A grimy, stiff golf glove feels like a barrier between you and the club, but throwing that expensive FootJoy in the wash feels like a huge risk. The good news is you absolutely can wash a FootJoy golf glove and bring it back to life. This guide will walk you through the correct, safe process for hand-washing your glove to restore its tackiness and extend its lifespan, ensuring you have the best possible connection to your club.
You might think a golf glove is a disposable item, meant to be used until it's crusty and then replaced. While all gloves will eventually wear out, washing yours isn't just about appearances. A clean glove performs significantly better. Over time, the leather or synthetic material absorbs sweat, body oils, and dirt. This buildup not only makes the glove feel slick and stiff, it actually degrades the material and destroys the grip it was designed to provide.
From a coaching perspective, a secure, confident grip is the foundation of the entire golf swing. When your glove loses its tackiness, you subconsciously start to grip the club tighter to keep it from slipping. This excess tension creeps up your arms and into your shoulders, restricting your turn and robbing you of power and consistency. By washing your glove, you essentially hit a reset button. You restore the grip, allowing you to hold the club with lighter, more sensitive pressure. This single change can help you feel the clubhead better and make a more fluid, athletic swing.
If you ask FootJoy directly, they’ll generally advise against a full-on submersion wash. Their official recommendation is to clean the surface with a cloth dampened with water and a tiny bit of mild soap, then let it air dry. This is the absolute safest method and is a great option for light, routine maintenance. It prevents any risk of over-saturating the delicate Cabretta leather found in their premium models like the StaSof and Pure Touch.
However, let's be realistic. After a few hot, sweaty summer rounds, a simple surface wipe isn't going to cut it. Grime and salt from perspiration deeply penetrate the leather's pores. For a true deep clean that restores that 'like-new' tacky feel, a careful hand-washing is the most effective approach. The key is in the technique - doing it gently and correctly will revive your glove without causing damage.
Let's settle this for good: never, ever, ever put your leather or high-end synthetic golf glove in a washing machine.
A washing machine is simply too aggressive for the delicate materials of a premium golf glove. The combination of harsh detergents, the tumbling mechanical action, and a high-speed spin cycle will strip the natural oils from the leather. This makes the glove shrink, stiffen, and become as brittle as a potato chip when it dries. Think of it like trying to wash a fine leather jacket - you just wouldn’t do it. High heat from a machine dryer is even worse, as it will essentially cook the leather, guaranteeing it will crack and become unusable.
Hand-washing provides the control you need to clean the glove thoroughly yet gently. You can manage the water temperature, the amount of soap, and the pressure you apply, making it the only truly safe and effective method for restoring your FootJoy glove.
Ready to bring that glove back from the brink? It’s easier than you think. Just follow these steps carefully, and your glove will thank you.
To start, put the glove on the hand you wear it on. This helps it maintain its shape during the wash. Turn on the faucet to a gentle stream of lukewarm water. Run your gloved hand under the water, using your free hand to gently rub the surface. Your goal here is to remove any loose surface dirt and wet the material without completely waterlogging it right away.
Keep the glove on your hand. Squeeze a small, pea-sized drop of mild soap into the palm of the glove. Now, just like you’re washing your hands, gently rub your palms together and work the soap all over the glove’s surface. Focus on the palm and fingers, as these are the areas that collect the most oil and dirt. Be gentle but thorough, creating a light lather. You should see the grime lifting out almost immediately.
Once you’ve worked the soap in, it’s time to rinse. Run the gloved hand under lukewarm water again, making sure to a rinse away all traces of soap. Soap residue left behind can dry out the leather, so this is a significant step. Once the water runs clear and all the suds are gone, gently squeeze the water out of the glove, starting from the cuff and working your way down to the fingertips. Do not twist or wring the glove out. This is critical, as wringing the glove will stretch and damage the leather fibers and stitching.
This is where patience pays off and where most people ruin their gloves. Take the glove off your hand and place it flat on one of the clean, dry towels. Fold the towel over and pat it down firmly to absorb the bulk of the excess water. Unfold the towel, take out the glove and lay it flat on the second dry towel.
Now for the most important part: find a place for it to air dry at room temperature. Keep it out of direct sunlight and away from ANY heat source like a radiator, heating vent, or clothes dryer. Heat is the enemy of wet leather. Allow the glove to dry naturally for several hours. This process can take anywhere from 12 to 24 hours.
Don't wait for the glove to become bone-dry and stiff. When it’s about 90% dry but still slightly damp and cool to the touch, put it back on your hand. Make a fist and flex your fingers several times. This helps to stretch the leather back into its proper form and works softness back into the fibers before they have a chance to stiffen up. After wearing it for a few minutes and flexing your hand, take it off and let it air dry for the final stretch. This one small action makes a huge difference in the final feel of the glove.
Yes, this gentle hand-washing method is safe and effective for the entire FootJoy lineup, but it’s especially important for their premium leather gloves.
By taking 15 minutes to properly care for your glove, you not only save a bit of money, but you also ensure that your most direct connection to the golf club is performing exactly as it should.
You can wash your FootJoy golf gloves, and doing so will restore their grip, feel, and performance. The process simply requires a gentle touch: a hand-wash with mild soap and lukewarm water, followed by a slow, natural air-drying process away from heat.
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