Should I Wear A Glove When Putting? (Explained)

 

Wearing a glove while you putt is convenient.

You do not have to stop to take the glove off your hand to putt; you can simply work your way around the course with the glove on the entire time.

However, although this is convenient, you may be wondering whether or not this is the right way to go about this process.

Should you be wearing a glove when you putt, or should it come off on every putting green?

We have done some of our own study and testing to determine if it is better to take the glove off or leave it on while you putt; here is what we found.

 

Should I Wear A Glove When Putting?

 

Wearing a glove when putting is not the best idea.

To get great at putting, you must have a solid feel and connection with the club.

For golfers that struggle with making putts, many times, it is because they are not properly connected to the club.

If the glove is in your way, it’s hard to judge the exact speed that you should be hitting your putts.

In addition, distance control becomes more difficult.

It is best to take the glove off when putting.

Let’s take a look at a few of the reasons why taking your glove off when putting could help you become a better player.

 

 

Reasons To Take Your Glove Off When Putting

 

If you want to make more putts, you will find that taking your glove off can be one of the best ways to do so.

Regardless of whether you take the club straight back and straight through or along an arc, you need to have a great connection with the club to sink putts.

 

1. Improve Feel

 

The main reason to take your glove off while putting is to improve feel.

The feel of the golf putter in your hands greatly impacts how the ball rolls.

For the most part, it’s best to have a nice light grip on the club, so you can sort of direct the ball into the hole.

Many golfers describe putting as an art.

If you are not good with this type of finesse, a glove can make it even more difficult.

To improve feel, you want your hand to have a pure connection with the putter grip.

The grip itself has good traction, and it will hold your hands in place.

You won’t have to worry about the club sliding in your hands like it does with a driver or iron shot.

Feel in the short game is just as important as it is with the putter.

Many golfers will also make sure that their glove comes off when they are chipping.

Chipping with the glove off only helps to increase precision and accuracy in the shots you are hitting.

In fact, some golf professionals who change their grips often and have plenty of traction in their hands will not wear a glove at all.

The glove serves a purpose in the game of golf, but if you have the opportunity not to wear it, don’t be afraid to take it off.

 

2. Make It A Pre-Shot Routine

 

Another great reason to take the glove off during your round is to make it a part of your pre-shot routine for putting.

Many amateur golfers underestimate the importance of a pre-shot routine.

Taking the glove off can be part of the initial pre-shot routine that triggers your brain to switch to putting mode.

Every golf shot has a pre-shot routine, whether you realize it or not.

The golfers that repeat the same routine each time will have a much easier time with consistency in their golf shots.

As part of your putting pre-shot routine, make your way up to the putting green.

After you get up there and mark your ball, take your glove off and put it in your pocket or on the ground by your putter cover/wedge.

Now your brain knows you are ready to putt.

It may seem simple, but it could have a tremendous impact on training yourself to make putts.

 

3. Different Grip On The Putter

 

Golfers do not hold the putter the same way they hold other clubs in the bag.

Some players will have a claw grip, reverse overlap, or even a prayer grip.

These different styles make it less necessary for you to have a glove on your hand.

When your hands are on the club in a unique way, the extra traction in the left hand may not be necessary.

In addition, when you swing a putter as compared to a driver, there is significantly less speed.

This lower speed does not require you to have the same connection with the golf club.

Holding a driver and swinging it more than 100 mph makes some golfers a little nervous that their hands are not in the right place, but this should not be an issue with the putter.

 

4. Increased Concentration

 

Putting is very much a mental game.

Some players have a great putting stroke but are not able to get the ball in the hole because of mental weaknesses.

Some golfers find that taking their gloves off while they play is a way to focus on the task at hand and increase concentration.

This will again play into the pre-shot routine, but it also just allows you, as a player, to understand that it’s time to focus.

The gloves are off, and the ball needs to get in the hole.

These little mind tricks may seem simple, but they can make all the difference.

 

Reasons To Leave Your Glove On While Putting

 

If you are not sold on the fact that taking your glove off while putting is the best solution, there are people that leave it on.

The main reason to leave your glove on while putting is for convenience.

With your glove on, you won’t have to worry about where you put it while you are putting.

In addition, you don’t have to take the time to deal with putting the glove back on after you play the hole.

Leaving your glove on can sometimes lead to increased longevity in your golf grips.

Golfers tend to have oils on their hands that break down putter grips a little faster.

With the glove on, you may find that this happens slower.

However, for all the putts you will make between now and the time you need to replace your putter grip, it’s worth it to just take the glove off.

 

Final Thoughts

Wearing a glove on the golf course or not wearing a glove is entirely your decision.

However, when putting, you will find that the majority of golfers like to take the glove off.

Keeping the glove off means that there is a better connection between you and the club.

Feel will be increased, and players will find they can concentrate on the task at hand a little better.

We encourage you to find a practice putting green and make a few putts with both the glove on and the glove off; chances are you will quickly see the difference.