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Glossary of Golf
We have compiled a glossary of golfing terms and their definitions for your reference. Enter the
term for which you would like a definition, or click a letter below to view the terms that begin
with that letter. Click All to see the whole glossary.
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Term
Definition
Address
The act of setting the body and club up to the ball when preparing to hit a
shot.
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Aiming
The act of aligning the clubface to the target.
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Alignment
The position of the body in relation to the initial target.
Backswing
The motion that involves the club and every element of the body in taking the
club away from the ball and setting it in position at the top of the backswing
from which the club can be delivered to the ball at impact.
Baseball Grip
A grip in which all ten fingers are placed on the grip of the club.
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Birdie
A score of one-under par on a hole.
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Bogey
A score of one-over par on a hole.
Bump and Run
A pitch shot around the green in which the player hits the ball into a slope to
deaden its speed before settling on the green and rolling towards the hole.
Bunker
A hollow comprised of sand or grass or both that exists as an obstacle and, in
some cases, a hazard.
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Caddie
A person hired to carry clubs and provide other assistance.
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Carry
The distance a ball will fly in the air, usually to carry a hazard or safely reach a
target.
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Cart Path
Usually a black top, concrete or dirt path that connects the tee box to the
green.
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Chip
A chip is a very short shot used when the ball is close to the green but not on
the green. The intention of the chip is to make the ball roll low to the ground
and go in or near the hole.
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A low-running shot played around the greens where the ball spends more time
on the ground than in the air.
Club Face
The actual part of the club you want to hit the ball on. This is the flat part of
the clubhead (which may be at an angle).
Club Head
The part of the club you hit the ball with.
Divot
The turf displaced when the club strikes the ball on a descending path. It also
refers to the hole left after play.
Double Bogey
A score of two-over-par on a hole.
Double Eagle
A score of three-under-par on a hole.
Downswing
The swing forward from the top of the backswing.
Draw
A shot that flies slightly from right to left for righthanded players.
Driver
A "driver" is typically the longest club in the bag. It is intended to advance the
ball as far as possible. This club requires the most skill to use and some newer
golfers will find they hit other clubs further with a driver.
Driving Range
Another term for a practice area. Also known as a golf range, practice range or
learning center.
Eagle
A score of two-under-par on a hole.
Explosion
A shot played from a sand bunker, usually when the ball has buried or settled
down into the sand.
Fade
A shot that flies slightly from left to right.
Fairway Wood
Sometimes now called a fairway metal since they are now made from metal.
The fairway wood is typically a rounded club and looks a bit like a smaller
version of a driver. They often come numbered 3, 5, 7 and 9.
Fat Shot
A description of a shot when the clubhead strikes the turf behind the ball,
resulting in poor contact and a shot that comes up well short of the target.
First Swing
The “First Swing” program is a “Program in a Box” lesson program specifically
designed to introduce the non-golfer to the game of golf in a non-threatening,
non-intimidating way.
Flop Shot
Similar to a flip shot except that it involves a long, slower swing.
Fluffy Lie
A lie in which the ball rests atop the longish grass. This can be a tricky lie
because the tendency is to swing the clubhead under the ball, reducing the
distance it carries.
Follow-through
That part of the swing that occurs after the ball has been struck.
Fried Egg
The slang term for a buried lie in the sand.
Golf Range
A facility where people can practice their full swings and, in some cases, their
short games.
Grain
The direction which the blades of grass grow, which is of primary importance
on the greens (particularly Bermuda grass greens) as this can effect how much
and in which direction a putt breaks.
Green
The green is that big, closely mown area where the flag and hole are located.
Greenkeeper
An older, outdated term for the course superintendent.
Grip
The placing and positioning of the hands on the club. The various types include
the Vardon or overlapping, the interlocking and the 10-finger or baseball grip.
(The Vardon grip is the most popular grip today.)
Grip
That part of the golf club where the hands are placed.
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Group Lesson
A teaching session in which several pupils work with one or more PGA
Professionals. This type of lesson is particularly effective for beginners,
especially juniors.
Heel
The part of the clubhead nearest the hosel. A shot hit off the heel is said to be
“heeled.”
Hook
A shot that curves sharply from right to left for righthanded players.
Hosel
The part of the club connecting the shaft to the clubhead.
Hybrid Club
This type of club is new in the last few years and is a cross between an iron
and a fairway wood. Hybrids usually replace longer irons (3, 4, 5, 6 irons) or
fairway woods.
Impact
The moment in the swing when the club strikes the ball.
Iron
Irons are typically the thinnest club heads in your bag. A typical player's bag
may have numerous irons numbered 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and/or P. Clubs
with smaller numbers have less loft (point more horizontal, less "up in the air")
and are longer.
Lag
A shot (usually a pitch, chip or putt) designed to finish short of the target.
Learning Center
A complete practice and instruction facility, which may or may not be on the
site of a golf course.
Lie
As it relates to the ball, the position of the ball when it has come to rest. As it
relates to the club, it is the angle of the sole of the club relative to the shaft.
Line
The intended path of the ball, usually referred to in the context of putting.
Line of Flight
The actual path of the ball.
Link Up 2 Golf
Link Up 2 Golf is a group lesson program covering all you need to know to
start playing the game. The program includes eight hours of on-course group
instruction over a 4- to 5-week period on etiquette, speed of play and proper
behavior.
Links
The term for a course built on linksland, which is land reclaimed from the
ocean. It is not just another term for a golf course.
