The 14 Best Golf Shorts Can Make All the Difference

Pros

• 4-way stretch
• Moisture-wicking and quick-drying

Pros

• Nylon is breathable and moisture-wicking
• Stretchy and abrasion-resistant

Pros

• Moisture-wicking and quick-drying
• 4-way stretch

Pros

• Ultimate stretch
• Breathable and quick-drying

Pros

• Moisture-wicking, stretchy fabric
• Waistband gripper tape keeps your shirt tucked

Pros

• Four-way stretch and water-resistant
• Versatile style with many colors

Pros

• 8-inch inseam is just right
• All-around performance build

Stretch: The most vital element you should demand in golf shorts is a stretchy fabric. Without stretch, you’ll find yourself feeling too constricted and having a hard time when putting, swinging, or bending down a bit. Stretch fabric, usually made with spandex or elastane, allows the golf shorts to have a four-way stretch and move with your motions when you play.

Keep in mind that the primary fabric material in many golf shorts, polyester, isn’t necessarily stretchy since it has no elasticity on its own, so it’s often blended with spandex or elastane to bring out your full range of motion. Or, a 100% polyester fabric can be reworked to be stretchy itself—as in the case of Rhone’s Commuter short—such as via knitting or crimping.

Performance: Besides stretch, golf shorts, as inherently outdoors and athletic shorts, need to have other activewear functionalities such as moisture-wicking and quick drying to keep your thighs cool and dry in case you sweat. These anti-humid feats are usually courtesy of polyester, which is literally hydrophobic and water-repellent. And if it gets too hot, you’ll want to look for breathability offered by nylon, such as in Lululemon’s Commision Short. Additionally, when the sun is really blazing, many golf shorts now offer UV protection and UPF rating to prevent over 90% of the sun’s rays from reaching your skin.

Inseam: Golf shorts shouldn’t run too short, which is why the inseam of a golf short is usually cut to be nine-inch—the usual length you’ll find golfers wear; though it can go to as high as 10.5-inch, while the shortest inseam you’ll see in golf shorts is seven-inch. This longer length offers a more elevated, formal look and fuller coverage. Because everyone’s thigh is different, when looking for golf shorts, the rule is thumb is to opt for an inseam that is one or two inches above your knee.

Pockets: To keep your small golf gear and accessories close by and ready to use—like maybe a few tees or balls—a reliable golf short should come with pockets that are spacious enough to secure them safely. Which is why we recommend shorts with large or extra-deep zipper pockets, on the side and in the back, for optimal storage.

The best shorts for golf shouldn’t fit or feel too tight on your thighs, which is why most golf shorts come in a classic fit: straight-leg, relaxed-fitting, and leaves enough wiggle room in the seat and thigh for mobility (bending down before you swing, for instance). Which is why athletic shorts make the best golf shorts.

On the other hand, we have tailored fit in golf shorts, which is a slightly slimmer silhouette that’s more tapered down the thigh (right above the knee) but still doesn’t feel too tight at the hip area to restrict your movement. The tailored fit looks more dressy for a more elevated golf style.

To find the best golf shorts, we’ve consulted with Men’s Health’s golf enthusiast and style editors who have tried on a variety of golf shorts on the market to test them. For instance, our testers wore Nike’s Dri-FIT golf shorts to play in the green on a sunny weekend, Bonobos’ Performance Link Shorts to a drink at the clubhouse right after the course, or TravisMathew’s Starnes shorts to play indoor golf.

From there, we selected the best golf shorts that meet the bar for comfort, durability, performance feats such as stretch and moisture-wicking, as well as versatility for off-course activities. We also diversified our picks based on price points and different styles of golf shorts, such as pleated golf shorts that our testers have worn to the office, or printed golf shorts.