Getting a grip on golf gloves

Golf is a game of unique rules and even more unique attire choices, though the whole Michael Jackson bit does tend to leave some spectators confused.

No, the wearing of a singular glove is not a sport-wide shoutout to the King of Pop, but a way for golfers to get extra hold on their grip. In particular, wearing a golf glove is designed to be helpful when there is excess moisture between your hand and the club.

“It helps when it’s raining out, or when there’s excess perspiration,” said Todd Nacke, assistant professional at Hangman Valley Golf Course in Spokane. “It gives that extra tack.”

Not all players elect to wear gloves, though. Nacke said that it’s very much a personal preference, and not for everyone. Some people note that they lose the feeling of their clubs when a glove is on, due to the additional layer between their skin and the grip. Even the players who do wear gloves sometimes take them off in certain situations, such as putting.

“A lot of people take the glove off for putting because putting is such a touch and feel part of the game,” he said. “They take it off to get a much better feel of the putter grip.”

So why just wear the glove on one hand, and not both? In baseball, where batters wear two gloves, the purpose is to decrease the amount of vibrations that move through the bat and into the hand. In golf, as described by Nacke, the gloves serve to provide more grip, as well as to help prevent blisters. Golfers only use one glove because only one hand (the top) is really doing the work—the bottom is just a support.

Since the golf glove is used for grip, and not to protect from painful vibrations, it’s important to not have a bunch of extra material in the way. Golfers can avoid this by making sure to get a snug-fitting glove. That way, the player can really get a feel for the club. It’s important, though, to know what kind of fabric the glove is made of before deciding if it fits properly.

“I always tell people that if they’re getting a real leather glove, they want it to be pretty snug because the leather stretches out,” said Nacke. “If you’re getting a synthetic glove, you won’t want it as tight because there isn’t as much stretch.”

Synthetic gloves have their advantages in that they work well in poor weather, but disadvantages in that they aren’t as breathable as the real leather gloves.

“Real leather is more breathable,” said Nacke, “but it will soak in the rain and leave you with an almost mushy feeling.”

Glove or no glove, synthetic or real leather, what golfers wear on their hands is all about the individual’s unique taste.

“I always tell people when I give lessons that it’s a personal preference,” said Nacke. “If you feel like you can grip the club better with a glove, then go for it.”