MGS Tested: Performance Gloves For 2020

2020 PERFORMANCE GLOVE BUYERS GUIDE

Not too long ago, cost was the primary determining factor for golfers choosing between premium (tour) and performance gloves. As value options have entered the market, however, price isn’t the consideration it once was.

Take a look at these premium gloves and notice that the Kirkland Signature premium gloves are a whopping $5.75 per glove. If, for some reason, you don’t like the Kirkland gloves and are still a baller on a budget, the performance category is for you. Performance gloves are typically thicker (more durable) leather or stretchy materials with greater breathability. The category also allows golfers to wear familiar logos, often at price points significantly less than the premium category.

If you’re a performance glove person, you will be wondering which glove is right for you. That’s where we come in. We put the best of the performance category to the test – and even threw in a few rain gloves for good measure.

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

How We Test

We're here to help you find the perfect performance glove to fit your needs.

To do that, we employ a thorough and fully independent testing process that leaves no feature unexplored, no display unchecked, and no stone unturned.

Our Metrics

Performance gloves are tested head to head with rigorous protocols.

The metrics we consider when rating performance gloves include Fit, Comfort, Feel, and Grip

FEATURES THAT MATTER TO YOU

Comfort

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

Gloves without Velcro tend to provide the best comfort. Gloves like Falko Airlite are great examples of this. However, you can find similar comfort in the PING Tour , which does have Velcro.

Fit

A properly fitting golf glove should fit snugly across the palm and finger, but restrictive when clenching your fist. There should a 1/4″ gap left after you’ve secured the glove. Also, be aware that, when it comes to sizing, some brands are not consistent. 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 time and time again.

Gloves that offer multiple size options including cadet are usually the best fitting gloves. Gloves that can provide these offerings are Titleist Players Flex, PING Sport and Inesis Soft.

Grip

If you don’t wear a glove, this guide isn’t for you (why have you read this far?) but the overwhelming majority of tour professionals wear a glove. Why? Gloves are tackier than skin, particularly in the humid months, 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.

Grip is obviously important in a glove but how does it perform in wet or sweaty conditions? A rain glove like the FootJoy Rain Grip can really help get some extra grip when wet. In sweaty conditions, the Titleist Players Flex held its own.

The Best Performance Gloves 2020 - Features

	Product	Sizes	Cadet	Material	Colors	Hand
	Bionic Stable Grip See the Best Price!	S-XXXL	Y	Cabretta Leather	2	R/L
	Callaway Weather Spann See the Best Price!	S-XXL	Y	Synthetic Leather	1	R/L
	Falko Airlite See the Best Price!	XS-XL	N	Robust Buffalo Leather	8	R/L
	Footjoy Contour FLX See the Best Price!	S-XXL	Y	CabrettaSof Leather	1	R/L
	Footjoy Pro FLX See the Best Price!	S-XXL	Y	Cabretta Leather	1	R/L
	Footjoy Rain Grip See the Best Price!	S-XL	Y	Quickdry	2	R/L
	Inesis 100 Resistance See the Best Price!	XS/S-M/L	N	Polyamide/Polyurethane	1	R/L
	Inesis Soft See the Best Price!	S-XXL	N	Cabretta Leather	1	L
	Inesis Winter See the Best Price!	S-XXL	N	Suede Leather	1	R/L
	Mizuno Comp See the Best Price!	S-XXL	Y	Synthetic Leather	1	L
	Mizuno Elite See the Best Price!	S-XXL	Y	Cabretta Leather	1	L
	Mizuno Rain Fit See the Best Price!	S-XL	N	Synthetic Suede	1	R/L
	Nike Dura Feel See the Best Price!	S-XL	Y	Synthetic Leather	1	R/L
	Nike Tech Extreme VI See the Best Price!	S-XL	Y	Cabretta Leather	1	R/L
	Ping Sport See the Best Price!	S-XXL	Y	Cabretta Leather	1	R/L
	Ping Sport Tech See the Best Price!	S-XXL	Y	Synthetic Leather	1	R/L
	Srixon All Weather See the Best Price!	S-XL	N	Synthetic Leather	1	R/L
	Srixon Tech Cabretta See the Best Price!	S-XL	Y	Cabretta Leather	1	R/L
	Taylormade Stratus See the Best Price!	S-XXL	Y	Hypertec	1	R/L
	Titleist Players Flex See the Best Price!	S-XXL	Y	Premium Synthetic	1	R/L
	Under Armour ISO-Chill See the Best Price!	S-XXL	Y	Cabretta Leather	4	R/L
	Vice Duro See the Best Price!	S-XL	N	Synthetic Polyurethane	2	R/L
	Wilson Conform See the Best Price!	S-XXL	Y	Abyssinian Cabretta	1	R/L

