How to find the right golf glove and store it properly

According to FootJoy’s Donald Zabkar, research conducted by his company a few years ago revealed that about 65 percent of golfers are wearing the wrong size glove. That means it’s likely that two of the players in your foursome are unknowingly affecting their game by using gloves that don’t fit properly.

Unfortunately, recreational golfers often don’t think much about golf gloves. We all know someone who will wear the same glove until it literally falls apart when they try to put it on or a golfer who uses a glove that has holes in it. However, a properly fit, well-maintained glove can help you stay connected to the club without extra tension, and that can mean more speed, better control and enhanced feel. So, it’s critical to understand how your gloves should fit and how you should take care of them to prolong their durability and performance.

How Should Your Golf Glove Fit?

When it comes to golf gloves, snug is the name of the game. The perfect glove should fit like a second skin, wrapping tightly around your palm and fingers without any excess material bunching up. In fact, if you spread your hand after you put on a well-fitting glove, the material in the palm might feel like it is extra taught. That’s good. If your glove is too loose, the extra material can bunch up and lead to a bad connection between your hands and the grip.

The fingers of the glove should extend just to the tips of your fingers. If there’s significant material at the end, the glove is too big. If a glove fits properly in your hand but you find there is too much space at the end of your fingers, try a cadet version of the glove. Cadet gloves are made for golfers who have shorter fingers and wider palms.

The Velcro closure should only require a slight pull to secure. If you’re stretching the strap significantly, the glove is too small.

“The the key indication to us regarding sizing is the Velcro going over the tab when the golfer is putting on a brand new glove for the first time,” FootJoy’s Zabkar said. “Roughly a quarter-inch of that Velcro hook and loop system should be showing because the material is pliable and it will contour and stretch to your hand throughout the use of the glove, especially when we talk about Cabretta leather gloves such as the StaSof or Pure Touch within our line.”

Many gloves come with stretch material or elastic around the knuckles or base…