A golf glove is an essential part of your golf kit. Your hands are the only point of contact between you and the golf club, so having a comfortable glove with a good grip will make a massive difference in your game.
And best of all, golf gloves aren't too expensive. Unlike most golf items that cost hundreds of dollars, you can get even the most costly gloves for around $40 — budget-friendly models are significantly less.
I've tried many golf gloves, from high-end models made of the finest materials to ultra-affordable off-brand ones made with synthetic materials, to find the best options for you.
Whether you're concerned primarily about your glove looking good, lasting a long time or feeling just right, there's an option for you, and I'll help you find it.
Quick list
Best overall
The Titleist Players Flex is the best golf glove overall, striking the ultimate balance of good looks and comfort. On full swings, it provided great feel and control on the club.
Best budget
The Callaway Dawn Patrol is a well-made glove for the price. It might not last forever, but at $12, it’s an affordable glove from one of the world’s leading brands.
Most durable
The FootJoy StaSof is designed to last. As well as thoughtful design details, the leather created a secure fit around our fingers, and the mesh lining had ample stretch.
Most stylish
We’re big fans of the TaylorMade Tour Preferred (TP) golf glove design. The Tour Preferred’s leather is ultra-soft to the touch, which translated to a luxurious grip around our clubs.
Best high-end
Consider this a go-to choice for serious golfers looking to play their best. We would use this glove in high-stakes rounds because of the superior feel and security.
Best for stylish colors and patterns
In terms of overall look and feel, there's no glove quite like Pins & Aces glove. They come in tons of colors and patterns, so you can create the look you want on the course. I own several pairs in different colors so I can coordinate with my apparel.
Best for the rain
FootJoy Rain Grip gloves are a necessity on rainy days. Made from suede, once wet the palms of our hands became tacky, making it easier to hold onto the club.
Best for winter golf
You can't beat a pair of FootJoy WinterSof gloves when it's cold and snowy. They'll keep your hands warm during those winter rounds without impeding your swing too much. They come in pairs so that both hands will be warm and comfortable.
The best golf gloves you can buy right now
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Best golf glove overall
The Titleist Players Flex is the best golf glove overall, striking the ultimate balance of good looks and comfort. When we first slipped this glove on, we couldn’t wait to hit the green. Netted satin panels across the back delivered top-notch comfort and mobility. The tanned cabretta leather was the most substantial we tested and the stitching held up swing after swing, lasting several rounds without damage.
The glove also rates high for style points, and the velcro closure operated easily and consistently. Because the leather seemed a bit thicker to us, we tended to take it off more for touchy shots around the green. But on full swings it provided great feel and control on the club without stretching out.
Beyond the great design that includes the iconic Titleist logo, we appreciate the smart look the glove provides. Titleist is among the most well-known golf brands, providing a full suite of golf balls, golf clubs, course attire and more.
Best golf glove for those on a budget
The Callaway Dawn Patrol is a well-made glove for the price. At $12, it’s among the most affordable gloves from one of the golf world’s leading brands. Callaway’s reputation for craftsmanship shows through, even in one of its least expensive products.
It has more of a “pro” feel than we’d expect in this price range. We like how it includes an elastic band in the cuff comparable to the one found in the tour-quality models, which offered a thin, light and secure fit when we wore it for an entire round.
While we appreciate the clean, all-white look of the glove, we’re a bit wary of how many more games it will last. The perforations throughout the inner portion of the glove are helpful for palm perspiration but can wear down the leather over time. That said, wearing the Callaway logo gives players — especially newer ones — a sense of confidence in their game.
Best golf glove for durability
Of all the best gloves on this list, the FootJoy StaSof is one of the options we’re most excited to add to our bag. Not only does the leather create a secure fit around our fingers, but the mesh lining the major knuckles offers ample stretch no matter how often we took it on and off.
Although this isn’t a true wet-weather glove, it held its tackiness in damp conditions. Sometimes too much exposure to sweat or humidity wears down a golf glove’s material, but the StafSof held strong. But what makes this golf glove particularly attractive is the attention to detail.
