How to Play Golf in the Rain

Playing a round of golf in the rain doesn’t have to ruin your day or your scorecard. In fact, learning to manage the elements is a fantastic skill that will make you a more resilient player. This guide will walk you through everything you need to know, from the essential gear you'll need to the specific swing and strategy adjustments that will help you play your best when the skies open up.

Gear Up: Your Wet Weather Essentials

Success in the rain starts before you even step on the first tee. Showing up unprepared is a recipe for a miserable four hours, but with the right equipment, you can stay comfortable, dry, and in control. Think of this as your non-negotiable rain-day checklist.

Head-to-Toe Waterproofing

This is the most obvious, but also the most important, part of the equation. Your comfort is everything.

• Rain Suit (Jacket and Pants): Invest in a set of high-quality, seam-sealed waterproofs. Look for materials that are not just waterproof but also breathable. A cheap plastic poncho will keep water out, but it will trap sweat in, leaving you clammy and uncomfortable. Modern golf waterproofs are lightweight, quiet, and designed to allow for a full range of motion.
• Waterproof Shoes: Soggy feet lead to blisters and a bad mood. A good pair of waterproof golf shoes is a must-have for any serious golfer. Before a wet round, check your spikes to make sure they're in good shape for the best possible traction on slick ground.
• A Proper Hat: Forget the standard baseball cap, which will just funnel water down your neck. A wide-brimmed bucket hat is ideal. It keeps rain off your face, glasses, and the back of your neck, allowing you to stay focused on your shot instead of constantly wiping your face.

The Tools of the Trade

Keeping you and your clubs dry is a constant battle during a rainy round. These items are your best allies.

• Rain Gloves: This will change your life. Unlike a standard leather or synthetic glove that becomes impossibly slick when wet, rain gloves are designed to become grippier in the rain. They are made from a special suede or microfiber material. Buy them in pairs and have at least two sets in your bag. One pair can dry while you use the other.
  • Towel #1: The ‘workhorse,’ clipped to the outside of your bag for wiping down muddy clubs and balls. This one will get dirty.
  • Towel #2: The ‘gold standard,’ kept under your umbrella or inside a waterproof pocket. This towel is strictly for drying your hands and the grips of your clubs *right before* you swing.
  • Towel #3 & #4: Dry backups, stowed away deep inside your golf bag in a plastic bag. You’ll be glad you have them on the back nine when your other towels are saturated.
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You cannot have too many towels. Seriously. Bring three or four. Here’s a system:
• A Sturdy Umbrella and a Bag Hood: A large, wind-resistant golf umbrella creates a portable ‘safe zone’ where you can keep your hands, grips, and primary towel dry. Combine this with a rain hood or cover for your golf bag. If your grips get soaked, the round is effectively over. Protecting them at all costs is the number one priority.

On the Course: Adjust Your Strategy

Playing well in the rain isn't just about staying dry, it's about thinking differently. The course plays completely differently when it's wet, and you have to adjust your expectations and shot planning accordingly.

Course Conditions Have Changed

Accept that the course you’re playing is not the same one you play on a sunny day. The ball will react differently on every surface.

• Absolutely No Roll: Your drives won't get that extra 20 yards of bounce and roll. The ball will land and plug, or stop within a few feet of its pitch mark. This means the hole is playing much longer than the scorecard says. You need to account for this with your club selection.
• Softer Greens: On the plus side, greens will be far more receptive. You can fire at flags that you’d normally have to avoid. Your shots will hold where they land, so you can be more aggressive with your approach shots, as long as you've taken enough club.
• Slower Putting Greens: Rain on the green slows putts down - a lot. You need to be much more aggressive with your putts. Hit them firmer than you think you need to. They will also break less, as the water negates some of the side slope. Think "firm and straight." Give it a good rap.
• Fairway Bunkers are Now Hazards: Wet sand is firm and compact. It’s hard to get the club "under" the ball. Treat wet fairway bunkers like a real penalty. The priority is to get out cleanly. You might need to take a wedge and simply pop it out, rather than trying to hit a heroic hybrid.

Take More Club. Always.

This is probably the most useful single piece of advice for wet-weather golf. Hit one extra club than you normally would for a given distance, and sometimes even two.

Why? Three reasons:

1. Dense Air: Cold, damp air is heavier than warm, dry air, creating more drag on the golf ball and reducing its flight time.
2. Reduced Spin: A little bit of water between the clubface and the ball at impact reduces friction. This lowers spin rates, which can reduce how high the ball flies and how much it carries.
3. You’re Swinging Smoother: As we'll discuss next, you'll be swinging with less effort. Taking more club makes up for this controlled, easier swing.

The Wet Weather Swing: Making Solid Contact

Trying to make your normal, full-power golf swing on slippery ground is asking for trouble. A controlled, balanced swing that promotes solid contact is what you need.

• Grip Down and Widen Your Stance: Choke down about an inch on the club for added control. Widen your stance slightly to give yourself a more stable base. This will prevent you from swaying and slipping during the swing.
• Focus on a 75% Swing: Forget trying to smash the ball. Your goal is solid contact and balance. Think of it as a smooth, three-quarter swing. A slower tempo will dramatically reduce your chances of slipping and mishitting the ball. Because you've already taken an extra club, the ball will still go the right distance.
• Ball-First Contact is Paramount: With wet turf, hitting the shot even a little bit "fat" (hitting the ground before the ball) is a disaster. The club will dig into the soft ground and the ball will go nowhere. To help, try moving the ball position back one ball-width in your stance with your irons. This encourages a slightly steeper angle of attack, helping you hit the ball first and then the turf.
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The lack of friction off the clubface means less spin. Don't expect your chips and pitches to check up quickly. Play for more rollout. This is a great time to lean on a lower-lofted "bump and run" shot rather than trying a delicate, high flop shot that requires a lot of precision.

The Mental Game: Embrace the Grind

Your attitude will determine whether you have a fun challenge or a miserable slog. The mental side of rain golf is just as important as the physical.

• Change Your Definition of a "Good Score": Bogey is not a bad score in the rain. Par is excellent. Don’t get frustrated if you’re not-matching your a fair-weather average. Adjust your expectations and celebrate the good shots.
• Accept That it's a Grind: Everything takes more time. You'll be drying grips, putting on and taking off your jacket, and waiting for the rain to let up between shots. Be patient. If you start rushing, you’ll get sloppy with your pre-shot routine - the one thing you need to be meticulous about.
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Find the fun in it. You're out playing golf when most people are on the couch. Every player in your group is facing the same challenges. Share a laugh when someone’s shot sends up a huge splash. A positive mindset can keep you warm and focused when others are letting the weather get to them.

Final Thoughts

Playing in the rain all comes down to two things: coming prepared with the right equipment and making smart, conservative adjustments to your strategy and swing. By accepting the conditions instead of fighting them, you can protect your score and even find a new level of appreciation for the grinder’s side of the game.

Navigating tough course-management decisions, like figuring out which club to hit in dense, wet air, becomes much harder in bad weather. Or when you face an ugly lie in soggy rough, you might be unsure how to play it. With our service, Caddie AI, you can get instant, expert advice on any situation right on your phone, even analyzing a photo of your lie to recommend a smart play you can feel good about. We help take the guesswork out of difficult situations so you can play with more confidence, no matter what the weather report says.