For most golfers, the best way to play golf is on a mild, clear day with no wind or adverse weather. Many golfers ensure they always play in perfect conditions by checking the forecast ahead of time and not playing in the colder or wetter seasons. While playing in the rain is not ideal and sometimes unavoidable, knowing how to do so will ensure you have an enjoyable round of golf and even get a good score. Another bonus is that it could also improve your overall game. In this post, we will look at the best equipment for playing in the rain, how to adjust your game to the weather, and the best alternative if the weather is too poor to play outside.
Wet Weather Equipment
While not necessary, adapting your equipment to the rain will improve your comfort levels and ability to strike the ball well.
Waterproof Coat
Playing in the rain is not the most pleasant experience, but playing soaked to the skin is much worse, and it is highly likely you won’t play even close to your best. A good waterproof coat for golf will keep you dry and provide enough mobility to swing as normal. Pro shops sell waterproofs specifically designed with golfers in mind, and these are a much better choice than your everyday Mackintosh coat.
Gloves
Your golf glove is very important for gripping the club and controlling your swing, and the rain will have a negative impact on both. The best option is to invest in a pair of wet-weather gloves, which will not only keep your hands warm but also increase your grip on the club and prevent any slippage when swinging. If you don’t want to use wet-weather gloves, you must keep your regular glove as dry as possible. This can be done by removing it after every shot and putting it in your bag. It is best to have a few replacements on standby in case your glove does get wet.
Golf spikes
Golf shoes will always come with a good amount of grip and are suitable for most weather conditions. However, you can go one step further by investing in spiked golf shoes. These will give you a much more solid foundation when hitting the ball, especially from difficult lies.
Club Bag Cover
Keeping your clubs dry is paramount when playing in the rain. Wet clubs will not only affect your performance but could also be damaged by rust or mold if left damp for extended periods of time. Most golf bags will come with a cover, but if not, or you want better protection, you can buy a 100% waterproof hood from pro shops or online platforms.
Wet Weather Playing Tips
Golf in wet weather can be a very challenging and frustrating experience for golfers who only play in ideal conditions. Yet, although some adjustments must be made, it isn’t a major change from how you would regularly play.
Account for Less Ball Run
Wet ground dramatically affects how the ball runs when it lands, and the wetter and softer the ground, the less the ball will run. A simple rule of thumb is to strike the ball harder for every type of shot as the ball will either stop short or, especially for short game shots, stop dead on the wet ground. If you are struggling to find the distance with your usual clubs despite hitting the ball harder, try switching down a club.
Hit Your Putts Harder
The green is where the rain can really impact your game, as your putts will become much slower. To accommodate the conditions, hit the putt with the same power as you would if it was from a slightly greater distance. Knowing your striking strength is important here and can be improved through simple putting drills. The good news is that if you usually overhit your putts, the wet greens will be much more forgiving.
Know the Embedded Ball Rule
An embedded ball is when part of the ball is below the ground level after landing. This means that it is sunk into the ground or above the soil but still below the level of the ground, and it must be in its own pitch mark. The embedding rule (16.3 in the USGA rulebook) gives players a relief by letting them mark behind the ball, use their club to create an arc no closer to the hole, mark the extremities, and then drop the ball anywhere in the semi-circle area. On a wet course, your chances of embedding the ball are much higher if the ground is wet, so knowing this rule means you won’t have to hit a very difficult shot, which could affect your approach and scorecard.
Change Your Mental Game
As mentioned above, playing in the rain is more challenging than playing in dry weather, requiring you to adapt your mental game. If you are prepared to have a positive attitude towards playing in the rain and realize that your score will not be as good as it usually is, you will still have an enjoyable experience. Rather than seeing the rain as a hindrance, consider it a good time to practice playing in adverse conditions. This way, when it unexpectedly rains during a round or a tournament, you will be mentally able to adapt and not implode at crucial moments due to the weather.
Indoor Golf
If the rain makes it impossible to play, as is often the case here in the Philippines, or it is not something that appeals to you, then Indoor Golf is your next best option. You can practice as you normally would on a virtual driving range or test your skills on a world-famous course. As mentioned above, playing in poor weather conditions requires some practice, and a virtual golf simulator is one of the best ways to do this. You can change the settings to create adverse weather conditions, such as the amount of rain. Using the FSX2020 software from Foresight Sports at our San Juan and BGC locations, you can even choose to play the live weather conditions of your chosen course.
Nobody likes playing in the rain, but being able to do so will make you a better golfer. Follow our tips above, and you will play your best no matter how wet you or the course are.