Golf Gloves: Reviews

Choosing the right golf glove

Only a few professional golfers play without a glove, and they have the calluses to prove it. One pro has risen through the journeyman ranks to make a name for himself by always wearing a pair (Tommy "Two Gloves" Gainey). But for most of us, a golf glove is an indispensible piece of equipment.

We found lots of articles on golf gloves, but very few comparison reviews. User reviews offer the best guidance, along with buyer's guides that weigh the pros and cons of various types of golf gloves. We looked for gloves that offer good value and solid support in user reviews.

Though there are dozens of golf gloves available, many are made in the same factories in Southeast Asia. The gloves essentially are the same in design but their difference comes in materials, which determines their feel, their durability and their cost.

With that in mind, the FootJoy StaSof Golf Glove (*Est. $19) stands out; reviewers love how the soft cabretta leather conforms easily to the hand, and it seems to be magnetically attracted to the rubber or synthetic grip on the golf club. "These gloves have a good feel and give good traction on the golf grip. They also last longer than any other name brand glove that I have used," writes a typical reviewer on Golfsmith.com. Adds another, "This is my default glove -- it works, it lasts, it fits. In Louisiana, where it is over 90 with high humidity most days, any glove will be too wet to play after about 4-5 holes, but these dry quickly if you rotate between gloves, and they tend to hold shape well." This golf glove is available in seven sizes for men, and four for women.

The StaSof golf glove is all-leather. Going with a hybrid leather/synthetic golf gloves gives you the grippiness of leather in the palm, but the breathability and flexibility of synthetic materials around the back of the hand. In this category, we found strong support in user reviews for the TaylorMade Men's Targa Golf Glove (*Est. $15). Owners like that it has great grip, but costs less than others. Writes one Amazon.com customer: "The glove is very soft, yet very grippy." Writer Mike Bailey of WorldGolf notes that the Targa's "AAA cabretta leather [is] as soft as any I've felt. Another material, an Ôantimicrobial performance fabric' is featured in the last two fingers and other areas where the glove is able to stretch to conform to the hand." This unisex glove is available in six left-hand sizes, five right-hand sizes, and five cadet left-hand sizes (the cadet sizes are likely to fit women better).

If you're not as picky about feel, or if you tend to lose your golf gloves (or don't want to spend much in the first place), the FootJoy WeatherSof Golf Glove 3-pack (*Est. $27) is a clear favorite. They also come in 2-packs -- or about $9 per glove, about half the price of premium leather golf gloves. The synthetic microfiber used for the WeatherSof gloves has a good tackiness fresh out of the package, but owners say that over time it wears off. Rotating the gloves extends their lifespan, which is why the multi-packs make them so popular with golfers. These gloves come in seven sizes for men, plus a cadet version for juniors or those with smaller hands.

When it comes to fitting shoes, very few women find men's models suitable. Some believe the same goes for gloves. Women's palms and fingers are typically thinner, making it hard for them to get a snug fit in men's golf glovest. The FootJoy Women's WeatherSof Glove Fashion 2-Pack (*Est. $19) offers a women's fit in four sizes. The gloves are white, with a choice of several trim colors. Writes one Golfsmith customer, "Perfect fit! I have a medium size hand with long fingers and the M/L is a great fit."

Bionic Technology, a division of baseball and golf equipment manufacturer Hillerich & Bradsby, offers some unique products aimed at helping golfers who experience pain through arthritis or previous injury. The Bionic StableGrip (*Est. $25) golf glove was designed by a hand surgeon, with thicker pads at certain points on the glove. The extra padding is intended to absorb more of the shock created when the clubhead strikes the ball.  A few comments from owners posting to retail sites: "Lasts a long time and for an arthritis sufferer this glove makes playing relatively painless," said one owner posting to the Golfsmith.com website. Added another, "Great glove for anyone who has had any kind of hand or finger surgery in the past."

For even more protection, the Bionic Silver Series golf gloves (*Est. $50 per pair), meant to be worn as a pair, offer even more padding. The Silver Series gloves are available in four sizes for men, and one for women.