A golf glove should fit like a second skin, with the right sizing ensuring proper finger length, palm width, and grip control.
When it comes to golf equipment, players spend countless hours getting fit for clubs, balls, and even shoes. But one of the most important performance tools in the bag is often overlooked, the golf glove. A properly fitted glove improves grip, enhances feel, reduces hand fatigue, and helps prevent blisters. Yet, many golfers unknowingly wear gloves that are either too loose or incorrectly sized for their hand shape.
Let’s break down how a golf glove should properly fit and explain one of the most commonly misunderstood sizing options in golf gloves: Cadet sizing.
What a Properly Fit Golf Glove Should Feel Like
The easiest way to describe a properly fitted golf glove is to think of it like a second skin. When you put it on, it should feel snug, smooth, and secure, without restricting movement or circulation.
A correctly fitted glove should sit tight across your palm and fingers without loose or baggy areas. If you see extra material bunching in the palm or fingers, the glove is too large. Excess material can reduce your connection to the club and allow the grip to move inside your hand, leading to inconsistent shots.
Your fingers should fully extend to the ends of the glove without extra space left over. If there is material hanging off the fingertips, the glove is too long. Conversely, if the glove feels like it is pulling tightly on your fingertips or restricting movement, it may be too small.
When you fasten the Velcro tab, the glove should close comfortably with only slight stretching. If the tab barely reaches or feels strained, the glove is likely too small. If the tab closes far past the center or overlaps excessively, the glove is too large.
Wrinkles across the palm or fingers are a strong indicator of poor fit. Wrinkles reduce grip efficiency and can cause rubbing, which may lead to blisters during play.
A glove should feel firm but not restrictive. Golf gloves naturally stretch slightly over time, especially leather models, so starting with a snug fit ensures performance remains consistent throughout the glove’s lifespan.
Understanding Regular vs. Cadet Golf Glove Sizes
Many golfers assume glove sizing only relates to overall hand size, but hand proportions vary widely. That’s where Cadet sizing becomes incredibly valuable.
Regular gloves are designed for golfers with proportionally longer fingers relative to their palm width. Most golfers who feel comfortable with standard glove sizes fall into this category.
A Regular glove typically provides standard palm width, standard finger length, and balanced overall proportions.
What Is a Cadet Golf Glove?
Cadet golf gloves are designed for golfers who have wider palms and shorter fingers compared to traditional sizing. This sizing option is extremely common but often misunderstood or overlooked.
A Cadet glove typically features a slightly wider palm and back-of-hand area, shorter finger length, and a more accommodating fit across the knuckles.
Golfers who frequently notice extra material at their fingertips but feel tightness across their palm are often excellent candidates for Cadet sizing.
Signs You Might Need a Cadet Size
You may benefit from trying a Cadet glove if you notice extra glove material extending beyond your fingertips, gloves that feel tight across the palm but long in the fingers, difficulty fully closing your hand comfortably in a Regular glove, or frequent bunching of leather at the fingertips.
Many players are surprised to discover how much improved comfort and control they experience simply by switching to a Cadet fit.
Why Proper Glove Fit Matters for Performance
A golf glove is your only physical connection to the club through your lead hand. Poor glove fit can lead to reduced grip stability, increased grip pressure which can hurt swing tempo, loss of feel during the swing, increased likelihood of blisters or hand fatigue, and accelerated glove wear.
A well-fitted glove promotes lighter grip pressure, better feedback from the club, and more consistent shot-making.
Getting Fit for a Golf Glove at Haggin Oaks
At the Haggin Oaks Golf Super Shop and MortonGolfSales.com, we strongly encourage golfers to try multiple sizes and styles before settling on a glove. Different manufacturers use slightly different cuts, materials, and stretch characteristics, meaning your ideal fit may vary from brand to brand.
Our team regularly helps golfers identify whether they are best suited for Regular or Cadet sizing, and many players immediately notice improved comfort and control once they find the right match.
Final Thoughts
Golf gloves may seem like a small accessory, but they play a major role in performance and comfort. The proper glove should feel snug, smooth, and natural, never loose or restrictive. Understanding whether your hand shape calls for a Regular or Cadet size can make a significant difference in how the club feels in your hands.
If you haven’t evaluated your glove fit recently, it may be one of the easiest and most affordable performance upgrades available in your game.
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