Have you ever noticed that golfers have unique routines when it comes to wearing gloves?
Some keep them on all the time, others take them off here and there.
It is sometimes hard to tell what the best thing to do with your glove is.
If you have ever wondered why some golfers take their glove off between shots, you are in the right spot!
Why Do Golfers Take Off Their Glove to Putt?
Golfers take off their glove when they are putting because they want to have a better feel.
The golf glove is used to help give players a better grip and more control when they are swinging a club at a fast speed.
With a putter in your hand, you will not be swinging the club fast and do not need a glove to keep your hand on the club.
In addition to the fact you don’t need that added security from the glove, you also want to improve your feel and connection with the club.
A putt is really all about feel.
To know how hard to hit a golf ball takes a good amount of feel, and one way to increase that is to have your hands in direct contact with the club.
Although it is small, there is a barrier between your club and your hands when you have a glove on.
Can You Putt with a Glove On?
There are some players out there who see no reason to remove a glove while they are on the course.
This is entirely acceptable.
If you don’t want to take your glove off, you certainly don’t have to.
Some golfers take their glove off after every golf swing, and others will put it on when they start their round and never take it off.
Golfers are generally a bit quirky and will have certain ideas about their swing and their game that are unique and specific to them.
Golf professionals will likely recommend you take your glove off when putting, but it is certainly not a negative aspect for your game if you keep them on.
Why Do Golfers Wipe Their Putters Clean?
Another habit you may notice golfers have is that they wipe their putters clean.
This usually happens right before they set up to putt a ball, and most will use a towel to do so.
The reason golfers wipe their putters clean is that sometimes dirt, grass, water, and sand can accumulate on the putter face.
When you are practicing your putts on the green, sometimes the dirt will accumulate on the putter face.
Putting is a very precise part of the game of golf.
If you have a small rock or a piece of sand on your putter face, when you hit the ball, the shot will be affected.
The ball may slide off slightly to the side, or it could just skid off the clubface.
Regardless of how it responds, the putt is not going to roll end over end as you intended it to.
Wiping your putter clean before you take your shot is a very smart idea and one that all players should do.
What Is the Best Grip for Putting?
Have you noticed that golfers tend to grip their putter in all different ways?
Gripping a putter is a little bit about mechanics and a little bit about feel.
Some players will grip their putter exactly how they grip the rest of their clubs.
Others will use a cross handed grip or even a claw grip to get a handle on their putter.
The most important thing players are looking for is consistency and stability.
When you make contact with the ball, you will want to make sure there is no movement in the putter.
This needs to be accomplished without gripping the club to death.
This combination can be a little tricky, and that is why some golfers will choose a putting grip style that is not traditional.
One of the grips we have seen to be the most effective is the cross handed grip.
Golfers who typically have their left hand at the butt end of the club will put their right hand at the top.
This helps to eliminate some movement of the wrists and hands in the putting stroke.
Regardless of which grip you choose for putting, make sure it is something you feel comfortable with and that you can repeat.
Can You Stand Behind a Golfer While He Is Putting?
It is considered bad etiquette to stand behind a golfer while he is putting.
When a golfer putts, they should have a clear line of vision to the hole, beyond the hole, and behind them as well.
If your putt is going to be on the same line as the person who is putting, it is acceptable to step in after the player hits.
At this point, you can look to see what their putt does and try and learn how your putt would be affected.
This is not against the rules, and you will even see some professional golfers do this in a round.
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