Are Polarized Lenses Good Or Bad For Golf Game?

You just need to head to the 18-hole course to get a refreshment and hopefully win. What lenses are best to help you achieve the desired result?

Some golfers prefer pink-colored lenses while others opt for brown. Others favor neutral shades like a grey. It is not clear whether non-polarized lenses should be worn on the links. Are polarized lenses really going to hinder your performance? Or is this a myth that's being spread around the golf forums and rumored on the course?

We will give you the facts as they are proven. The pros and cons of each option. And, when it's all said and done, maybe you'll have an answer.

 

The Case Against Polarized

People who claim that polarized lenses are good for golf are making poor decisions.

• Polarized lenses alter depth-perception
• Vision distortion
• Inability to correctly read the green

 

The Rebuttal

• No research has shown that polarized lenses can alter depth perception. A study found that polarization enhanced depth perception by increasing contrast.
• Polarized lenses are not known to cause vision distortion unless your lenses are distorted or sensitive to polarization. Most likely, those who are against polarized glasses either have a defective pair of lenses or are simply not suited for them.
• This has merit. Reflected light is responsible for the sheening of the green that determines the grain's lay. Polarized lenses reduce this glare so you won't see the sheen anymore. Polarized lenses will not have an impact if there is no sheen.

 

The Case for Polarized

• An average round of 18 holes takes 4 hours. Your vision must be sharp all the way. Polarized lenses will allow you to finish a round with fresher vision because your eyes won’t get tired from looking through the glare of bunkers, water hazards, or grass.
• It enhances contrast so that the ball stands out more clearly from the greens as it leaves the hole.

 

Conclusion

Polarized lenses may not have any negative effects on golf performance, but they can be beneficial. If you have to consider the sheen of grass, just take them off and put them on while you read the green. The most important measure in the case polarized vs. non-polarized is not a matter for science or research and it cannot be applied broadly across the board.

It's simply a matter personal opinion.

Your ability to see clearly is the most important factor in determining if polarized lenses are going to ruin your game. If you have that mindset, you might blame your polarized lens for every bad shot or misread the green. It's like the placebo effect, but reversed. You might get a terrible score if you think polarized lenses will hurt your game.

Personal experience will decide which lens is best for you. Start with polarized lenses if you aren't sure which one is best for you. You can swap your lenses for non-polarized lenses if you have any problems. Then, return the pair that doesn't work for you.