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Golf Dictionary / Golf Jargon
Address: The manner in which a golf player positions his or her body right before hitting the ball. Everyone has a unique address.
Alignment: The alignment describes the manner in which you aim the clubface and line up your body at address.
Amateur: Amateurs are golf players that compete but do not play for price money. In order to earn money from winning golf tournaments, a player must compete as a professional.
Approach Shot: This describes any shot that sends your ball onto the green area.
Away: Away describes when you are the farthest distance from the hole.
Baby Shot: Describes a shot that is much shorter and softer than usual, and from a specific club that is normally used for that shot.
Back Nine: The second half of an 18-hole course (the last 9 holes).
Backspin: A backspin is the reverse spin on the golf ball that has been hit towards a target.
Backswing: The first part of the golf swing, which ends as the club stops moving, right above your head, and before the downswing portion.
Balata: This is a type of tree sap. It used to be used in the making of golf ball covers.
Ball Marker: A small-sized, flat object, that is used to mark the specific location of your ball when it is on the green.
Ball Mark Repair Tool: This is a forked-shaped tool which is used to fix any marks on the green that are left behind by your ball.
Baseball Grip: A specific grip that is used to hold the club. When used properly, all 10 of your fingers will remain in contact with the club grip.
Best Ball: This term describes a golf game that uses the best score to be counted from a 2-person team.
Birdie: This is when you make the ball in one less stroke than the total par of the specific hole you are playing. For example, if the hole is a par-4, and you sink the ball in only 3 shots, you have yourself a birdie.
Blade: The term blade is used in golf as both a noun, and a verb: The first is to describe the club head of an iron. The second is a verb for hitting the ball on its equator with the bottom of the blade.
Blocked Shot: The blocked shot refers to the ball being hit straight ahead but then sweeps to the right of the intended target (right handed golfers).
Bogey: A bogey describes what happens when a golf player hits the ball into the hole in one additional shot higher than the par. For example, if a player gets the ball into the hole in 4 swings on a par-3, he scored a bogey.
Break: When a putt shot is made on the green and starts to turn, the term break refers to the amount of turn that occurs.
Breaking Down: This term refers to the movement of your wrists as they bend during a putt shot.
Bump & Run: As the name insinuates, the bump and run describes a ball is hit into the air flies towards the target, then “bumps” into the ground and rolls rolls the rest of the way.
Bunker: A bunker is a hazard area that is completely filled with sand in his typically near the green or on the fairway.
Caddie: Caddies are men and women who get paid to carry your golf clubs around with you on the course as you play the game. They can also offer advice on how to play the game.
Carry: This term refers to how far a golf ball flies through the air.
Cart: Carts are small vehicles that golf players use to drive around the course with. You have the standard motorized cart that can hold two or more players, as well as a small dolly that travels on 2 wheels and is pulled manually (often referred to as the “pull cart”)
Casual Water: Casual water are puddles that have accumulated on the course through rainy weather. These puddles of water are separate from the other standard hazards of the course.
Cavity Back Iron: This is a particular type of iron that has the majority of the club head's weight distributed around its perimeter. This design helps create a bigger head and a larger “sweet spot” area on the face. The back of the club head is basically just a large cavity. This helps reduce the mass in the center of the head, as well as the back.
Certified PGA Professional: A certified PGA professional golf player is any man or woman who has met or exceeded the golf teaching standards that have been created by the Professional Golfer's Association of America.
Check: A check describes the action of the golf ball as it stops rolling because of the amount of backspin on it.
Chip: The chip is a shot that is typically played right from the edge of the green.
Closed Face: A closed face describes a club face that points to the left of the target (right handed golfers).
Closed Stance: This term refers to a stance where your body alignment is facing the right of your intended target (right handed golfers).
Club Face: The club face is the bottom section of the club that makes contact with the golf ball.
Clubhouse: A clubhouse is usually a large indoor area located on a golf course that maintains services such as restaurants, golf pro shops, bathrooms, and conference rooms.
Collar: Similar to a fringe, the collar describes the strip of grass that runs around the green and is typically longer in length than the grass that grows on the putting surface.
Coming Over The Top: Coming over the top is a phrase that describes the direction of the club as it moves through the downswing and into a right-to-left pathway across the ball (right handed golfers). Another term for this direction is the out-to-in blow.
Compression: Compression describes the squeezing in of a golf ball as the result of the force put on it during impact with the club head.
