What Does Cadet Mean In Golf Gloves?

If your hand is too wide and your fingers too short for a regular golf glove, then you will appreciate this post. I am answering the question: what does cadet mean in golf gloves? And how do they differ from the standard design?

Golfweek’s William McCoy sums up the cadet golf glove meaning well. He says a cadet golf glove fits players with wide palms and short fingers.

In this post, I will also help you identify whether you need a cadet glove and how to select the correct size. However, if you are looking for more information on regular gloves, browse through our guide on the best golf gloves.

What Is A Cadet Golf Glove?

We receive a common question at Golf Span: What is a cadet style glove? A cadet golf glove is shaped to provide a wider fit for your palm, along with a reduced finger length. In effect, their design suits players with disproportionate hands.

Vice Golf estimates that 20% of all golfers fall into this category.

My late father fell into that 20% bracket as he struggled to find a suitable fitting glove for years. Eventually, he gave up wearing one. If only the pro shop in our small hometown had access to these designs, he might have endured fewer blisters and played better golf.

If you are looking for an example of a cadet-size glove, Vice’s Pure Cadet glove is an option. which runs from small to extra large. Alternatively, view the Callaway Weather Spann glove.

Cadet vs Regular Golf Glove?

The next question to answer is: what is the difference between cadet and regular golf glove? We know that the former includes a wide palm area and short fingers. But how does a golf glove cadet vs regular design match up?

The standard golf glove design caters to male and female players, whereas the cadet construction is just for men. That doesn’t mean that ladies with larger hands can’t use them if they find a comfortable fit.

Furthermore, regular gloves suit the average golfer with proportionate hands. As a result, it contains a narrow palm area and long fingers.

Those that suit a cadet glove will find that standard designs are excessively tight around the hands, and your fingers may not reach the tip of the leather.

In addition, the majority of standard golf gloves that you encounter are offered from small to double or triple extra-large. Conversely, the cadet designs are available in small to extra large.

As an example of the dimension difference. FootJoy’s golf size chart shows that a regular medium glove fits those with a middle finger length of 4 to 5-inches and a palm width of 2 to 7 inches.

Conversely, a cadet medium suits those with a middle finger length of 3 to 4-inches, along with a 5 to 6-inch palm width.

How Do I Know If I Need A Cadet Golf Glove?

The simplest way to determine if you need a cadet golf glove is to measure the length of your middle finger and the width of your palm. Then follow FootJoy’s golf glove size chart to see if you need a cadet construction.

Alternatively, you can try on a regular glove in your size and see if it fits. If it does, there is no need to acquire a cadet glove.

However, should your palm exceed the width of the glove, and if your fingers are too short, you need a cadet glove.

What Is A Cadet Size In Golf?

Now that you know the difference between cadet and regular golf glove designs, a cadet size features wider palms and short fingers. But let me make it easier to relate to your situation.

MG Golf offers a simple size chart for you to identify the ideal glove for your hand. When I tested it, it revealed that I needed a regular medium-sized glove, which is correct.

However, if you are a traditionalist like me and prefer using a ruler and a calculator, you can follow FootJoy’s chart as a guideline.

To give you context — a cadet golf glove is one size larger than the corresponding regular construction. For example, a small cadet features the same palm width as a standard medium glove, except the former contains shorter fingers.

I have created a table below to help you identify the correct cadet size for your hand.

Cadet Golf Glove Size Chart

Use a ruler to measure the length of your middle finger and the width of your palm. Once you have the results, see what size glove best fits your hand.

Size	Middle Finger Length	Palm Width
Small	1 – 4 inches	3 – 5 inches
Medium	3 – 4 inches	5 – 6 inches
Medium Large	4 – 5 inches	6 – 7 inches
Large	4 – 6 inches	7 – 9 inches
Extra Large	5 – 7 inches	8 – 9 inches

Final Thoughts

That concludes our review of the question: what does a cadet mean in golf gloves? The difference between a cadet and a regular glove is in their design. The latter supports 20% of the world’s golfers with wider palms and short fingers.

If a regular glove is too narrow for your palm and your fingers don’t reach the leather gusset, it is worth looking at a cadet glove.

There is much more to learn about gloves. Expand your knowledge by checking out our posts on winter gloves or how to clean your golf gloves.