What Side Is the Glove for Golf?

For right-handed golfers, the glove goes on the left hand. For left-handed golfers, it goes on the right hand. This simple rule is the bedrock of golf equipment etiquette, but understanding the why behind it can genuinely help you improve your connection with the club and play with more confidence. This guide will walk you through not just which hand to put your glove on, but why it matters, how to choose the perfect glove, and how to take care of it so you get the most out of every swing.

The Simple Answer: Your Glove Goes on Your Lead Hand

In golf, the glove isn't worn for warmth or fashion, it’s a functional piece of equipment designed to enhance your grip. We only wear one glove on what's called our "lead hand." This is the hand positioned at the top of the golf club handle, which guides the club throughout the entire swing.

• For a right-handed golfer: Your left hand is at the top of the grip. Therefore, you wear your glove on your left hand.
• For a left-handed golfer: Your right hand is at the top of the grip. It follows that you wear your glove on your right hand.

Think of it as the opposite of your dominant hand. Your lead hand establishes the primary connection to the club and takes the most strain and friction during the swing. Your bottom hand, the "trail hand," sits below it and provides more support and feel, which is why most players prefer to keep it uncovered to maintain a direct sense of touch.

Why Bother With a Glove at All?

If you've ever tried to swing hard on a hot, humid day, you probably already understand the biggest reason: grip security. A sweaty palm and a smooth rubber grip are a recipe for disaster. The club can slip or twist in your hands at the moment of impact, sending your ball far from its intended target.

But the benefits go much deeper than just dealing with sweat.

1. Consistent Grip Pressure

A golf glove allows you to hold the club securely without needing a "death grip." When you have to squeeze the club too tightly to keep it from slipping, it introduces tension into your forearms, shoulders, and back. This tension restricts your ability to rotate freely and ruins the smoothness of your swing. A glove provides that extra bit of tackiness so you can maintain a light, consistent pressure. This relaxed state lets you swing the club with your bigger muscles (your torso and hips), which is the source of real power and consistency.

2. Blister and Callus Prevention

Your lead hand, especially the area where the handle rests against your palm and fingers, endures a tremendous amount of friction. Hitting a full bucket of balls at the range or playing 18 holes without a glove can easily lead to painful blisters and hardened calluses. While calluses can be a golfer's badge of honor, painful raw spots can keep you off the course. The glove acts as a comfortable protective layer between your skin and the grip, allowing you to practice and play without discomfort.

3. Performance in All Conditions

Besides handling sweat on a hot day, a glove is a massive advantage in other weather conditions. In light rain or morning dew, a standard glove can help maintain that crucial connection. There are also specific "all-weather" or "rain" gloves that actually become more grippy when they get wet, giving you the confidence to play well even when the elements aren't cooperating.

Is It Mandatory? Breaking Down the "No-Glove" Myth

It's important to know that wearing a golf glove is not a requirement in the rules of golf, it's a personal preference and a piece of equipment. You'll even see a few professional golfers, most famously Fred Couples, who play without one. Players who go gloveless often say they prefer the raw, direct feedback from the club face. They've spent decades developing hand strength and a feel for the club that a glove might slightly dull.

However, for the vast majority of amateur golfers, the advantages of a glove far exceed the drawbacks. The security it provides allows for a more aggressive, confident swing without the fear of the club twisting out of position. Unless you have exceptionally dry hands and play in perfect weather all the time, a glove is one of the simplest and most effective ways to improve your control over the club.

When to Take the Glove Off

Many golfers, including the pros, take their glove off for shots around the green, specifically for chipping and putting. On these shorter, more delicate shots, generating clubhead speed isn't the goal. Instead, it’s all about touch and feel. Taking the glove off for putts allows you to get a better sense of the pressure on the putter grip, helping with distance control. It also has the practical benefit of giving your hand a chance to breathe and allowing your glove to air out between shots, extending its life.

