What Is a Golf Towel With a Slit in the Middle?
Quick Answer
A golf towel with a slit in the middle is usually called a center-slit golf towel, caddie towel, or tour-style towel. The opening lets you drape the towel over a golf club or alignment stick without using a clip, as shown on this center-slit caddie towel design.
What the center slit does
- Hangs without a clip: Slide a club or alignment stick through the opening.
- Keeps it accessible: The towel stays near your clubs instead of disappearing into a bag pocket.
- Balances the towel: Fabric hangs on both sides of the center point instead of from one corner.
- Provides more working area: Large caddie towels give you room for separate damp and dry sections.
- Reduces hardware: No carabiner or metal grommet is required for the basic setup.
Simple setup
- Pass an alignment stick or suitable club through the center slit, then return it to your bag so the towel hangs evenly.
If you have seen a long towel hanging neatly across a golfer’s bag, there is a good chance you were looking at this design. The slit seems unusual until you understand what it is meant to do.
I like the design because it solves a simple on-course problem: keeping enough towel within reach without a clip swinging from the side of the bag. Here is how it works, how to use it, and how it compares with other golf towel attachments in 2026.
In This Guide
What Exactly Is a Center-Slit Golf Towel?
A center-slit golf towel is a golf towel with an opening near the middle of the fabric. The opening acts as a simple attachment point for a club, alignment stick, or similar bag setup.
Definition: A center-slit golf towel is a towel designed to hang over golf equipment through a central opening instead of relying on a corner-mounted clip or grommet.
You may also see these described as caddie towels, tour towels, center-hole towels, or center-opening towels. Those names sometimes overlap, so look at the attachment design rather than the label alone.
What does the towel look like?
Most versions are longer than compact tri-fold towels. Their extra surface area gives you several usable sections during a round.
- Center opening: Positioned near the middle rather than a corner.
- Long rectangular shape: Helps both halves hang down from the attachment point.
- Textured fabric: Microfiber and waffle-textured materials are common.
- No mandatory clip: The slit itself can secure the towel over a club.
A current Club Glove Microfiber Caddie Towel, for example, is listed at 17 × 40 inches and uses a center slit to secure it over golf clubs. That is a useful example of the classic tour-style format.
Why Do Golf Towels Have a Slit in the Middle?
The slit exists primarily to make hanging and accessing a large golf towel easier. Instead of attaching all the towel’s weight from one corner, you can support it near its center.
That small design change becomes useful when you are cleaning clubs repeatedly during a round.
It lets the towel hang over a club or alignment stick
The simplest setup is to pass an alignment stick or suitable golf club through the opening. The towel then rests around that central point with fabric hanging on both sides.
This keeps it close to the club section of the bag. You do not need to unclip anything before wiping a club.
It gives you two easy-to-manage sections
I prefer dividing a large towel into working zones instead of soaking the whole thing. One lower section can handle dirty clubheads while another stays cleaner and drier.
- Damp section: Loosen mud, grass, sand, and dried soil.
- Dry section: Finish drying clubfaces, grips, and hands.
- Clean section: Keep away from the muddiest club-cleaning area.
This becomes especially useful on damp mornings. By the back nine, a small towel can have very little clean fabric left.
It avoids dangling attachment hardware
A traditional towel often uses a metal or plastic grommet with a carabiner. That setup works, but it places the towel’s weight at one edge.
A center slit avoids that hardware for normal use. There is also no clip to open each time you want to reposition the towel.
How Do You Use a Golf Towel With a Middle Slit?
The easiest method is to drape the towel over an alignment stick or club through its center opening. Position it high enough that neither end brushes the ground.
Method 1: Hang it on an alignment stick
- Find the slit. Spread the towel out and locate the center opening.
- Choose an alignment stick. Remove one from your bag.
- Pass it through the opening. Slide the stick through the slit until the towel reaches a comfortable position.
- Return the stick to your bag. Let the two sides of the towel hang outside the club area.
- Check ground clearance. Make sure the towel does not drag while you walk or move the bag.
This is my preferred arrangement because an alignment stick does not need to come out for normal shots. It also keeps the towel near the top of the bag.
Method 2: Drape it over a golf club
You can also slide the slit over a club and return that club to the bag. Some manufacturers specifically design their center opening for this purpose.
Choose a club that allows the towel to sit securely without covering several grips. Before walking away, check that both towel ends clear the ground.
Method 3: Use a secure loop-style setup
With a sufficiently large center opening, some golfers feed part of the towel through itself before placing the resulting loop around a suitable bag anchor. This can make the towel harder to knock loose.
Do not force thick fabric through a narrow stitched slit. Use the towel according to its construction so you do not stretch the opening.
Is a Center Slit Better Than a Clip or Magnet?
A center slit is not automatically better than every other attachment. It works particularly well for golfers who want a large towel draped close to the clubs.
