Golf in rain: How to adjust game style & strategy

Anyone who plays golf when it rains quickly realizes that the usual playing style is reaching its limits. Wet fairways and greens fundamentally change the dynamics of the game. But that is exactly where your opportunity lies.

Professionals know that rain increases the average score. This means that anyone who adapts their strategy and keeps cool can easily set themselves apart from the competition. This article gives you specific tips for your swing, choice of clubs and putting so you can play your best golf even when wet.

Here you'll find the most important equipment to protect you and your golf clubs from rain.

The adjusted golf swing: More control when wet

The most important principle when it rains is: Stay calm and controlled. A panicked swing due to fear of getting wet only leads to mistakes.

• Secure stand and grip: The wet ground can cause your feet to sink in slightly. This may make you feel tense. A tip from golf legend Tom Watson, the six-time Open Championship winner: Simply grab the racket just under an inch shorter. This can make up for a feeling of lack of control. It is even more important to thoroughly dry your handles and hands before each shot to prevent the racket from slipping off.
• The game from the rough: Wet, tall grass is the biggest enemy of the golf swing. It massively brakes the club head. To avoid this, Watson recommends adjusting the ball's response. By raising your hands slightly, you minimize the racket's contact with the grass before hitting and thus ensure a smoother swing.

Strategy and racket choice: Think “carry, not roll”

The biggest change when it rains is the behavior of the ball. It barely rolls on wet fairways. Anyone who ignores this leaves valuable distance behind.

• Distance control: The central motto is “Carry, not roll.” You should focus on reaching the distance almost entirely by flying the ball, as the ball will stop immediately after landing. Therefore, you should usually use one more racket to make up for the missing roll distance.
• Dealing with flyers: Also pay attention to the so-called “flyer.” This phenomenon occurs when wet grass gets between the blade and the ball and thus reduces spin. As a result, the ball flies farther than expected and rolls out more strongly after landing. You should factor this behavior into your choice of racquet.
• The short game: A versatile short game is worth its weight in gold when it rains. Since it's harder to hit the green, you need to be able to rely on your chip and pitch skills. Think carefully about when you're going to putt and when you're picking up the chip. Wet grass on the pre-green can slow down a putt extremely, so a lightweight chip is often a better choice for getting the ball right to the hole.

Putting: More power, less break

Wet greens behave differently than dry ones. If you take this into account, you can save blows.

• Putting speed adjustment: The wet blades of grass slow down the ball massively. That means you need to extend your backswing and hit the putt with more powerto cover the same distance as on dry green.
• Adjusting the break: Even if it sounds contradictory at first, a ball on a wet green takes less of a break. The water between the ball and the green dampens lateral movement. Therefore, plan less break than you are used to.

Keep calm and enjoy the round

Rain doesn't have to be a disaster. On the contrary, it offers the perfect opportunity to train your own ability to concentrate and play under difficult conditions. If you have your equipment under control and follow these strategic tips, you can take on the challenge and even play one of the most satisfying rounds of your life.