List of Golf Terms

A

Above the Hole refers to a ball on any green that is sloped to ensure that the next shot is downhill. Putts that are downhill are more difficult to assess slope and speed, and riskier, therefore the best golfer strives to maintain his golf ball ‘ below the hole at all times.

Ace – A single shot landing in the hole, a hole in one.

Air-Shot – Also known as a Whiff or Fresh Air. The player completely misses the golf ball and hits nothing but air. This is counted as a shot.

Albatross – Score of 3 under on the hole. It is known as a double-eagle within the US.

Approach – Short or medium shot, to one of the pins as well as the putting green.

Attend the Flag – Remove and hold the flag while another player makes their put.

Away – The player who is the furthest from the hole is the first player to play.

B

Back – The last nine holes on the course. A tee location that makes the holes the lengthiest.

Banana – Slice, or starts on the left and then goes strongly to the right is a slice or shot that is curving strongly from left to right. For some reason, the word “banana” is always used to refer to a slice. But the term ‘hook’ is more appropriate. ‘ hook’ is simply a banana facing the other direction. It is also what professional golfers eat often throughout the course to boost their energy levels.

Below the Hole – The term “Below the Hole” is as it says, the ball lies below the hole and the next putt will be uphill. Putts uphill can be made with a firm touch, which means that breaks are not as important and there is a lower risk of running over the hole. This is especially true of fast greens like those found in tournaments of high level. The reverse is ‘ above the hole‘.

Best Ball/Better Ball – The best score on a hole made by the players in a match of best-ball.

Birdie – One less than par score on the hole.

Bogey – One less than par score on the hole.

Break – In putting the ball, it is important to consider the curvature the ball follows will be due to grain or slope within the green.

Bunker – Bunkers are an area of depression close to the fairway or green that is generally lined by sand. It is hard to strike the ball through the bunker and it can be considered a punishment for golfers who miss the target in the previous shot.

C

Carry – The distance a ball travels is determined by its impact until it hits the ground.

Center of Gravity (CG) – The word CG means “center of gravity” and in the case of a golf club head, it is the place where all the weight is moving through. If you draw an outline through the golf club’s various horizontal and vertical balance points, then the center of gravity intersects all these lines. See our post on the Center of Gravity.

Compression – The resilience of golf balls.

Chip – A short shot that is played with a minimum height onto the green.

Condor – Most likely the rarest of scores in golf is Four under on the hole, or a hole in one on the par-five. There are only four instances that have been documented, three of them by cutting the corner’ of par fives by the dogleg, which significantly reduces the length of the hole. Also known as a triple-eagle or double-albatross’ in the US.

D

Divot – The turf removed by the golf club after taking a shot.

Dogleg – Left or right bends in the fairway.

Dog Licence – If the margin of victory for gameplay is 7&6 the win (or loss) is known as the dog license. It was in Great Britain until 1987 the dog owner could purchase an animal license for 7/6d (pre-decimal currency equals 37p).

Dormie – When playing matches in match play, players have an advantage that is equal to holes to be played in match play, i.e. the two holes are up. There are two holes left to play.

Draw – The controlled right-to-left shot has a slight curvature (or left-to-right for left-handed shooters).

Driving Range – A place where people go to practice and hit lots of balls from a stationary position.

Drop – If the ball has been lost or there’s an unplayable lying, a ball is dropped from an arm’s length, shoulder-high, on the course.

E

Eagle – When a golfer gets a score that is two under par.

F

Fairway – The area of short grass between the tee and green. Where you generally want to be.

Follow-Through – The last portion of the swing, from hitting the ball to the end of the swing.

Fore – Often heard as Fore! A warning signal is needed when the shot could put a risk on the safety of another player.

Four-Ball – Two golfers who record the best ball score of each pair, based on net or gross scores.

Foursome – Two golfers in pairs playing shots in a series using identical balls. They drive on alternate holes, meaning that one will drive even numbers, and the other will drive with odd numbers.

