifically designed to filter out certain wavelengths of light to provide you with the best possible view of the course and aid you in reading the green when putting. Find a good tint guide to assist in your final decision-making process.

The most generic colors are green and grey lenses, but they don’t aid depth perception or enhance contrast. They are mostly used for looking into the distance by shutting out the excessive brightness on a sunny day.  A green lens enhances the color balance, while a lighter or medium grey lens is most suitable for overcast days.

Yellow lenses are superb for contrast and depth perception but not ideal for reading the greens.

Red lenses distort colors quite a lot but provide good contrast and highlight red and yellows in the green, which is a great aid for putting.

Amber, copper, cinnamon, and brown lenses are the perfect sunglasses for golf. They all rate highly on distance vision, contrast, and depth perception. They work equally well on fairways as well as putting surfaces without distorting the true and natural color of objects. These sunglasses help to see golf balls in flight.

Are Blue Lenses Good for Golf?

Blue lenses are not highly recommended as they reduce contrast on green backgrounds making it more difficult to see a golf ball against a green background.

How Do I Clean Golf Sunglasses?

Most sport sunglasses manufacturers will include a microfiber cloth for keeping sunglasses clean. You can buy them from any glasses store or single-use lens wipes if they’ve become particularly grimy.

Which Professional Golfers Wear Golf Sunglasses?

Many pros avoid sunglasses while on tour, but greats such as Phil Mickelson and Rickie Fowler wear sunglasses in bright conditions.

Why Do Most Pro Golfers Not Wear Sunglasses?

Some sunglasses can mess with depth perception and therefore affect shots. But many modern designs for sunglasses specifically avoid this, so don’t let that impact what you wear golfing.

Final Thoughts

Golf sunglasses are a big part of golfing, and aid in protecting your eyes while providing a clear view of the course. There are a variety of shapes, colors, and sizes to fit the requirements of any golfer.

After reviewing the products, the Oakley Flak 2.0 XL gets our vote as the best golf sunglasses. The quality of the lenses, the superior technology, and durability of the frame make them the best.

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