Who Plays Without A Glove? The Gloveless Golfers Society Thread

[EmperorPenguin]

Way back in my early days of golf I played with a glove.  However, there was a time when my gloves started ripping at the top stitches of the middle finger, even after one round.  I got tired of either buying new gloves or repairing them myself with a needle and thread to save money.  I don't remember who said it, but a famous pro said he didn't wear a glove because he just let the calluses naturally develop and they became his natural glove.  So I stopped wearing a glove and toughed it out for the first few rounds until I was comfortable playing gloveless.  Initially the calluses became thick, and they were located where they should have been, but over time as I started playing less often, they gradually went away.  You can barely see my calluses now, since I play only about three times per month, but my hands are so accustomed to playing gloveless that I have no pain in my hands when I play golf, and maybe because my grip is textbook perfect and it probably helps to swing properly also.

 

At the time I considered gloveless play, I remember the following pros who didn't use a glove.  Fred Couples, Corey Pavin, Lee Janzen were the first ones who came to mind.  I reckoned that if they play gloveless, so can I.  I never looked back at that decision, and I have no idea how much money I saved on gloves.

 

It's not that hard to play without a glove, guys.  I encourage you to try it for yourselves.  You save money, and you don't have to worry about the panic of dropping your glove mid-round.

[th6252]

i truly wish i could go gloveless.  tried it in 2 different stints and it just felt off to me.  also, although my hands don't particularly sweat profusely, the sweat from my arms and back of my hands roll down to my palms which the glove will soak up...and no offense to those that wear them, but i'm not wearing wrist sweatbands lol.

[LeoLeo99]

I'm gloveless unless it's like 90°F and 80% RH.  If it's really humid and sweaty, I'll wear a glove but prefer not to.  

[PureDivots]

Played gloveless for 15+ years and then started wearing a glove. As of recently I am back to gloveless and couldn't be happier. Saving money by not buying gloves is a nice bonus. 

[bellken]

I use a golf glove at the driving range to prevent calluses, but, I prefer to play without. 

[sethdavidsdad]

I go back and forth. Last two months I have been gloveless. During hot summer times I will usually wear a glove. Kind of just a habit thing for me. Currently just out of the habit

[Righty to Lefty]

I'm the completed opposite...I wear two gloves and will never go back to playing gloveless.  

[TheBIIgCat]

Leather Roo Grips. Would never go back to a rubber grip, just no comparison.  Nothing compares to the tackiness and they literally last forever ( 4-5 ) years Or longer.  I am in the most humid, hot place ever and I have never worn a glove.

[sanjaygolf]

I've played without a glove for the past 20 years or so but the fact that 99% of pros use one always gets me questioning if I should. 

[chosenhandle]

I learned to play without one and don't have any issues swinging the club. I can't imagine ever using one. 

[ChipNRun]

 

2 hours ago, EmperorPenguin said:

...However, there was a time when my gloves started ripping at the top stitches of the middle finger, even after one round.  I got tired of either buying new gloves or repairing them myself with a needle and thread to save money. ...

I use the Bionic StableGrip gloves. These are rather thick, and help me grip the clubs consistently by setting the left hand as grip anchor. Further, if I get excess rub marks on palm or thumb, I know I need to ease up on grip pressure.

 

As far as durability goes, three StableGrips will pretty well last me through the season - probably three dozen rounds and regular practice. One thing I do: Wash them with saddle soap whenever grit starts to build up.

 

Many years ago, a local sports shop went out of business. One of my co-workers bought two boxes of left-handed handball gloves on clearance, and he sold them to us for use as golf gloves. When I came across StableGrips, I thought of the old, repurposed handball gloves.

[PureDivots]

1 hour ago, sanjaygolf said:

I've played without a glove for the past 20 years or so but the fact that 99% of pros use one always gets me questioning if I should. 

Gloves are a bit confusing as in a lot of people now days just assume you're supposed to have one because they guys on TV have them.  Then start playing with one from day 1.  A lot of pros also don't use one for anything around the green.  Pros hit hundreds of balls a week, as someone mentioned early using one to prevent wear and tear on hand is a thing. To me though there is no benefit to using one if you don't have any problems gripping the club or issues with tearing up your hand. 

[msg]

I have not played or practiced using a glove since the year 2000. I never liked it for some reason. 

[JB_007]

Always wore a glove until I invested in some new grips.. once I put the Zcords on my clubs I never found I needed a glove. Has help save some money as a person with some sweaty hands, I was replacing gloves often...

