What Hand Needs a Glove in Golf?

If you’re wondering what hand needs a glove in golf, the straightforward answer is that a right-handed golfer wears a glove on their left hand, while a left-handed golfer wears it on their right. This practice isn't just about looking the part, it's a fundamental technique to get a better, more consistent connection with the club. This guide will walk you through exactly why this is the standard, the real benefits it offers your game, when you might choose to take the glove off, and how to pick the perfect one for you.

The Simple Answer: It's Your "Top" Hand

Walk onto any driving range or course, and you'll see that almost every golfer with a glove is wearing it on just one hand. The a "rule" here is simple: you wear the glove on the hand that sits at the top of your grip, which is often called your "lead" hand.

For Right-Handed Golfers

If you're a right-handed player, your left hand is at the top of the club. Therefore, you'll wear a glove on your left hand. This hand has the most direct influence on the club's path and the orientation of the clubface throughout the swing. Your right hand sits below it, primarily providing support and power.

For Left-Handed Golfers

For all the lefties out there, the principle is just mirrored. Your right hand is positioned at the top of the grip, making it your lead hand. So, if you're a left-handed golfer, you'll wear a glove on your right hand. Same logic, same benefits - just for the other side.

So, Why Wear a Glove on Just One Hand?

Now that we’ve covered the "what," let's get into the "why." This isn't just a quirky golf tradition, there are some very practical coaching reasons behind the single-glove method. It all comes down to optimizing for grip with one hand and feel with the other.

The Lead Hand Does Most of the Work

Think of your lead hand (the gloved one) as the steering wheel of your golf swing. It guides the club during the backswing and controls the clubface angle at impact. Because this hand is your primary connection point, establishing a secure link is paramount. A quality glove prevents even the smallest amount of slippage between your palm and the grip, which could twist the clubface open or closed just before impact. A secure lead hand gives you the confidence to swing freely without fearing you'll lose control of the club.

Enhancing Grip and Preventing Slippage

Here’s the most obvious reason: grip. Even on a cool day, your hands produce moisture. Add in heat, humidity, or a little bit of on-course pressure, and you get sweaty palms. A slick grip and a sweaty hand are a recipe for disaster. A golf glove, particularly one made of cabretta leather or advanced synthetic materials, is designed to absorb moisture and maintain tackiness. This allows you to hold the club with much less pressure. A death grip creates tension in your arms and shoulders, killing your tempo and power. A glove lets you relax your hands while remaining confident that the club won’t move an inch.

Protecting Your Hand from Blisters and Calluses

If you're new to the game or plan on a long session at the range, friction is going to happen. The repetitive motion of swinging a club can easily cause painful blisters and rough calluses on your lead hand. A glove acts as a layer of protective armor. It softens the friction and allows you to practice or play for longer periods without tearing up your hand. For a golf coach, keeping a player’s hands healthy is step one to keeping them playing and improving.

Feel and Feedback with the "Touch" Hand

So if a glove is so great, why not wear two? The answer lies in the role of your bottom hand (the right hand for a righty). This is often called the "touch" or "feel" hand. Keeping it bare allows for a more direct and sensitive connection to the club. You can better feel the subtle responses from the clubhead, especially on delicate shots like chips, pitches, and putts. Having skin on grip gives you a finer level of feedback, which many players feel helps them with distance control and shaping shots around the green. It’s the perfect blend: the top hand provides the secure structure, and the bottom hand provides the nuanced feel.

When You Might Ditch the Glove

While wearing one glove is the standard for full swings, it’s not an iron-clad rule for every shot. Great golf is about adapting, and there are specific times when taking the glove off is not only common but also recommended.

