2022 Premium Glove Buyer’s Guide

We all watch the PGA TOUR and LPGA Tour on TV each week. Just about every pro wears a glove, right? But are they playing a premium or a performance glove? Did you even know there was a difference?

Let us break it down for you.

The best premium golf glove is usually constructed out of one piece of leather, normally cabretta or AAA cabretta. It’s basically the softest leather on the market.

A performance glove is typically constructed of two or more materials like cabretta and synthetic leather with some Lycra added for better flexibility. Performance gloves tend to be more durable.

For this test, we have tested 38 different gloves featuring different colors, unique patterns on the wrist and fingers, even built-in sweat bands.

Which premium glove is right for you? That’s where we come in. We are here to help you, the consumer, make the best decision possible when buying your next golf glove or your next golf purchase.

WINNER – PXG Players

Sometimes the difference of shooting your handicap or even better might come down to the glove you’re wearing. The PXG Players glove offers the softest leather for a better connection between hand and grip. This premium glove edged out some tough competition with its dominance across multiple key metrics, making it the undisputed winner and crowned the Best Premium Golf Glove of 2022.

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

Other Notable Performers

Titleist Players: A veteran of the premium glove test, the Titleist Players still holds its own. It is perfect for those who want the thinnest leather to ensure they don’t lose any connection between hand and club.

Cuater Premier: Following in its brother’s “Between The Lines” footsteps, the Premier glove has one of the softest leathers around. The cut from glove to glove is consistent so you know the fit will be perfect every time you buy one.

FootJoy StaSof: We all know how good FootJoy gloves are and the StaSof lives up to the name. The glove has a consistent cut/fit from glove to glove and the soft leather they use will last that little bit longer than most gloves in the test.

COBRA Pur Tour: A second-year contestant in the Best Premium Golf Glove test, the COBRA Pur Tour is one to consider. Its consistent stitching makes it comfortable with no areas that dig into your hand. The Pur Touch also has some of the softest leather in the test, makin for a direct connection between hand and grip.

FootJoy Pure Touch: No stranger to making good, consistent gloves, the FootJoy Pure Touch feels like a second skin. It ranked well for comfort and feel so, if those are your priorities, look no further. The Pure Touch will also last longer than your average golf glove because of the leather used.

Features That Matter

Grip

If you don’t wear a glove, why have you bothered to read this far? This guide isn’t for you. The reality is that the overwhelming majority of professionals wear a glove. Why? Gloves help maintain a consistent connection to the club. A glove that preserves that connection will help you feel confident in every swing, knowing you’re not going to lose control of the club.

For the best grip, consider the GFore Blossom. Other quality grip options are the PING Tour, COBRA Pur Tour and the FootJoy Pure Touch.

Comfort

There are two schools of thought and both are preference-based. Some golfers like thinner leather while others are happy to trade a bit of feel for the durability of a thicker leather. We test each glove to ensure there aren’t any poorly placed seams or excess material that can cause discomfort and decrease durability.

Those who are seeking the most comfortable glove should consider the PXG Players, Cuater Between The Lines, PING Tour, Penfold GX Performance, Titleist Players and FootJoy Pure Touch.

Fit

The Best Premium Golf Glove should be snug across the palm and fingers but not too restrictive when clenching your fist. There should a 1/4-inch gap left when you pull the Velcro tab for tightness. Be aware that some brands don’t monitor sizing quality control as carefully as others. For example, ideally, every glove labeled “large” would have the same measurements but that’s not always the case. Not only should you look for a glove that fits properly but serious golfers should gravitate to brands that offer consistent sizing quality control.

The best fitting gloves for 2022 are the Cuater Between the Lines, Penfold GX Performance and PXG Players. The Vice Pure is also excellent.

More Tips

• Sizing can vary significantly between manufacturers. Even if you know your correct size, if you’re thinking about changing to a new model, we recommend trying it on before buying.
• The quality of closures is not consistent across all brands. Look for gloves that secure tightly and stay tight. The performance of lower-quality Velcro-style closures will degrade over time. A glove that doesn’t stay secured is a useless glove.
• While style preferences will vary among golfers, finding the proper fit is an absolute 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.
• Thinner leather is great for feel but be aware that they will wear more quickly than gloves made of thicker material. If you’re a feel player and prefer thinner leather, you might be in for a bigger investment over time. The thinnest glove in this year’s test is the Titleist Players. It’s followed closely by the Srixon Premium.
• Quality control and consistent sizing come at a price. If you don’t mind that occasionally your glove will fit slightly different than the supposedly identical one you previously purchased, consider the Kirkland Signature.

The Best Premium Golf Glove 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 outstanding performance and consistency, expect to spend $25 to $30 per glove. The best-performing gloves in 2022 in our testing were the PXG Players, PING Tour, Titleist Players, Vice Pure, COBRA Pur Tour and Cuater Between The Lines. If you can tolerate some size inconsistencies from glove to glove, we recommend the Kirkland Signature and the MG DynaGrip Elite. Prices for these gloves range from $5 to $9 and both performed well in the test.

Q: Do professional golfers wear gloves?

A: Most professionals wear golf gloves for extra grip while they play on those hot summer days. However, some players, like Fred Couples, choose not to play with a glove. It comes down to personal preference.

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

A: It’s a cliché, perhaps, but a glove really 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 1/4 inch of Velcro still showing when secured. Take a look at this fitting guide for help.

Q: What golf glove does Tiger Woods use?

A: For many years, Tiger plays the NIKE Dri-Fit cabretta leather glove which is a cross between a premium and performance glove. The Lycra stretch material, synthetic leather mixed with cabretta, made it Tiger’s go-to glove for years.

Q: Do I need to wear a glove?

A: To wear or not wear a glove is a personal preference. Some golfers 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 best players in the world all wear gloves. A properly fitted glove helps ensure a consistent connection with the club regardless of heat, humidity, sweat, etc.

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