You know the feeling. You line up your shot, club in hand, and the face is caked with mud and grass from that last approach.
You grab your towel, give it a good swipe, and… the dirt just smears around. Now your towel is a wet, dirty rag that’s more trouble than it’s worth. What went wrong?
The answer isn’t that you have a bad towel. It’s that you might have the wrong kind of towel for the job. The waffle weave vs terry golf towel debate isn’t about which one is better overall.
It’s about understanding the physics of how each fabric works. One is a dirt magnet for deep grooves, the other is a water sponge for drying hands and balls. They’re not competitors; they’re specialists.
By the end of this, you’ll know exactly which one you need, or whether a 2-sided towel solves the whole problem.
Top Picks At a Glance | The Best Golf Towels for Your Bag
Waffle Weave: The Groove Cleaner
Let’s start with the side of the debate that’s often misunderstood. Waffle weave isn’t just a fancy pattern. It’s a deliberate engineering choice for cleaning dry dirt.
How It Works (The Physics)
If you look closely at a waffle weave towel, you’ll see a grid of raised squares with recessed pockets between them. When you swipe a dirty clubface with this fabric, those pockets act like tiny scoops.
Dry dirt, sand, and grass particles get trapped inside the pockets rather than being pushed around the surface. It’s the same principle as using a squeegee over a flat cloth; the dirt has somewhere to go.
The key benefit here is the scrubbing action without needing high pressure. You don’t have to grind the towel against the clubface.
A single, firm pull will lift debris out of the deepest grooves. I noticed this the first time I used a waffle weave towel on a muddy iron after a wet lie. The difference was immediate. No more streaks of mud left behind.
The Trade-Off
Waffle weave isn’t perfect. Once it gets saturated with water, it loses its effectiveness. The pockets fill up, and instead of trapping dirt, the fabric just pushes moisture around. It’s also stiffer and less plush than terry cloth.
If you’re trying to dry your hands or wipe sweat off a grip, waffle weave feels rough and doesn’t absorb much.
And honestly? It makes a sound. That “scritch-scratch” against the clubface can be a little loud on the course. Some golfers don’t mind it, but it’s worth knowing.
Waffle weave is for the strike | cleaning clubfaces and grooves.
Terry Cloth | The Water Sponge
Terry cloth is the traditional towel fabric. It’s what your bath towel at home is made of. But on a golf course, it serves a very different purpose.
How It Works (The Absorption)
Terry cloth uses a loop pile construction. Those little loops create a massive surface area. When you press them against a wet surface, capillary action pulls water into the fabric. It’s the same reason a kitchen towel soaks up a spilled drink so quickly.
On the course, this makes terry cloth invaluable for drying. Wet ball after a water hazard? One wipe and it’s dry.
Sweaty hands before a putt? Terry cloth gets them bone-dry fast. It’s also soft and gentle, so you can use it on a wet clubface without worrying about scratching the finish.
The Trade-Off
But here’s the problem. Terry cloth holds onto water. Once it’s wet, it becomes heavy and loses its ability to clean dry dirt. If you try to wipe a caked-on clubface with a damp terry towel, you’re basically just making mud. It smears the dirt deeper into the grooves.
There’s also the lint issue. New terry towels often leave a fine dust of lint on the clubface. It’s not a huge deal, but it’s annoying if you’re trying to get a clean strike. Most towels need a wash or two before the lint stops shedding.
And if you leave a wet terry cloth in your golf bag overnight, it gets musty. That smell is hard to get out.
Terry cloth is for the state | drying balls, hands, and grips after a wet shot.
The 2-Sided Solution | Why You Don’t Have to Choose
After testing both specialists, it became obvious that the ideal solution isn’t picking one over the other. It’s having both. That’s where the PXG 2-Sided Microfiber Waffle Weave Players Towel comes in. It eliminates the debate by giving you both technologies in one towel.
The Black Side (Waffle Weave)
The black side uses the microfiber waffle weave. This is your primary weapon for the pre-shot routine.
When you’re standing over a dirty club, a quick swipe with this side catches dry dirt and sand effectively. I found it works best when the towel is dry. A quick flick of the wrist and the grooves are clean, no smearing, no residue.
