So, I decided to talk a bit about Cabretta gloves today. Been meaning to share my thoughts on these for a while now, mainly ’cause I went through a bit of a journey with them.
For years, honestly, I just grabbed whatever synthetic glove was on sale at the pro shop or the big box store. Didn’t think much about it. A glove was a glove, right? Something to stop the club flying outta my hands. Most of them felt kinda plasticky, got stiff after a few rounds, especially if they got wet or sweaty. You know the type. I’d just toss ’em and get another cheap one.
Then I started hearing guys talk about Cabretta leather. Sounded fancy. Talked about the ‘feel’ and how it was different. I was skeptical, figured it was just marketing talk to get you to spend more money. But one day, my usual cheapo glove ripped right down the palm mid-swing. Annoying. So, I was in the shop, needed a new one anyway, and saw a Cabretta glove. Wasn’t even the most expensive one, kind of mid-range I guess. Figured, what the heck, let’s give this fancy leather thing a try.
First thing I noticed putting it on? It felt soft. Like, really soft. Not stiff like those synthetic ones I was used to. It felt more like a second skin, which was weird at first but actually pretty comfortable. Went out to play, and the grip felt different too. Hard to explain, but it felt more connected to the club. Not slippy, but not overly sticky either. Just… secure.
I played a few rounds with it. It definitely felt better than the synthetics, especially on shorter shots around the green. You get a bit more feedback through your hands, I reckon. Does it make me a better golfer? Ha, probably not drastically, but the comfort level was way up there. That was the big thing for me, the comfort.
Now, it wasn’t all perfect. These Cabretta things, they do seem to wear out a bit faster, especially where my thumb rubs on the grip. And if you get ’em really soaked, like caught in the rain, they can get a bit crusty if you don’t dry them properly. Gotta lay them flat, not just crumple them up in the bag. Learned that the hard way. One time I forgot, pulled it out next round, and it felt like cardboard.
Here’s what I found over time:
- They feel way better, much softer.
- Grip feels more natural, less like you’re fighting the glove.
- They might wear out a bit quicker than some tough synthetics.
- You gotta take slightly better care of them, especially with drying.
So, where did I land? Well, I pretty much stick with Cabretta gloves now. I tried going back to a synthetic one time when I forgot my main glove, and man, it just felt rough and clunky after getting used to the leather. I buy maybe two or three Cabretta gloves a season now, rotate them a bit so they get a chance to dry out properly between rounds. I don’t go for the super high-end tour player ones, just decent quality ones seem to do the trick for me. The extra few bucks for the feel and comfort? Worth it, in my book. It just makes holding the club feel better, and that counts for something when you’re out there for a few hours.
