WHY doesn't ANY Pro on tour use a Glove

[Tennisean]

Having watch much Tennis over the years, I'm astonished the NOT once
have I seen a Pro using a Glove.

And, sorry, there at least a half-dozen other variables that dampen 'feel',
so the 'Gloves affects your feel for the ball' canard doesn't fly.

So, what's the REAL reason?

Are Gloves banned on Tour?

Are the Pros really that clueless about the benefits of using a Glove?

 

[boramiNYC]

what's the benefits?

 

[Rorsach]

Is this "Glove" (with a capital G) a brandname or something, or is it just a glove?

For me a glove (if it's just a glove and not some kind of magical handwear) completely blocks my feel of the bevels of the grip.

 

[Thud and blunder]

Are the Pros really that clueless about the benefits of using a Glove?

I play with an old guy who hits these funny dinky slices with tons of sidespin that are soooooooooooo hard to return...why does no pro use this shot??? It's inexplicable; are pros really that clueless??!

 

[Drian Abara]

I play with an old guy who hits these funny dinky slices with tons of sidespin that are soooooooooooo hard to return...why does no pro use this shot??? It's inexplicable; are pros really that clueless??!

Hahahahahaa +1

 

[TomT]

Having watch much Tennis over the years, I'm astonished the NOT once
have I seen a Pro using a Glove.

And, sorry, there at least a half-dozen other variables that dampen 'feel',
so the 'Gloves affects your feel for the ball' canard doesn't fly.

So, what's the REAL reason?

Are Gloves banned on Tour?

Are the Pros really that clueless about the benefits of using a Glove?

I recall see Cliff Drysdale using one back in the '70s. There were probably others.

Every once in a while my hand will get a bit moist with sweat. But this only happens when I don't use a wristband from the sweat dripping down from my arm. There's a guy in our league who uses a glove, and he gave me one of his older ones because I had mentioned trying it out. So, I used it in the first set in a match, without a wristband, and I didn't really like the feel of it, so I played the rest of the match without it. Plus, the glove did get a bit moist.

I'm 65 and sweat bullets, but as long as I use a wristband my hand stays dry, and I'm in South Florida where most of the year it's really hot and humid.

Anyway, I would guess that pros don't use tennis gloves simply because they don't need to. They're not banned as far as I know, and I'm sure the pros aren't clueless about them.

 

[ace_pace]

Tennis is game of physical feeling. You wouldn't want to hamper it for little to no benefit. Most were brought up gloveless anyway. They have made a multitude of grips and overgrips for racket handles which are easily cheaper and easy to make that fits anyones tastes. Wouldn't be surprised if they have one that replicates the feel of wearing a glove.

 

[HughJars]

Having watch much Tennis over the years, I'm astonished the NOT once
have I seen a Pro using a Glove.

And, sorry, there at least a half-dozen other variables that dampen 'feel',
so the 'Gloves affects your feel for the ball' canard doesn't fly.

So, what's the REAL reason?

Are Gloves banned on Tour?

Are the Pros really that clueless about the benefits of using a Glove?

Telegram from the 1920's - they want their glove back...

 

[newpball]

So, what's the REAL reason?

Because unlike golf tennis is actually a sport

 

[goran_ace]

A golf glove is no thicker than an overgrip. I could imagine you could play with something like a golf glove over a bare leather grip and you'd have more than adequate feel for the bevels.

I, for one, would never go to a glove simply because i'm not used to the feeling of having a glove around my whole hand and because overgrips are so cheap and quick/easy to replace.

I've seen a few seniors play with gloves, but it is extremely rare. I've also taught kids who liked to wear their batting gloves to tennis lessons just because they played teeball/baseball before they took up tennis and got used to wearing a glove.

 

[Rorsach]

I'm still waiting for a list of the so-called benefits of a glove.

 

[tennis_ocd]

Interesting. There are some pros - Nadal comes to mind, that use quite a bit of tape on their fingers.

 

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

I've seen some people in the park wearing gloves when they play tennis. 100% of the time, it's a pretentious look to compensate the lack of game.

It's funny because they almost always play doubles (exclusively) and none of them could volley worth a damn.

 

[Ash_Smith]

I coach a couple of players who wear golf gloves... but I must add that they are wheelchair tennis players

 

[Sumo]

I would think the tackiness of the grip combined with the tackiness of the glove could hamper grip changes during play.

