How to Choose a Golf Glove: Fit, Leather vs Synthetic and Sizing Tips

A golf glove is the cheapest piece of equipment in your bag and the one you replace most often, yet it is the only thing connecting your hands to the club. A glove that fits well and suits your conditions helps you hold the club with consistent, light pressure; one that is too loose, too tight or soaked with sweat makes that harder. This guide covers what to look at before you buy.

Which hand: left or right?

Most golfers wear one glove on their lead hand, the top hand on the grip. Right-handed golfers wear a glove on the left hand, so a "left" glove is the standard option. Left-handed golfers need a glove for the right hand, which some brands label "for lefty golfers" and stock in fewer colors and sizes. Some players wear two gloves, especially in cold or wet weather, or when they want extra cushioning.

Leather, synthetic or hybrid

• Cabretta leather: a thin sheepskin leather used on most tour-style gloves. It gives the softest feel and best grip when new but wears faster and can stiffen once it gets wet and dries.
• Synthetic: more durable, easier to wash and usually cheaper, with a little less feel.
• Hybrid: leather in the palm and fingers for grip, with synthetic or mesh panels on the back for stretch and airflow. A popular middle ground for regular players.

If a product page lists features but not the material, ask the seller before buying. Material affects feel, durability and how the glove handles sweat.

Getting the fit right

A golf glove should fit snugly like a second skin, with no loose material at the fingertips or wrinkles across the palm. When you make a fist, the leather should feel close but not pull at the seams. Leather stretches slightly with use, so a new leather glove should feel a little snug. Sizes usually run from S to XXL, often with ML in between, and some brands also offer "cadet" sizes for shorter fingers and wider palms.

Sizing differs between brands, so check the seller's size chart if there is one, or compare against a glove that already fits you. This matters even more online, where many shops will not accept returns on gloves that have been worn.

Ventilation and sweat control

Perforations in the fingers, mesh panels or vented knuckles let heat escape and help the glove dry between shots. An absorbent wristband or sweatband keeps moisture away from the palm. If you play in hot or humid weather, ventilation matters more than anything else on this list. For rain, look for gloves sold specifically as wet-weather gloves, which often work in pairs and grip better when damp.

Durability and care

• Rotate two or three gloves during a long season so each one can dry out fully.
• Take the glove off between shots on hot days, and flatten it to dry rather than balling it up in your bag.
• Replace a glove once the palm turns shiny or slick or holes appear at the heel pad. Worn gloves make you grip harder.
• Leather gloves usually should not go in a washing machine; follow the care instructions on the label.

Price and style

Mainstream leather gloves typically cost somewhere in the $15 to $30 range, and gloves are consumables, so very expensive ones rarely make sense for everyday play. Style is a fair reason to choose one glove over another: colored and limited-edition gloves are now common, and there is no rule that a glove must be white. Just make sure fit and material come first.

A quick checklist

• Correct hand: left glove for right-handed golfers, right glove for lefties
• Material stated clearly: cabretta, synthetic or hybrid
• Size checked against a chart or a glove that already fits
• Ventilation and sweatband to suit your climate
• Return policy read, especially rules on worn gloves and sale items
• Your size and hand actually in stock before you fall for a colorway

For an example of how one glove brand handles colorways, left-handed options and returns, see our 7 Iron Golf review.