[gentles]

For me it is the point where my hands touch that mean I need a glove - without one my hands get sweaty and the palm of my right hand will slide against the thumb of the top hand. Would love to go all in on Gripmaster grips and no glove, but that won't do anything for that palm-thumb connection

[Philomathesq]

6 hours ago, TheBIIgCat said:

Leather Roo Grips. Would never go back to a rubber grip, just no comparison.  Nothing compares to the tackiness and they literally last forever ( 4-5 ) years Or longer.  I am in the most humid, hot place ever and I have never worn a glove.

This. I don't use the Roo's, I use the Master Swinger's, but they can't be beat for a no-glove setup. Even in the 90%+ humidity and 100*+ heat in southeastern Texas, they hold up.

[shagmoreline]

Saving cattle, no gloves.  

[Socrates]

Gloveless for over 30 years but my grips are ribbed for my pleasure.

[WarEagleGolf]

Wear a glove to tee off.  Then rarely after that.  Switch gloves between holes, and have great calluses to manage the rest.  

 

Mcc+4 midsize - bigger grips make the gloveless thing work better for me.  

 

For hot days, I carry a small rosin bag.  Quick dust of the hands and back to great grip.  

[EmperorPenguin]

I forgot to add that another benefit of playing gloveless is that your hands will tan evenly.  Sure, you can take off your glove after your tee shot and while putting, but the more often you take it off, the more chances you will have of dropping it.  Golfers become basket cases when they realize they dropped their gloves on the last hole.

 

The only time when I will wear gloves is when I play in the rain.  I am talking about rain gloves, of course.  I find that I do not need them if I have full-cord grips, but they are very expensive.  For the ultimate in luxury, take the glove off your hand and put them on your grips.  By that I mean Neumann leather grips.  Aren't they $30 a grip?

 

Fortunately I do not live in a humid climate, but I understand that one can tether a golf chamois to his bag to combat moisture?

 

I guess the bottom line is simply a matter of getting used to playing gloveless.  I haven't worn a golf for thirty years, but I remember how much my left hand stung when I hit balls.  The old Nike slogan: JUST DO IT.  You'll get used to it.

[EmperorPenguin]

3 hours ago, WarEagleGolf said:

For hot days, I carry a small rosin bag.  Quick dust of the hands and back to great grip.  

That's nifty.  I remember Ivan Lendl filling his pockets with sawdust while he played tennis.  I'm sure they will work on grips, too.

[Nard_S]

No glove for decades. Tried one for a time this year. I liked it but it seems like after a rather short time it loses it's bite. If I could buy one every other week I would use it. So scratch that.

[WarEagleGolf]

8 hours ago, EmperorPenguin said:

That's nifty.  I remember Ivan Lendl filling his pockets with sawdust while he played tennis.  I'm sure they will work on grips, too.

I've had two types. Both the "same", but one says it's for bowling the other for tennis...same rosin.  Just really small bag, rather than the large ones for baseball. 

[wkndhckr]

8 hours ago, EmperorPenguin said:

 

 

No gloves for me and full cords grips. I have a travel size baby powder that I use if needed. I always played baseball and used two gloves so when I learned that golfers use one I thought it was crazy. Also my golf swing is way more laid back. If I swung like a pro maybe I would need a glove. 

[Fairway14]

For about 5 years now I've played without a glove. It's great !

* my clubs have GP CP2 Wrap midsize grips.

[SEP1006]

Have always played without a glove. Obviously there is a benefit to the many who do but I just don't see it.

[EmperorPenguin]

I think the benefit is that you can hit it harder, or at least you think you can.  Imagine swinging 100% and you hit if off the toe.  That grip will twist in your left hand and hopefully not rip the skin off.  Guys wear gloves and they still rip the skin.  For minimum resistance, hit the ball in the middle of the face.

[chipa]

I had problems tearing gloves too. My hands apparently are a little dry because some grips, especially cords dry them up and crack even though I have callouses. I eventually found the GP Tour Wraps or other similar grips that work perfectly.

[Troutfly]

Gloves are for pansies. Guys I play with have 3 or 4 sweaty ones lashed to the cart roof support flappin around like a bunch of birds. Keep grips fresh and clean- no gloves or laundry lines required...

[EmperorPenguin]

When did golfers start wearing gloves?  I see the old pictures of Allan Robertson, Willie Park, Old & Young Tom Morris, Harry Vardon, Ted Ray, and even Bobby Jones.  None of them wore gloves.  Who started the glove trend anyway?