Everyone’s favorite series is making its long-awaited return. Welcome back to “Will it Golf?” The goal of this series is to challenge golf equipment norms and to get outside of the box if you will.
Are there alternatives to traditional golf equipment that can have a positive impact on your game? I’ve made it my mission to find out. Our first two stops on this quest saw both trail running shoes and baseball turf shoes meet their demise.
Now, we’re taking a look at the golf glove. Recently, Tony Covey spoke with someone who plays exclusively with a racquetball glove. Can a racquetball glove withstand the forces of the golf swing better than a golf glove? Let’s find out.
Golf Glove Versus Racquetball Glove
While golf gloves are traditionally made from cabretta leather, gloves used for racquetball are made from synthetic, often stretchy, materials. That said, they are reinforced with silicone-like pads in the palm and fingers for extra grip.
Color me intrigued.
Testing Criteria
The test was conducted using criteria we use to rank the best golf gloves and shoes. No brand bias, no nonsense. We pitted the Head racquetball glove against a top-performing cabretta leather glove, the Callaway Tour Authentic.
For those who aren’t familiar with how we test, this is what we look for in a golf glove.
- Fit: A golf glove must fit like a second skin. If a glove is too loose, it can cause serious control issues.
- Comfort: A golf glove must provide a comfortable fit that doesn’t pinch or restrict your range of motion.
- Feel: Thin is generally better when it comes to golf gloves as a thin glove provides better feel.
- Grip: Above all, your golf glove should make holding the golf club easy, especially when slightly wet.
Round 1: Fit
When it comes to golf pants, stretchy is always better. The same can’t be said for golf gloves. A glove that provides too much stretch makes it impossible to find a one-to-one fit. This was the first downfall of the Head racquetball glove.
The stretchy construction of the glove just didn’t fit tight enough, especially when making a swing. The glove felt unstable because it would stretch and move during the swing, rather than sticking to my hand and the grip.
As far as the golf glove is concerned, the Callaway Tour Authentic provided a fit that was like a second skin. It held in place swing after swing after swing with no issues.
Round 2: Comfort
I will say the Head racquetball glove was pretty darned comfortable. The stretchy, lightweight material didn’t pinch or pull, something that I really like. The weight was nice, too. Being made from something other than leather, the racquetball glove felt lighter, a feel I was a fan of.
That said, it’s hard to beat the soft, supple feel of 100-percent cabretta leather. The Callaway Tour Authentic was just as comfortable, albeit a little less breathable and slightly more heavy.
This round is a toss-up.
Round 3: Feel
Feel was another toss-up. The racquetball glove is made from a very thin material, thus it provides a really good club feel. I was easily able to manipulate the grip of the club while wearing it. The Callaway Tour Authentic golf glove provided a similar club feel.
This one is too close to call.
Round 4: Grip
All good things must come to an end. And, for the Head racquetball glove, “grip” marks the end of the road.
While it provides some grip while dry (not great, though), the racquetball glove lost all grip when any amount of moisture was introduced. That’s no good. Unless you plan on throwing your club after every shot, I wouldn’t recommend using a racquetball glove while wet.
The Callaway Tour Authentic golf glove provided predictably solid performance when dry and wet. Not only did the club feel secure but I felt confident that I could swing my swing without sending the club airborne.
If the Glove Fits…
Should you opt for a racquetball glove instead of a golf glove? I would say no. Because the price of a decent golf glove is steadily going down (see Red Rooster and Kirkland Signature), it’s hard to recommend playing in anything but a golf glove.
If breathability and comfort are of the utmost importance, you could get away with a racquetball glove. That said, I’d recommend a multi-material golf glove such as the Red Rooster Cape as it provides similar comfort and breathability without sacrificing grip.
Ready to Go Deeper?
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alex
8 months ago
I would like to see how regular rain gear (jogging, hiking, etc.) compares to golf rain gear. The former is a to cheaper than the latter.