Golf gloves come in various sizes, with many pairs specifically designed for men, women, and junior players. So, if you’re looking into purchasing a new pair of golf gloves, you may have stumbled across the term “cadet gloves” and wondered what it means – a confusing term as it’s not commonly used in sizing for other apparel.
Though cadet is commonly used to refer to a novice within the military, it refers to a specially shaped pair of golf gloves, as there are two broad groupings of hand shape. Cadet gloves are typically wider through the palm area relative to the fingers, whereas non-cadet gloves are the opposite.
When shopping for a pair of new golf gloves, you may find that most pairs feature similar designs in terms of color and size range. However, it can be quite difficult to figure out the exact pair you need as not all golf gloves are manufactured the same way. One brand’s medium may be another brand’s small, and so on.
If you’re looking to understand more about the cadet golf glove, its purpose, and what it means, then this article has got you covered.
What Is A Cadet Golf Glove?
A cadet golf glove is generally much shorter and wider than your regular pair of golf gloves. While some gloves are manufactured with players with smaller hands in mind, others’ needs fall through the cracks of usual golf glove sizes.
Therefore, cadet gloves have been designed and targeted toward a specific target audience: those who have hands that are a little different from the average.
The structure of these gloves makes them the perfect product choice if you’re struggling with finding a well-fitting pair of gloves; specifically, if your fingers are too short, or the fit of regular gloves is too tight across the palm.
If this is the case, give the cadet sizing a shot. Women will notice that cadet gloves aren’t labeled as such, but when it comes to golf gloves, that’s just marketing anyway – there’s no performance difference between men’s, cadet, or women’s gloves, so just find the product that’s most comfortable and take it to the driving range or golf course.
Golf Glove Sizes: A Comparison
Now that you know what a cadet golf glove is, here’s a quick breakdown of the most popular shapes, styles, and colors of golf gloves.
Glove selection should be more oriented around fit to ensure a good, solid grip and comfortable feel when playing golf, rather than focusing on style or appearance. However, some players may decide to purchase a specific golf glove to follow in the footsteps of their favorite professional player, and that’s quite alright as that’s what most of the golf industry is betting you will do.
1. Men’s Gloves
Men are the biggest target market for golf gloves. These gloves come in cadet and regular categories, both of which feature gloves in the following size range: small, medium, medium-large, large, extra large, and XXL.
Some companies cater to a lifestyle more than performance, which is an emerging trend in golf apparel and accessories more broadly.
2. Women’s Gloves
Women’s golf gloves are typically available in a wider variety of fashionable colors and prints than men’s gloves, with common sizes ranging from small to large and extra large.
Many companies even offer “fingerless” golf gloves to cater to women who prefer to keep their fingernails long (in reality the fingers extend up a couple of knuckles), but we’re not going to vouch for the performance of that much instability in the structure of the glove.
3. Youth Gloves
Some companies offer children’s gloves in sizes ranging from small to extra-large, but some provide more specific expandable glove options that cater to those concerned with the overall growth of a young golf player.
That being said, you may want to greatly consider cost and durability in proportion to the longevity of a pair of gloves (according to how quickly they may grow out of them) rather than focusing on a particular brand. Of course, for those kids who are invested in learning the game of golf, a glove is a great way to make sure their grip is steady through impact.
4. Cadet Gloves
When paying for a golf glove, golfers need to prioritize comfort and fitness. The shape of cadet gloves is quite different from regular gloves and sets them apart for those who need them.
To summarize, while regular golf gloves are most suitable for people with typically-sized fingers and palms, cadet gloves are best for people with wider palms and shorter fingers.
The Differences Between Cadet And Regular Golf Gloves
The main difference between the two types of gloves is sizing. This is because cadet golf gloves are shorter and wider than regular-sized gloves. And though there isn’t a distinct guide that fits all golf gloves, we can provide you with a brief guide about cadet and regular gloves.
Sizes
Regular gloves are available in men’s and women’s sizes ranging from small to double or even triple extra-large, with a more varied size range catering to men. Cadet gloves are available in men’s sizes small through XXL, depending on the brand.
Although sizing suggests the gloves are for men, women who have larger hands may find that men’s regular gloves or cadet-sized gloves feel more comfortable, and provide a more sturdy grip.
But it is important to note that not all gloves are available in cadet sizes. If they are, it is usually medium, medium/large, and large sizes.
Overall, cadet sizes don’t sell as well as regular gloves, so manufacturers may choose to produce only the sizes listed above – the most popular glove sizes in this category.
Fit
You should shop around to find the perfect fit first, and then concern yourself with fashion and appearance. Some golf players may be able to determine the type of glove they need by simply looking at their hands and fingers. However, this may not apply to others.
To get a better fitting glove you should measure specific parts of your hand. You can measure finger length by noting down the distance from the tip of your longest finger to the crease under your palm. You can also measure hand circumference around the palm of your dominant hand, closest to the knuckles.
To prevent issues from occurring when out shopping for gloves, we’d suggest that you try on both a regular glove and a cadet glove to determine which one fits your hand the best. Once you have chosen the best type for you, you can then pick the brand and your preferred finished look!
Comfort
Whether you opt for cadet or regular golf gloves, you need to ensure that your chosen glove is snug against your hand, yet not too tight that they cut off circulation.
Your fingertips should just touch the tips of the gloves, and the glove’s material should be pulled taut across the back of your hand and your palm. This will not only increase your comfort but will add to your grip during the game, too.
Conclusion
Cadet gloves are specially made to provide golf players with differently shaped hands the grip and security they deserve, without sacrificing style or usability. Cadet gloves are designed to cater to men’s hands, but that doesn’t mean women cannot wear them!
This is why we decided to set up our site, Better Golf, to provide high-quality information that’s accessible to everyone. From newbies, to seasoned golfers, this site covers everything you need to know. Through this site, we will be discussing all the important details.
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