If you've ever watched a golf competition on TV, you've probably noticed it.
The player makes his shot. Takes off his golf glove. Puts it in his back pocket or holds it loosely in his hand as he walks towards the ball.
A few minutes later it starts again.
The same thing happens hole after hole.
Tour pros don't just take off their gloves out of habit. They do it to keep their hands and gloves drier – and to preserve grip, fit and feel.
The invisible opponent of the golf glove
Most golfers think that a glove is primarily worn by the club grip.
That's true, of course. The friction with each stroke affects the material, especially in the palm and at the thumb.
But in a thin premium glove made of cabretta leather, there is another factor that affects both the feel and longevity:
Moisture.
When your hand gets hot, it starts to sweat, even when it doesn't feel particularly warm outside. The moisture stays between your hand and the glove and is gradually absorbed by the leather.
This can make the leather softer and more pliable for the moment. However, if the glove is damp for a large part of the round, it can also stretch faster, lose some of its original fit, and change when it later dries.
That's why many tour players don't let the glove stay on their hand longer than necessary.
Four hours of golf – a few minutes with the club
A round of golf often takes about four hours.
But the total time you actually stand over the ball and hold the stick is very short.
The rest of the time you walk between shots, waiting for other players, reading greens, looking for balls or thinking about the next shot.
During most of the round, you actually don't need the golf glove.
If you wear the glove throughout the round, the heat and moisture are sealed in against the skin.
If you take it off between strokes, your hand will get some air. The glove will also have the opportunity to dry out a bit and moisture build-up will be reduced.
It's not a miracle method, but over the course of a round, this little habit can help the glove feel drier and maintain its fit better.
That's why they take off their gloves on the green
When tour players reach the green, the same thing almost always happens.
The glove comes off.
Part of it is moisture. While the player is reading the green, marking the ball and waiting for his turn, the glove gets a few more minutes without contact with the warm hand.
But there is also another explanation:
Feeling.
During a drive or iron shot, the glove helps create a stable grip when the club is moving at high speed.
In a putt, the movement is significantly slower. Many players want direct contact between both hands and the putter grip.
During full strokes, a stable grip is prioritized.
When putting, many players instead prioritize maximum feeling in their hands.
The fact that the glove can be aired at the same time is an added advantage.
There is no rule against putting without a glove. Some of the greatest players in golf history have putted with their gloves on. But on today's tours it is much more common for them to be taken off.
That's why professionals wear multiple gloves
On hot and humid competition days, it is not always enough to take off the glove between strokes.
That's why many tour players have several gloves in their bag and change them during the round.
One glove is used while another is allowed to dry.
It's not necessarily that the first glove is already worn out. It may simply have become too damp to provide the feel and grip the player wants.
The tour player doesn't wait until the grip feels bad.
The glove is changed before moisture becomes a problem.
For a player who makes a living on small margins, a dry and well-fitting glove is an easy thing to check.
Why does the glove sometimes become hard after the round?
Many golfers have experienced that a soft leather glove feels stiff or wrinkled the next time it is taken out.
Often the glove has become damp during the game and then had to be folded up and dried in the bag.
When the moisture leaves the leather, the material can dry in the shape it is in. Salt and other residues from sweat can also remain in the leather and affect the feel.
Therefore, it is better to let the glove dry flat or in its natural shape than to push it damp into a small compartment.
A damp leather glove should be allowed to dry slowly – not on a radiator and not squeezed together in a bag.
Should all golfers do the same?
You don't have to copy every move you see on the tour.
If you play in cool weather and rarely get your hands wet, the difference is likely quite small.
But the habit becomes more relevant if you:
Playing in hot or humid weather.
Hands get sweaty easily.
Uses thin gloves made of cabretta leather.
Plays or practices several times a week.
Want the glove to maintain its fit for as long as possible.
It costs nothing to try.
Take the glove off after the stroke, let your hand air out, and put it back on when it's time to play. After a few rounds, you'll notice if it fits your routine.
Rain gloves work differently
For regular leather gloves, the goal is usually to keep the material as dry as possible.
With rain gloves, the principle is often the opposite.
They are made from synthetic materials that are designed to provide grip in the wet, so many rain gloves work better when the material is damp.
This is also why rain gloves are normally worn on both hands. When the club grip is wet, friction and stability are needed from both sides.
Three simple habits that help the glove
1. Take it off between strokes
Especially on hot days or when you notice your hand starting to get damp.
2. Rotate between two gloves
Let one dry while you use the other. This is especially effective during hot laps and longer workouts.
3. Let it dry in the correct shape
Don't put a damp leather glove in a crumpled bag. Smooth it out and let it air dry at room temperature.
A small detail with a clear thought behind it
The next time you see a tour player take off his glove after a shot, you'll know why.
It's about reducing moisture on the hand.
About maintaining the fit of the glove.
And about starting the next stroke with as dry and stable a grip as possible.
On the tour, few details are left to chance. Not even what happens to the glove between strokes.
Find the right golf glove for your game
At Golfvante you will find golf gloves for different conditions and priorities – from thin Tour gloves in cabretta leather to durable models and gloves developed for rain.
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