Tyler was last fit for his clubs 15 years ago… and ever since, he’s been playing irons that were one inch too long—and he had no idea it was holding him back.

When he came in for a Club Champion iron fitting, his fitter Casey immediately noticed something was off. Tyler’s strike pattern was consistently high and toward the heel, a telltale sign that something in the setup wasn’t right. After taking measurements and digging into the data, Casey made a simple but game-changing call: go back to standard length.

From there, everything started to click.

Paired with proper shafts and optimized clubheads, Tyler’s ball striking tightened up, his contact improved, and the numbers started to tell a brand new story.

After years of playing the wrong specs, Tyler is finally dialed in—and heading into his most confident season of golf yet.

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The internet will tell you that the average pair of golf gloves last (on average) around ten to twenty rounds. However, in my twenty-eight years in this game, I have seen players destroy gloves in a round of golf, while others last for months.

The point is the question is not black or white. Multiple factors are often not considered, such as the glove’s material or the strength of one’s grip. In this post, I focus on my experience with gloves to help you determine which scenario fits your situation.

How Long Golf Gloves Typically Last

Invictus Gloves out of Montreal, Canada, suggests that the life of your golf gloves on average does not exceed ten rounds. However, this depends on the strength of your grip how you take it off and maintain it.

For example, if you pull your glove off from your fingers, you will cause this area and cause it to rip. Furthermore, those who grip a golf club tightly may find the palm rip rapidly, compared to a golfer with a softer hold.

In addition, Golfweek explains that while Cabretta leather golf gloves offer a superior feel, they wear out faster than hybrid or synthetic gloves. Therefore, a player using a synthetic glove may find that they enjoy a better grip for longer compared to premium leather golf gloves.

My golf gloves last approximately twenty rounds, which works out to four months. I take care of my gloves and have a softer grip than others. That helps ensure they remain durable and provide optimal grip for as long as possible.

I have tried synthetic and Cabretta leather gloves. However, the modern hybrid design offers the high quality of a leather glove, with the dexterity of a synthetic glove.

Contrary to my solid golf glove record, my late father would rip one every two to three rounds. The circumference of his left hand was wider than a regular glove. If he had used a cadet glove, I doubt he would have ripped as many.

After racking up the bills from glove acquisitions, my old man took the Ben Hogan and Fred Couples route and stopped wearing one altogether.

Besides your grip and hand shape, how you store and wash golf gloves impacts their lifespan. The quicker you remove dirt from the surface, the less damage it will invoke on the grip and durability of the mitt.

As you can see, there is no one size fits all approach to the life of the golf glove. However, if you had to put an average on it, the Invictus glove is not far off with the assumption of ten rounds of golf.

Do More Expensive Gloves Last Longer?

Surprisingly, more expensive gloves do not last long. According to Golfweek, Cabretta Leather are the most expensive glove on the market, but they wear out faster than a synthetic or hybrid construction.

Leather gloves combine with precisely positioned perforations to encourage optimal airflow through the glove to reduce perspiration. The quality of the glove from a feeling and comfort perspective is unmatchable.

However, if you wear leather gloves on a hot day, your sweat, coupled with the sun’s rays, will cause the leather to contract. That makes it challenging to get on and off.

That is in contrast to synthetic gloves, which deliver superior durability but reduce airflow. As a result, you can sweat profusely if you do not take this glove off between shots.

How to Make Your Gloves Last Longer

Remove The Glove Gently

How often do you yank at the fingers of your glove and violently tug at it to remove it from your hand? I am also guilty as charged. You need to stop doing that and be more delicate with the glove.

Pulling hard at your glove can stretch the material leading to a loose fit and a dysfunctional product. I suggest undoing the velcro or the glove’s clip, then sliding the glove off your palm and thumb. Next, apply pressure on your four fingers to create leverage and slide them out of the glove.

Therefore, you do not stretch your glove or tear the material while removing it.