Elements like consistent zig-zag stitching, parallel perforations on the exterior side of the fingers and gold embroidered ring around the FootJoy logo elevate the design. At $24 it’s a higher-end offering from the brand but still a compelling alternative to the top-shelf gloves from TaylorMade, Callaway and Titlelist. Plus it’ll nicely complement a pair of FootJoy golf shoes.
Best golf glove for style
We’re big fans of the TaylorMade Tour Preferred (TP) golf glove design. TaylorMade has a huge roster of pro golfers wearing and using its equipment, making the brand’s products a popular choice among weekend warriors.
The Tour Preferred’s leather is ultra-soft to the touch, which translated to a luxurious grip around our clubs. The glove gave us great feedback on all our shots, short and long.
The classy look makes this the one glove we might even wear in the clubhouse. But we felt the style came at the price of flexibility. The glove had a tight fit with little give, which could damage its durability when frequently taking it on and off.
We wish it had a bit more stretch, especially around the knuckles. That said, the larger gaps for air between the fingers make up for the glove’s overall breathability, and the velcro closure is best-in-class.
Best high-end golf glove
The Titleist Players golf glove is a top-choice on all major PGA tours, and is notably worn by Fedex Cup champion Patrick Cantley. In other words, consider this a go-to choice for serious golfers looking to play their best.
We would use this glove in high-stakes rounds because of the superior feel and security. The cabretta leather is soft to the touch and quality Velcro keeps the glove snug. The one shortfall of the Titleist Players golf is that we wouldn’t consider it a good glove for beginner players, or a good glove for practice.
With its thin leather, it’s what golfer’s call a “feel” glove, which means it can be used to pick up on nuances while swinging with certain clubs or when taking specialty shots. As a result, this glove might not last many rounds, but the rounds you do play will be premium.
Best patterned golf glove
The Pins & Aces Golf glove is a winner for any player who wants to look good on the course thanks to its bright patterns on the cuff and velcro closure.
The entire glove is made of soft, silky-soft Cabretta leather that it almost felt like it was too soft to play golf with out of the package. The glove’s micro perforations kept my hand calm while playing, and I found no need to remove it for chips and pitches when I needed maximum feel.
The cuff and the velcro closure were secure and comfortable, too. It's just a great glove that feels as good as it looks.
Still, this is a good golf glove if comfort and breathability are your top priority because it's not just about looking cool.
Best golf gloves for playing in the rain
The best golf gloves for rain aren’t the easiest to test because, well, it means going out in the rain. The starter in the clubhouse shook his head at us when we went out in a steady drizzle to play nine holes. But the weather can be unpredictable, and some players don’t mind wet weather. In that case, the FootJoy Rain Grip gloves are a necessity.
The gloves go on very comfortably, though the suede is a totally different feel than leather. Once they started to get wet there was an “aha” moment — the palms of my hands became tacky when activated by moisture. The moment of truth, taking a full swing, was a success.
While playing in the rain provided other challenges, at least holding on to the club wasn’t one of them. We still needed a towel to wipe away extra moisture, but when damp, we could swing with complete control.
As a thoughtful touch the FootJoy Rain Grip gloves feature a sewn-in tee holder on the wrist, as well as snap-on ball markers. Placing your wet gloved hand in your pocket is not easy while looking for a tee or a coin while you play.
Best winter golf glove
If you live in parts of the world that get cold during the winter, you know how important keeping your hands warm and dry is. The last thing you want is to find yourself unable to hit decent shots because your hands are too cold.
That's where the FootJoy WinterSof gloves can be a lifesaver. They come in pairs, so you can keep both hands warm and toasty on the course. They're not as thick as traditional non-golf winter gloves, but in my testing, I found that my hands felt a lot much with these on than without.
It does take some getting used to, and you'll probably sacrifice a couple of stokes while you get used to wearing two gloves and the extra thickness. However, compared with the best-case scenario of shooting worse due to cold hands and the worst-case option of frostbite, I'll take a little extra bulk on my hands.
