Best Sunglasses to See Golf Balls?
Typically, a round of golf takes between 4 to 6 hours to complete, and will usually take place between 9 am and 4 pm.
This is just when the sun is at its most dangerous.
Every time a golfer goes out with no eye protection, they are putting their eyes at risk.
Just as Greg Norman popularised golf hats in the past decades, so golfers like Tiger Woods have popularised golf sunglasses with today’s golfers.
In the below article we have three pairs of sunglasses which we think are great to walk down the fairways and greens.
Following the three reviews we have answered some questions to help you guys out.
The editors choice for best sunglasses to see golf balls are the Oakley Half Jacket 2.0
Best three sunglasses to see golf balls
1. Oakley Half Jacket 2.0
2. Maui Jim Hot Sands
3. Under Armour UA PowerBrake
Oakley Half Jacket 2.0
Oakley has established itself as the leading global brand for “sports performance sunglasses.”
They have many well-known names who use their products,
We were wondering why this was, so we took a close look at this brand to investigate why they have become so popular.
We have chosen the Oakley Half Jacket 2.0 XL to review in this instance.
Main Features of The Oakley Half Jacket
There are three big names in this market and it is primarily the quality of lenses that brings Oakley to the fore. They are such high quality.
The glasses are also of rugged design. The main feature however is the contrast and color control that these lenses produce and the sculpted arms that keep the glasses firmly in place.
Specs
The glasses come in four color variations (white frames, polished black frames, or silver frames, Retina Burn Fingerprint).
The glasses have replaceable lenses in case you need to switch between polarized and standard lenses.
The lenses can also be made into a prescription lens.
Lens dimensions: 62 millimeters x 37 mm
Bridge Width: 15 mm
Length of arms: 133 mm
PROS & CONS
- Lens options - replaceable lenses
- Quality of lenses
- Virtually indestructible frames
- Frame is too narrow for people with fuller faces
- Lens is not dark enough on brightest days
Verdict
The style is not one that everyone will like so you may prefer another brand of sunglasses.
However, if you are only thinking of these sunglasses as a golfing accessory and you play a lot of golf then you may be prepared to overlook the design shortcomings in favor of the brilliance of the lens technology.
Maui Jim Hot Sands
Maui Jim has the sunglasses for every lifestyle and recently launched sunglasses aimed at the golfing market.
They launched three new styles Hot Sands, Middles, and Stone Crushers.
In this review, we are going to concentrate on the Hot Sands.
The style of these sunglasses is such that they would not look out of place on the golf course, beach, or office, so they are very versatile.
The main feature of Maui Jim Hot Sands glasses is that all the lenses are polarized.
Now some people swear by polarized lenses and really appreciate their anti-glare abilities.
Others, however, believe that polarized lenses can distort vision and cause issues with depth perception.
Personally I love Polarized sunglasses and when you have tried them over standard I believe there is only one choice and that is Polarized.
Please try them on and make your own decision.
The golfing world is divided on this point with both spheres liking the benefits of both non and Polarized lenses.
The other drawback with polarized glasses is that they reduce the glare off the green, and some golfers read the differences in glare to read how the green lays.
The supporters of Polarized lenses, however, claim that the ability to remove light bouncing off shiny surfaces will assist in keeping your eyes comfortable during a long game, as without the glare your eyes will no longer squint.
People who are sensitive to light will also prefer polarized lenses. So, I suppose it is down to personal likes or dislikes.
Specs
The sunglasses come in three color options (Gloss Black – Neutral Grey, Blue – Neutral Grey, Rootbeer – HCL Bronze).
Lens dimensions: 71 millimeters x 41 mm
Bridge Width: 16 mm
Length of arms: 116 mm
PROS AND CONS
- Design is suitable for multiple uses
- Super light and hug the face
- The amber color lenses are better than grey color for golf
- Not glass lenses, made from lightweight polycarbonate
- Only available in Polarized lenses
Verdict
Then style makes them wearable in multiple situations, not just golf, they hug the face and are lightweight.
With the amber lens variant, they offer a good vision.
Overall, I think they are a good pair of sunglasses for Golf – AS LONG AS YOU HAVE NO PROBLEMS WITH POLARIZED LENSES, which I do not!
Under Armour UA PowerBrake
Main Features of The Under Armour UA PowerBreak.
The main feature of these glasses is the design that curves with your face, allowing a more consistent vision with the lenses that are made of a polarized material that is ten times stronger than polycarbonate lenses.
The glasses are comfortable to wear and cling to the face well.
Specs
The glasses come in a variety of options:
1. Multi-colored
2. Gloss Black / Black / Offshore Polarized
3. Satin Black / Black / Shoreline Polarized
4. Satin Black / Black Frame / Gray / Blue Multiflection Lens
5. Shiny Black / Black / Gray Polarized Lens
Lens dimensions: 61 millimeters and 62 millimeters
Bridge Width: 16 mm
Length of arms: 122 mm
PROS AND CONS
- Very comfortable to wear
- Exceptionally affordable price
- Frames could be stronger, notches used instead of a screw to hold arms
- Only available in Polarized lenses (a problem for some people)
Verdict
These are a budget-priced option that offer a stylish look.
Not made as well as the more expensive alternatives, but that would be expected.
If worn with care these will do the job, but be aware that the frames are weaker than the competition.
These are only available with Polarized lenses, but as stated earlier I love them.
Conclusion
We have selected three pairs of Golf sunglasses to review for you, each has its own features that may or may not appeal to you.