Course Rating: Every golf course has a course rating, which refers to the difficultly level of the course itself. The higher the course rating number, the more advanced and difficult the golf course is.
Crossed Over: Crossed over is a term that describes the club shaft as it faces towards the right of the target when it is at the top of the backswing (right handed golfers).
Cross Handed: Cross handed is a specific putting grip where the left hand is below the right hand (right handed golfers).
Cup: The cup is simply the hole itself which is at the end of each playing hole, and is the intended final target of the golf ball.
Cupped Lead Wrist: A cupped lead wrist describes the backward bend of your lead hand when striking the ball. The lead hand is the one that is closest to the hole after you set up for your swing. For right handed golfers, the lead hand is the left hand.
Cut: A cut is another reference to a shot that bends towards the right (right handed golfers).
Deloft: To deloft is to decrease the amount of loft on the club face by simply tilting your club shaft in the direction of your intended target.
Dimple: Dimples are those hundreds of small holes that every golf ball is designed with.
Divot: A divot is a small chunk of grass and dirt that is removed from the golf course after the ball is hit. These divots should be repaired as basic golf course etiquette prescribes.
Dogleg: A dogleg is in reference to the curved pathway from the tee to the cup has a turns either left or right.
Double Bogey: When you complete a hole with 2 additional shots over the par of that hole, you have yourself a double bogey. For example, if the hole is a par 3, a double bogey would be sinking the ball in 5 shots.
Double Eagle: The double eagle describes the completion of a par-5 hole in 3 shots less than that par.
Downhill Lie: A downhill lie describes your stance in which the front foot is below your back foot at address.
Draw: A draw refers to a shot that bends to the left (right handed golfers).
Drive: The drive is the initial shot taken from the tee.
Driver: The driver is considered to be the longest club in your bag, which sends the ball flying at more distance than any other golf club.
Driving Range: A driving range is a facility that is built specifically for golf players to practice their swings. Each driving range has separate booth-like areas where you can knock a bucket of balls as long and as far as you want. Some driving ranges also have areas where you can practice your short game.
Drop: A drop is when You place a golf ball back into the game after it was considered unplayable.
Duff: To duff is to totally mess up or miss a shot, such as to “screw up” or “ruin” the shot.
Eagle: This term refers to a player who finishes a hole in two under par when playing a par-4 or a par-5 hole. You can also “eagle” a par-3 hole, but that is called an “ace” (See Ace).
Executive Course: An executive course is a small, 9-hole (par-3) course which can be played through in under 2 hours (typically 90 minutes).
Explosion Shot: This term describes a bunker shot that sends along with it an “explosion” of sand flying through the air.
Fade: A fade describes a shot that sends the ball veering slightly to the right (right-handed golfers).
Fairway: The fairway is the entire distance (in-bounds) that runs from the tee all the way to the green, and is kept nicely trimmed.
Fat: Whenever you take a swing and your clubface strikes the ground before hitting the ball, this is called a “fat”.
Flagstick: This is the flagged pole that rests inside of the hole on each green.
Flex: The flex describes the amount of bend that exists within a club shaft.
Flier Lie: A flier lie is what you have when you take your swing and too much grass comes between the ball and the clubface. This has a tendency to reduce the amount of backspin on the ball as well.
Flop Shot: This is a type of pitch shot that skyrockets the ball high up into the air, but comes down short and lands soft.
Follow Through: Once you have taken your swing and made contact with the ball, the “follow through” describes the movement of your club and your body after the ball has been hit.
Fore: You will hear this term shouted loudly whenever a ball is flying towards another player. A warning signal, you should also shout the term “Fore” should your ball start traveling at another golfer on the course.
Forged Steel Blade: A club where the head is made up of softer forged steel, instead of the harder cast steel cavity-back irons are made of.
Fringe: The fringe is the collar of grass which surrounds the green. The length of this grass is typically shorter than that of the fairway, but longer than the green itself. (See also Collar).
Front Nine: The front nine refers to the first 9 holes of an 18-hole golf course.
Gimme: A Gimme is a putt that is so short and close to the hole that your playing partners do not require you to actually hit the ball in. Why? Because it is an obvious shot.
Glove: Golfers use a glove (typically worn on the lead hand) while playing golf to help enhance their grip. Preventing skin problems like blisters is another good reason to wear a glove.
Grain: The grain describes the direction in which the grass is growing.
Green: The green area is the closely mowed surface that surrounds the hole, also called the putting surface.
