Golf Glove Sizing Guide: How to Measure Your Hand for the Right Fit
A golf glove that fits right almost disappears on your hand. Get the size wrong and you'll feel it on every swing: a glove that's too big bunches up in your palm and dulls your feel for the club, while one that's too small stretches thin and wears through in weeks. Here's how to land on the right size the first time.
Quick answer: how a golf glove should fit
A golf glove should fit like a second skin. Snug across the palm, no loose material at the fingertips, and just enough stretch to close your hand without straining the seams. New leather gloves feel slightly tight for the first few holes, then break in to fit like they were made for your hand. When in doubt, size down rather than up.
How to measure your hand for a golf glove
You only need a soft tape measure (or a piece of string and a ruler). Measure the hand you'll wear the glove on. If you're not sure which hand that is, we cover it in what hand you wear a golf glove on - short version: right-handed golfers glove the left hand, left-handed golfers glove the right.
- Measure the circumference of your hand. Wrap the tape around your palm at the widest point, just below the knuckles, without your thumb. Note the measurement in inches.
- Measure hand length (optional double-check). From the tip of your middle finger to the crease where your hand meets your wrist.
- Match it to the chart below. If you fall between two sizes, go with the smaller one - leather stretches, it doesn't shrink.
Golf glove size chart
Most men's golf gloves run on hand circumference like this:
| Size | Hand circumference |
|---|---|
| Small (S) | 7" - 7.5" |
| Medium (M) | 7.5" - 8" |
| Medium-Large (ML) | 8" - 8.5" |
| Large (L) | 8.5" - 9" |
| Extra Large (XL) | 9" - 9.5" |
Sizes vary a little from brand to brand, so treat the chart as a starting point and confirm with the fit test below.
Standard vs cadet sizing
If your fingers are shorter and your palm is wider than average, look for a cadet glove. Cadet sizes have shorter fingers and a broader palm for the same overall size, and they solve the classic problem of a glove that fits your palm but leaves loose tips on your fingers. If your regular gloves always feel long in the fingers, cadet is worth trying.
The 10-second fit test
Put the glove on and fasten the closure snugly. Then check three things:
- Palm: the leather should feel taut across your palm with no wrinkles or slack.
- Fingers: no empty space at the fingertips. If you can pinch extra material at the end of a finger, the glove is too big.
- Closure: the fastener should land in the middle of its range - not maxed out to stay on, not barely overlapping.
Make a fist. The glove should move with your hand, not fight it. A little tension across the back of the hand is normal and disappears as the glove breaks in.
Common sizing mistakes
- Buying too big for comfort. A loose glove feels roomy in the shop and sloppy on the course. Snug is correct.
- Ignoring finger length. Palm fits but fingertips bunch? You probably want a cadet cut.
- Sizing up because the leather feels tight. Quality cabretta leather is meant to feel tight for the first round, then mould to your hand.
B&C Golf glove sizing
The B&C Proto I comes in five sizes - S, M, ML, L, and XL - in both left-hand (for right-handed golfers) and right-hand (for left-handed golfers) versions. It's built from 100% premium cabretta leather, so it starts snug and breaks in to a custom-feeling fit. Match your hand measurement to the chart above, size down if you're on the line, and you'll be set.
Frequently asked questions
Should a golf glove be tight or loose?
Tight, within reason. A golf glove should fit snugly like a second skin with no loose material at the fingertips. Leather gloves loosen slightly as they break in, so a brand-new glove that feels a touch tight is usually the right size.
What size golf glove do I need?
Measure the circumference of your gloved hand just below the knuckles and match it to a size chart: roughly 7-7.5" is Small, 7.5-8" Medium, 8-8.5" Medium-Large, 8.5-9" Large, and 9-9.5" Extra Large. If you're between sizes, choose the smaller one.
What is a cadet golf glove?
A cadet glove has shorter fingers and a wider palm than a standard glove of the same size. It suits golfers with broad palms and shorter fingers whose standard gloves bunch at the fingertips.
Do golf gloves stretch over time?
Yes. Leather gloves, especially cabretta, stretch and mould to your hand as you wear them. That's why you should never size up to make a new glove feel looser - it will only get looser.