 

[mikeler]

I have a few of these in the bag but have not touched them in a few years:

http://tennis-glove.com/

 

[tennis_balla]

Are the Pros really that clueless about the benefits of using a Glove?

 

[goober]

I wore a glove a few years back when I injured my hand and it did allow me to play. But I can't see any real advantage to wearing them for most people. Only time I pull them out these days is when it real cold (40 deg F) , but that doesn't happen very often around here.

 

[boramiNYC]

seriously OP, what's the benefits in your opinion? Please enlighten us..

 

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

That only applies to the "General Pro Player Discussion" section.

 

[tennis_balla]

That only applies to the "General Pro Player Discussion" section.

You haven't been hanging out here long enough.

 

[Say Chi Sin Lo]

You haven't been hanging out here long enough.

Why? Is the disease spreading elsewhere?

 

[gmatheis]

If a pro were to find out about this they would be unstoppable.

 

[SFrazeur]

That only applies to the "General Pro Player Discussion" section.

It applies to the internet.

 

[BMC9670]

A glove would be a sweat-soaked blister-causing mess within a few games. This ain't golf.

 

[mikeler]

A glove would be a sweat-soaked blister-causing mess within a few games. This ain't golf.

Not with the tennis glove.

 

[sureshs]

Has anyone tried the Bionic glove?

I have seen a couple of guys wear gloves in winter.

 

[TomT]

The term "kid gloves" comes to mind. Gloves made of the skin of young goats? Or something too ghastly to contemplate?

The use of emoticons, especially the smiley ones, can be confusing, and sometimes infuriating. One person's smiley might be another person's ... not smiley?

 

[Ash_Smith]

Some posts seem to have been deleted, but to set ilovetennis straight, it wasn't an innapropriate joke, it's my job - I am national coach for GB wheelchair tennis.

 

[skuludo]

Has anyone tried the Bionic glove?

I have seen a couple of guys wear gloves in winter.

I tried it. I got blisters faster with the gloves on compared to without using the Bionic glove.

 

[ilovetennis212]

Some posts seem to have been deleted, but to set ilovetennis straight, it wasn't an innapropriate joke, it's my job - I am national coach for GB wheelchair tennis.

I'm sorry if I misunderstood you.

 

[Bobby Jr]

Why would you? If you play tennis often enough there are no benefits which wouldn't be outweighed by the potential downsides.

On the same note, why don't all tennis players get their eyes lasered to have 20/15 or 20/10 vision?

 

[martini1]

Prince make some "open palm" gloves for the ladies in the Japan market. The 2 benefits are sun blocking, and in winter for the cold.

Actually if they make something like that for men I may buy it. It actually provides better tacky and gripping. Like nadal taping his fingers. I tried taping and it works. Only prob is the sweat will make the tape loosen up after 1/2 hr. if the tape is too strong it rips my skin off. Catch 22.

 

[Timbo's hopeless slice]

maybe it makes them incapable of volleying?

sigh

this poster...

 

[WARPWOODIE]

Golf gloves work pretty well for me during the winter months, it's just a matter of getting use to it.

As someone mentioned Cliff Drysdale used it during the latter part of his career. If there is a top ten pro that would use one and market it, I think the idea could sell and may even make it'fashionable'.

 

[Tennisean]

what's the benefits?

Well, if you have to ask ........

Go try one and see!!

 

[Tennisean]

I play with an old guy who hits these funny dinky slices with tons of sidespin that are soooooooooooo hard to return...why does no pro use this shot??? It's inexplicable; are pros really that clueless??!

Some Pros do!

 

[Tennisean]

A golf glove is no thicker than an overgrip. I could imagine you could play with something like a golf glove over a bare leather grip and you'd have more than adequate feel for the bevels.

I've seen a few seniors play with gloves, but it is extremely rare. I've also taught kids who liked to wear their batting gloves to tennis lessons just because they played teeball/baseball before they took up tennis and got used to wearing a glove.

Bravo! That's what I use, (a golf glove) for the reason you mentioned (nice and thin) though I have to add that some of them last and some don't. (and you need to get a Lefty golf glove to get a right-handed glove)

 

[Tennisean]

Golf gloves work pretty well for me during the winter months, it's just a matter of getting use to it.

As someone mentioned Cliff Drysdale used it during the latter part of his career. If there is a top ten pro that would use one and market it, I think the idea could sell and may even make it 'fashionable'.

