The best golf gloves

• A golf glove does more than just prevent blisters — it also gives you a high level of comfort, durability, and longevity.
• Though some golfers still choose to not wear gloves, many turn to them for the impact they're able to have on their game, especially if they play often.
• Our top pick, the Bionic StableGrip, offers a snug, comfortable fit, comes in a variety of sizes, and features pre-curled fingers to reduce the amount of break-in time it needs.

Although it may be hard to believe, there was a time in golf where woods actually were made of wood, golf balls consisted of leather and feathers, and the on-course beer cart was not a thing. Thankfully, modern golfers can play with much better equipment and enjoy their favorite beverage at any time while playing.

At one time, golfers also played without a glove. No moisture-wicking technology, no reinforced palm, and no Velcro closure. Although the first golf gloves were available for sale around 1900, according to Golfweek, professionals didn't use them until the 1930s. By the 1960s, nearly all players, amateurs and pros, used gloves.

Although you'll find the occasional golfer who doesn't wear a glove, it's mostly rare. Modern club grips certainly make it easier to hold the club tightly without wearing a glove but even when using modern grips, you'll still end up with worn hands or blisters. Here's why a golf glove matters:

• Improved grip: Older clubs had grips (or the handles on the golf clubs) that could become slick, so the early golf gloves improved the player's ability to hold the club tightly. An improved grip keeps the clubhead from twisting, allowing for better shot-making. Even with today's tacky style grips, a glove gives you a surer grip on the club. If the grips on your clubs become worn, a glove ensures the club doesn't slip out of your hands.
• Avoiding blisters: Without a glove, you could end up with blisters on your hand. Because you're using the same motion with force when swinging a golf club several dozens of times per round, this repeated motion can lead to blisters.
• Warm and dry hands: Many modern golf gloves will wick moisture away from your hand, which can be beneficial in hot, humid weather. Or if you're playing in cool weather, some golf gloves are designed to keep your hands warmer. In cold weather, you may wear golf gloves on both hands, rather than just one as is normal.

When shopping for a golf glove will fits your game, there are a few key aspects to pay attention to:

• Size matters: You will want a golf glove that fits your hand properly. If it's too small, you're likely to tear it after a few uses. If it's too big, it will have wrinkles, rather than fitting tightly, and you'll potentially end up with blisters. Gloves are commonly available in small, medium, large, and extra-large sizes and a medium/large in-between size is even available with many gloves.
• Pick the correct hand: Golfers typically only wear a glove on one hand, which is the hand that controls the power of the swing from the top of the club. So, a right-handed player would wear a glove on their left hand, and vice versa. There's certainly no reason you can't wear two gloves, but most golfers like having a bare hand as the lower hand on the club, as it helps to control the feel of the club.
• Materials: Most golf gloves will consist of synthetic materials, leather, mesh fabric, or some combination of all three. A more expensive glove will have more leather, while cheaper gloves tend to have more synthetic materials, but this isn't as common as it was several years ago.
• Closure: You'll tighten a golf glove around your wrist using a Velcro flap (or a flap with some generic form of Velcro). This makes it easier for golfers to wear the glove as tight or as loose on their wrists as they want. Older gloves may have a snap that tightens the glove, but a snap has less flexibility than the Velcro flap.
• Moisture-wicking: To help you avoid a sweaty hand under the golf glove, look for a glove that has tiny pinholes in the fabric to allow airflow, keeping your hand dry. Some gloves use mesh fabric inserts to promote airflow. And some gloves use a moisture-wicking fabric on the interior to draw moisture away from the skin.

Today, golf gloves are as common as any other key piece of golf equipment. Wearing a glove on one hand helps you keep a sturdy grip on all aspects of your game. To help, we've field-testing to find the best golf gloves currently available.

• Best golf glove overall: Bionic StableGrip golf glove
• Best golf glove for sweaty hands: FootJoyWeatherSof glove
• Best natural fit glove: Grip Boost Golf Second Skin 2.0 glove
• Best colorful glove: Callaway Golf OptiColor glove

Updated on 8/17/2020 by Rick Stella: Updated the sections on why to wear golf gloves and how to shop for them, checked the availability of each recommended glove, and updated the prices and links where necessary.