2014 Golf’s Most Wanted: Gloves Under $18

You didn’t really think we were going to leave our more frugal readers hanging gloveless and out to dry, did you? Given the comments on our Most Wanted Premium Glove Buyer’s Guide, some of you actually believe we wouldn’t consider your needs.

Don’t fret, my fellow penny pinchers, today I bring you the selections you’ve been waiting for, and that includes the brand you mentioned most frequently; Master Grip.

Here’s the question: Are your budget minded ways to be rewarded? Does a glove need to cost $30 to receive an A from MyGolfSpy?

HELL NO.

Once again, we’ve crunched the numbers of come out with 5 value-priced gloves that we believe you should try for yourselves. Our winner was the consistent favorite with nearly every tester in our lineup. Our runners-up make up a great collection of gloves that should leave you praising the glove gods for offering up affordable finds that will allow you to play 3-4 gloves per round without going broke.

Scoring

Gloves were all reviewed based on Fit, Comfort, Feel, and Grip. Testers with glove sizes ranging from M to XL rated for each category. Additionally each tester chose his 5 favorites. Results were averaged and placed into a sliding scale for visual representation, and a final letter grade for overall score was assigned for each glove. Price and durability were not factored in the rankings.

What we discovered during our testing is that fit is the #1 factor in determining individual preference. It has a domino effect on comfort, feel and even perceived breathability. We challenge you to compare – look higher up the list than your current gamer. Try a couple on. Pick the one you think best fits your hand and game it for a round (or 4) and tell us what you think.

The best glove for your hand should fit like a second skin. It’s really that simple.

The Contenders

Asher DeathGrip	Asher Chuck	Asher Birdy	Bionic Relax Grip
Easy Glove	FootJoy SofJoy	FootJoy GTxtreme	FootJoy WeatherSof
Hirzl Soffft	Master Grip Dyna Grip	Ping Sensor Tech	Srixon Hi-Brid
Srixon Cabretta Leather	Tattoo	TaylorMade Stratus	TaylorMade Targa

Sub $18 Glove Comparison

MyGolfSpy’s Most Wanted Gloves Under $18 for 2014

Some might be floored/shocked/appalled that one of the major OEM’s didn’t win this category, but sometimes there really are surprises. Asher makes a great sub-$18 golf glove. Actually, they make two that really stood out. While durability is not a factor in the results, it’s worth reading notes on the first two gloves. If you’re someone who beats up on gloves, you need to work on that, but you also might want to consider a thicker glove as well.

Don’t be surprised to see more than one glove under $18 sporting the coveted Cabretta Leather (you know, from those fuzzy sheep that grow hair instead of wool).

We mentioned it in the Premium glove buyer’s guide, but it’s worth noting again here:

With fit being the single most important factor, we’d advise that you should fit yourself for a glove as carefully as you would a new set of irons. A glove should fit like a second skin, there should be no wrinkles from a glove fitting too big. If it does, your grip will suffer and the glove will wear faster. Each of our top finishers is cut a bit differently, which is why our number one piece of advice is try on the glove that you think best fits your needs. If it fits…well…like a glove (not an OJ glove), you’re in business. If not, move down this list until you find the one that offers a truly sublime fit.

The 2014 Most Wanted Golf Gloves Under $18 

If you don’t wear through gloves fast, Asher’s Cooltech Birdy is a GREAT starting point for your next glove purchase, especially for those of you who are budget minded. If do you wear out gloves a bit more quickly than you should, you’ll probably be happier starting your search with the TaylorMade Targa.

Another great offering from Asher, the Cooltech Deathgrip will not only score you style points, but if you sweat, this glove might slow the tide. Again, if you tend to wear gloves out quickly, neither of the Asher entries is likely to be your best bet.

An affordable take on a tour glove,  TaylorMade may have found the happy medium with the Targa, which strikes an excellent balance of comfort, performance and price. While not as budget priced as others, those not afraid of spending a few extra bucks will likely be happy they did.

You raised a tremendous fuss over not seeing this glove in our Premium Glove Guide. Sorry boys, this isn’t a premium priced glove, but the number one most mentioned glove in the comments of our premium guide certainly deserves a place on this list. You guys are right, the MG Dynagrip Elite is a great glove. It does run a bit large, so you’ll likely need to order a size smaller than your normal glove. These gloves are so affordable, you can’t go wrong. $13.95 scores you TWO gloves.

If we told you this was a premium glove you’d certainly believe us. For a cabretta offering, the price is more than solid. We like the addition of lycra on the back of the hand/knuckles to help this glove move with your hand better. We found that this one does fit a bit loose in the wrist, but is otherwise true to size.

In Closing

If you’re like me and your wife doesn’t understand why a round of golf consistently costs $50+ on the weekends, you’re likely shopping for a golf glove that will run you less than $18. This doesn’t mean you need to sacrifice anything.

Probably the best part of gloves under $18 is that you can finally buy 3 matching gloves and switch them throughout your rounds so that you’ve always got a fresh and dry one on your hand.

And finally, I know you’re not children (well, maybe a few of your are…) but it’s worth saying AGAIN – FIT MATTERS – find the glove that properly fits, there are more than enough choices here – you can thank me later.