What Hand Do You Wear A Golf Glove On?
Colin Dempsey
Table of Contents
Golf gloves and golfers share a symbiotic relationship. The former improves the latter’s game and the golfer makes the golf glove seem like a cool accessory.
That’s not to say that golf gloves aren’t cool. They certainly are—but a golfer must have a respectable degree of style in order to make them work.
Anyone can wear gloves, but only a select few can make a golf glove look like an essential accessory.
Today, I’ll be answering more than the question of what hand do you wear a golf glove on?
I’ll also tell you how to wear a golf glove, which style of golf glove you should be looking into, how to integrate golf gloves into your outfits, and how to avoid looking like a total dweeb when wearing them.
If you’re wondering what hand do you wear a golf glove on? you’ve come to the right place. I will answer that question in this article, however, I’ll also teach you so much more. Up next, you’ll find out some useful info if you’re interested in any of these terms:
- Best golf gloves
- Golf winter gloves
- Golf glove hand
- Why do golfers wear one glove?
- What hand do you wear a golf glove on?
What Is A Golf Glove?
A golf glove is a glove that’s meant to help steady your grip during your golf swing.
They’ve been around for nearly 150 years at this point—since the first-ever golf glove patent was given to the Rawling Company all the way back in 1885. That means that golf gloves are almost as old as our modern conception of golf tournaments.
Arguably, they were more necessary back then than they are now. In those days golf clubs were usually made out of wood with a leather grip handle. They were rustic as all heck, which is a plus for some golfers, but their construction made them slippery.
So, if you were playing on a hot day and your palms got sweaty then the golf clubs were very difficult to keep a hold of. As such, the glove served a functional purpose to help you grip the golf club.
Thus, the common question at the time wasn’t “what hand do you wear a golf glove on?,” but rather, “should I wear a golf glove?” And the answer, almost always, was “yes.”
It’s unclear whether golf gloves were seen as a fair tool in a golfer’s arsenal or a pansy’s piece of equipment akin to weightlifting gloves. But I’m sure that they didn’t catch on in the public sphere until the stylish Sam Snead, also known as ‘The Long Ball Hitter from West Virginia,’ started wearing them in the 1940s.
Snead’s success—alongside his distinctive appearance—helped elevate golf gloves to a point where they’re now considered practically essential for every serious golfer.
Despite this, there are some pros that don’t wear them at all. However, whether or not you should wear one comes down to how comfortable it feels and how much it improves your game.
History Of Golf
Before I answer the question, ‘what hand do you wear a golf glove on?’ I should give you a history lesson. You might scoff and think that there’s not much to learn from golf’s past, but you’d be surprised at how deep this sport’s history is.
There are debates about what golf’s origins are. Some claim that a sport similar to golf was first played by the ancient Romans. It was called paganica and was thought to have spread throughout the empire.
Other historians argue that it was the Chinese who invented the closest ancestor to golf during the Ming Dynasty—a game called chuiwan.
They claim that Europeans first saw the Chinese sport during the Middle Ages, which would line up with the golf’s eventual invention in 15th– century Scotland.
Regardless if it was the Chinese or the ancient Romans, the first recorded golf game was held in 1457 when it was banned by James II, King of Scots.
He banned the game as it was devised as a way to skip out on archery practice. Ironically, it was his grandson James IV that lifted the ban in 1502 because he wanted to begin golfing.
Slowly, the game’s rules evolved and crystallized as holes were added and discarded, majors were established, and the sport crossed country lines and continents.
Golf became more popular during the 1920s as over 1,000 new golf clubs opened up during that decade. The Great Depression and World War II only stalled America’s fascination with the game as golf clubs continued to crop up into the 1940s.
Throughout the latter half of the 20th century, golfers achieved the same celebrity status that other athletes enjoyed. For instance, players like Tiger Woods earned lucrative endorsement deals and became household names.