Green In Regulation: This means getting your ball onto the green in one shot on a par-3 hole, in two shots on a par-4 hole, or in three shots on a par-5 hole.
Greens Fee: This is the amount of money charged to you for playing a round of golf at a particular course.
Grip: The grip refers to how you hold your club. The grip also refers to the covering (made of rubber) on the club shaft where you place your hands.
Grooves: Grooves are the etched lines of design on the face of the club. These grooves help obtain the desired backspin on the ball.
Ground Under Repair: This term describes an area on the golf course that is under repair. You may also get a relief from this area when playing. (See Relief).
Handicap: A handicap is a scoring adjustment plan that allows players of different skill levels to compete with one another, without the better players dominating the game.
Hard Pan: Turf or ground area on the golf course that is extremely hard-packed.
Hazard: Hazards are part of every golf course, and are areas of sand or water which penalize the player.
Hole: The hole is the final destination of the golf ball to sink into at the end of every hole. (See also Cup).
Holed Out: This is when the golf ball falls into the cup.
Honor: The privilege of playing first within your group.
Hook: The hook is a shot that bends to the left (right-handed golfers).
Hosel: The hosel is the section of the clubhead that is attached to the club shaft.
Impact: Impact refers to the exact moment that you hit the ball (when the clubface meets with the ball).
Impediment: Loose debris that can be moved aside and away from your ball.
Interlocking Grip: This type of grip links the index finger of one of your hands and the pinky finger from the other hand.
Iron: The iron is any club that uses a metallic blade for the clubhead. Most golfers carry with them at least 8-10 irons which range from 2-irons to the sand wedge. Each club provides a different loft.
Lag Putt: This term refers to a long putt by a golf player whose goal is to have the ball land and stop within a couple of feet (or less) from the hole.
Laid Off: This is when your club shaft is pointing to the left of the target at the top of the backswing (right-handed golfers).
Lay Up: This term refers to a shot that is intentionally hit short from the green to avoid getting into trouble.
Lie: The lie is where your ball is sitting after a shot, and moreover, describes the condition of that area of ground where your ball is at.
Lip Out: This is when the golf ball travel right up to the cup, teeters on the edge of dropping into the hole, but instead pops back, and does not sink.
Loft: The loft is the angle that the clubface makes with the ground. Loft also refers to how high up a specific club will hit the ball.
Matchplay: This term refers to the original way that golf was played, which is actually played hole-to-hole. Whoever scores lowest on the first hole is the winner of that hole, and then goes “one up”. Then the winner on the second hole goes “two up”. This score pattern continues for each hole thereafter. Should you lose a hole then you go “down one”. If a hole is tied you then “halve” the hole. The final outcome of the matchplay is decided by how many holes you are either up or down by, compared to the number of holes left. For example, if you are 4 up with only 4 holes left in the game, you are the winner of the match.
Mulligan: A mulligan is considered an illegal second try at a shot which went wrong, which is seen often during casual play with friends on the golf course.
Municipal Course: This is a golf course that is owned and operated by the local government, also referred to as a “muni”.
Nuked Shot: A nuked shot is one that is hit much harder and longer than you typically hit with a particular club.
Neutral Grip: This grip is one when a right-handed golfer can see 2 left hand knuckles when looking down at his or her grip during address.
Neutral Stance: This stance is when both feet are in line perfectly parallel to the target line.
Open Face: This is when the club face is aligned to the right of the target line (right-handed golfers).
Open Stance: This stance refers to your body alignment pointing towards the left of the target when set up (right-handed golfers).
Out-of-Bounds: This is the area outside of the course, typically marked with white stakes.
Out-to-in Blow: This term is another way of saying “Coming Over The Top” which states: “The direction of the club as it moves through the downswing and into a right-to-left pathway across the ball (right-handed golfers)”.
Overlapping Grip: This is a standard grip where you grip the golf club with the pinky finger of your top hand laying over the index finger of your bottom hand.
Pairing Sheet: A paring sheet is a schedule-type list that displays the names of the players from each group competing in a tournament. Also listed in the pairing sheet is the time in which each player is to tee off.
Par: This is the term for shooting the ball into a hole at the same number of shots allowed by that particular hole. A round can also be scored as par as well as the final score of a player's total rounds.
Pin: This is another word that describes the flagstick which sits in the hole until the player's ball is on the green (or sooner).
Pitch: When a pitch shot is made the ball is hit very short with the goal to hit the green and when it lands, has a slight roll at the end of its flight.
