Do You Need Rain Golf Gloves? How to Keep Your Grip in Wet Weather
Rain changes everything about how you hold a club. A regular leather glove that grips beautifully when dry turns slick and slippery the moment it soaks through. That's where rain gloves come in - and they work in a way that surprises a lot of golfers.
How rain golf gloves work
Rain gloves are made from special synthetic materials that grip better as they get wetter. Where wet leather gets slippery, the microfiber on a rain glove actually tackifies in the wet, so your hold on the club improves in exactly the conditions that would ruin a normal glove. It feels backwards the first time you try them, then quickly makes sense.
Do you need rain gloves?
If you only play fair-weather rounds, probably not - a breathable leather glove and a towel will get you through the odd shower. But if you regularly play in wet climates, or you don't let a forecast stop you, a pair of rain gloves is one of the cheapest ways to save a round. Once the grip goes, your scores go with it.
Note that rain gloves are usually worn as a pair, on both hands - unlike a standard single glove. We get into the one-versus-two question in one golf glove or two.
Rain gloves vs your regular glove
| Leather glove | Rain glove | |
|---|---|---|
| Grip when dry | Excellent | Good |
| Grip when wet | Poor - gets slick | Excellent - improves |
| Feel | Best | Good |
| Worn as | One (lead hand) | Pair (both hands) |
The takeaway: keep your leather glove for dry play and pull the rain gloves out when the skies open. For the leather-versus-synthetic trade-off in general, see leather vs synthetic golf gloves.
Playing golf in the rain: keeping your grip
- Keep everything dry until you swing. A large umbrella and dry towels under it are your best friends. Dry the grip and your hands right before each shot.
- Carry a spare dry towel - one gets soaked fast. Two or three is not overkill.
- Wipe your grips often. Clean grips shed water far better than grimy ones.
- Protect your gloves in the bag. A dry glove is useless if it's sitting in a puddle at the bottom of your bag.
- Dry leather gloves flat afterward, away from direct heat, so a soaking doesn't ruin them - see how long golf gloves last.
For the dry days
Rain gloves earn their place in the bag, but most of your golf is played in the dry - and that's where feel matters most. The B&C Proto I is 100% cabretta leather for the best grip and feedback when conditions are on your side. New to gloves? Start with which hand to wear it on and our sizing guide.
Frequently asked questions
Do rain golf gloves actually work?
Yes. Rain gloves are made from synthetic materials that grip better the wetter they get, so they hold onto the club in conditions where a leather glove would turn slick. Many golfers find their wet-weather grip is more secure with rain gloves than their dry grip with leather.
Do you wear one or two rain gloves?
Two. Unlike a standard glove worn only on the lead hand, rain gloves are usually worn as a pair on both hands for maximum grip in the wet.
Can you use a regular golf glove in the rain?
You can, but leather gloves get slippery when soaked. A towel and frequent drying help, but for regular wet-weather play a dedicated pair of rain gloves grips far better.
How do you keep your grip in the rain?
Use rain gloves, keep an umbrella and several dry towels handy, dry your hands and the grip before every shot, wipe your grips often, and keep spare gloves and towels dry in your bag.
