I understand that polarized lenses are generally not recommended for golf - especially not for reading greens. But all of Maui Jim's sport lenses are polarized and seem to be very popular for golf. Oakley's golf lenses are not polarized.

How do people like the Maui Jim lenses? Any problems with the polarized lenses? Which color lens would you recommend? I'd like to get a pair of glasses that I can keep on all the time on the course.

I have a few pairs of Maui Jims, and I love them. Great for fishing, the lens are quality and really do relax your eyes. That being said I can't hit a damn golf ball with sunglasses on, just doesn't feel right.

I play in my Maui Jims and have no problem whatsoever with the polarized lenses. Everything looks so crisp in them that I think they help a little if anything.

I wear these and I have no problem seeing the flight of the ball off the tee. Reading greens is a breeze. They're light and very comfortable. It all depends on what your eyes can handle.

What color lens do you guys use for golf?

These are mine (the ones with the "Maui Rose" tint):

http://www.mauijim.com/webapp/wcs/stores/s..._11101_N__2_3_#

I have MJ that I wear some, but I prefer my Oakley's with the G30 lens.

I'm torn between the two. Can you compare them?

Being that Oakley has something like 25 pairs of polarized shades that are designed with sports in mind, could you maybe find something from that section on their catalog?

http://oakley.com/category/465

I'm not sure what you mean. Polarized lenses are generally not recommended for golf. Oakley's golf lenses are not polarized. If I were getting Oakley's I'd go with one of they're golf specific lenses - not the polarized.

I wouldn't think that I'd want polarized glasses for golf, but I like the looks of the Maui Jim's. So I'm wondering why Maui Jim's, which are commonly used for golf and marketed to golfers, have polarized lenses. I'd like to know whether people have had problems on the course with the lenses given that they're polarized.

Ahh, I misread your initial post, sorry about that. However, I have a pair of polarized Arnettes that I occasionally wear while playing. Never had any problems reading greens with them before. I'd rather play the game without shades though, it throws off my perception in general (polarized or not).

Oakley golf lenses are polarized.

http://oakley.com/view_all/mens_sunglasses

I wear my Half Jacket with polarized XLJs. Work just fine when playing golf.

Sorry to sway off topic here...but why would polarized lenses hinder you from reading greens properly? I wear my Von Zips all the time...

I don't think that's true. Here are all of Oakley's polarized glasses: http://oakley.com/category/465

Oakley's golf specific lens, the g30, and the other lens Oakley includes in its "golf array", Gold Iridium, are not listed among Oakley's polarized glasses. Plus, you'll see that Oakley's golf lenses are less expensive than the polarized lenses.

If you search older topics you'll see that many people have mentioned that polarized lenses tend to flatten things out and distort perception. I've never experimented, but it seems that non-polarized are generally preferred for golf. That's why I'm confused as to why Maui Jim would make their golf sunglasses polarized.

i dont ever hit golf shots with sunglasses on, but if im outside during the day or driving, my maui jim navigators never leave my head. best sunglasses ive ever had.

You're both right really. Half Jackets used to be one of the golf arrays several years back, and along with M-frames, they were the most common Oakley you saw golfers wearing. Currently Half Jackets are available with a polarized lens I believe. But the current golf arrays do not come with polarized lens.

I wear perscription polarized lenses- never had a problem reading greens with them.

I would think cutting down on glare, and therefore not squinting, would help with reading greens.

When I was a semi-pro photographer, I used polarized filters on my lenses all the time- it did nothing to distort the image or "flatten it out." All it did was remove polarized light and force you to open the aperture 2 stops (since the filters were so dark).

Which MJs are you considering?

The MJ Sport with the half plastic frame. Possibly the Makaha model. Any additional input on lens color?

Polarization is a personal thing. My vision is so precise, the polarazation throws off my depth perception when addressing the ball.
ALso, lense tint depends on the color of your eyes. I have light blue eyes, so grey is way to dark even in sunny conditions, i prefer the Rose tint or the Oakley G30 lense. However if you are going with MJ's, the Rose tint is definitely the way to go as it is more versatile especially in cloudy conditions.
as for Oakley's I prefer the oakley's with the G30 lense.
hope this helps

I always were MJ sunglasses while golfing, work great! I have both the Bronze HC and the Maui Rose tints, prefer the Rose but am happy with both. The quality is much better than Oakley's.

I have played in both polarized and non-polarized glasses, and I have found glasses W/O polarization to be much harder on the eyes because you have to squint when facing directly into the sun - they don't stop the glare. For me, polarized lenses are the only way to go. Maui Jim does not make any non-polarized sport glasses, so whether they are golf specific or otherwise, they will be polarized.

I currently play in the Maui Jim "Moku" with the new "evolution" lenses with the rose tint. They are the clearest and brightest lenses I have ever used. They have all the advantages of a glass lense with the weight of a polycarbonate! The rose tint is definitely the way to go for bright days. The rose is also the best for contrast / green contours. I also have a pair of hurricanes with the Bronze tint, which works good on partly sunny / overcast days.

I use mine the whole round and don't take them off to putt. However, most golfers I play with and watch on TV remove them to putt, so they may feel they can see the green better without them, polarized or not. That being said, I am amazed at how many people I see here in Florida that don't wear any sunglasses at all! If they had any idea the long term damage they are doing to their eyes, they would learn to adapt to playing with them on!

I highly recommend the MJ's - they are the best performing sport glasses I have worn! Believe me, I have tried the Oakley's - Great frame, but too much glare when you have a T shot directly into the sun; Nike's - again Great frame, but too much glare; Peak Visions - my second choice after the Maui's - however, the bifocal / graded lenses bothered me because the transition fell right in my sight line and was distracting. Tifosi - best sport glasses for the money, but not on par with the MJ's.

Glasses, much like putters, are particular to an individual, so find the ones that fit comfortably and provide the eye protection for your vision. By the way, MJ does have prescription options on many of the MJ Sport models if you need any vision correction along with sun protection!

Mike

I'd like to try the Hurricane, since I have a big head. Can't find any around here to try.

Me too. I just got some Rx Oakley's with G30s and they are MUCH better than my Rx Maui Jims.

Looks like it's divided between Oakley G30 & Maui Jim's.

Another question: Has anyone tried Oakley's G20 Black Iridium lens for bright days on the course? If not, what do you use when it's really bright?

The G20 is the lens I always wear on the golf course.

For me it's the best all-around lens. I've tried the gold and the titanium iridium and although the contrast is more defined I didn't like the way they framed the ball while setting up for the shot, especially when I was in the rough.

The gold is now relegated to my running glasses.

All that said, the MJ's are my daily wear sunglasses and are especially great on my boat.

I wear those daily, have 2 pairs, and I golf full time in them. They never leave my face until the sun starts to set and then I might remove them to drive.

Never had trouble reading greens. Everything is crisp. They are extremely light and flexible, and never move when I swing, fall of my face, ect. Worth double what I've paid for them.

One thing about MJ's certain frames. You can warm them in hot water, put them on your face and "shape" them. If you want them to sit a tad closer to your face, push them and manipulate them ever so slightly, and when they cool, they'll "form".

Never tried it, as they fit like a glove from day 1.

I would cry if I lost these glasses.

I got the black frames with the smoke lenses. Dark enough to keep you comfortable, light enough that yours not blind when the suns not completely out and in your face.