A grommet or magnetic towel may be more convenient in other situations.
| Feature | Center slit | Grommet + clip | Magnetic towel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Center opening required | Yes | No | No |
| Separate clip required | No | Yes | Usually no carabiner needed |
| Metal surface required | No | No | Yes for magnetic attachment |
| Typical attachment point | Club or alignment stick | Bag ring or accessory loop | Cart frame or compatible metal surface |
| Best match | Large caddie-style towel | Compact bag towel | Quick cart-side access |
When I prefer the center-slit design
I would choose it when carrying a long towel and wanting plenty of cleaning surface. It also makes sense if alignment sticks already live in your bag.
When another attachment makes more sense
A small towel does not gain much from a large center opening. A carabiner is simple for compact towels, while magnets can be convenient for golfers who often ride in a cart.
Attachment style should solve a real inconvenience. I would not choose a towel only because one attachment looks more advanced.
What Material and Size Work Best for a Center-Slit Golf Towel?
Microfiber is a practical match for a center-slit towel because it can provide considerable cleaning surface without the bulk of a thick bath-style towel. Cotton remains useful if you prefer a softer, more traditional feel.
Microfiber and waffle-textured microfiber
A textured microfiber surface gives dirt and moisture plenty of fabric to contact. It is especially convenient when wiping grass and loose soil from clubfaces.
The Club Glove model mentioned earlier uses waffle-textured microfiber and measures 17 × 40 inches. The manufacturer also recommends cold-water washing with mild detergent.
Cotton
Cotton feels familiar and can handle plenty of moisture. However, a large cotton towel may feel heavier once it becomes saturated.
For golfers who walk eighteen holes, towel weight and bulk deserve more attention than they do on a cart.
How should you use wet and dry sections?
Dampen only the section needed for dirty clubheads. Keep another section as dry as possible for grips and hands.
- After an iron shot: Remove grass and soil before returning the club.
- After a bunker shot: Brush away loose sand, then wipe the face.
- Before gripping: Use only a clean, dry area on your hands and grip.
- After the round: Remove a wet towel from the bag and let it dry fully.
Golf’s rules also matter when cleaning a ball. Under Rule 14 from The R&A, a ball lifted from the putting green may be cleaned, while certain other lifting situations restrict cleaning.
Cleaning a club is a normal equipment-care task, and the USGA equipment rules distinguish cleaning from applying a substance intended to alter club performance. When playing competitively, check the applicable Rules of Golf and local conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions About Golf Towels With a Slit in the Middle
What is the slit in a golf towel for?
The slit lets you hang the towel over a golf club, alignment stick, or compatible anchor. It provides a simple attachment method without requiring a corner-mounted clip.
What is a golf towel with a hole in the middle called?
Common names include center-slit golf towel, center-hole towel, caddie towel, and tour-style towel. Product names vary, so check whether the towel actually has a center opening.
Do you put a golf club through the middle of the towel?
Yes, that is one common use. You slide a suitable club or alignment stick through the center opening, then place it back into the bag so the towel hangs from it.
Why are caddie towels so large?
A larger towel gives you more usable cleaning area during a long round. You can keep one part damp for dirty clubheads while preserving another section for drying.
Can you clean a golf ball with the towel?
Yes, when the Rules of Golf allow you to clean the ball. A ball lifted from the putting green may be cleaned, but Rule 14 includes situations elsewhere where cleaning is restricted.
Is microfiber better than cotton for a golf towel?
Neither material is best for every golfer. Microfiber usually offers a useful balance of low bulk, textured cleaning, and drying speed, while cotton provides a softer and more traditional feel.
Can a golf towel be used for practice drills?
Yes. Towels can also work as training aids, and the PGA of America demonstrates a golf towel drill for practicing better contact and body movement.
Pro tip: If you use a towel for a swing drill and are unsure about the movement, work with a certified PGA instructor rather than forcing a position on your own.
Should You Use a Center-Slit Golf Towel?
A center-slit towel makes the most sense when you want a large cleaning towel that stays close to your clubs. The middle opening provides a simple way to carry it without depending on a corner clip.
I especially like the format for wet mornings, sandy courses, and rounds where clubfaces need regular wiping. Having enough fabric for separate damp and dry zones is the bigger benefit for me.
- Choose a center slit if you want a large caddie towel hanging over a club or alignment stick.
- Choose a carabiner if you prefer a smaller towel clipped firmly to your bag.
- Choose a magnet if quick attachment to compatible cart or metal surfaces matters most.
The slit itself does not clean your clubs better. Its job is to keep a useful towel organized, accessible, and positioned where you can reach it throughout the round.
For most golfers wondering what that mysterious middle opening does, the answer is simple: it is an attachment point designed to let the towel drape securely over your golf equipment.