Having good eyesight is essential for success in golf. Seeing the fairway, hitting the ball, and analyzing the green are all linked to good eyesight. Besides owning quality clubs and attire, it is also essential to have top-notch golf sunglasses to achieve a good score on the course.
Selecting the perfect pair of golf sunglasses doesn’t have to be as challenging as picking between a nine-iron or a wedge with numerous options available. With an understanding of the key characteristics to seek out, you can find golf sunglasses that will excel in every game. This guide covers key factors to keep in mind when shopping for golf sunglasses.
Tint of the Lens
The lens tint of golf sunglasses serves a purpose beyond just appearance. The hue of your lenses alters the way light is filtered and your perception of the surroundings. You need a lens that provides clear sight in sunlit and overcast weather. It must also offer enough contrast to differentiate between fairways, greens, and hazards.
Typically, a lens color in shades of rose, purple, or copper is considered to be the most suitable choice for golf sunglasses. These lenses provide excellent contrast with the green of the golf course, making it simple to spot your golf ball.
Copper-rose tint is designed to reduce the excessive green light in golf settings and enhance red and yellow light for custom contrast on the course. This enables the eyes to notice the nuances of the green before aligning your putt. The color also creates a contrast with the sky, eliminating the need to squint while aiming.
Frame Design
After deciding on the correct lenses, it is important to know how to choose the frame in which they will be placed. A wraparound style enhances coverage and peripheral vision, reducing the chance of sunlight and glare entering from the sides. The wraparound style also guarantees that your sunglasses remain secure during your swing and provides an additional level of protection, keeping your eyes shielded from sunlight, wind, and debris on all sides.
Golfers require sunglasses that are both lightweight and long-lasting. Durable frames are essential for playing an 18-hole round comfortably, as fragile frames may not survive accidental drops or being sat on in the cart. Nylon is a thermoplastic material that is both lightweight and durable, which is why it is the top choice for golf sunglasses.
UV Protection
Even if the sun is blocked on a cloudy day, your eyes are still being exposed to UV rays while playing golf. Frequent exposure to UV rays can result in severe eye health problems such as sunburn, cataracts, macular degeneration, and cancer. UV protection is essential when it comes to golf sunglasses.
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), the key factor to consider when purchasing sunglasses for activities like golf is ensuring they offer full protection against UVA and UVB rays. Low-quality lenses without UV protection can harm the eyes more than not wearing sunglasses; dilated eyes from tinted shades let more rays reach the pupil.
Should you choose polarized or non-polarized sunglasses for golfing?
Are polarized or non-polarized sunglasses better for golf? Wearing polarized sunglasses is perfect for numerous daily tasks, like driving and beach outings. When it comes to golf, it is recommended to opt for non-polarized sunglasses. Polarized filters are designed to reduce horizontally reflected glare. The function that decreases glare also causes the image you view to appear flat. This impairs depth perception and complicates timing your swing effectively.
In golf, it is rare to experience issues with horizontal glare. Therefore, it is recommended to use non-polarized golf sunglasses to achieve the best depth perception.
HEV Light Blocking
High-energy visible (HEV) light represents the harshest type of blue light in the visible spectrum. Chances are you’re familiar with blue light filtering for computer and phone screens, but it’s important to note that the sun also gives off HEV light. Extended periods of exposure may lead to eye strain, discomfort, fatigue, retinal damage, premature aging, and various other problems.
The Golf HD+ lens, when used with the Spectra Blue mirror, blocks the excessive and harsh blue light in the 400-420nm range that can cause strain on your eyes. Golf glasses that block blue light help to keep your eyes comfortable and refreshed during a long game.
Light Transmission
The term Visible Light Transmission (VLT) refers to the amount of light that can pass through lenses to reach your eyes. A lens with a VLT of 15% will allow 15% of the available light to pass through. A high percentage of lighting can cause eye strain and fatigue, while a low percentage can make everything appear dark and negatively impact vision.
Sunglasses with visible light transmission (VLT) of 20-30% are typically recommended for maintaining optimal vision in the frequently changing lighting conditions of golf.
High-Quality Lenses
Golf requires precision to be successful. Hitting the ball just a fraction off can result in it dropping 50 yards away from your intended target. Using inexpensive, poor-quality lenses can result in distortion that greatly affects your gameplay. Straight lines can bend, making objects seem slightly misaligned.
Performance problems can vary from poorly timed swings to feelings of motion sickness and dizziness. Distortion occurs when the lenses of high-wrap sunglasses are not made by a reputable manufacturer.
Anti-fog
Fogging of sunglasses often occurs in hot, humid weather or after a sudden rainstorm with a significant temperature change. When water vapor comes into contact with sunglass lenses, it forms a cloudy haze. Anti-fog coatings help minimize the impacts in order to enhance visibility. Certain coatings are superior to others, but the quality you receive is determined by the amount you pay.
Sporting top-notch golf sunglasses is akin to possessing a semi-secret weapon for winning. By focusing on lens color and UV blockage, along with ensuring the glasses have practical characteristics, sturdy materials, and a comfortable style, you will be well-equipped to succeed.
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