Playing in Sunglasses

[A.Princey]

I’ve attempted playing with shades a couple times(squinting and nearing middle age has made sunshine more bothersome) but find the obstruction on my face a bit unnerving and distracting. Does it take long to adjust, and are the darker/shaded areas of some courses problematic with them on? I want an all or nothing type day, no flipping them up or taking them off intermittently. Suggestions?

 

Edited May 6, 2021 by A.Princey

[Tupperwolf]

I would suggest not using polarized sunglasses, for me they throw off the appearance of the course and especially the greens and I've heard commentators on PGA Live discussing the same thing.  Maybe just try some inexpensive gas station sunglasses that aren't too dark as an experiment to see how you get on.  It's certainly possible to play a full round in sunglasses, just look at Phil lately, or Duval, or many others.  I would think that once you've had them on and adjusted to them, being in the shade won't cause any difficulties.  Just try to hit it down the middle and you really have nothing to worry about 😝

[jallen0119]

6 minutes ago, A.Princey said:

I’ve attempted playing with shades a couple times(squinting and nearing middle age has made sunshine more bothersome) but find the obstruction on my face a bit unnerving and distracting. Does it take long to adjust, and are the darker/shaded areas of some courses problematic with them on? I’m want an all or nothing type day, no flipping them up or taking them off intermittently. Suggestions?

 

I started wearing them several years ago and I don't think I could play in sunny conditions without wearing sunglasses. It didn't take but one or two rounds for me to adjust. Take the time to find a pair that fits well. 

[kmay__]

I don't wear them personally, which kinda sucks because the sun and glare can be an issue, but I don't like to see the bottom frame when I look down at the ball, so I'm looking for a decent pair to try that have a frameless bottom edge. I think a comfortable pair of lightweight sunglasses would likely be ideal.

 

I've heard the red/pink tint are great for golf and help to show slopes on the greens but I haven't been able to find a cheap pair to try out yet. 

[dylanl]

I tried to golf with sunglasses a couple of years ago and couldn't adjust to it. I was hoping it would help with my spring allergies as well as squinting in the sun. I found glasses that would stay on but I just couldn't adjust to playing with them on so I stopped wearing them. 

[third-times-a-charm]

I started golf playing with them so I'm used to it. I actually cant play without them on when it's sunny outside as everything is too bright and the squinting is worse than wearing them. I also wear polarized ones and dont have an issue.

 

I would rather not burn out my retinas than save 3 strokes or whatnot.

[Itsjustagame]

I wear sunglasses virtually every day- including while golfing.  Polarized lenses don't seem to be a problem.

 

[buckrogers71]

I did it for a few years. Did Oakley M Frames (ALA David Duval), then went to the flak jackets and for some reason got away from wearing them.

 

Couple range sessions and putting green sessions is all it took, maybe 1 or 2 times on the course. 

I should really go back to using them.

[areksoo25]

I don't.... mainly because the vast majority of sunglasses don't fit my big fat head.  I lose the ball in the sun often, but have attentive playing partners that know where my ball went.

[GrAvEL_eXpReSs]

I wore them for years with out a problem. I recently stopped wearing them because of the ridiculous tan lines they left on my face.  I started where i would only wear them on the front then take them off for the back hoping to get rid of those tan lines. Now i cant play at all wearing sunglasses. So they get left in the truck when i get to the course. Its actually not that bad after your eyes have adjusted to the brightness. 

[robcha]

I occasionally wore my normal use Ray Bans but because they were a little loose fitting, they'd sometimes fly off on my drives so I wanted to look for something with more stability. Bought the Oakley Flak 2.0, Asian Fit, and they fit snug on my face and don't move around at all. 

 

I think the care for wanting to protect your eyes from the Sun will out-weight the little discomfort you will feel on your face and then after a few rounds you will get used to it and won't feel like it's there. 

[cristphoto]

I wear glasses and the lenses in them are Transitions which darken when outdoors. They are also polarized.  Never had a problem with polarization or darkening but as stated I normally wear glasses anyway.  

[Bunkersarebigcups]

2 hours ago, kmay__ said:

I don't wear them personally, which kinda sucks because the sun and glare can be an issue, but I don't like to see the bottom frame when I look down at the ball, so I'm looking for a decent pair to try that have a frameless bottom edge. I think a comfortable pair of lightweight sunglasses would likely be ideal.

 

I've heard the red/pink tint are great for golf and help to show slopes on the greens but I haven't been able to find a cheap pair to try out yet. 

Check out Henrik Stensons Brand, they have some models that might suit you. Not cheap though

Edited May 6, 2021 by Bunkersarebigcups

[MattM97]

I wear glasses when I play cause if I don't the entire course is blurry and I don't know where I'm going so the darkness from sunglasses isn't an issue unless it gets dark and I don't have my regular glasses which may have happened a few times. 

 

Honestly for me it's not that bad, my options are blurry vision that's nice and bright or clear vision with some darkness, I don't believe mine are polarized so I don't really have depth perception issues on the green, but I've used them so much I could adapt to it.  

[analyticandrew]

I wear them but I also wear regular glasses all the time too. Even when golfing. So my prescription sunglasses and my prescription everyday glasses are the same to me... I generally play early in the morning or later in the day, and at some point, I end up with having to switch between the sunglasses and my regular ones. Sunglasses are polarized and I've had no issues. 