How to Choose the Perfect Golf Glove for Your Game

Stepping into a golf shop and looking at a wall of gloves can be intimidating. They come in different materials, sizes, and price points. Here's a simple, step-by-step process to find the right one for you.

Step 1: Get the Fit Right (This is Everything)

This is the most critical factor. A glove that fits poorly is worse than no glove at all. If it's too big, the material will bunch up in your palm and actually reduce your grip. If it's too small, it will be uncomfortable and tear prematurely.

A properly fitting golf glove should feel like a second skin. Here's what to look for:

• Fingers: There should be no extra material at the tips of your fingers. The glove should fit snugly all the way down.
• Palm: When you make a fist, the palm of the glove should be smooth and taut against your skin. There should be no wrinkles or bagging.
• The Velcro Tab Test: This is a great pro tip. When you first put on a brand new glove, the Velcro closure tab across the back of the hand should only go about 75% to 80% of the way across its landing pad. This leaves room for the glove, especially a leather one, to stretch slightly during its first few uses. If you can close it all the way on your first try, the glove is likely too big.

Step 2: Understand the Material Showdown: Leather vs. Synthetic

The material of your glove affects its feel, durability, breathability, and price. The two main categories are Cabretta leather and synthetic materials.

Cabretta Leather Gloves

Considered the premium standard, Cabretta leather comes from a specific type of hairsheep, not from goats as sometimes mistaken. It's known for its incredibly soft, supple texture and excellent feel.

• Pros: Unmatched feel and sensitivity, highly breathable which helps manage moisture, molds to your hand over time.
• Cons: Less durable than synthetic options, more expensive, can become stiff or brittle if it gets soaked and then dries out improperly.

Who is it for? Avid golfers who prioritize feel above all else and don't mind replacing their glove more often for peak performance.

Synthetic & Leather-Synthetic Blends

Synthetic gloves are typically made from materials engineered to be durable and flexible. Many modern gloves are hybrids, combining synthetic materials across the knuckles and back for flexibility and durability with a leather palm for better feel.

• Pros: Much more durable, retain their shape better, perform better in wet and humid conditions, and are generally less expensive.
• Cons: Don't offer the same buttery-soft feel as full leather, can be less breathable.

Who is it for? Beginners, golfers on a budget, players who practice a lot and go through gloves quickly, or anyone who frequently plays in wet weather.

Tips to Make Your Glove Last Longer

Good golf gloves aren't cheap, so you'll want to take care of them. A little maintenance can double the life of a glove, especially a high-quality leather one.

• Don't Scrunge It Up: The worst thing you can do is pull your glove off and stuff it into the bottom of your bag. The sweat and oils from your hand will get trapped, and it will dry into a stiff, crusty mess.
• Air It Out During the Round: Take your glove off between shots or while walking to your ball. Hook it onto the Velcro tab on your bag or hang it from the cart's frame to air out.
• Smooth It Out Ater the Round: After you're done playing, flatten the glove out. A great trick is to keep its original packaging (the cardboard and plastic sleeve) and slide it back inside to help it maintain its shape as it dries.
• Air Dry Naturally: Never use a hairdryer or put a wet glove on a heater. Let it dry slowly at room temperature, away from direct sunlight.

Final Thoughts

Simply put, a right-handed golfer wears a glove on the left hand, while a lefty wears one on the right. This placement on the lead hand is all about creating a secure, confident grip that allows for a free and powerful swing. Finding a glove that fits like a second skin is far more important than the brand or price, as a good connection is the entire point.

Learning the small details, like which hand wears the glove, is part of developing confidence on the course. That confidence soars when you can step up to any shot knowing exactly how to play it. That's why we built Caddie AI to be your personal on-demand golf expert. If you’re ever unsure about strategy or club selection, you can get an instant recommendation. You can even snap a photo of a challenging lie in the rough or a tricky stance in a bunker, and our AI will provide smart, simple advice on how to execute the shot so you can play smarter and with less uncertainty.