A carabiner and a grommet aren't competing options — the grommet is the ring in the towel and the carabiner is the clip that goes through it. The real choice is between a clip system and a magnet. Clips never get lost and work on any bag; magnets are faster to grab and hold the towel flat so it dries. Here's how each behaves over eighteen holes.
Quick Summary
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Grommet + carabiner is one system, not two options — the ring and the clip work together
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Clips are the reliable default: cheap, universal, nothing to lose
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Magnets are faster and keep the towel flat, but they fall off carts and get taken
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Centre-slit towels loop through themselves and stay put without hardware
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Drape the towel in one layer rather than folding it in thirds, or it stays wet all round
Grommet and Carabiner Aren't Alternatives
Clear this up first, because half the confusion in this category comes from it.
A grommet is the reinforced metal eyelet punched through the corner of a towel. It's a hole with a rim, and on its own it attaches to nothing.
A carabiner is the spring-gate clip that passes through that grommet and onto a bag ring. The standard set-up is both: a metal ring punched into the towel with a spring-loaded clip through it, which is why most towel listings mention grommet and carabiner in the same sentence.
A magnet replaces the clip entirely — either sewn into the towel or housed in a separate clamp that grips any towel you like.
So the question isn't carabiner or grommet. It's clip system or magnet, and after that, how the hardware joins the towel.
The Four Systems
|
System |
How it attaches |
Best for |
Weakness |
|
Grommet + carabiner |
Ring in towel, spring clip to bag ring |
Walkers, stand bags, any bag |
Swings and can drag; bunches at the fold |
|
Magnetic (built-in) |
Magnet sewn into towel, snaps to cart frame or bag metal |
Cart golfers, fast grab-and-return |
Shakes loose on rough cart paths |
|
Magnetic clip (separate) |
Clamp housing with neodymium magnets, holds any towel |
Swapping towels, washing without hardware |
Extra thing to buy and lose |
|
Centre slit |
Towel loops through its own hole around a D-ring or strap |
Caddie towels, wet weather |
Slower to remove mid-round |
Spring hooks and alligator clips are variations on the carabiner: a spring-loaded gate or jaws, both operable one-handed.
Which One Actually Stays On
This is where the honest answers live, and they don't all favour the standard set-up.
Carabiners are functional but they let the towel bunch. A clipped towel gathers at the attachment point, which traps moisture in the fold. A magnetic pad holds the towel flat against the bag, which promotes airflow and keeps it off the ground. On that specific measure, magnetic mounting wins.
A clipped towel also swings. It works fine, but it moves as you walk and it can drag — and a towel that touches grass collects more dirt than it removes.
Magnets have a worse failure mode, though. One reviewer's magnetic towel disappeared after three rounds — either shaken loose on a cart path or lifted from the bag. A carabiner doesn't do that. It's clipped through a ring; it isn't going anywhere unless you open it.
Grommets are sturdy and clunky. Mostly seen on cotton towels, and the metal ring is a nuisance in a washing machine. Separate magnetic clips solve that neatly — unclip, wash the towel, reclip, with no hardware in the drum.
The honest summary: a carabiner is the reliable default — universal, cheap, and it won't get lost. A magnet is genuinely better for cart golfers who want a fast grab and a towel that dries flat, provided you accept the risk of losing it.
Where to Hang It (and How)
The attachment is half the problem. Placement is the other half, and it's where most golfers lose the benefit.
Hang it on your dominant side. Right-handed golfers should clip the towel to the right of the bag, matching the natural reach when pulling an iron.
Get the height right. Roughly 48–70 inches works for access and drying — on a cart, the front rail usually falls in that range.
Drape, don't fold. This is the detail nobody mentions. Folding a towel in thirds over a bar creates thick layers that stay wet for hours. Draping it in a single layer keeps the full surface available and lets it dry between holes.
Test the grab. Before the first tee, reach for the towel without looking. If you have to search for it, move it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What's the difference between a carabiner and a grommet on a golf towel?
A: They're two parts of one system rather than alternatives. The grommet is the reinforced metal ring punched into the towel; the carabiner is the spring-gate clip that passes through it and attaches to your bag. Most towels sold as carabiner towels have both. The genuine alternative to this system is a magnet.
Q: Are magnetic golf towels better than clips?
A: Better in some ways, worse in one. Magnets are faster to grab and return, and they hold the towel flat so it airs out instead of bunching at a fold. But they shake loose on rough cart paths and get taken off bags. A carabiner is slower to use and never gets lost.
Q: How do you attach a golf towel to a bag?
A: Clip a carabiner through the towel's grommet and onto a ring or loop on the bag, on your dominant side at roughly chest height. If your towel has a centre slit, thread it through its own hole around a D-ring instead. Drape it in a single layer rather than folding it into thirds.
Q: Why does my golf towel keep falling off?
A: Usually a magnet on a rough cart path, or a towel draped over a strap rather than secured to a fixed point. A carabiner through a grommet, or a centre-slit towel knotted around a D-ring, both resist slipping. If you're using a magnet, move it to the bag rather than the cart frame.
Q: Should I fold my golf towel or drape it?
A: Drape it in a single layer. Folding into thirds creates thick layers that hold moisture for hours, so the towel is still damp late in the round. A single draped layer dries between holes and keeps the whole surface available for cleaning clubs and drying grips.
Clip It, Drape It, Put It on Your Right
Grommet and carabiner are one system; the real choice is clip or magnet. Clips are universal and never get lost. Magnets are faster and dry flatter, with a real chance of losing one. Either way, hang it on your dominant side and drape it in a single layer.
golf towel clip types — carabiner, grommet and magnetic attachments compared