As a nice bonus, these don't cost much more than traditional golf gloves, making them an even better purchase if you're the type of golfer willing to brave the elements and play your favorite game in the colder months.
How to pick the best golf glove for you
In order to pick the best golf glove for you, you’ll need to consider your needs. The most important factor is sizing. Experienced golfers usually know their size, but beginners should start with a sizing chart found at most pro shops.
You can also use a digital sizing chart like the one on FootJoy’s website, though we’ve found sizes can vary brand-to-brand. All the models we tested come in a full range of sizes, including cadet specs with shorter finger lengths.
Also, consider the level of your play. Low handicappers usually appreciate the finer leather found in more expensive feel gloves, however those new to the game might be better served with a glove that’s more affordable yet durable. Similarly, a player who spends significant time on the driving range should look for a glove that won’t deteriorate after a few hundred swings.
Unless it's raining, playing with two gloves is not common. Wearing a golf glove on your non-dominant or lead hand is preferred. The importance of a secure grip with your top hand cannot be underestimated.
Lastly, the weather you usually play in can affect your golf glove choice. Wet conditions require a high level of tackiness, while hot and humid conditions call for a high level of breathability. There are even gloves designed for cold-weather play.
How we test the best golf gloves
There are three key factors we consider when testing the best glove gloves:
We take each golf glove to the course to be sure they're comfortable, breathable, and offer a good feel and performance. If a glove negatively impacts your game, there's no reason to use it.
We also look at the style offered by the glove. Golfers spend a lot of money getting apparel and other products to look good on the course, and having a clunky glove that looks terrible doesn't benefit anyone. Is performance more important than look and feel? Yes, but that doesn't mean looks aren't essential.
If a glove meets all these standards, it can be considered one of the best golf gloves. If it doesn't, it's not worthy of your hands.
FAQs
Which hand should you wear a golf glove on?
Most golfers wear one glove on his or her non-dominant hand. So if you are right-handed, you'd wear the golf glove on your left hand to prevent blisters and enhance your grip while playing. Most golf gloves are available as a single glove, as most golfers don't tend to wear a glove on each hand. The exception is some rain or cold gloves, which often come in pairs as they're designed to combat the elements.
Do golf gloves actually make a difference?
A well-made golf glove will give players a stronger grip on the club while preventing blisters and calluses, making the game more enjoyable. If you find your hand getting sore after a round of golf, a glove might help make you more comfortable, while still allowing you to grip the club. If nothing else, the extra grip it provides could shave a couple of strokes off your round.
What golf gloves does Tiger Woods wear?
As Tiger Woods now has his own brand, called Sun Day Red (partnered with TaylorMade), the popular golfer is expected to use gloves from his own company in future events. Previously, he used Nike gloves (and other equipment), but the partnership between Woods and Nike has ended.
How do I know what sized golf glove I need?
If you've been shopping for one of the best golf gloves on the market, you'll probably have noticed that most golf gloves come in several different sizes. The easiest way to ensure you're getting the correct-sized glove is to measure your hand, both from the crease of your wrist to the top of your middle finger and the circumference of your hand.
How should a golf glove fit?
A golf glove should be snug without being tight. You want the glove to function as a second skin without restricting motion. Going too tight will be uncomfortable and could shorten the glove's lifespan due to excessive stretching. If it is too loose, the glove will shift while gripping the club, creating an unstable swing.
Should you get synthetic or Cabretta leather gloves?
Synthetic golf gloves are more affordable than Cabretta leather models, but they also don't last as long. Cabretta leather offers additional grip and breathability, making them a better choice if you're willing to spend the money. For beginner golfers, or those who only play occasionally, the synthetic models outlined above will do the job.
Should you get a cheap or expensive glove?
When it comes to golf gloves, you will either pay now or later. You can spend $25-$30 on a good Cabretta leather glove that'll last an entire season or buy several cheaper gloves when they rip. There's no right or wrong answer, but as an Asher Golf glove user in my personal rounds, I recommend going with the more expensive ones.