Golf evolved from a sport that only the wealthy could enjoy to a pastime that anybody, regardless of class or status, could engage with.
Maybe that’s why, these days, more people than ever are practicing their golf swings, buying sunscreen by the bucket, and asking what hand do you wear a golf glove on?
What Hand Do You Wear A Golf Glove On?
Answering the question, ‘what hand do you wear a golf glove on?’ is quite simple. It depends on which hand rests on the top of your club during your swing.
Typically, professional golfers wear a golf glove on their non–dominant hand, which is also known as their weaker hand, to improve their grip on their equipment.
Golf gloves are intended to help golfers hold onto their golf clubs without sacrificing control. If they wore a glove on their dominant hand then it would affect how they can angle the club and how they can hold it.
This doesn’t matter so much with their non-dominant hand as its role is only to support the dominant hand.
As you can probably guess, the answer to the question what hand do you wear a golf glove on? is your non-dominant hand. That means you’ll wear a golf glove on your right hand if you’re left-handed and vice versa.
If you’re ambidextrous then congratulations, not only are you more talented than most of us, but you get to choose which hand you’d prefer to wear your golf glove on. So for you, it’s just a matter of personal preference.
Since golf gloves are only meant to improve your grip strength rather than improve your shot, it’s not necessary for golfers to wear them on both hands.
3 Outfit Ideas For Golf
My first golf glove outfit shows how well this accessory goes with slightly funky attire. You couldn’t build a more ‘bro’ golf outfit if you tried.
You’ve got the bucket hat, the floral shirt, and the high white socks—all you need is a flask hidden in the back pocket and you’re set.
However, you should notice that the white golf glove works wonderfully with the entire look. It actually makes the outfit seem more suitable for a legitimate golf tournament rather than being a cheap theme party outfit.
An alternative golf glove outfit idea is this minimalist look. Once again, the white golf glove is the ‘secret spice’ that adds a touch of asymmetry to the whole look.
Plus, it pairs well with the white cap, white belt, and white shoes. The gray top and bottoms have a very hands-off feel, allowing the bright accessories to be the stars of the show.
It’s almost essential for me to include the sultan of style himself in this list of outfit ideas. An avid golfer himself, Bill Murray has one of the best fashion senses for men his age both on and off the field.
I didn’t just include this outfit because of Murray’s star power. I also included it as a way to showcase how you can style black golf gloves (a rarity!).
This is a cold–weather outfit meant for either early morning games or those first-of-the-new-year golf sessions when the temperature doesn’t quite want to cooperate with you.
Murray makes intelligent use of a sports jacket and a rain cap to prepare himself for potential rainfall. He also wears two golf gloves—most likely because the weather is so cold that frigid hands could throw off his game.
What Type Of Golf Gloves Can You Get?
There are three different types of golf gloves that you can get and they vary based on material. Yet, keep this in mind: no matter which style you purchase, the answer to ‘what hand do you wear a golf glove on?’ shouldn’t change.
The three styles are:
- Leather
- Synthetic
- Hybrid
Each material comes with its own pros and cons.
Leather gloves are said to have the best overall feel. Plus, they should stay soft yet durable, but not for long.
They’re liable to stretch, degrade, and lose their feel more quickly than the other two materials. The other drawback is that they’re made from sheep’s hide, so they’re less sustainable than the other two varieties.
On the other hand, synthetic golf gloves are made with synthetic leather. This material doesn’t come from the flesh or skin of any animal. Perhaps it’s because of this that they usually last longer than real leather gloves. And this longevity appeals to many golfers.
Their main drawback is that they’re typically stuffier than actual leather gloves. This can make your hands sweat more and decrease the stability of your grip.
The third option is, of course, hybrid golf gloves. This style has leather on the fingers and palms with a synthetic material over the knuckles and other mobile points.
They’re thought to be the middle-ground option since they combine the best attributes of both other styles.