Two of the pairs are polarized which may be an important factor in your selection, but if you are one of the people which has no issues with this feature then it comes down purely to the looks of the glasses and the durability.
We hope these reviews are useful to you and that we have contributed to your decision about which sunglasses to choose.
Sunglasses for Golf Frequetly Asked Questions
The right sunglasses are a simple accessory that may improve a golfer’s performance and safety.
They are also a topic that is sometimes controversial amongst golfers who have opposing views on whether glasses should be work or not and what sort of glasses should be worn.
In the below article, I will be looking at some of the questions that golfers ask about sunglasses.
Which Colour Lens is Best for Golf?
The most common color of lenses is:
AMBER BROWN
People find that they are able to see the ball with increased clarity against the green grass and blue sky.
They block blue light which reduces the ability to focus. By reducing blue light you will improve your perception of depth and get much greater clarity.
See more later in the article on how brown and amber are better for bright days.
RED ROSE LENSES
This colour also enhances contrast in the same way as brown and amber. They are not good for bright days and may cause eye strain.
GRAY LENSES
Gray with not change the tint of other colours but it adds no real benefits either.
It flattens all colours equally and makes the white ball less clear.
Gray is not a good choice for golf.
GREEN LENSES
Green lenses will filter some blue light and will also heighten contrast.
They will assist in seeing the differences in the grass and make your view clearer.
Are Polarized Lenses Good for Golf?
The benefit of polarized lenses is their ability to cut out glare altogether when you have sunlight reflecting off surfaces that are horizontal.
However, in doing this they reduce the user’s perception of depth, which of course absolutely disastrous for golfers.
They can also induce eye strain if you are continually moving your head up and down.
Should You Wear Sunglasses While Golfing?
In the past most professionals did not wear sunglasses when playing, however, this is slowly changing and I think overall the balance is tipping towards wearing sunglasses. However, choosing the correct sunglasses is important.
It is a strange thing even for me, I have not really worn sunglasses while playing golf and have found them strange to wear while playing, but this is just a habit. If we are concerned about protecting out eyes, then yes we SHOULD be wearing protective sunglasses while golfing.
What are Contrast-Enhancing Lenses?
When buying sunglasses for golf one of the key factors you should consider is to find a lens that improves contrast – “Contrast enhancing lenses.”
One, of the features of sunglasses with yellow lenses, is the “contrast enhancement effect.”
It has been proven by scientific testing that yellow lenses make vision seem brighter because they cause a reduction in some of the wavelengths belonging to the chromatic and achromatic channels, which in turn improves the eye’s ability to deal with low contrast.
Put simply it means that your vision is clearer on cloudy days.
What are the best colour lenses for bright days?
Each colour lens has different properties.
They offer various advantages. As a golfer, you should select the colour of the lens that suits your playing environment.
BROWN
With golf lenses, the most important feature is contrast. Choosing lens tints in the amber – brown range are excellent choices for most golfers.
When on the green they are particularly effective. They also can be very positive when it comes to distances as in addition to providing contrast on green grass, they also provide excellent contrast when looking at the ball against a blue sky, which assists in keeping track of a ball as it flies through the air.
Brown and amber tints do not impact much on the perception of true colors.
AMBER
Amber lenses share many of the properties of brown lenses.
They do, however, allow more light to pass through your lenses.
This makes them better for more cloudy conditions.
ROSE COPPER
Rose Color tints have the property of extracting red and yellow tones within the green, which allows the golfer to see the contours of the course better,
The downside is that other colours will be overlaid with rose tints.
Are Mirrored Sunglasses Good for Golf?
Apart from helping you to look cool, mirrored sunglasses have two primary advantages, and that is they will reduce the amount that gets into your lenses and thus improves the way that you will see colors.
They also assist in reducing the amount of UV (ultraviolet) light that reaches your eyes. Another term for mirrored lenses is “Flash lenses.“
How to Get the Best UVA Protection from Golf Sunglasses?
Even if you think that sunshine is not bothering you, there is still a benefit to be had by wearing sunglasses.
The sun sends out harmful UV light that can cause problems for eyes even on what we think are overcast days.
To get the maximum protection it is recommended to wear wrap-around sunglasses as they offer greater protection. Mirror coating also reduces the amount of light entering the eyes.
Why Do Pro Golfers Not Wear Sunglasses?
It is a fact that many Pro golfers do not use sunglasses when they play.
The reason for this is quite simply that they never have, and to suddenly switch now might take a period of acclimatization which, as professionals, they cannot afford.
The best time to start wearing sunglasses for golf is when you are young or first starting.
Some Pros, like Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, do wear sunglasses and there is a slow but sure increase in the number of golfers that do.
Are Golf Sunglasses Frames Important?
So far, our conversation has been on the lens composition and tints.
The other major part of the sunglasses is the frames. The frame has three particular features that have an impact on golfers.
BOTTOM FRAME
The first part of any golfers shot involves looking down and if your chosen sunglasses have a bottom frame then there is a risk that your view of the ball is obscured.
Glasses that have no bottom frame allow much greater visibility.
NOSE BRIDGE
In certain conditions, the bridge on the glasses can trap air and cause misting.
Look for glasses that
offer a ventilated nose bridge to avoid this.
TEMPLES
The temples should be adjustable or have a good natural grip so that the sunglasses do not slide down the nose when looking down.
They should also be designed so that they slide under the hat easily.
