How to Measure Golf Glove Size

Finding the right golf glove size might seem like a small detail, but your glove is the only thing connecting you to the club - get the fit wrong, and you're making the game unnecessarily hard. A perfect fit translates to better feel, more control, and the confidence to make a great swing. This guide will take you step-by-step through how to measure your hand, understand sizing charts (including those tricky Cadet sizes), and test a glove to make sure it fits like a second skin.

Why Your Glove Fit is More Important Than You Think

Let's get one thing straight: a golf glove isn't just an accessory to keep your hand from getting sweaty or blistered. Its primary job is to give you a secure, confident connection to the club without you having to apply a death grip. Think of it like the tires on a performance car - it’s where the power and control meet the road, or in our case, the grip.

Here’s what happens when the fit is off:

• If the glove is too big: Every time you swing, the material bunches up and shifts in your palm. Even if it's a microscopic movement, your brain senses it. What do you do? You unconsciously squeeze the club tighter to keep it from slipping. That added tension travels right up your forearms, into your shoulders, and completely ruins the fluid, powerful motion we're all looking for. A loose glove is a direct cause of tension, and tension is poison to a good golf swing.
• If the glove is too tight: This is less common, but a glove that’s cutting off your circulation restricts the movement in your fingers and hand. More importantly, it’s just plain uncomfortable. Golf is hard enough without having a distraction on every single shot. You need to feel the clubhead, and a glove that’s working against you robs you of that sensation.

The ideal glove fit allows you to hold the club with a lighter, more relaxed pressure. It becomes an extension of your hand, giving you maximum feedback and control without you even noticing it's there. That's the goal: total connection, zero distraction.

The Two Key Measurements for Finding Your Size

Before you even look at a size chart, you need two simple measurements. This takes all the guesswork out of the process. If you can, use a soft, flexible measuring tape like one you’d use for sewing. If you don't have one, don't worry - a piece of string or even a shoelace and a standard ruler will work just find.

Remember, if you are a right-handed golfer, you wear a glove on your left hand. So, make sure you measure your left hand. If you’re a left-handed golfer, measure your right hand.

1. Hand Circumference

This is the most critical measurement for determining the general size of your glove (Small, Medium, Large, etc.). It measures the width of your palm.

How to do it:

1. Open your hand, keeping your fingers together but relaxed.
2. Wrap the measuring tape around your hand at the widest point, which is usually right across your knuckles.
3. Do not include your thumb in the measurement. The loop of the tape should sit just below your pointer finger knuckle and just above your thumb knuckle.
4. Bring the tape around so it rests smoothly against your skin, not too tight, and read the measurement in inches.

Pro Tip: If you're using a string, just wrap it around your hand the same way, mark where the end meets the string, and then lay it flat against a ruler to get your measurement.

2. Hand Length

This second measurement is what helps you determine if you need a "Cadet" size. It measures the length from your wrist to the tip of your middle finger.

How to do it:

1. Keep your hand open and flat, as if you're about to give a high-five.
2. Place the end of the measuring tape or ruler at the very bottom of your palm, right where it meets your wrist. You’ll usually feel a crease here.
3. Extend the tape measure straight up to the tip of your middle finger.
4. Take note of that measurement in inches.

How to Use Your Measurements: Reading a Size Chart

Once you have those two numbers, you can confidently check any brand's sizing chart. While most brands are similar, it's always best to check the specific chart for the glove you intend to buy. Your Hand Circumference will typically give you your primary size. For example, a man’s hand circumference of 8.5" will usually be a Medium-Large.

Here is a sample Men's Regular Sizing Chart to give you a basic idea (measurements are in inches):

Size Hand Circumference (inches) Hand Length (inches) Small (S) 7.5" - 8" 7" - 7.25" Medium (M) 8" - 8.5" 7.25" - 7.5" Medium-Large (ML) 8.5" - 9" 7.5" - 7.75" Large (L) 9" - 9.5" 7.75" - 8" Extra-Large (XL) 9.5" - 10" 8" - 8.25"

*Note: This is a general guide. Always refer to the manufacturer's specific chart.

What is a "Cadet" Golf Glove?

This is where your Hand Length measurement becomes very important. "Cadet" is not about quality or style, it’s a specific fit for a specific hand shape.

A Cadet size glove has a standard palm width but shorter finger lengths. It’s for golfers who have proportionally wider palms and shorter fingers.

Let's say your Hand Circumference is 9.25 inches, which points T-Mobile a Large on the chart. But when you measure your Hand Length, it's only 7.5 inches - shorter than the typical "Large" length. If you buy a regular Large, you'll have extra, floppy material at the fingertips. This is a perfect signal that you need a Large Cadet glove. It will give you the right width across the palm with fingers that fit you perfectly.

The "Second Skin" Test: How a New Glove Should Really Feel

Your measurements will get you to the right size, but the final verdict comes when you try the glove on. A new, high-quality Cabretta leather glove should feel quite snug at first - almost like it's a half-size too small. That’s actually what you want. Leather stretches and will mold to your hand perfectly after a few rounds.

Here’s your checklist for the perfect fit test:

• The Fingers First: The material should be snug all the way down each finger, with no noticeable air pockets or loose material at the fingertips. If you can pinch more than a quarter-inch of material at the tip of your fingers, the glove is too big.
• Across the Palm: Smoothly pull the glove on. It should fit snugly across the palm and the back of your hand. When you make a fist, the leather should feel tight against your knuckles but not restrictive. There shouldn’t be any wrinkles or bunches of material gathering in your palm.
• The Closure Tab Check: This is a great pro tip. After you put the glove on, fasten the a Velcro tab. Ideally, the tab should only cover about 75% to 80% of the Velcro landing pad. This leaves a bit of room for the leather to stretch over time. If the tab covers 100% of the pad right out of the box, the glove is likely a bit too big and will become floppy once it stretches.

If a glove passes all three of these checks, you've found your perfect size. It should feel like a neatly tailored suit for your hand - it’s a precise, second-skin fit that moves with you, not against you.

Final Thoughts

Getting your glove size right is one of those small, fundamental things that has a surprisingly big impact on your game. By taking a couple of simple measurements and knowing what to look for when you try one on, you can make sure your one connection to the golf club is as secure and confident as possible.

Dialing in your equipment, from glove fit to club specs, is a huge part of playing smarter, more confident golf. Playing smarter continues on the course, but it’s not always about things you can measure with a ruler. That’s where I get really excited about tools like Caddie AI. When you're standing over a tricky lie in the rough or feeling stuck between two clubs, having an expert opinion in your pocket removes doubt. You can even take a photo of your ball's lie, and our app will give you a smart. simple strategy for the shot. It’s a way to get that same level of confidence in your decisions that you now have in your glove fit.