• On the Putting Green: Almost no professional or experienced amateur wears a glove to putt. Putting is the ultimate feel-based part of the game. You need maximum tactile feedback to control the small, precise movements of the putting stroke. The extra layer of a glove, no matter how thin, can slightly dull that sensation. Take it off before you step onto the green, and you’ll instantly feel more connected to your putter.
• For Delicate Chips and Pitches: Some players also prefer to take their glove off for short-game shots around the green. Like putting, chipping requires a soft touch to control the distance and spin of the ball. Golfers like the legendary Fred Couples famously play entirely without a glove, arguing it gives them superior feel on every shot. While that's an extreme example, trying some practice chips without a glove can help you feel more in tune with the club.
• When Tradition Takes a Backseat (Rain Gloves): The one major exception to the single-glove rule comes with rough weather. In rainy conditions, standard leather gloves become incredibly slick. This is where rain gloves, which are sold in pairs, become essential. They're made from a special synthetic material that actually becomes more grippy when wet. In a downpour, wearing a rain glove on both hands is the smart play and the go-to choice for tour pros.

The Two-Glove Approach: Is It Ever a Good Idea?

Seeing a golfer with gloves on both hands is rare, but it does happen. While most instructors would guide players toward the one-glove standard to maximize feel, there are a few situations where two gloves might make sense.

Some beginners, for instance, wear two gloves simply because it feels more symmetrical and comfortable at first, or because they get blisters on both hands. Other golfers who have skin conditions or suffer from arthritis sometimes find that two gloves provide extra protection and cushioning. Professional golfer Tommy "Two Gloves" Gainey made this look his own. Ultimately, golf has very few strict rules about equipment like this. If you feel that wearing two gloves gives you more confidence and doesn't hurt your touch around the greens, then it’s a valid personal choice.

A Quick Guide to Choosing Your Glove

Buying a glove is about more than just grabbing one off the rack. Getting the fit and material right will make a noticeable difference in its performance. Think of it as a piece of performance equipment, not an accessory.

Get the Fit Right

This is the most important part. A golf glove should fit like a second skin. There should be no loose material or air pockets in the palm or at the fingertips. When you put it on, it should feel snug across the knuckles and palm, but not so tight that it restricts your movement or cuts off circulation. A glove that's too big will bunch up in your grip, completely defeating its purpose of providing a secure connection. When you try one on, you should have to give the tab a little tug to get it to close perfectly.

Material Matters: Leather vs. Synthetic

You’ll generally find three types of materials a glove might be made from:

• Cabretta Leather: This is the premium choice, prized for its exceptionally soft texture and superior feel. Cabretta leather provides the best feedback and molds to your hand over time. However, it's the least durable material and can wear out relatively quickly, especially with frequent use. It's the top choice for players who prioritize feel above all else.
• Synthetic: Synthetic gloves are built for durability and all-weather performance. They are more resistant to moisture, last longer than leather, and often cost less. While they might not offer the same buttery-soft feel as cabretta, modern synthetic materials provide excellent grip and flexibility.
• Hybrid: As the name suggests, a hybrid glove offers the best of both worlds. They typically feature cabretta leather in the palm and fingers for enhanced feel and grip, with synthetic material across the back of the hand and knuckles for better flexibility, breathability, and durability. For most amateur golfers, a hybrid is an excellent, well-rounded option.

Final Thoughts

In short, a right-handed golfer wears a glove on the left hand, and a lefty on the right. This isn’t a random quirk, but a method used to maximize grip and club control with your lead hand while preserving the delicate touch needed in your other hand for scoring shots. Choosing the right fit and material is just as important as knowing which hand to put it on.

Getting small details like this right is the foundation of playing confident, smarter golf. Once you have a handle on the basics, you might find yourself on the course asking bigger questions - like which club to hit from 165 yards in the wind or the best way to play a tricky downhill lie. This is where having a trusted expert can make all the difference, and it's why we built our app. With Caddie AI, you can snap a photo of any tough situation and get an instant, pro-level strategy, or just ask it any golf question you have, anytime. It’s like having a 24/7 personal caddie and coach in your pocket, ready to take the guesswork out of your game.