Best Rain Glove - Footjoy Rain Grip

The Footjoy Rain Grip Glove reacts to the rain. The more rain, the more the glove grips. No need to wait for a dry spell or waste time wiping your grips. It's comfortable and breathable and even comes in cadet sizes. Bonus Tip: Give these a try if you tend to sweat a lot.

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, try before you buy.
• The quality of  closures is not consistent across all brands. Look for gloves that secure tightly and stay tight. 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.

GET FIT FOR YOUR GAME WITH TRUEGOLFFIT™

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FREE FITTING

The Best Performance Gloves 2020 - Results

	Product	Fit	Comfort	Feel	Grip	Total
	Mizuno Elite See the Best Price!	6th	5th	1st	1st	91.5
	Ping Sport See the Best Price!	1st	1st	3rd	4th	91
	Titleist Players Flex See the Best Price!	1st	11th	3rd	1st	90.5
	Ping Sport Tech See the Best Price!	1st	9th	3rd	4th	90
	Footjoy Contour FLX See the Best Price!	8th	5th	3rd	4th	89.5
	Inesis Soft See the Best Price!	1st	11th	10th	4th	89
	Under Armour ISO-Chill See the Best Price!	8th	5th	10th	4th	89
	Footjoy Rain Grip See the Best Price!	8th	11th	14th	4th	88.5
	Srixon All Weather See the Best Price!	8th	17th	3rd	4th	88
	Falko Airlite See the Best Price!	8th	1st	17th	4th	88
	Wilson Conform See the Best Price!	16th	5th	2nd	16th	88
	Mizuno Rain Fit See the Best Price!	16th	11th	3rd	4th	87.5
	Nike Tech Extreme VI See the Best Price!	8th	17th	10th	4th	87.5
	Bionic Stable Grip See the Best Price!	6th	11th	19th	3rd	87
	Footjoy Pro FLX See the Best Price!	16th	11th	10th	15th	86.5
	Callaway Weather Spann See the Best Price!	8th	9th	20th	17th	84
	Srixon Tech Cabretta See the Best Price!	16th	21st	14th	17th	83.5
	Taylormade Stratus See the Best Price!	21st	17th	17th	4th	83
	Vice Duro See the Best Price!	21st	17th	16th	17th	82
	Inesis Winter See the Best Price!	8th	1st	3rd	23th	78
	Mizuno Comp See the Best Price!	20th	23rd	21st	17th	77
	Nike Dura Feel See the Best Price!	23rd	22nd	21st	17th	76
	Inesis 100 Resistance See the Best Price!	23th	23rd	23rd	22nd	71

Best Glove For Arthritis - Bionic StableGrip

Developed under the advisement of an orthopedic hand specialist, the Bionic StableGrip works with you to reduce pain that comes from swollen and sore joints. It has soft leather and a mesh lining on the knuckles that provide comfort and extra support.

The Best Performance Gloves of 2020 – FAQ

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

A: We found great options in 2020 for golfers looking for an incredible value as well as those looking for ultimate performance. If you want the ultimate in performance and consistency, expect to spend between $15 and $25 per glove. The best performing gloves in 2020 in our testing were the Mizuno Elite, PING Sport, Titleist Players Flex and the PING Sport Tech.

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

A: It’s a cliche 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″ of Velcro still showing when secured. Take a look at this fitting guide for help.

Q: Do I need to wear a glove?

A: To wear or not wear a glove is, to a degree, personal perference. 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 best players in the world all wear gloves. A properly fitted glove will help to ensure a consistent connection with the club regardless of heat, humidity, sweat, etc..