Plumb-Bob: This is a special technique that golfers use in order to determine the break of a putt.
Pre-Shot Routine: Before every shot, most, if not all golfers, have a specific routine for getting ready. They may move a certain way, practice visualization of a successful shot, or concentrate on something motivating. This would be defined as a pre-shot routine. Every player has a unique prep ritual.
Primary Rough: The primary rough is considered to be the first section of longer grass that you will walk though once leaving the fairway.
Private Golf Club: There are many golf courses available. Private golf clubs are closed to the public and are only open to paying members and their guests.
Pro-Am: This is the name of a tournament that includes both professional golf players and amateurs who team up together for an enjoyable day on the course.
Professional Golf Player: Professional golf players are the men and women who's skills on the course have enabled them to be paid for playing golf.
Pro Shop: Most golf clubs have a central shop where you check in and also may purchase golf equipment. This is called a Pro Shop. Golf lessons may also be offered at many Pro Shops.
Provisional Shot: This term describes a second shot made when the player thinks the first shot led to a lost ball. However, if the player finds that first ball then the provisional shot does not count – the first shot does.
Public Golf Course: Public golf courses are just that: public courses where anyone can walk up and enjoy a round of golf. Some courses are free but most charge a small fee which is affordable for everyone.
Pull: A pull describes a shot that was intended to travel in a straight path but ended up veering to the left of the target (right-handed players)
Punch Shot: This term describes a shot in golf where you are trying to hit the ball out of some kind of troubled area, typically a low recovery shot.
Push: This is a straight shot that is hit towards the right of the target (right-handed golfers).
Putter: The putter is the small, straight-faced club which is predominately used to hit the ball on the green.
Range: This is an area used for practice shots. You can find a golf range either on the course or close by an open course.
Release: The release is when your downswing is in motion and you come to the very moment in which your wrists uncock.
Relief: A relief is one of the standard golf rules which gives a player permission to move the ball when it has landed in a troubled spot; without incurring any penalties.
Reverse Overlap Grip: This is a standard grip, typically used when putting, where the index finger from the left hand is covering the pinky finger of the right hand (right-handed golfers).
Rough: The rough is any part off from the fairway where the grass is allowed to grow to longer lengths.
Round: A round of golf is considered to be the entire course played out. One round could be 18 holes or 9 holes for the smaller courses.
Run: This term describes how far a ball rolls after landing, bouncing, and then into a traveling roll.
Score: Your golf score is tallied by how many shots it took you to play the course.
Scorecard: A scorecard is the record in which your game scores and other statistics are kept.
Scramble: The term scramble describes a golf game where 4 players on the same team will tee off and the best shot of all of them is selected as the spot where everyone takes their next shot. This process is continued until the ball is sunk into the hole.
Scratch Golfer: This is a golfer who routinely scores par on the golf course.
Secondary Rough: This is the thicker rough (grass) area you will cross once you past the primary rough.
Setup: The same as “address” where you prep up for your shot.
Shaft: The shaft is a section of the golf club; the long and thin part that gives you most of the club's energy on your shots.
Shag Bag: A bag used for storing your practice balls. Shag bags are specifically designed to allow you to grab each ball from inside without ever having to bend over.
Shank: The shank describes a shot that, when impact occurs, contact is made with the ball from the hosel of the club, instead of the face.
Short Game: Probably the most important aspect of becoming a great golfer, the short game is considered to be all shots on the course that are within 50 to 60 yards of the hole. The short game is also the hardest to master due to the various obstacles and hazards that get in the way.
Sidehill Lie: This is a lie, where at address, the golf ball is either above your feet or below your feet.
Skied: When you hit a tee shot that flies almost straight up into the air, you have skied the ball.
Slice: The dreaded slice is a shot that causes the ball to veer far to the right of your target line (right handed players).
Slope: The slope is actually a number that is assigned to every golf course in describing it's specific level of playing difficulty. For example, the average slope number for United States golf courses is 113. (The term slope can also be used to describe the contours of the green).
Spikes: Spikes are designed to help you play golf with better traction from your shoes. They are small cleats that may be made from rubber, plastic, or metal, and are fastened to the bottom of your golf shoes. These shoes are very helpful when it comes to maintaining better control of your swing.
Square Stance: This stance describes your set up where the clubhead is perpendicular to your target line, and at the same time your shoulders, hips, and feet are all parallel to the same target line.
Splash: A splash occurs when you take a bunker shot but with it comes a divot of sand, splashing everywhere (along with the ball).