How To Choose The Best Golf Gloves
If you’re looking up ‘what hand do you wear a golf glove on?’ then chances are that you’re a relative newcomer to golf. In that case, what you’re looking for from a golf glove will be much different than what a more experienced golfer will need to succeed.
Newbie golfers still need to consider factors like the brand, the material, and the price. However, these things might mean something different for newer players than they do for veterans.
For instance, new golfers can get away with a cheaper golf glove because they don’t possess a deep understanding of the game. There’s no point in buying an expensive golf glove if you’re still learning the basics of your swing.
Additionally, you’ll have to take into account which materials the glove contains.
Most golf gloves are made of leather, but they may contain synthetic fabrics and stretchable weaves. These fibers can totally change how you feel about a glove as they can dramatically alter how you grip your golf club.
Another factor to consider is your climate. Golf is one of the most popular sports to play during the summer, but you’d be surprised how many gloves are made for the wintertime.
That doesn’t change which hand you wear a golf glove on, but it does affect a glove’s material and thickness—which can alter your game depending on how natural it feels for you.
Finally, different brands make different styles of golf gloves. Some companies make pricier options, like Callaway, but their higher price points come with the promise of higher–quality gloves.
This elevated quality may not be apparent if you’re a newer player, but it’ll help take your game to the next level if you’re a seasoned vet.
How To Style Golf Gloves
You don’t need a fashion degree to know how to style golf gloves. All you need to know is the answer to the question, what hand do you wear a golf glove on?
They’re more functional pieces than fashionable accessories, after all. So your energy will be better spent trying to optimize other parts of your golf club apparel.
You can practically wear white golf gloves with anything. Black golf gloves are a bit harder to style, but you can always match them to your hat or belt so that they don’t look out of place.
Fashion Tips To Avoid With Golf Gloves
It’s rather hard to mess up styling golf gloves. Even if you think that the correct solution to ‘what hand do you wear a golf glove on’ is to wear a glove on both hands, it’s not like you’ll be committing a fashion crime.
The only concrete form of advice I can give you is to try and match your gloves to any piece in your outfit.
However, given that most golf gloves are white, that should be a rather automatic process.
How To Take Care Of Golf Gloves
Unfortunately, golf gloves can be difficult to clean and are prone to collecting debris. Thankfully, it’s not the end of the world if your golf gloves collect some dirt and dust.
When it’s time to clean it, first, I advise you to soak your golf glove in a bucket of cold water. Splash some laundry detergent in there and give it some time to get friendly with your glove.
Then, scrub away any loose splotches of dirt. If there are stubborn stains then let the glove soak for a little longer before scrubbing it again.
Once you’ve thoroughly cleaned it, you can rinse off your golf glove with water. The rinsing process is essential for two reasons.
First, soap can affect the glove’s material and cause it to stiffen. Second, if you don’t rinse away the soap, then it can remain in the glove and seep through your fingers when you try to grip your club.
Air drying is the best way to dry off your golf glove after you’ve washed and rinsed it. If you even think about putting it in the dryer then you may as well send me a check for the same amount that you paid for the golf glove, because you’re just throwing away money.
In addition, you should air-dry the glove so that you don’t warp, shrink, or otherwise damage it in any way that could negatively impact how it performs its function.
Best Places To Buy Golf Gloves
Most of the biggest golf companies on the planet make their own lines of golf gloves. I’ve decided to list some of the companies that I’ve read favorable customer reviews on below. You can trust that each one of these brands is worth your time.
- Nike
- Callaway
- Invictus
- Titleist
- UnderArmor
- TaylorMade
Final Thoughts
That’s an awful lot of information for what should be a relatively straightforward answer. However, when it comes to wearing a golf glove, there are many things to consider.
It’s not as simple as just being aware of what hand you wear a golf glove on. You also have to know what style of golf glove is best for you.
Hopefully, I’ve given you more than enough information so that you can figure that out for yourself.
Looking to up your fashion game? We’ve got you covered:
