Golf Accessories Worth Buying: Gloves, Bags, and Rangefinders
Once you have clubs and balls, a handful of accessories genuinely improve your game and your day — and plenty more just empty your wallet. Here are the three worth buying, in order of how much they matter.
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- A glove is the one accessory every golfer should own — it improves grip and prevents blisters, and it is cheap.
- Worn on your lead hand only (left hand for right-handed golfers); your trail hand stays bare.
- A lightweight carry bag makes walking the course far more pleasant if you do not want to lug the set’s heavier bag.
- A rangefinder is a genuine luxury that speeds up play and sharpens club selection — useful but never essential.
- Skip the gimmicks: training-aid gadgets and novelty accessories rarely earn their place in the bag.
Start with a glove (and wear just one)
The glove is the highest-value accessory in golf and the cheapest. It dramatically improves your grip — especially as your hands get sweaty — and prevents the blisters and calluses that a few dozen swings will otherwise give you.
Golfers wear a glove on their lead hand only: the left hand for a right-handed player, the right hand for a lefty. That hand does the gripping work and takes the friction; the trail hand stays bare for feel. An all-weather synthetic glove like the Callaway Weather Spann is durable, grippy in any conditions, and costs about the same as a sleeve of balls.
Bags and rangefinders: nice, in that order
Your complete set comes with a bag, but it is often on the heavier side. If you like to walk the course, a dedicated lightweight stand or “Sunday” bag makes the round genuinely more enjoyable — less weight on your shoulder, quicker to set down and pick up.
A rangefinder is the luxury at the top of the list. It gives you the exact yardage to the flag, which speeds up play and noticeably improves your club selection once you know your distances. It is never essential — phone apps and course markers work — but a good-value laser rangefinder like the TecTecTec VPRO500 delivers most of a $400 model’s usefulness for a fraction of the price.
Callaway Weather Spann Golf Glove
$11The one accessory nobody should skip. The Weather Spann’s synthetic build grips well wet or dry, the reinforced palm patches add durability, and micro-ventilation keeps your hand cool. Cheap, hard-wearing, and a genuine help to your grip from the first swing. Worn on the lead hand only.
What's good
- Big improvement to grip and comfort
- Durable all-weather synthetic
- Very inexpensive
What's not
- Gloves wear out and need replacing periodically
- Sizing varies — check the fit guide
Sunday Golf Loma Lightweight Stand Bag
$110The bag that makes walking a pleasure. Far lighter than the bag bundled with most starter sets, the Loma has built-in stand legs, a comfortable strap, and smart pockets (including a cooler pouch). Ideal for walking a round, hitting the range, or a quick par-3 course without lugging a heavy carry bag.
What's good
- Very light and comfortable to carry
- Built-in stand and useful pockets
- Great for walking and range trips
What's not
- Holds fewer clubs than a full cart bag
- A want, not a need — your set already has a bag
TecTecTec VPRO500 Laser Rangefinder
$110The luxury that earns its place. The VPRO500 gives accurate, pin-seeking yardages to within a yard, which speeds up play and genuinely improves your club selection once you know your distances. It delivers most of a premium rangefinder’s usefulness for a fraction of the cost — the smart-value way to add this tool.
What's good
- Accurate, fast pin-seeking yardages
- A fraction of premium-brand prices
- Speeds up play and sharpens decisions
What's not
- A genuine luxury — never essential
- Some courses/competitions restrict slope features
If you have budget left after clubs, balls, and a glove, a few lessons will improve your golf more than any accessory ever will. The gear above is genuinely useful, but a good coach fixing your grip and setup early is the highest-return purchase in the game. Buy the glove, skip the gimmicks, and book a lesson.
Before you buy
Buy a glove first — it is cheap and helps every single swing.
Wear the glove on your lead hand only (left for right-handers).
A lightweight carry bag is worth it if you walk rather than ride.
A rangefinder is a luxury — phone apps and course markers work fine to start.
Avoid novelty training-aid gadgets; lessons beat gizmos every time.
Golf accessory questions
Do beginners need a golf glove?
Which hand do you wear a golf glove on?
Do I need a separate golf bag if my set came with one?
Is a golf rangefinder worth it for a beginner?
What golf accessories should I avoid?
Buy a glove — it is the cheapest, highest-value accessory in golf and helps every swing. Add a lightweight carry bag if you like to walk, and a value rangefinder like the TecTecTec VPRO500 if you want exact yardages. Beyond that, skip the gadgets and spend on a lesson or two; nothing else will improve your golf faster.
The HobbyStack editorial team researches each guide using practitioner communities, published resources, and direct input from active hobbyists. Every guide is reviewed for accuracy before publication and updated when practices change.
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