How we recommend
We recommend gear by category and use, not by brand, and do not quote prices. We may earn a commission on purchases at no cost to you.
What the rules say
Shoes
Part 6 of the Equipment Rules allows shoes that help you get a firm stance, and allows spikes subject to the conditions of the competition. Shoes must not have features designed to help you take or build a stance, help with alignment or otherwise assist play.
A ban on metal spikes is not one of the Rules of Golf. It comes from Model Local Rule G-7, which lets a Committee prohibit shoes with traditional or metal spikes that could contact the course, with breaches penalised under Rule 4.3. Like every Model Local Rule, it applies only where a Committee adopts it, so check the Local Rules, and ask before you play somewhere new.
On turf damage, Golfdom's history of golf footwear says USGA Green Section researchers found in a limited 1948 study that lug-soled shoes damaged greens less than steel spikes, and that a 1983 Green Section study found metal spikes did the most damage and spikeless soles the least.
Gloves
Part 6 allows only plain gloves: a fitted covering with a separate sheath or opening for each finger and thumb, and smooth material over the full palm and gripping surfaces. A glove must not have padding more than 0.025 inch thicker than the areas around it, straps that attach the hand to the club, material that sticks to the grip, added weight, or features that restrict joint movement. Rule 4.3a of the 2023 Rules of Golf, in effect from 1 January 2023, allows plain conforming gloves, resin or drying agents, and a towel wrapped around the grip. The R&A says the next edition of the Rules is due on 1 January 2028.
Part 7 lets a Committee allow non-conforming grips for a player with a physical limitation affecting the hands, if it finds no undue advantage. If that applies to you, ask the Committee before the round.
Nothing on this page says a particular shoe or glove conforms.
Our picks by category
Spiked golf shoes
Shoes with spikes in the sole. Part 6 allows spikes subject to the conditions of competition, and Model Local Rule G-7 lets a Committee ban traditional or metal spikes, so check the Local Rules and the Terms of the Competition before you buy for a particular club.
Best for: Golfers who want spikes, at courses and events that allow them
Spikeless golf shoes
Shoes with a moulded sole and no separate spikes. The 1983 Green Section study reported by Golfdom found spikeless soles did the least damage to greens. For hot weather, the International Golf Federation's 2026 heat guidelines list breathable footwear among their clothing advice.
Best for: Golfers who prefer a moulded sole with no separate spikes
Leather gloves
Retailer American Golf says cabretta leather gloves are supple and breathable but less durable, lasting roughly six months of regular use in its estimate.
Best for: Players who want more feel
All-weather synthetic gloves
American Golf says synthetic all-weather gloves are more durable than leather but give less feel.
Best for: Frequent players who want a glove that lasts
Rain gloves and winter mitts
American Golf says rain gloves are designed to grip a wet club, and that cold-weather gloves and winter mitts, worn only between shots, keep hands warm. See weather gear for the rest of the wet-weather kit.
Best for: Golf in wet or cold weather
How to choose
Shoes: check the Local Rules first
Before choosing between spiked and spikeless, check the Local Rules where you play: a Committee can ban metal spikes by adopting Model Local Rule G-7. Beyond that, the sources we read do not compare grip or comfort between the two types, so try both on and walk in them before buying.
Heat
The International Golf Federation's Extreme Heat Guidelines (Version 4.0, 2026), which are advisory, recommend breathable footwear, along with light, loose, moisture-wicking clothing and a vented wide-brimmed hat. They note that a round means four to five hours of exposure.
Gloves: which hand and what fit
American Golf says a glove is usually worn on the lead hand, the left for a right-handed player, though some players wear two. It should fit tightly, and sizing varies by brand, so try the size in each make you consider. A left-handed player wears the glove on the right hand.
For what the rules say about clothing and tape, see our shoes and gloves page.
Sources
- The R&A, Rules of Equipment, Part 6: Devices and Other Equipment
- Danish Golf Union, Official Guide to the Rules of Golf 2023, Model Local Rules section G
- The R&A, Rules of Golf (2023 edition), Rule 4
- Golfdom, history of golf footwear
- American Golf, Golf gloves
- International Golf Federation, Extreme Heat Guidelines for Golf Events, Version 4.0 (2026, PDF)
- The R&A, Rules of Equipment, Part 7: Modified Equipment Rules for Players with Disabilities