Couldn't agree more!

Though it's a shame Cliff Drysdale is the only example, and it'd be good to use period, fashionable or otherwise.

I find they work great in the hot months too, but you need several to be able to switch to a dry one, when the one in use gets soaked w/ sweat.

 

[NLBwell]

The answer to the OP is - overgrips.
In the old days of just leather grips, when they would get very wet from sweat and other moisture, the grips would get slippery and the rackets were hard to control and could slip out of your hand (and break).
It's just easier to put an overgrip on the racket rather than get used to wearing a glove. In the end, the effect is equivalent.

 

[Tennisean]

If a pro were to find out about this they would be unstoppable.

Or, at least, it would seem like there ability to grip the racket was!

I guess the old saying is right, 'you can lead a Horse to water ......

 

[Tennisean]

A glove would be a sweat-soaked blister-causing mess within a few games. This ain't golf.

First, even when wet, a glove still helps you maintain the grip.

Second, have you seen the taped fingers some of the Pros resort to? Using a glove actually prevents blisters, and calluses as well.

Lastly, the great thing about using one is you can change to a dry one in seconds.

 

[Tennisean]

I'm still waiting for a list of the so-called benefits of a glove.

Waiting to be told what should be obvious is a lesson in futility.

But if youneed to be told, there are more than a few, such as;
better gripping, prevents blisters and calluses, easily replaced.

 

[Tennisean]

Telegram from the 1920's - they want their glove back...

Knowing how good they are to use, over me dead body.

 

[Tennisean]

Interesting. There are some pros - Nadal comes to mind, that use quite a bit of tape on their fingers.

Great observation!

The Pros are willing to tape away, but not a single one has the good sense to wear a glove instead, which would be a better option.

 

[Tennisean]

Has anyone tried the Bionic glove?

I have seen a couple of guys wear gloves in winter.

Imo, they're overpriced and unnecessary.

You end up paying through the nose for the technology.
(when a plain works just as well)

Kind of like with Bose stuff. (speakers/stereo systems)

 

[Tennisean]

The answer to the OP is - overgrips.
In the old days of just leather grips, when they would get very wet from sweat and other moisture, the grips would get slippery and the rackets were hard to control and could slip out of your hand (and break).
It's just easier to put an overgrip on the racket rather than get used to wearing a glove. In the end, the effect is equivalent.

I disagree.

Get an overwrap soaked, and good luck holding the grip well.

A glove, on the other hand, (pun intended) will still hold the grip well, even when soaked. At least that's been my experience.

And taking a glove off to replace with a dry one is beyond easy. You could do it between points, and still have time to towel off.

A glove is easier and quicker to change, gives a better grip.
There's no 'equivalence' about it.

 

[TomT]

I disagree.

Get an overwrap soaked, and good luck holding the grip well.

A glove, on the other hand, (pun intended) will still hold the grip well, even when soaked. At least that's been my experience.

And taking a glove off to replace with a dry one is beyond easy. You could do it between points, and still have time to towel off.

A glove is easier and quicker to change, gives a better grip.
There's no 'equivalence' about it.

There are several good reasons for using a glove. Especially if one has problems with sweaty hands and/or blisters.

I'm just guessing, but I'd say that the vast majority of players, including pros, don't have those problems. The ones that do opt for changing overgrips more often and wearing tape. Why is that? My guess is that it's because there might be some sort of sissyness unwarrantedly associated with wearing a tennis glove.

Having said that, and having tried playing with a tennis glove once, I currently prefer playing without one. My bare fingers on my Gamma overgrips works really well for me. However, maybe if I used the glove a lot I would find some benefits that I don't now see or seem to need. Maybe I'll try using it for a spell and see if I come to prefer it.

 

[West Coast Ace]

First, even when wet, a glove still helps you maintain the grip.

Second, have you seen the taped fingers some of the Pros resort to? Using a glove actually prevents blisters, and calluses as well.

Lastly, the great thing about using one is you can change to a dry one in seconds.

That might all be true. But the two things you're not considering (and I've used a glove from time to time for practices when I wasn't playing enough and was getting blisters); a) it's tough to change grip from FH to BH; b) you lose feel with the serve and volley.

 

[gmatheis]

Seriously, in this day and age where pro's look for any edge like a gluten free diet or a pressure chamber do you not think that IF a glove were actually any good at least some of the pros would be using one.

gloves are not good for tennis ... end of story