5 Adjustments That Save Your Score (and Your Smile) in the Rain

No golfer loves playing in the rain, but a wet round is not automatically a ruined round.

Players who handle wet conditions well often gain an advantage because everyone else stops thinking strategically. The course plays longer, the rough becomes less predictable and keeping control matters far more than chasing perfect shots.

These five adjustments will help you walk off the eighteenth with your score, equipment and sense of humour intact.

1. Protect your grip first

Control disappears the moment the grip gets slick. Keep one section of your towel dedicated to grips and hands, and protect that dry section inside a side pocket between shots.

Wipe your hands and the grip before every shot, not after. It is easier to prevent moisture from building up than to recover once everything is soaked.

A reliable towel setup is essential. The TLG Magnetic Microfiber Waffle Golf Towel gives you plenty of absorbent surface and stays close when you need it.

2. Expect less roll

Wet fairways and greens kill rollout. Drives stop faster, approach shots land softer and putts need more energy to reach the hole.

On approaches, consider taking one more club and commit to carrying the number instead of landing short and hoping for release. Around the green, favour shots that fly closer to the target. On putts, make a positive stroke while keeping the rhythm smooth.

3. Play to the safer side

Rain can reduce spin, make rough shots jump and turn a slightly heavy strike into a very short one. Give yourself a wider margin for error.

Aim for the fat side of the green, avoid short-siding yourself and accept that the smart target may be twenty feet from the pin. In bad weather, boring golf is often brilliant golf.

4. Shorten the swing slightly

Trying to swing harder when the ground is wet usually creates slips, poor balance and inconsistent contact. A controlled three-quarter swing gives you a better chance of finding the centre of the face.

Grip down slightly if it helps, keep your feet stable and finish in balance. Clean contact produces more reliable distance than forcing an extra few metres from an unstable lie.

5. Reset between every shot

Use the walk or cart time to restore your setup. Dry your hands, clean the ball when the rules allow, wipe the clubface and put everything back in its assigned place.

This little reset prevents one wet mistake from becoming three holes of frustration. It also keeps your pre-shot routine familiar, which is exactly what you want when the conditions are unfamiliar.

Pack the bag before the clouds arrive

  • Two towels, with one kept dry

  • A spare glove in a sealed pocket

  • A light waterproof layer and cap

  • Enough balls for lost-ball conditions

  • A cleaning tool for mud on clubs and balls

A proper bag setup changes everything in bad weather. Stay dry where it matters, choose conservative targets and let the conditions frustrate everyone else.

Happy hitting,
Caleb & the TLG team