Lob Shot
A short, high shot, usually played with a wedge, designed to land softly.
Loft
The degree of angle on the clubface, with the least loft on a putter and the
most on a sand wedge. It also describes the act of hitting a shot.
Looking Up
The act of prematurely lifting your head to follow the flight of the ball, which
also raises the swing center and can result in erratic ballstriking.
Mulligan
The custom of hitting a second ball—without penalty—on a hole, usually the
first tee.
Off-Green
Putting
When a player elects to putt from off the green rather than chip.
Overclub
To pick the wrong club, usually for an approach shot, causing the ball to go
over the green.
Pace
The speed of the golf swing or the speed of the greens
Par
The score an accomplished player is expected to make on a hole, either a
three, four or five.
Pinch Shot
A shot played around the green in which a player strikes the ball with a crisp,
clean descending blow.
Pitch-and-Run
A shot from around the green, usually with a middle or short iron, where the
ball carries in the air for a short distance before running towards the hole.
Plugged Lie
The condition when the ball comes to rest in its own pitch mark, usually in a
bunker or soft turf.
Plumb-bob
A method many players use to help them determine the amount a putt will
break. When you position yourself behind the ball and hold the putter vertically
so it covers the ball, the shaft of the putter indicates how much the ball will
break.
Practice Green
Area maintained like an actual 'green', but is not part of the golf course.
Golfers use the practice green to warm up before playing.
Pre-Shot
Routine
The actions a player takes from the time he selects a club until he begins the
swing.
Private Lesson
Generally speaking, when a PGA Professional gives a lesson to a single pupil.
Punch Shot
A low-flying shot played with an abbreviated backswing and finish. The key to
the shot is having the hands slightly ahead of the clubhead at impact, which
reduces the effective loft of the club.
Putt
A putt is a very short swing taken with the putter that is intended to move a
ball that is on or near the green into the hole.
Putter
The putter is the club in your bag that has a completely flat side and a flat
base. Putters come in all shapes, sizes and colors. Putters are intended to roll
the ball along the ground and are typically used when on or near the green.
Reading the
Green (or Putt)
The entire process involved in judging the break and path of a putt.
Release
The act of freely returning the clubhead squarely to the ball at impact,
producing a powerful shot.
Rhythm
The coordination of movement during the golf swing or putting stroke.
Scorecard
The scorecard tells you the length of each hole from each tee box as well as
the "par" rating for the hole. Golfers keep track of their score on these cards.
Scramble
To recover from trouble or a popular form of team play in which the team
members pick the ball in the best position and everyone plays from that spot.
Setup
The process of addressing the ball, so that the club and body are properly
aimed and aligned.
Shaft
The thing that connects the grip and the clubhead. Typically made of metal or
graphite.
Shank
When the ball is struck on the hosel of the club, usually sending it shooting off
to the right.
Shape
To curve a shot to fit the situation. The word is also used to describe the flight
of the ball. (The usual shape of his shots was a fade.)
Short Game
Those shots played on and around the green, including putting, chipping and
pitching, and bunker shots.
Sky
A high, short shot caused by the clubhead striking the underside of the ball.
Also known as a "pop-up."
Slice
A ball that curves from left to right to a greater degree than a fade.
Sole
When referring to equipment, it is the bottom of a club. When referring to the
swing, it is the point when the sole of the club touches the ground at address.
Square
A term frequently used in golf. It can be used to describe a stance or to
describe contact with the ball. It can also refer to the status of a match (they
were all-square (tied) at the turn.)
Stance
The position of the feet at address.
Stroke Play
Also known as medal play, it is a form of competition based on the cumulative
number of strokes taken, either over one round or several.
Swaying
An exaggerated lateral movement of the body on either the backswing,
forward swing, or both, which results in inconsistent shotmaking.
Sweet Spot
The point on the clubface where, if it is struck with an object, the clubface will
not torque or twist to either side.
Swing Plane
An imaginary surface that describes the path and angle of the club during the
swing.
Takeaway
The movement of the club at the start of the backswing.
Target Line
An imaginary (often visualized) line drawn behind and through the ball to the
point a player is aiming. If the player is planning to curve the ball, this point is
the initial – not the ultimate – target.
Tee Box
The area where players tee off to start a hole.
Tee Time
A "tee time" is the time your group is assigned to begin play. This is the time
the group should be on the tee ready to play rather than the time you should
arrive at the golf course.
Tempo
The speed of the swing (not necessarily the clubhead speed.)
Texas Wedge
A term describing a shot played with a putter from well off the green. It is a
good shot for players who lack confidence in their chipping and pitching, or in
extremely windy conditions.
Three-Quarter
Shot
A shot played with a shortened backswing and lessened arm speed.
Timing
The sequence of motions within the golf swing.
Toed Shot
Any shot hit off the toe of the club.
Topped Shot
A low, bouncing shot caused by the bottom of the club striking the top half of
the ball.
Touch
A player’s sense of feel, generally around the greens.
Visualization
A mental image of a swing or shot or even an entire round.
Wedge
A "wedge" is a special type of iron used for hitting the shortest shots in golf.
This club usually has an "S", "W", "L", or a number such as 55, 56, or 60 on it.
Whiff
A complete miss. Also known as an "air ball."
Yips
A condition, generally believed to be psychological, which causes a player to
lose control of his hands and club. In Great Britain, the condition is referred to
as the "Twitchies."
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