A sometimes overlooked yet useful piece of equipment is a golf glove. 

A well-fitted golf glove will increase your grip, protect your hand, and help improve your game. Typically, golfers wear only one golf glove. This may lead you to ask “Which hand do you wear a golf glove on?”

Opposite Hand

You wear your golf glove on your opposite or non-dominant hand. 

Right-handed golfers will wear a glove on their left hand, and left-handed golfers will wear it on their right hand. 

Some circumstances may change your approach to wearing a golf glove, but this is the general rule for which golf glove hand to use. 

Both Hands

Some professional golfers such as Aaron Rai wear a golf glove on both hands for a more consistent feel of the club. You can try this method if you like. 

Keep in mind that most brands sell golf gloves single rather than in pairs. You’ll purchase either a left-hand glove or a right-hand glove separately. 

No Gloves

Golf gloves are not an essential piece of gear. Some golfers choose to forgo wearing them at all. 

Before you choose to hit the links without a quality golf glove, consider the advantages you gain by wearing one. 

Why Wear A Golf Glove

The primary purpose of wearing a golf glove is to improve grip. A good-quality glove helps you keep hold of the club better than bare skin. You also avoid sweat affecting your grip on the club when you wear a glove. 

The secondary reason for a glove is to protect your hands. Ask anyone who just completed a session at the driving range after a long off-season how their hands feel. Golfers who play frequently develop callouses that can be painful and unpleasant. 

Wearing a glove will protect your hands from unnecessary blisters and callouses, especially at the start of a new season.

Why Only One Glove 

You know what hand to wear a golf glove on. Why do you wear it on your non-dominant hand?

A right-handed golfer using a conventional grip places the left hand on top. The left hand is the lead hand that does most of the work gripping the club. You’ll primarily want to protect that hand.

The opposite is true, of course, for a left-handed player. The right hand is on top and doing most of the gripping. 

When To Wear A Golf Glove

The main purpose of wearing a golf glove is to improve your grip. Many golfers prefer to wear their gloves during full-swing shots such as driving and using long iron on the fairway. 

Removing the golf glove for short shots such as putting and chipping can give you a better feel on the club leading to more precision. 

Many golfers wear a glove for an entire match for a consistent feel and protection of their lead hand. 

You can try all these methods to find what works best for you. Different shots and weather conditions may affect your strategy at a given time. 

Size and Fit

You’ll get the most benefit from your golf glove when it is comfortable and fits well. You want your glove to be snug but not constricting. Too loose, and it will not prevent movement in your grip. 

Golf outfitters offer a range of sizes so you can find the best fit. You’ll see sizes such as small, cadet, medium, large, and extra-large. 

Be sure that the glove you choose is snug across your palm and does not allow for extra material at your fingertips.

You should be able to make a fist and extend your finders without overstretching the fabric. 

Because more players are right-handed, right-handed golf gloves are stocked plentifully in sports shops. You may have to visit a specialty golf shop to find gloves for left-handed golfers. 

Women’s and Juniors are separate size categories. 

Try It On

You can order a golf glove online, and you may need to if you can’t find a left-hand glove in a shop. But ideally, you’ll try on several sizes and brands before making your selection. 

When To Change Your Golf Glove

You may find that you need more than one glove, even if you only wear one at a time. 

Some golfers prefer to change gloves part-way through a match due to sweat or discomfort. You can keep a few gloves in your bag and change at will. Remember to take any used gloves out to air when you finish playing. 

How Long Golf Gloves Last

All things wear out eventually, even fine leather golf gloves. You’ll have to replace any gloves when they develop holes from normal wear. Gloves can also become stiff from getting wet and then drying over and over. 

The lifespan of your gloves will depend on your frequency of play. Some golfers replace gloves a few times each season. 

You can extend the life of your golf glove by avoiding moisture. Try not to wipe your brow or handle a freshly washed ball with your glove hand. 

Golf Gloves For Fine Weather

Different types of golf gloves serve various purposes. On fine days, a Cabretta leather or similar glove is best. The soft leather offers comfort and flexibility with a nice, tacky grip on the club. 

Brands such as Ping, TaylorMade, Callaway, and FootJoy offer excellent soft leather golf gloves.

Golf Gloves For Changeable Conditions

When you expect wet conditions, you can opt for all-weather synthetic gloves or wet-weather gloves. 

FootJoy Rain Grip or TaylorMade Rain Control gloves are designed for more grip when wet. They typically come in pairs for greater grip effectiveness and comfort. 

Final Thoughts

So, what hand do you wear a golf glove on? Usually, you will wear your golf glove on your opposite or non-dominant hand. Whichever hand is on top in your grip is doing most of the work during your swing. 

You can opt for two gloves for a consistent feel in your grip. 

Trying on several gloves in a shop to assure you get the best fit is a vital step in choosing the right golf glove.