2022 Performance Golf Glove Buyer’s Guide

A more durable golf glove saves us money. That’s where the Best Performance Golf Glove comes in.

One of the differences between premium and performance gloves is the material. The material used for the hand tends to be thicker and the gloves often feature Lycra or other flexible material around the knuckles. Those who want that skintight feel should consider a premium glove. If durability, stretch and cost are greater priorities, performance golf gloves are the way to go.

The performance glove category offers the best gloves for rain, heat, humidity, cold and are the best for arthritic hands.

Whether you’re looking to buy a glove today, looking for some buying advice or just want a closer look at what’s on the market right now, this guide will help you find the right performance glove to fit your needs—and your hand.

WINNER – Red Rooster The Cape

If you want a glove with that “premium feeling” and enhanced durability, we strongly recommend the Red Rooster The Cape. It impressed with consistent overall performance. A newcomer to the category, the Red Rooster Cape was outstanding across multiple key metrics, making it the undisputed winner of the 2022 Most Wanted Performance Glove Test.

• 2nd in fit
• 1st in comfort
• 2nd in feel
• 1st in grip

Other Notable Performers

FootJoy StaSof Winter: Those who play golf in the winter should consider these gloves. It has a fleece upper to keep your hand warm with a cabretta leather palm for maximum grip. They’re sold in packs of two—that’s one for each hand if you’re keeping score at home. That mean that on cold days, there’s no reason to take them off.

Titleist Player Flex: If you’re looking for a consistent fitting glove with good grip and plenty of flex where you want it, look no further than the Titleist Player Flex. It won’t disappoint.

Mizuno Elite: One of the softest gloves in the performance category,  the Mizuno Elite offers outstanding grip. With Lycra across the knuckles, it flexes in all the right places.

Features That Matter To You

Comfort

Some golfers prefer thinner material that allows for more connection with the club. Others are happy to trade a bit of feel for the durability that thicker leather often brings. Generally speaking, gloves in the performance category tend to be thicker than the premium gloves we test. We test each glove to ensure there aren’t any poorly placed seams or excess material that can cause discomfort or decrease durability.

Gloves like the Red Rooster The Cape and Red Rooster Range Rooster are great examples of comfort. Golfers placing a premium on comfort should also consider the PING SPORT TECH and Zero Friction Ultra Tac.

Fit

A properly fitting golf glove should be snug across the palm and fingers but somewhat restrictive when clenching your fist. A quarter-inch gap should remain on the Velcro closure pad after securing the glove.

When it comes to sizing, some brands are simply not consistent. As a result, one large glove may not be quite as “large” as the next. Not only should you look for a glove that fits properly but serious golfers should gravitate towards brands that can consistently reproduce the exact same-sized glove.

Gloves that offer a broad range of sizes and “cadet” options have the potential to fit more golfers.

The gloves that provide the best fit are Red Rooster Range Rooster, Bionic Performance Grip Pro and Red Rooster The Cape. Not a fan of Velcro? The Callaway X-Spann is a perfect example of a glove that fits well without a Velcro closure.

Grip

If you don’t wear a glove, this guide isn’t for you. (Duh, why have you read this far?) Why do most professionals wear a glove? Gloves are tackier than skin, particularly in humid conditions, and help maintain a consistent connection to the club. A glove that preserves that connection will help you to feel confident in every swing, knowing that you’re not going to lose control of the club.

Those who want the best performance golf glove for grip should consider the Red Rooster The Cape or the Callaway X-Spann. Golfers who have sweaty hands may want to consider wearing a rain glove. A rain glove like the FootJoy Rain Grip can really help get some extra grip when wet. In sweaty conditions, the FootJoy TropiCool more than held its own.

More Tips

• Sizing can vary significantly between manufacturers. So even if you know your correct size, if you’re thinking about changing to a new model, try before you buy.
• The quality of closures is not consistent across all brands. Look for gloves that secure tight and stay that way. The performance of lower-quality closures will degrade over time. A glove that doesn’t remain secured is worse than useless.
• While style preferences vary, finding the proper fit is a necessity. A properly fitted glove offers maximum performance, comfort and durability.
• Golfers with wide palms and comparatively short fingers should consider cadet-sized gloves. Unfortunately, not all models are offered in cadet sizes.

The Best Performance Golf Gloves of 2022 – FAQ

Q: How much do I need to spend on a glove? 

A: We found great options in 2022 for golfers looking for value as well as those looking for performance. If you want top-notch performance and consistency, expect to spend $15 to $25 per glove. The best-performing performance golf gloves in 2022 in our testing were the Red Rooster The Cape, Mizuno Elite, Titleist Players Flex and PING Sport Tech. At only $10, the Srixon All Weather glove is a capable performer.

Q: How do I know when a glove fits correctly?

A: It’s a cliché but a glove should fit like a second skin. There should be no extra material on the palm, fingers or the top of the hand. A glove is going to stretch. A new glove should fit snugly with a quarter-inch of Velcro still showing on the closure pad when secured. Take a look at this fitting guide for help.

Q: Do I need to wear a glove?

A:  Ah, yes, as multiple major winner Billy Shakespeare once asked, “To wear or not wear?” A glove is, to a degree, a personal preference. Certainly, there are some who pride themselves on playing bare-handed. While that approach can save a significant amount of money over a lifetime, it should be noted that the vast majority of the best players in the world wear gloves. A properly fitted glove will help to ensure a consistent connection with the club regardless of heat, humidity, sweat, etc.

Q: What golf glove does Tiger Woods use?

A: Tiger’s go-to glove for years is the NIKE Dri-Fit Cabretta leather glove. It’s a bit of a cross between a premium and performance glove. It features Lycra stretch material and a synthetic/cabretta leather blend.

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