The White Side (Terry Cloth)
The white side is made of gentle, durable, and highly water-absorbent terry cloth. This is for post-shot cleanup. If you’ve hit out of a wet rough or your ball is covered in moisture, this side is your friend.
I use it to dry my hands before gripping a club after a rain shower. It also works great for wiping down a wet clubface before putting the cover back on.
The “Rinse Before Use” Rule (Honesty & Trust)
Here’s something important you won’t see in most reviews. The care instructions on this towel say “Rinse before use.” I’ve seen people skip this step and then complain the towel doesn’t work well. Don’t skip it.
Like many microfiber and terry combos, the towel comes with a factory finish that can reduce its initial absorption. A quick rinse in warm water activates the fibers. I did this before my first round, and the towel performed exactly as described. If you skip it, you’ll wonder what the fuss is about.
The 2-sided design isn’t perfect. You do have to consciously flip the towel to switch between cleaning and drying.
It’s not a “one wipe solves everything” solution. But that minor inconvenience is a small price to pay for having the right tool for each situation.
Waffle Weave vs. Terry | The Quick Decision Chart
| Feature | Waffle Weave (PXG Black Side) | Terry Cloth (PXG White Side) |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Dry dirt, sand, deep grooves | Water, sweat, drying grips |
| Material Feel | Stiff, slightly abrasive | Plush, soft, absorbent |
| Weight When Wet | Light (sheds water) | Heavy (holds water) |
| Cleaning Action | “Scoop and trap” | “Wipe and absorb” |
| When to Use | Fairway / Bunker | Wet greens / Post shot |
Which One Should You Buy? The Real Answer
The choice depends entirely on where you play and what you prioritize. Here are three common scenarios.
Scenario A: The Dry Climate Golfer
If you play in Arizona, California, or on a links course that rarely sees rain, your main enemy is dry dirt and sand. You need the waffle weave side to scrape grit out of grooves. Terry cloth is secondary.
You might get by with a single-sided waffle weave towel, but you’ll still want some terry for the occasional morning dew.
Scenario B: The Wet Climate Golfer
If you’re in the UK, the Pacific Northwest, or anywhere with early morning dew, you need serious water absorption. Terry cloth is your primary need. But even in wet conditions, there are dry moments- a bunker shot, a fairway lie, where the waffle weave side is still useful.
Scenario C: The Minimalist (One towel for all conditions)
This is where the PXG 2-Sided Players Towel becomes the only logical choice. It removes the risk of buying the wrong specialist towel.
You get both technologies for the price of one. It’s the safe, effective, and smart buy. I keep one in my bag for every round. No second-guessing.
Waffle for the strike. Terry for the wipe.
Things You Should Know
Can I use a waffle weave towel for drying my hands?
You can, but it won’t do a great job. Waffle weave is designed to trap dry particles, not absorb liquid. It feels rough and doesn’t wick away moisture well. For drying hands or a wet ball, a terry cloth side is far better.
Does the PXG 2-sided towel leave lint on my clubs?
After the initial rinse, I haven’t noticed any lint on my clubfaces. The terry side is well-made and doesn’t shed like some cheaper towels. The microfiber waffle side is naturally lint-free. It’s a clean wipe.
How do I keep my golf towel from smelling musty?
Waffle weave dries faster than terry cloth, so if you use the waffle side more, it’s less likely to smell. For the terry side, hang the towel out to dry after a wet round. Machine wash warm every few rounds. Don’t leave it crumpled in your bag.
Is a 2-sided towel better than owning two separate towels?
For a minimalist golfer, yes. You have one towel that covers both cleaning and drying. The downside is you have to flip it consciously.
Some players prefer two separate towels, one for each task, to avoid fumbling. But for most of us, a single 2-sided towel is more convenient and easier to manage.
Conclusion
The waffle weave vs terry golf towel debate isn’t about winners and losers. It’s about understanding what each fabric does best. Waffle weave scoops dry dirt out of grooves. Terry cloth soaks up water. The best solution is the one that covers both scenarios.
If your bag has room for one towel, the 2-sided PXG towel is the smartest buy. It solves the “vs.” argument entirely. You get a clean clubface on every swing, no matter the conditions. And honestly, that’s all you really want.