Do you even need to wear a golf glove and how often should you change yours?

I am a hoarder. Always have been. Just ask my wife.

I keep old paperwork (lots of it). I have clothes I haven’t worn for years - jumpers, polo tops, jeans. You name it. Over the past few years I have lost a lot of weight and that means all of the aforementioned no longer fit. But I keep them just in case. It’s ridiculous.

And the very act of writing this article has actually helped me to make up my mind to take all said clothes to the nearest charity shop. And to finally go through all of my paperwork and shred the vast majority of it.

So what has any of this got to do with golf, I hear you ask. A very good question.

When should you change your golf glove?

Gloves. It’s all about golf gloves. I recently had to buy myself a new golf bag, which meant that I had to clear out my old one. And I came across six golf gloves, four of which were not fit for purpose. Holes in fingers and all that kind of stuff. They have all now been ditched and I have promised myself that the next time I have to buy a new glove the old one will be disposed of anywhere but in my golf bag.

With winter on the horizon and having recently experienced the first chill and genuinely cold early mornings, with frost on the ground, gloves become an important accessory.

I have two leather gloves. I always carry a spare in case one of them gets wet.

You get what you pay for. If you buy a cheap pair of "leather" gloves and they get wet the chances are that they will no longer be fit for purpose so consider paying a little extra. 

The minute a hole starts to appear or your glove gets smooth and shiny then it is time to dispose of it.

I have also recently acquired a pair of Galvin Green thermal gloves. When you think of thermal gloves you may conjure up an image in your mind of thick and bulky objects that need to be removed when it come to hitting a shot. But these are as thin as normal leather gloves, meaning I don’t have to sacrifice any feel. And they keep my hands warm.

For the freezing cold winter days, I have acquired some mitts. And they are life savers. I have also just discovered that you can buy heated mitts. These have a battery life and are unlikely to keep working for a full 18 holes. Even better, you may be able to buy mitts that are compatible with your electric trolley, meaning that you can keep them on charge while playing.

(Image Credit: Kevin Diss Photography)

PGA pro Aaron Holtom has some thoughts on the subject. Based at Morley Hayes, East Midlands Golf Academy, if you're looking for golf lessons in Derbyshire, we can recommend that you check him out by clicking here.

He says: "Personally, I choose not to wear a glove unless it's very wet. Broadly, there are three main types of gloves to consider:

Which golf gloves should you wear in winter?

"Rain gloves are excellent for wet weather and winter. You sometimes wear them on both hands to prevent the club from slipping. Their grip actually improves when they get wet."

What are the best golf gloves for summer?

"Leather gloves are a great choice for summertime as they often provide the best feel. However, they don't always last very long. They're a good option if you're not on a tight budget."

Which golf gloves last longer?

"Synthetic gloves don't offer quite the same premium feel as leather, but they are much more durable and last a lot longer."

Why your golf gloves might not be lasting for too long

"A quick tip on durability: If you find yourself wearing out a glove every two or three rounds, you are probably gripping the club too tightly, or your grips might be old and abrasive."

Do you even need to wear a golf glove?

"It can be frustrating to constantly get holes in your gloves. If this is a struggle for you, especially in the summer, I would encourage you to try playing a round without a glove. You might be surprised, and you will definitely save a few pennies!"

There is a perception that you have to wear a glove but really, it is a case of horses for courses. Fred Couples never wore a glove and he didn’t fare too badly, did he? But Aaron Rai insists upon wearing two gloves. Whatever works for you!