It’s rare to find a golfer who enjoys playing in the rain. Sure, it’s better than not playing at all, and unless the lightning horn sounds… the show must go on!
As if golf wasn’t hard enough already, swinging in the rain presents a further set of challenges to the ever-so-hard-done-by golfer, left perplexed as their usually crisply struck approach shots begin taking new flight paths to destinations on the course you never knew existed.
Playing in the rain can very quickly make you feel like a complete beginner. There is a solution, however, and it may just be the handiest golf investment you make all year.
Buying a best golf glove for wet weather, designed to keep your grip locked down, your clubface on target, your ball flying straight, and ultimately, your scorecard on track. Let’s take a look at some of the best wet weather golf rain gloves.
TaylorMade RainControl Golf Gloves – $33 / £26 RRP
It’s hard to make rain gloves look good, but yet again TaylorMade have designed one of the more stylish pairs of rain gloves you can buy. Their Element Tech microfibre material allows for a 40% stronger hold than most traditional rain gloves on the market. Basically, the wetter they get, the more they grip. The gloves have all the performance you need to go and play 18 holes on the worst of days and ensure you’ll remain confident of being in control of your club.
FootJoy RainGrip Golf Gloves – $27 / 21 RRP
FootJoy’s RainGrip gloves can be brought individually or as a pair. We’d suggest that for a few extra quid, it’s worth getting the pair for an even more wet weather grip. FootJoy’s autosuede knitted palm and index finger gives excellent wet or humid weather grip. The QuikDry material is also breathable and very durable, plus, it won’t hold moisture for long to ensure you remain comfortable. We’ve tried plenty of rain and winter golf gloves over the years and the FootJoy RainGrip are among the very best.
Under Armour Storm Golf Gloves – $25 / £20 RRP
Arguably the best looking among this selection of golf rain gloves. Under Armour’s Storm technology repels the rain but doesn’t sacrifice breathability, ensuring your hands stay cool and dry in all conditions. The textured palm is very comfortable and provides impressive grip in the toughest of conditions. UA’s Storm tech is highly regarded across the golf apparel market, used in the construction of some excellent wet-weather products, making these gloves a very credible option.
Srixon Golf Rain Gloves – $25 / £20 RRP
Shane Lowry won The Open at Royal Portrush in horrendous conditions in 2019, but the Srixon staffer had no problems with grip during that wet final round as he swapped his normal Srixon Cabretta Leather glove for one of the brand’s wet weather models. The quick-dry knit material guarantees optimum breathability, and microfibre suede palms ensure you won’t lose grip in wet weather. Flexible and comfortable, these high-quality rain gloves mean you can stay on your game, no matter how bad the weather.
MacWet Micromesh Golf Rain Gloves – $48 / £30
British golfer Aaron Rai, a two-time European tour winner, loves MacWet gloves so much he wears a pair every time he plays, no matter what the weather. If you want proof of how good they are when it rains, just check out the footage of his victory at 2020’s Scottish Open where Storm Alex produced some of the worst conditions we’ve ever seen! They’re our waterproof golf glove of choice. Not only are they fully waterproof and breathable, but they also give you an unrivalled grip when it rains, gripping more the wetter they get.
How to choose a wet weather golf glove
Whether you live in a climate that gets a lot of rain, or perhaps just the odd tropical downpour, making sure your golf glove performs well in wet conditions is essential. Here are a few pre-purchase considerations to bear in mind when purchasing wet weather gloves:
Grip Strength – If it’s not uncommon for you to play in moderate to heavy rain, you should consider proper rain gloves which offer the most robust level of grip for both hands. Even if these conditions are a rarity for you, having a specialist pair of rain gloves tucked away in the bottom of your bag is no extra carriage and could just be a round-saver.
Feel – The best wet weather gloves are not typically the best performing when it comes to feel due to the synthetic materials used in construction. While you may have to sacrifice feel to some extent, ensure your short game doesn’t overly suffer through feeling totally disconnected from your club.
Size – Golf gloves should be tight, acting as a second skin with enhanced grip capability. Ideally, you shouldn’t be able to pinch any material on the palm or fingers.
