Few brands do affordable, versatile sunglasses better than Tifosi and the Swank is yet another example in a long list of impressive pair we’ve enjoyed wearing on and off the golf course. For just £55 you get scratch resistance and shatterproof polarised lenses, housed in a sturdy yet lightweight frame.
The biggest compliment I could pay to the Swank sunnies, much like the best golf sunglasses, is that I didn’t notice I was wearing them - such is the lightweight comfort on offer and clarity through the lenses. This is enhanced by the fact they stay firmly in position due to the anti-bounce textured coating on the arms and the hydrophilic rubber used on the nose pads, which means the amount of grip increases the more you sweat.
There’s no question the styling means these sunglasses can be worn seamlessly off the course for almost any occasion. I tried the blackout frame with the blue lenses but there’s also a grey and see-through green available if you want something different.
I’ve always found wraparound designs slightly better for golf, like on the Tifosi Veloce Interchangeable sunglasses, because you don’t get those gaps in your view when looking to the side as you tend to do in golf, perhaps when glancing at your target stood over the ball. But I didn’t experience any obvious distractions or niggly frustrations with the Swank when playing in them and trying to execute an important shot.
The lenses are excellent - they do a great job of dulling down your view on a bright day while still letting through all the detail you need, like the subtle contours on a green. The lack of a more solid, protective carry case is a little disappointing as someone with a tendency to often sit on fragile items accidentally, but I suppose at this price point something has to give. They do some with a soft drawstring pouch, which you can also use to clean the lenses without risk of scratching them.
Overall, there’s plenty to enjoy about the Swank sunglasses - they’re suitable for casual players as well as serious golfers looking to protect their eyes on outings on the links from UVA and UVB rays. You'll likely find yourself wearing them as much away from the course as you do on it.
