Ever noticed golfers wearing just one glove? Why not wear two? Well, golfers do many things that beginners or non-golfers may think are strange or pointless.
When I’m coaching new golfers, I hear a lot of questions, and one is about golf gloves. Let’s dive into the reason behind this weird but logical golf practice.
So, why do golfers wear one glove? Most golfers only wear a golf on their non-dominant hand because this hand primarily holds the club. The other hand doesn’t need a glove since it’s only adding stability. Wearing a glove gives this hand a better grip, especially with sweat or rain. It also keeps this hand from getting blisters or sore.
Any golf fan will want to know more about wearing gloves since it can help your game. Or if you don’t wear the right glove, it could harm your game.
This article will teach you about one of the game’s most essential tools. I will cover the following to answer some questions you may have been afraid to ask or never knew you needed to know.
- Why do golfers wear one glove?
- Do all golfers wear a glove on their non-dominant hand?
- Do some golfers wear two gloves?
- What are some of the best golf gloves in the game?
Before we jump in, let me tell you that it is my pleasure to give you a hand in understanding these questions. Did you get that? Give you a hand? 😂 I digress…
Why Do Golfers Wear One Glove?
The main reason golfers wear a glove is it simply enhances your gripping capabilities on the hand you primarily use to hold and swing the club.
Let’s look a little closer at why golfers only tend to wear one glove and only do so on their non-dominant hand.
- The Non-Dominant Hand Is Most Important: The non-dominant hand is mostly used for swinging your club, so it is where your grip strength matters most. The dominant hand provides only a supporting role.
- Slick Grips: Wearing a glove is can give you the grip you need. Sometimes, the golfer’s grips are on the slicker side or worn out from lots of play. Weather conditions can affect the slickness of the grips as well. When it rains or is incredibly hot, and you are sweaty, the grips can get very slippery.
- Blisters or Sore Hands: Golfers who tend to grip the club too hard can get blisters or sores forming on their primary hand. A glove will often help ease the pain associated with these. However, this isn’t the case for your other hand.
Find Out More: Which Hand Do You Wear A Golf Glove On? Are You Wearing It Right?
Do All Golfers Wear A Glove On The Non-Dominant Hand?
The vast majority of golfers wear a single glove on their non-dominant hand. So, if you’re right-handed, this is your left, and vice versa. This is common because it improves grip and protects your primary hand while swinging.
The next most common glove practice I see in my clients and the golfing community is golfers who do not wear any gloves. These golfers tend to want a better feel of their club or don’t have a problem with blisters or sore hands. For instance, a former World #1 pro golfer, Fred Couples, didn’t wear gloves.
A smaller percentage of golfers will wear two gloves, and while I have not seen it very often, I am confident that a tiny percentage of golfers only wear a glove on their dominant hand. Lesser known pros, Tommy Gainey and Aaron Rai, have been known for wearing two gloves.
But there are no hard and fast rules to wearing a glove, so do what feels comfortable to you.
Read on: How To Clean Golf Gloves
Do Some Golfers Wear Two Gloves?
Tommy "Two Gloves" Gainey: Why two gloves?
Only one player on the PGA TOUR steps up to ball as if he were stepping up to the plate and that's Tommy "Two Gloves" Gainey. Watch the full video.
Some golfers prefer to wear two gloves. While this is not common, it does indeed exist in the game. These golfers usually like the comfort or feel they get from wearing two gloves.
One of the most noticeable two-glove wearers in golf is Tommy “Two Gloves” Gainey. In his career, Gainey has amassed nearly 6 million dollars in winnings, with one win at the 2012 McGladrey Classic.
More from Golf Span: The Best Women’s Golf Gloves: Great Fit & Value
What Are The Best Golf Gloves In the Game?
TaylorMade Men’s Stratus Tech Golf Glove – Best Overall
The TaylorMade Stratus Tech golf glove is a great option for golfers looking for a durable and comfortable glove that will help them improve their grip. The glove is made from a combination of Hypertec and leather, making it durable and breathable. The Hypertec material also helps to prevent sweaty hands, which can be a problem for golfers in humid environments.
Srixon New Cabretta Leather Golf Gloves
The Srixon New Cabretta Leather Golf Gloves is my choice for golfers looking for a premium glove that offers comfort, performance, and durability.
As a long-time Srixon and Cleveland PGA Staff Professional, I am partial to these gloves and have used them for years. The gloves are made from the finest cabretta leather, known for its soft feel and excellent grip.
The gloves also feature perforations on the top of the hands, fingers, and between the fingers to increase breathability and reduce moisture.
Check this out: Best Golf Gloves: Pros, Cons, & Reviews
Why Don’t Golfers Wear Gloves While They Putt?
Why Take Your Golf Glove Off When Putting?
Most golfers only wear one glove. Would two be better? Read on as we cover why do golfers wear one glove, the reasons, and the best golf gloves.
Wearing a glove is not something that most golfers do when they putt. Some golfers even take their gloves off when chipping or pitching around the green—the reason for this is quite simple.
When putting or hitting short game shots, there is not nearly the amount of force working through the body and hands as in the full swing. The hands, or hand, do not need the extra benefit a glove provides during the swing when a golfer is putting.
Quiet honestly, most golfers claim they want more “feel” in the hands when they putt, so they remove the glove.
In my honest opinion, most take the glove off when they putt because it is traditional to do so.
FAQ
Why Did Jack Nicklaus Wear a Glove While Putting?
Jack Nicklaus is one of the game's most recognizable players, so everything he did during his career was noticed. The reason why Nicklaus wore his glove when he putted was simple: he liked the feel of it. With that, he created a generation of golfers that followed suit and kept their gloves on when putting.
What Does Cadet Mean In Golf Gloves?
The term Cadet, where golf gloves are concerned, refers to a specific size variation. Golfers who wear a Cadet Medium, Cadet Large, or extra-large have slightly shorter fingers and wider palms than those in a normal-sized glove.
Final Thoughts
Why do golfers wear one golf glove? The reason for wearing a glove in golf boils down to one simple answer: gloves improve your grip. More grip is especially helpful when conditions make the club’s grip a little slicker.
Wearing a glove on your non-dominant hand only boils down to that hand generally taking the lead in griping the club.
Since your other hand doesn’t do much, wearing two gloves isn’t necessary.
However, there are no hard and fast rules for wearing gloves in golf. At the end of the day, it comes down to your own personal choice.
More from Golf Span: What Does Cadet Mean In Golf Gloves?
Brendon is Class A PGA Professional and founded Little Linksters, LLC, and its nonprofit arm, the Little Linksters Association for Junior Golf Development. He won 25+ prestigious industry honors, including the 2017 PGA National Youth Player Development Award. He graduated from the PGA of America Management Program and has a handicap index of 7.8.
He has played golf for over 40 years and currently plays twice a month at the Eagle Dunes Golf Club near Sorrento, Florida. He loves Srixon clubs and plays a ZX5 driver with Z 585 irons. He's written over 60 articles on GolfSpan and specializes in sharing tips to improve your golf game. You can connect with Brendon at LinkedIn, X, IG, FB, his website, or BrendonElliott@pga.com.
- Best score: 69
- Favorite driver: Srixon ZX5
- Favorite ball: Srixon Z Star
- Favorite food at the turn: Turkey and cheese on white
