Manufacturers are always looking for softer, more durable alternatives to Cabretta. Furthermore, animal-rights groups have protested the use of kangaroo. Regardless, several companies have begun offering it, including Champ, which treats its new Kangaroo Tour glove with titanium so it lasts even longer. Many gloves complement leather palms with Lycra, microfiber, or Spandex, which stretch with your knuckles and fingers and generate less stress on the glove than pure leather. Breathability promotes traction on a club's grip, and keeps the leather part of the glove from becoming dry and brittle.
Perspiration is a big concern of manufacturers.
In some of its gloves, Nike uses the same Dri-Fit fabric found in its shirts and shorts made for runners. Wicking away any perspiration from the glove will enhance its performance. But thicker also means less feel, part of the reason most Tour pros insist on thin leather. Feel is also closely tied to fit. Nike's gloves feature pre-curved fingers, which the company claims prevents the leather from bunching, allowing it to fit better and stay soft.