Keep Two Gloves In Your Bag

Although some gloves feature moisture-wicking qualities to repel sweat, not all of them succeed. The material of a golf glove, combined with sweat, can cause it to contract, between disfigured and uncomfortable.

That is why the best way to avoid this scenario is to keep a replacement glove in your golf bag. If you find that your hands are sweating excessively, switch out the glove to maintain your grip on the club. When you swing with excess moisture on your hands, it can cause the club to slip and go flying.

Remove It Between Shots

Another way to limit the impact that sweat has on your hands is by removing the glove between shots. You have probably seen pro golfers do the same. I recommend it because it airs your hand and restricts the amount of moisture that circulates inside your glove.

For added convenience, store your glove in your back pocket between shots. Make sure that the palm of the glove sits inside your back pocket, with the fingers sticking out. That way, you do not impede the shape of the glove.

Keep in mind that despite their higher price, leather gloves are typically non-washable, as the water dehydrates the leather and shrinks it.

Keep It Clean

Before you clean your glove, check whether it can go in a washing machine or needs to be hand washed. Your gloves are bound to pick up dust particles and mud rapidly. That is why I suggest cleaning them frequently for maximum grip and comfort.

Grip Your Club Softer

Another way to increase the lifespan of your glove is to loosen your grip slightly. When you strangle the club, you put excess pressure on the material of your glove, causing it to tear around the palm region.

Take It Off For Your Short Game

Other than airing your hand, I suggest removing your glove when your wedges or putter is in hand. Not wearing a glove in your short game helps you increase the feel of the club to produce supreme control around the green.

Store It In Its Packaging

Once your round is complete, straighten out the glove to ensure the correct shape and place it back into its packaging. That protects it from becoming misconfigured or torn while resting in your golf bag.

Matt Stevens

Matt Callcott-Stevens started playing golf at the age of 4 when Rory Sabattini’s father put a 7-iron and putter in his hand. He has experienced all the highs and lows the game can throw at you and has now settled down as a professional golf writer. He holds a Postgraduate in Sports Marketing and has played golf for 28 years. Current Handicap: 8

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To master your long game, you’ll need to work on your driving to improve your range and accuracy. In this blog, you’ll find 10 handy golf driving tips and guidance on how to practice each one at home.

How to practice driving for golf

1. Perfect your grip

You can’t drive successfully without holding your club properly. Using the wrong grip is usually the culprit for slices and hooked shots. 

How to do it

Hold the club with your lead hand (left for right-handers) so that the grip sits diagonally across your fingers. Both of your thumbs should point down the shaft. Place your trailing hand so that your palm covers the lead thumb with your fingers wrapping around the grip. Use a neutral grip.

Practice at home

Use a spare club to rehearse your grip if you have a spare few moments. Focus on doing so correctly and building muscle memory so the correct grips grow to feel natural.

2. Use the right stance and ball position

Using the proper stance provides stability and allows you to put power into your golf swing. Correct ball placement also helps ensure solid contact. 

How to do it

Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, your knees slightly bent, and your weight evenly distributed between both feet. Your back should be straight with a slight tilt from your hips. Your arms should hang loosely from your shoulders. Position the ball in line with the instep of your lead foot. Of course, the club you’re holding will also affect your drive, and using a more forgiving driver will come in handy here. 

Practice at home

You can practice your stance and ball positioning with a club and a ball to ensure it becomes second nature. Alignment sticks can be a big help with this. 

3. Tee the ball high

A higher tee encourages an upward angle of attack, which helps with clean hitting and maximising the distance you generate from the force you use.

How to do it

Position the tee so that half the ball sits above the top edge of your driver. Roughly three-quarters of the ball should be above the club’s head as it strikes, allowing you to sweep into the ball with an upwards motion without the driver making contact with the floor.

Practice at home

Whilst this is most effectively practised at a driving range, you could use foam or plastic practice balls to rehearse your tee height and swing at home.

