August 8, 2008 












Tip #18: Playing in the Rain

I guess the worst weather conditions I've ever seen were during the AT&T Pebble beach Pro-Am many years ago. With three holes to go in the second round I was leading or within one of the lead in the tournament, and believe it or not, I missed the cut. Facing the 16th, 17th, and 18th holes at Cypress Point, and playing in a howling, soaking gale, I finished triple-bogey six, quintuple-bogey nine, double-bogey six.

Once you lose your grip you lose everything, so keep your hands in your pockets except to play.

That day, my only objective was to get to the clubhouse alive. In most rainy conditions, however, the aim is more simple -- keep yourself and your equipment as dry as possible. We professionals have an edge in this regard. With huge golf bags and caddies to carry them for us, we can load up with all sorts of apparel and equipment to shelter us from the wet stuff. On a rainy tournament day, I'll take an umbrella, a complete rainsuit, five or six towels, plus at least 10 gloves.

And on some days I've used all 10 of those gloves. Indeed if there's one part of your body to keep dry it's your hands. Once you lose your grip, you lose everything, so keep your hands in your pockets except to play. Also, be sure to keep the top of your golf bag covered so that rain doesn't drip down the shafts and get your grips wet. If all else fails you can improve your hold on the club by wrapping a handkerchief around the grip. (Yes, it's within the Rules.)

Since the club always slips in wet weather, your main swing key is to hold on tight. Other than that, be sure to give yourself good footing, particularly on the tee shot. Because of your tight grip, you'll have less of a free-flowing swing, so you can expect less distance on your drives. The same will be true on the second shots where the soggy turf swallows up your club and impedes solid impact. So allow yourself at least one club more on approaches.

One advantage of playing in wet weather is that the greens will be soft, so you'll be able to fire your shots right at the flag. And if the greens should begin to form puddles, you should hit your short irons and pitches right at the puddles that are close to the hole, because they'll stop the ball dead. You may then drop to the nearest spot that affords you a dry line to the cup. And be sure to give your putts an extra measure of firmness, because a wet green is always a slow one.

But the biggest factor to consider when the clouds roll in has nothing to do with your game. It has to do with your life. If you see lightning or hear a warning siren, head for the clubhouse right away. Too many golfers are killed by lightning every year, and a friendly round of golf isn't worth losing your life over.

- Greg Norman


Golf Tip Archive
Tip #61Gamesmanship - Posted Dec. 31, 2003
Tip #60The Seven-Fingered Shot - Posted Dec. 24, 2003
Tip #59Slice An 8-iron On Long Bunker Shots - Posted Dec. 17, 2003
Tip #58Reading The Green - Posted Dec. 10, 2003
Tip #57Handling Heavy Grass - Posted Dec. 3, 2003
Tip #56The Pitch Shot - Posted Nov. 26, 2003
Tip #55Post Impact - Posted Nov. 19, 2003
Tip #54Three Trick Shots - Posted Nov. 12, 2003
Tip #53Getting Out Of The Trees - Posted Nov. 5, 2003
Tip #52Fades and Draws - Posted Oct. 29, 2003
Tip #51Sixth Sense In The Sand - Posted Oct. 22, 2003
Tip #50The Downswing - Posted Oct. 15, 2003
Tip #49Low Shots - Posted Oct. 8, 2003
Tip #48The Right Club On The Tee - Posted Oct. 1, 2003
Tip #47Reinforce On The Course - Posted Sept. 24, 2003
Tip #46The Lob - Posted Sept. 17, 2003
Tip #45Brave And Bold Putts - Posted Sept. 10, 2003
Tip #44Club Selection - Posted Sept. 3, 2003
Tip #43Meaningful Practice - Posted Aug. 27, 2003
Tip #42Tackling Trouble Shots - Posted Aug. 20, 2003
Tip #41Adapt To Different Sands - Posted Aug. 13, 2003
Tip #40Difficult Lies - Posted Aug. 6, 2003
Tip #39The Takeaway - Posted July 30, 2003
Tip #38The Chip Shot - Posted July 23, 2003
Tip #37The Punch - Posted July 16, 2003
Tip #36Shotmaking Strategies - Posted July 9, 2003
Tip #35Metal Readiness - Posted July 2, 2003
Tip #34Aptitude Starts with Attitude - Posted June 25, 2003
Tip #33Perfect Your Putting Position - Posted June 18, 2003
Tip #32Take the Right Position - Posted June 11, 2003
Tip #31Learn to Read the Green - Posted June 4, 2003
Tip #30Dig it out of the Rough - Posted May 28, 2003
Tip #29Get the Stiffest Shaft You Can Handle - Posted May 21, 2003
Tip #28Get Hungry around the Green - Posted May 14, 2003
Tip #27Blast it Out of the Water - Posted May 7, 2003
Tip #26Think Your Way Out of Trouble - Posted April 30, 2003
Tip #25Overhaul Your Game - Posted April 23, 2003
Tip #24Become a Sand Expert - Posted April 16, 2003
Tip #23Know When to Pick Your Shots - Posted April 9, 2003
Tip #22Learn to Work Your Shots - Posted April 2, 2003
Tip #21Countdown to Takeoff - Posted March 26, 2003
Tip #20Perfect Your Alignment - Posted March 19, 2003
Tip #19Learn the Basics of Sand Play - Posted March 12, 2003
Tip #18Playing in the Rain - Posted March 5, 2003
Tip #17Should You Swing the Same? - Posted Feb. 26, 2003
Tip #16Finish Your Swing Strong - Posted Feb. 19, 2003
Tip #15Hit it Through the Wind - Posted Feb. 12, 2003
Tip #14Put Horsepower in Your Swing - Posted Feb. 5, 2003
Tip #13Hit the Right Club - Posted Jan. 29, 2003
Tip #12You Can Spin the Ball Back - Posted Jan. 22, 2003
Tip #11Don't be a Sucker - Posted Jan. 15, 2003
Tip #10Make Your Practice Meaningful - Posted Jan. 8, 2003
Tip #9Hit it Deep - Posted Jan. 1, 2003
Tip #8Learn to Love The Sand - Posted Dec. 25, 2002
Tip #7Get Inside Their Head - Posted Dec. 18, 2002
Tip #6Get a Handle on Flyer Lies - Posted Dec. 11, 2002
Tip #5Hitting it High - Posted Dec. 5, 2002
Tip #4Swing a Knockout Punch - Posted Nov. 28, 2002
Tip #3Spin it Out of the Sand - Posted Nov. 21, 2002
Tip #2Hit off the Deck - Posted Nov. 14, 2002
Tip #1Attack Every Putt - Posted Nov. 7, 2002

Contact | Privacy Policy | Legal501 North Highway A1A | Jupiter, FL 33477 | 561.743.8818© 2008 - 1999 Greg Norman Interactive, LLC.