[kmay__]

23 minutes ago, Bunkersarebigcups said:

Check out Henrik Stensons Brand, they have some models that might suit you. Not cheap though

 

I've checked them out before they make some nice stuff, love the tortoise shell for casual. I think I'm gonna order a pair of Sundogs, they've got their rose colored true blue lens which should be similar to the oakley prism idea. Only 70 bucks cad and free shipping.

[ndlutz]

I do. I put them on top of my hat until I need them. I think part of why I have the vision issues I do today is because I always played as a kid without them. I think I looked into the sun for too long/too much.

 

I use the Oakley Prizms. They're not so dark that you can't figure out what's going on. Now, when I have them on, I actually forget that I'm wearing them pretty often.

[DFS PFD]

Wear them, adapt, move on. Wearing sunglasses isn't going to be the biggest detriment to your game of all the things you do. If can't spare the energy/effort to take them off and put them on your head occasionally, you have much much bigger problems. 

[phizzy30]

Did it for many years.  Decided to play without them last year.  I can see so much better and green reading has become easier as well.  Wish I would've started a long time ago.  I still put them on between shots though . 

[Hougz79]

I grew up wearing sunglasses anytime I was outside.  I learned to play golf in sunglasses on sunny days.  Have always used Oakley personally, they are light and stay put on my face.  At this point the brand loyalty is habit, I'm very certain there are comparable brands out there. 

 

Been using an "XL" lens in whatever the current frame was at the time (Half Jackets, Flak Jackets, Flak Jacket 2.0).  The XL fits my cheek well and does not let a ton of light through the bottom.  Currently use the Dark Golf Prizm lens, but have used Smoke or Black Iridium in the past as well.  I guess since I grew up on sunglasses, I never really had to "adjust" to them.   

Edited May 6, 2021 by Hougz79

[Blonde Line Lizard]

I wear Oakley M-Frames.  I don't think being out in the sun for 5 hours without eye protection is a good idea.

[tastywaves]

I pretty much always wear sunglasses when I'm outside, it's all about finding a pair that fits well enough that you dont even notice they're on. Polarized is an absolute must imo and have never noticed anything negative to them on the course 

[Bentron]

Used to not wear sunglasses when I golfed but I would wear them any other time I was outside. I bought a pair of Oakley Radar Path's with the golf lenses and it changed my opinion on golfing with glasses. I now have several pairs I will wear anytime I pick up a golf club. On super bright days ill wear Oakley Jawbreakers, or EvZero Blades with prizm road lenses, other wise I'm wearing the Radar Path Ev with prizm golf Lenses. The best glasses golf wise in my opinion are the Evzero Blades, they are light and don't have a bulky frame so it feels like you're not wearing glasses at all, just wish they made them with golf lenses. 

[JahSteve]

Wear them when playing but tend to remove when  trying to read the greens... 

Costa's with a polarized lens (green tint). I just made sure they are a snug fit as i have had some others fly off during swing. 

[MattC555]

I wear sun glasses if it is sunny out.  I prefer lenses that aren't too dark.  Typically I wear Ray Ban Justin's in Brown or aviators.  I'm not a big fan of athletic style sunglasses - prefer classics.  

[PJE]

I started wearing sunglasses a few years ago. Polarized or non polarized doesn't seem to matter (for me anyway). I take them off, to be polite, when meeting people on the first tee and at the end of the round, but it was easy to adapt to wearing them. 

[FlyingLaw1]

Unless it’s really cloudy or getting late in the day, I play my entire round with sunglasses on. Mine have the orange-y tint (no idea what the technical name is) so I have no problems reading greens. 

[A.Princey]

I think some lightly tinted blue blockers might be the ticket, fairly large in profile so that the peripheral transition isn't too visible. We shall see. Hmmmmmm?

[Yanki01]

I wear polarized Oakleys just about every day (if it's sunny) while NOT golfing.

 

I play golf about 95% of the time with Oakley Prizm Golf lenses and NOT polarized lenses. Polarized cut the glare and on the course, it was messing with my head a little. the grass and slopes looked off. 

 

Unless we're dew sweeping in the early AM or it's a late dusk with a few holes left, i'm almost always wearing them. even in overcast.

[nsxguy]

11 minutes ago, Yanki01 said:

I wear polarized Oakleys just about every day (if it's sunny) while NOT golfing.

 

I play golf about 95% of the time with Oakley Prizm Golf lenses and NOT polarized lenses. Polarized cut the glare and on the course, it was messing with my head a little. the grass and slopes looked off. 

 

Unless we're dew sweeping in the early AM or it's a late dusk with a few holes left, i'm almost always wearing them. even in overcast.

 

IIRC the Oakley advertising suggests that polarized glasses cut glare (as you mentioned) but do nothing to enhance contrast.

 

Oakley's golf prizms are specifically made to enhance contrast so one can see the subtleties of the differences in slopes and contours; supposedly allowing players (especially) to better read greens.

 

I have 3 pair. And the Oakleys I have are rimless towards the bottom so no thick rims to annoy a player while looking down at the ball.

 

To those who wear polarized and don't notice any difference, how would you notice a difference unless you switch 'em while looking at the same "scene" to see if the polarization helps or hurts your game ?

 

FWIW I have been wearing Oakleys for quite a while now.

 

And protection from the sun is a MUST. 👍