4. Master your backswing

A smooth backswing is essential for generating power and maintaining control throughout your drive.

How to do it

If you’re a right-hander, keep your left arm straight, and your wrists relaxed as you move through your backswing. Rotate your shoulders fully, creating a 90-degree angle between your upper body and your hips. Try to avoid over-swinging, though—you can stop when your club is parallel to the ground.

Practice at home

Practice slow-motion backswings in front of a mirror (in a room with plenty of room) to check your form. You could also record yourself going through the motion to work on perfecting it.

5. Focus on a controlled downswing

A powerful drive comes from a well-timed downswing that maximises energy transfer from the club to the ball.

How to do it

Your downswing comes from your core. Start by rotating your hips toward the target, following with your knees, then your arms. Keep your underarms relatively close to your body and tuck your trailing elbow in. Keep your lead shoulder down and make sure your hands and arms stay relaxed so you don’t skew your release.

Practice at home

As well as watching your swing by recording yourself at home, you can also use resistance bands to strengthen your hip rotation.

6. Improve your follow-through

You don’t want to ruin all that work on your backswing and downswing by not following through properly. A good follow-through ensures you complete your swing with full power and balance and strike the ball cleanly.

How to do it

After impact, allow your arms to extend naturally toward the target. Finish with your weight on your lead foot and your chest facing the target. Your back foot should be on its toe, with your hips fully rotated.

Practice at home

Use a slow-motion drill to exaggerate your follow-through position and improve your balance. Speed up the motion once you’re sure you’ve got it right to make sure it becomes a natural motion for you.

7. Focus on a consistent tempo

A smooth, consistent tempo throughout a swing leads to better contact, and the Holy Grail of driving—better reliability. 

How to do it

Count in your head during your backswing and downswing to establish a rhythm. Most professionals recommend a 3:1 count for a drive, counting three on your backswing and one through your downswing.

Practice at home

Try using a metronome app or a swing tempo trainer to develop a steady rhythm.

8. Use your legs effectively

Your legs might stay reasonably still during a drive, especially compared to your upper body, but they provide balance and generate a portion of the power of your swing. Using your legs effectively can help you get more distance out of your drives and will aid in controlling your swing.

How to do it

Start with a slight bend in your knees. Push off your trailing foot during the downswing to transfer energy to your lead side. Shift over to your front foot during the downswing to add momentum. Maintain your balance throughout the swing and aim to move smoothly.

Practice at home

Use step-through drills where you step forward after impact to emphasise weight transfer and leg engagement.

9. Work on your core strength

Your core muscles play a significant role in generating power and stability during your swing. The stronger your core, the more strength you’ll be able to generate throughout a round on the links. The more you can engage your core muscles during driving, the more stable your drive will be and the more power you’ll be able to put into it.

How to do it

Focus on engaging your abdominal muscles as you rotate your torso. Avoid overusing your shoulder and arm muscles, and let your body’s rotation drive the swing.

Practice at home

Improve your core strength by exercising at home, including doing planks, Russian twists, and medicine ball rotations. When you practice your swing, focus on feeling and engaging your core muscles.

10. Incorporate visualisation into your game

Visualisation is a powerful mental technique where you mentally rehearse an action and its consequences, such as visualising your swing and the flight of your ball along the fairway.

Whilst it might sound like wishful thinking, visualisation really works and is practised by professional golfers and athletes from other sports, too.

How to do it

Try visualising your ideal drive before stepping up to the ball. Focus and try to make your visualisation as real as possible. See your ball landing on a specific target. This can feel odd at first, but the more you do it, the more natural it’ll become.

Practice at home

Spend 5-10 minutes each day visualising perfect drives and imagining yourself performing confidently on the course.

Specialist golf insurance through Golf Care

Developing a consistent drive can take a lot of time and perseverance. If you’re mastering your long game with the help of these golf driving tips, you may also want to consider protecting yourself with specialist golf insurance.

