Are Disc Golf Gloves Legal to Wear?

Disc golf is often a very predictable sport. We know how the disc will fly, when and where. But often times, we experience a little bit of uncertainty on the course. Uncertainty because of wetness, damp mornings, or inclement weather. And that’s when we turn to things that can help us out in these moist moments. We turn to things like disc golf gloves to help us continue to crush it on the course.

Gloves are awesome for helping us grip the disc and keeping it somewhat close to where we can find it. But therein a question remains: are gloves allowed in disc golf? I mean, of course they are in casual play. But what about competitive disc golf? Are gloves the golden answer for us in tournaments and pro play? Let’s keep this one as simple as we can.

Are disc golf gloves legal to wear?

Yes, gloves are allowed in disc golf. According to the PDGA rule 813.02, disc golf gloves are legal in competitive play because they help reduce or control abrasion to the skin while throwing your discs.

The official PDGA rule 813.02 “Illegal Device”

According to the Professional Disc Golf Association’s Official Rules of Play 813.02, disc golf gloves are allowed in disc golf play. When I first looked into disc golf gloves, I was weary about getting them based off initially learning that the 813.02 rule was called, “Illegal Devices.” But the rule states that they are allowed. Here’s the entirety of the rule:

A. A player must not use any device that directly assists in making a throw. Devices that reduce or control abrasion to the skin (such as gloves, tape, bandages, or gauze) and medical items (such as knee or ankle braces) are allowed. Placing an object as a directional aid is not allowed. An item such as a towel or a pad may be placed on the lie as long as it is not greater than one centimeter in thickness when compressed.

B. A device that is questioned by another player or an Official is illegal unless it is subsequently approved by the Director.

C. A player receives two penalty throws if observed at any time during a round to be using an illegal device. A player who repeatedly uses an illegal device may be subject to disqualification in accordance with Section 3.03 of the PDGA Competition Manual.

So, devices that reduce or control abrasion to the skin (such as gloves, tape, bandages, or gauze) and medical items (such as knee or ankle braces) are allowed. Gloves are allowed. Just make sure that what you are wearing isn’t doing anything that could be called for assisting you in making a throw or that will get you disqualified upon use. Just buy a regular pair of actual disc golf gloves made for throwing discs and you will be good to go.

What’s the best disc golf glove?

It’s hard to compare disc golf gloves simply because there are only a couple different types on the market. I also stretched for a certain pair as soon as I knew they were out there and have yet to look back. The pair of gloves I have are the Friction disc golf gloves. I usually only use the right handed glove, as I only throw with that hand. But so far I love them.

I believe Friction gloves are the best disc golf gloves. Why?

They’re extremely breathable: what I’ve found from these gloves is that they’re very breathable in hot weather. No matter what, when it’s hot out, your hands will sweat. These gloves aren’t the answer, as you will probably still sweat with them on. But they’re decent in the breathability category. I’d say 6/10.

They block the wind: what I mean by this is that they can help in cold weather. While they may not keep your hands from freezing, they at least block out the wind chill. 5/10 in the cold weather gear category.

But do they work? Yeah, they work just fine for disc golf. But I recommend buying them for wet and inclement weather. They’re not the “80° degrees and sunny out” disc golf gloves. But when it comes to wet weather, these gloves are phenominal. These gloves grip everything all the time. 10/10 in the grip category.

If you’re curious about playing better in wet weather, grab a pair of these gloves and then check out our awesome resource called, “How to Play Disc Golf in the Rain,” here on the site.

Where can I get some disc golf gloves?

Before you order your gloves, check out the Friction gloves sizing chart here.

That chart will help you figure out what size you need. Next, you can grab a single glove or a pair of gloves here off of Amazon.com. You can also grab some sweet Friction merch off of their website at Frictiongloves.com

You can check out our Friction Gloves review here on the site or by clicking on the picture below.

5 tips for wearing disc golf gloves

1. Make sure your gloves are snug: as you look toward buying these gloves, try to buy them to fit as snug as possible. If they’re a little big that may be okay. But you will really feel the difference if you can size them just right. This will help you to get a good feel of the disc through the glove. That plus the added grip will help you tremendously.

2. Use them multiple times before you say no to them: I’ve heard bad reviews from a few people that just hated the thought of wearing disc golf gloves to play with. They hadn’t even tried any pairs of gloves out! And a few other people that I’ve talked to have tried the gloves once or twice and they just weren’t for them. I say that you should play five to ten rounds with them to really get a feel for the gloves. If you play ten rounds and still hate them, try a different brand of gloves for the course.

3. Don’t always play with your gloves: even if these gloves are miraculous in wet weather, don’t always play with them for all of your rounds. Make sure that you still play with just your hands. You want to still have a real-touch feel for your discs. Just imagine if you only play with gloves, then you forget them for a competitive tournament. Now you have to play without gloves, which can throw off your groove.

4. If you like what you bought, buy two or three more: this is something that I say that I never take my own advice on. Whenever I buy clothes, I always end up really liking some of the clothing. I always wish that I would buy more of that some stuff that I like. When it comes to these gloves, if you really get a glove that you like, buy a couple if them. Designs always change, so they may not be made the same or fit the same in the future.

5. Make sure you like wearing them: after you get used to your new disc golf gloves, just make sure one thing. Make sure that you actually like wearing your gloves when you play. Just like our tip #21 in our “101 disc golf tips” post, which says that you should like what you throw, you should always like how your gloves feel. Even if they help you some, of you really don’t like them, try something different.

Don’t forget to check out the book!

Before you go, don’t forget to check out the best beginner disc golf book on the planet, “The Disc Golf Player’s Manual.” This ebook is packed with over 200+ pages of the best tips, tricks, and advice for new players. Im telling you, this book is epic. If you want to seriously improve in disc golf, you need this book. So don’t miss out!