Stance: The term stance simply means the position of your feet at address.
Starter: In golf, the starter is considered to be the man or woman who is in charge of sending the players out onto the course.
Stroke: One (1) individual swing of your golf club.
Stroke Play: This is the most standard way of determining the winner of a round in golf. The person that finishes with the least amount of strokes wins the match.
Strong Grip: In golf, a strong grip is typically a reference to when a golfer can see more than two knuckles of his or her left hand when gripping the club. A strong grip can also be used to steer the ball to the left.
Surlyn: This is an artificial compound that is used in the manufacturing of golf balls, specifically the material that covers the ball.
Sweet Spot: In order to get maximum distance and pin-point accuracy when taking your swing, the sweet spot is the area on club face (center portion) in which you should be making contact with the ball.
Swing Plane: The swing plane is considered to be the angle of the club shaft in relation to your body during the swing process. Everyone has a different swing plane.
Tap in: A tap-in is simply a short, sweet putt shot that is very close to the hole, less than 12 inches.
Target Line: Every shot should be aimed by using a target line, which is an imaginary line from your current swing position to your ball's destination.
Tee: On the first shot of every hole the ball is placed on top of a tee, which is simply a small pin with that flat head to hold the ball in place. The tee can be made out of rubber, plastic, or wood.
Tee Box: This is the area that you hit the first shot on each hole from.
Tee Shot: The shot that is made from the tee (also see “Tee”).
Tee Time: The tee time is the time in which you and the rest of your group start your round of golf.
Ten Finger Grip: The ten finger grip is another term used to describe the “baseball grip”.
Texas Wedge: The Texas Wedge is a strategic swing using the putter to get the ball onto the green, instead of the traditional wedge. Certain conditions must be met before this type of shot can be successful.
Thin: This term describes hitting the golf ball on its equator, which causes it to maintain a low trajectory.
Through The Green: This phrase in golf means running through the entire course but does not include the tee boxes, hazards, and putting greens.
Top: When a golfer tops the ball, he or she has made contact with the ball above its equator. A topped shot does not travel very far and is an unwanted mistake on the golf course.
Torque: In golf, the word torque describes how much twisting motion of the club shaft goes into a swing when impact occurs.
Tour: A tour is series of professional golf tournaments that are played in succession.
Trajectory: Like anything that travels though the air, the trajectory in golf refers to the characteristics of a golf ball after contact is made as it is sent flying.
Trap: A trap is another term for bunker. Also see “Bunker”.
Triple Bogey: A triple bogey means to finish a hole in three more shots than par.
Turn: A turn in golf simply means going from the 9th green to the 10th tee box of the golf course.
Unplayable Lie: As the name suggests, when you make a shot on the course and your ball lands in a spot that is absolutely impossible to play out of, this is known as an unplayable lie.
Uphill Lie: When you set up at address and your front foot is higher than your back foot, this is called an uphill lie.
Vardon Grip: The Vardon grip is another term for the overlapping grip. See also “Overlapping Grip”.
Waggle: Before hitting the ball it is always recommended that you warm up. And warming up typically includes a little “waggle” of the club, which means to move it back and forth a bit before making your swing.
Water Hazard: A water hazard is just the way it sounds: A body of water that can be hazardous to your score. Typically marked by red or yellow stakes, these areas of water can cause you to take a penalty if your ball lands inside and you cannot play out of it.
Weak Grip: In golf a weak grip means gripping the club in such a way that only one knuckle is showing of the left hand. This grip is traditionally used to help turn the ball towards the right.
Wedge: The wedge is a standard golf club in every player's bag. It is a short iron that has a loft of 48 degrees or more, and is traditionally used to hit short shots or sand shots. There is the least amount of loft in the pitching wedge. A gap wedge has more loft. Then up the line is the sand wedge. And lastly the lob wedge has the most loft of all golf clubs.
Whiff: This is the sound that a golf club makes when you make a swing and it whips right over the ball, completely missing it.
Wood: The wood is a type of golf club that has a fairly large head to hit the ball. Shaped like a pear, this club head is made out of wood or metal. Woods are typically longer than irons and are used to hit at longer distances. Your driver is considered a wood. Today there are many players that will carry with them a 5 wood, 7 wood, and a 9 wood, instead of using long irons.
Yips: When you putt the ball and your hands and arms tend to twitch, or shake, these are called the yips. There are certain physical and mental exercises that can help you get rid of the yips.
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