Typically, the golf glove is worn on your lead, or non-dominant, hand.
This means that a righty will typically wear a glove on their left hand, and a lefty will typically wear a glove on their right hand.
If you swing right-handed, your right hand will be on the bottom of the grip, and your left hand on top.
This makes the top hand on the golf club the lead hand.
Why Do Golfers Only Wear One Glove?
Golfers typically only wear one glove in order to have a better “feel” in their dominant hand. A player can hit more accurate shots by keeping the bottom, or dominant hand, bare.
This is why you will see many high-level players choose to take their glove off when playing wedge shots and when putting.
They are willing to give up the control that a glove can give them for the better feel that bare hands provide.
Although rare, some professional players choose to play all shots without a glove.
Fred Couples is the most famous example of this, although not exactly by choice.
Why You Should Wear a Golf Glove
Wearing a golf glove helps to maintain a firm grip on the club.
The glove creates additional friction with the club’s grip, improving the player’s grip on the club and enabling them to have more control over the club and swing.
A glove can also help to protect the hand and help prevent blisters.
This can be particularly true for those that spend a lot of time at the range.
Most golfers play much of their golf during the summer when it is hot and sunny. This causes sweating, particularly in the hands, making it difficult to hold on to a golf club.
Wearing a golf glove is an easy way to ensure a better grip on the golf club.
Golf Gloves on Both Hands
Under normal conditions, it’s rare for players to wear two gloves.
One notable exception is professional golfer Aaron Rai, who had been wearing two golf gloves since he was a kid for a very unique and special reason.
That said, wearing two gloves can be a massive benefit during wet, rainy conditions or in the cold winter months.
Specialized Golf Gloves: Rain And Winter Gloves
When To Wear Rain Gloves
Rain gloves are made of synthetic materials designed to become more grippy when wet.
Regular leather gloves do the opposite: as they get wetter, they become more slick, reducing friction and negatively impacting grip.
Living in the Pacific Northwest, I frequently find myself putting on my rain gloves.
When To Wear Winter Gloves
These gloves are designed to keep your hands warm when playing in cold weather.
These are a godsend during the cool winter months, when it’s just warm enough to play golf but cold enough that my hands would be freezing without them.
If you’ve never tried them, rain gloves and winter gloves can make a world of difference in your level of enjoyment when playing golf in the rain or cold.
Related: What Is A Cadet Golf Glove?