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For golfers, not all sunglasses are created equal—and the difference from the appropriate to inappropriate can cost you strokes, not to mention eye issues. Here’s what you need to know:If you don't like wearing sunglasses while you play, especially when you putt, it's probably because the lenses and frames weren't designed with golfers in mind. For example, the vast majory of sunlgasses are polarized, meaning they are designed to reduce harsh light, like when the sun reflects off of water. Golfers need more light, so non-polarized lenses are much better for noticing the subtleties of slope and grain on greens and the fringe.Another issue that makes sunglasses a turnoff for golfers are the frames themselves. That pair you rock at the beach is cool when you're sitting on a lounge chair, but when you're swinging a driver at 100 miles per hour, the slightest movement of the frame could be the difference between splitting a fairway and splitting a tree branch.There are four main things golfers should be looking for in sunglasses: (1) Is the tech in the lenses designed for optimum golf vision? (2) Are the frames stable when you swing and not distracting as you address a ball? (3) Do they offer top-of-the-line ultraviolet (UV) ray protection for your eyes? (4) Do they cover your eyes broadly enough to help with protection from airborne allergens?You might have a tough time finding a pair that does all that, and looks good, too, but a new golf-specific sunglass company is hoping you consider their brand.When Gary Woodland won the Texas Children's Houston Open earlier this year, his caddie, Brennan Little (below), was sporting a pair of TITE Eyewear's new line of sunglasses designed specifically for the course. It was the result of an interesting marketing move from Scott MacGuffie, founder and president of the company. Instead of chasing down an endorsement deal with a tour pro or two, MacGuffie wanted his glasses to be worn and loved by the guys who need them from sun up to sun down. In addition to Woodland's caddie, Justin Thomas' caddie, Matt Minister, and Kris Ventura's caddie, Scott Sajtinac, who also is president of the Association of Professional Tour Caddies, endorse them.
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Having them wear TITE sunglasses means a lot, MacGuffie says, since these guys are literally paid by how well they see things. MacGuffie says he designed lenses that not only provide premium protection from the sun's UV rays, which will be explained further in a moment, they also are specifically designed to enhance the ability to see shades of green.In other words, they are letting more light in the center of the color spectrum. It's a technique called "notch filtering.""It's green on steroids," MacGuffie says. "They enhance depth perception, landing spots, the rough, slope, grain by highlighting all those green colors."
You might think letting in more light defeats the purpose of sunglasses, but the tech in TITE's product line also does a better job of eliminating UV exposure while also addressing the beginning of the blue-light spectrum. Excessive exposure to blue light can cause strain on the eyes, so MacGuffie says his lenses have a "calming effect."Another area of focus for MacGauffie's design team was the quality of the frames. He says the glasses are purposely built to stay out of your vision and remain snuggly on the face, but also be comfortable enough to be worn all day. They also have a unique feature of being able to be tilted up or down 1 degree to optimize fit."There are different face shapes, so the tilting helps customize a pair to the individual," he says. To be clear, these are premium sunglasses and they aren't cheap. Costs range from $200 to $250 depending on the style and lenses, but they are made to compete with brands popular with golfers such as Oakley, Knockaround and Shady Rays.Knockaround (below) is the official eyewear of the PGA Tour and endorsed by players such as Joel Dahmen and Danielle Kang and range in price from $55 to $85. The company also boasts of color-enhancing, non-polarized lenses, and they call their tech "knockterra."
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Oakley's Sutro Lite (below) and Flak XL ($171) models also are designed for golf and have been worn by Rickie Fowler (Min Woo Lee is sponsored by Oakley). The company uses its PRIZM technology to enhance various colors depending on the sport.
Shady Rays has several models intended to be used by golfers ranging in price from $124-$135. Sahith Theegala endorses the brand and wears the Titan Elite model. They use semi-polarized lenses to block harsh glare but also preserve enough light for depth perception.
