Benefits Of Wearing Golf Gloves
What Is The Point Of A Golf Glove?
Golf is one of the most beautiful games in the world and it’s been around for centuries. As much as it is a highly competitive sport, it’s also a fabulously relaxing one. For most golfing enthusiasts, it is a great day to spend outdoors with friends and for pros, it’s an intense competition that comes with international fame and fortune.
Golf is so much more than just whacking the ball down the fairway. It takes considerable skill and technique. One of the most basic techniques of playing golf is handling the clubs. If you don’t hold the clubs properly, it’s practically game over. That’s where good golf gloves come into play. While you can certainly play without them, the benefits of wearing golf gloves are most noticeable with the improvement of your game.
The main point of a golf glove is to provide a better grip. If you’ve ever tried to handle a golf club for that perfect swing on a hot day, you may have felt the club twisting and slipping in your hands. The outer layer of a golf glove is not as smooth as skin and, in most cases, will have some type of texture in the fingers and palms to ensure a better grip. This means you won’t need to “choke” your clubs but can handle them with a lighter grasp that is usually easier to control.
Less Hand Fatigue
Golf isn’t an overly strenuous sport but it is challenging on your hands. Every time you connect with the golf ball, you will feel the vibrations coming from the club. This may not be a huge issue if you’re hitting a bucket of balls at the driving range, but when you’re playing a full round of 18 holes, your hands can feel fatigued by the end of your round. Golf gloves also offer better control of the clubs which means your hands can focus on the swing, not trying to keep the clubs steady.
Blister And Callous Prevention
The humble golf glove has been designed to help you control your swing but it also makes gripping the clubs a lot more comfortable. If you’ve ever tried to play a round of golf on a hot day, the constant friction can be devastating on your hands and this can result in blisters and callouses. Golf gloves add a layer of protection and cushioning for your hands so you can prevent those nasty, painful calluses and blisters before they even start to form.
Better Moisture Management
Golf on a sunny day can be a hot and sweaty affair and this will cause you to lose the grip you are trying to achieve with your clubs. In the past, golf gloves offered the grip you needed, but your hands would get really sweaty inside the gloves. Thanks to advancements in technology, the materials used in golf gloves offer better moisture management and this material helps to wick away moisture instead of letting it pool around your hands. This means your hands stay comfortable and dry which will make it easier for you to handle your clubs and perfect your swing.
Performance
A good golf glove allows you to hold on to your clubs without strangling them. This slightly looser grip gives you a more relaxed grasp that is easier to control. This means you will be able to hit the ball to greater distances and with more accuracy.
What Should I Look For In A Golf Glove?
Not all golf gloves are the same so it’s important to find one that fits correctly. Whenever possible, try the gloves on first. The glove should fit snugly and there should not be any excess material at the tops of the fingertips. You should also ensure that the palms fit snugly. This will ensure you have better control over your clubs.
The materials are also a crucial aspect to consider when looking at golf gloves. Leather golf clubs have been more popular in the past, but they will stretch over your knuckles with time so if you must have leather golf gloves, aim to get yourself a size smaller than you normally would. Some of the more modern golf gloves and made from durable synthetic materials. These tend to last longer and offer better flexibility. Of course, you can also get a combination of leather and synthetic gloves that look and feel like a second skin.
Consider the type of weather you are playing in. Some golf gloves are more specific for wet weather and will help your hands stay drier in the rain and improve your wet weather grip. There are also golf gloves that have been specifically designed for cold weather. These have an insulation-type lining that keeps your hands warm so you can play just as well in winter as you do in summer.
Before you head out to the driving range or your local golf course, make sure you have golf gloves with you. You’ll develop an appreciation for this item of golfing apparel when you drive the ball all the way up the fairway.