Looking for the Best Golf Sunglasses

If you’re looking for the best golf sunglasses, this page gives you a few things to consider. But before we start talking about the best sunglasses for golf, remember that owning the best golf sunglasses in the world won’t help you if you forget to wear them.

Some of us take our eyes for granted, but truthfully, we should be taking care of our eyes just as much as we’d protect the other parts of our body. And part of that means wearing sunglasses while we’re out on the golf course, because they do a lot more than just look cool.

Every time we play golf, we expose our eyes to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. With all the publicity about skin cancer, we all know it’s important to wear sunscreen whenever you spend time outside – even on overcast or cloudy days. Wearing sunscreen (and reapplying it halfway through your round) is one of the best ways you can protect your skin from UV damage.

Well, you can think of sunglasses as “sunscreen for your eyes.” No matter which golf sunglasses you decide to buy, wearing them is one of the most effective ways you can protect your eyes from sun damage. Among other things, golf-specific sunglasses block the ultraviolet rays that can lead to several eye conditions. So, make it a habit to put on your sunglasses whenever you put on your sunscreen.

Okay, I’m finished with my lecture about the benefits of wearing sunglasses for golf. How are golf sunglasses different than other types of sunglasses? And what features do good golf sunglasses give you?

To begin with, the lenses of golf-specific sunglasses are cut differently than those of “ordinary” sunglasses – the kind you’d wear at the beach, for example. Ordinary sunglasses have lenses which are cut to provide minimal or no distortion in the center, and they’re perfect for looking out toward the horizon (like you would do if you’re driving a car or watching the waves on the beach). Although this characteristic can make it easier for you to follow your ball flight, it makes ordinary sunglasses less than ideal for playing golf. How come?

Think about how golf is played. At address and during your swing, you’re looking down at the ball. If you wear glasses (or sunglasses), you’re using the lower half of the lenses. You don’t look up and use the center portion of your lenses until your swing or putting stroke is completed and the ball is well on its way. If you wear “ordinary” sunglasses, looking through the bottom portion of the lenses can sometimes cause an optical illusion – the ball might look like it’s moving during your swing or putting stroke. You can imagine what that would do for the quality of your ball-striking.

The best golf sunglasses are designed to prevent this “moving ball illusion” by eliminating distortion in the lower half of the lenses. But that’s not all that good sunglasses for golf can do. The best golf sunglasses not only protect your eyes by blocking harmful UV rays, but actually enhance your vision out on the golf course.

For example, some golf-specific sunglasses have lenses that are tinted to make the ball look “whiter” so it’s easier to follow and find. The same tinting can amplify the contours and other details on the green, making it (theoretically, anyway) easier to read and line up your putts. Other sunglasses for golf have lenses that can sharpen your depth perception.

Some other features to look for when you’re looking for the best golf sunglasses are:

• Spring-loaded temples. They can help the sunglasses stay snugly in position.
• A ventilated nosepiece. We all know how hot it can get on the golf course. Every little bit of air circulation can help. Plus, a ventilated nosepiece can help prevent the sunglasses from fogging up.
• An adjustable bridge can give you a fit that’s more comfortable.
• Scratch-resistant lenses.
• A wraparound frame. Naturally, this design will block more of the sun’s rays than a non-wraparound style.

Although there are many others, some of the brands known for being the best golf sunglasses are:

• Oakley
• Kaenon
• Nike
• Sundog
• SunBuster
• Adidas
• Peakvision
• NYX
• Bolle

Obviously, protecting your eyes from damage is the most important function of any pair of sunglasses. The other features of golf-specific sunglasses (making the ball look whiter and brighter, making it easier to read the greens, and so forth) fall into the category of “the icing on the cake.” Of course, to paraphrase poor Marie Antoinette, we’d all love to have our cake and eat it too. So why not have it all and look for the best golf sunglasses? They can protect your eyes, and they might help your game. Just make sure to wear them while you’re practicing on the range as well as whenever you’re out on the golf course.

P.S.: Expecting bad weather? Check out our golf rainsuit article as well.

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