The most underrated purchase in golf
Nobody brags about their glove. Drivers get the glory, putters get the mystique, and the glove — the one piece of equipment touching every single full shot you hit — gets bought as an afterthought at the register. After years as a former professional golfer and teaching professional, let me tell you: a bad glove costs you feel, costs you grip security in humidity, and wears out fast enough that you're buying twice as many. The FootJoy StaSof has been the default answer in pro shops for decades. Here's my professional evaluation of why it still is.
Full disclosure: this is my glove
This one is personal. In my opinion, the StaSof is simply the best glove in golf — full stop. I wore it all through university, all through my professional playing career, and all through my years as a teaching pro afterwards. That is thousands of rounds, lessons, and range sessions, and through all of it, this is the glove I kept coming back to. It still is: when I reach into the bag today, it's a StaSof I pull out. Plenty of gloves have crossed my desk since. None of them took this one's spot.
Who this is for
Any golfer who wants a premium leather glove that lasts longer than the cheap ones and performs in heat, humidity, and light rain. If you play in summer conditions — and in Canada, our golf season is basically all humidity — this is the glove.
What I like
- Feel. The Taction3 advanced performance leather is the real deal — soft, thin enough to feel the club, with the kind of consistent texture across the palm that cheaper gloves lose after three rounds. This is a tour-proven material, and you can tell the first time you grip a club with it.
- Moisture management. Strategically placed perforations plus PowerNet mesh across the knuckles keep the hand breathable. In July heat, the difference between this and a basic synthetic glove is the difference between a secure grip on the 16th hole and a club that feels like it's going to fly.
- Durability. This is where the StaSof earns its price. A basic $15 synthetic glove typically lasts 8–10 rounds before the palm goes slick; a premium leather glove in this tier goes 25–30+ rounds of regular play. Do the per-round math and the "expensive" glove is cheaper.
- Fit. The ComforTab closure is genuinely well-designed — angled, secure, adjustable. FootJoy's sizing is consistent, which matters when you're reordering online: once you know your size, you know it.
What I do not
- It's not a rain glove. For real downpours, you want FootJoy's RainGrip (sold as a pair, designed to get grippier when wet). The StaSof handles humidity and light moisture; it doesn't defy physics.
- Leather needs minimal care. Don't leave it crumpled in your bag soaked with sweat. Flatten it, let it air dry. Ten seconds of care doubles its life. (This applies to every leather glove ever made.)
- Price. C$38 is real money for a glove. See the durability math above — it's justified, but it's justified over time, not on day one.
How it compares
vs. FootJoy WeatherSof (~$18): The best-selling glove in the world, synthetic, perfectly good. Less feel than the StaSof, but more durable in a different way and half the price. If you're a beginner losing gloves or just want something functional, start here.
vs. Titleist Players (~$35): The closest competitor — premium cabretta feel, beloved by better players. Slightly thinner feel than the StaSof, and cabretta gloves generally wear faster than FootJoy's synthetic-blend construction. Honestly a coin flip on preference; try both once and you'll know which camp you're in.
Verdict
Buy it if: you play regularly, you care about feel, and you want a glove that lasts a season rather than a month.
Skip it if: you're new and still losing gloves (get the WeatherSof), you only play in dry conditions and want maximum feel-per-dollar (try the Titleist Players), or you need a true rain glove.
Sizing note: FootJoy runs true to size. If you're between sizes, size down — a golf glove should fit like a second skin with no loose material at the fingertips.
Related reviews: FootJoy WinterSof for cold rounds · FootJoy RainGrip for wet ones.
My rating: 9/10