With Golf Care, policies include Equipment Cover up to £7,500, Public Liability of up to £10m, and Personal Accident Cover up to £50,000. Get a quote online today.

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From this week’s Dubai Invitational at Dubai Creek Resort

Tommy Fleetwood arrives at the Dubai Invitational not only as a former champion at Dubai Creek Resort, but as a player firmly established among the game’s elite.

Now world No. 3, the Englishman reflects on a breakthrough year in the United States, the value of consistency, memories of a defining victory in Dubai, and the challenge of chasing down the two players currently setting the standard in men’s golf.

Unchanged Ambitions After a Breakthrough Year

Fleetwood’s long-awaited PGA TOUR victory last season marked a major milestone, yet he is quick to stress that it has not altered his long-term outlook.

Rather than redefining targets for the year ahead, Fleetwood sees his journey very much as a continuation of the same process that has guided him throughout his career.

He explains that his broader life and career ambitions remain intact, with the focus still on becoming the best golfer he can be. While last season placed him in unfamiliar territory, particularly in terms of world ranking, he views that success as a platform rather than a destination.

A well-earned break after an intense year has helped him reset, and as the new season begins, Fleetwood is eager to return to work, sticking with familiar routines and continuing to push for incremental improvement.

Consistency as the Foundation of Success

When asked to pinpoint the reasons behind what many described as an outstanding year, Fleetwood points not to any dramatic technical changes, but to years of steady, disciplined effort.

Consistency, he says, has always been central to his identity as a player. While the absence of a PGA TOUR win had often been highlighted, Fleetwood never felt that his underlying performance level was lacking.

In his view, last season’s run of form simply represented his ability to play, more often and more consistently, at the level he knows he can reach. The difference was not in approach, but in execution, finding himself in contention more regularly and allowing results to follow.

Surrounded by a strong support team and armed with detailed preparation, Fleetwood believes last year was the natural reward for sustained hard work finally aligning with opportunity.

Defending Champion Memories at Dubai Creek

Dubai Creek Resort holds special significance for Fleetwood, and memories of his victory there remain fresh. Central to that win was a compelling final-round battle alongside Rory McIlroy.

Fleetwood recalls the experience as both enjoyable and demanding, describing it as a valuable test against one of the greatest players of his generation. The closing stages served as a reminder of golf’s unpredictability, the need to stay patient, focused and committed until the final putt is holed.

Winning in Dubai was made even more meaningful by having his family present, adding a personal dimension to a professional highlight.

Reflecting on the course itself, Fleetwood describes Dubai Creek as a fair examination that rewards quality ball-striking. Calm morning conditions and receptive greens offer scoring opportunities, but accuracy off the tee is critical. Straying into the rough, particularly as the course firms up, quickly turns the test into a grind.

Life at World No. 3

Starting the season ranked third in the world is new territory for Fleetwood, and one he finds both motivating and exciting.

He is candid in acknowledging the gap between himself and the two players ahead of him, Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, whom he regards as the clear standard-bearers of the modern game. Closing that gap, he believes, will require improvement across every area, measured in the smallest of margins.

Rather than setting short-term expectations, Fleetwood frames the challenge as a long-term pursuit. Maintaining his current level is the first priority, with any further progress seen as the result of patience and continued development rather than immediate results.

He also recognises the privilege of being mentioned in the same breath as the game’s very best, viewing it as both a compliment and a source of motivation.

Focused on the Process, Ready for the Challenge

As Fleetwood tees it up once again at the Dubai Invitational, his mindset is clear: grounded, consistent and forward-looking.

There is no sense of complacency despite recent success, nor any rush to force the next step. Instead, Fleetwood remains committed to the same principles that have carried him to this point — trust in his work, belief in his process, and an appreciation of the challenge that lies ahead.

At Dubai Creek Resort, a course that rewards precision and patience, Fleetwood finds himself perfectly aligned with both the setting and the moment.

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