Free Drop – If a player has the right to drop without a penalty stroke.

Are your Clubs Helping or Hurting?

If you're not sure, then get fit today.

Request a Fitting

G

Gilligan – The reverse of the term Mulligan. If Gilligans has been agreed upon during a game and your opponent is in the right to request for you to play again, usually a great shot or a long shot.

Gimmie – A very short putt in front of the hole, which is that is rewarded by other players. It is only used for match play or friendly golf. In stroke play, everything has to be holed.

Grain – The direction in which grass blades develop and affect the speed and speed of the ball when it is upon the putting green. If you look ‘into the grain’, a green will appear darker while if it is viewed ‘with the grain’, it will appear more luminous or shiny. If you are putting “across the grain” the ball can move either left or to the right.

Green – A portion of the course around the hole has small grass to allow putting.

Gross Score – The total number of strokes played in an entire round before handicap is taken into consideration.

Ground Under Repair (GUR) – If a part is in need of repair and the ball falls there, you may take it off without penalty. Usually, the area is identified by stakes or the line.

H

Half Shot – A reduced swing is required when taking the shot. This is useful for shorter shots or when more control is needed.

Hole Out – To complete a hole, you must put the ball back into the hole or cup. It is usually done with the use of a putt. However, often with a chip the green, and occasionally, with a full-length shot.

Honour – Awarded to the player who scores lowest on the last hole, and gives the player the right start at the first tee of the next.

Hook – Shot that is curving in a sharp direction from right to left (or opposite in the case of playing left-handed! ).

Hosel – A hollow area of the clubhead to which the shaft is joined. Sometimes referred to as the neck.

I

In-Play – A shot that can be played as it is within the bounds set by the rules of golf (the opposite of “out of bounds”).

Interlocking Grip – A right-handed person using this grip will bind the small fingers of the right hand to the index finger on the left side of his hand (vice versa for lefties). It is a great grip for players who have small hands. It is used in the hands of Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus and many others.

In The Leather – A ball that is very near to the hole, as a result, was measured using the leather grip of the putter. A putt that is ‘within’ the leather’ is usually accepted as sunk in casual play.

J

Jigger – The name is derived from an old club with a similar loft to a modern 4-iron. It was occasionally used to describe an iron that was short for working around the green also known as a pitching niblick or lofting iron. It’s similar to the current pitching wedge.

K

Kikuyu – A fast-growing, dense African grass that enjoys the sun and heat. It is not suited to woodlands or mild climates. One of the most popular courses in the southern part of Africa requires a great deal of ability to play from the greens.

Knee Knocker – A short putt, that you shouldn’t be able to miss however, it is often missed.

Knickers – American term for golf pants that stop at the knee level and are and are worn together with knee socks. They are referred to as ‘plus fours‘, or “plus twos” in Britain.

Knife – The word is a slang term for the 1-iron. When iron heads were forged and marketed as ‘blades’ in the past. the 1-iron was the sharpest and most hazardous in utilizing.

L

Lie – The place where the ball rests on the course. This is a “good lie” or a ‘poor lie’.

It also determines the direction in which the shaft is placed on the shaft. Taller people typically have clubs that have an ‘upright’ lie (making the shaft appear higher and more upright) and those who are shorter use flat or regular lying (placing the clubhead further towards the human body).

Links – This is a type of golf course located on the coast typically with sand dunes, very few trees, and is exposed to high winds. It is essentially a piece of land that connects the ocean to the mainland.

Lip – The edge of the hole on the green.

Lip-Out – A putt grabs the edge of the hole and then turns to the right without going in.

Lucy – A slang word that rhymes with Lucy Locket are a synonym for socket and shank. It is perhaps the worst shot you can perform in golf.

M

Marker – A thin, flat object is used to indicate the location of the golf ball on the green, to avoid the ball from blocking other players’ shots. If no marker is available small coins can be employed, but they are generally specially designed discs of steel or plastic.

The second use of this term in golf is a person who records the score of a match or a person who is a spectator with the players or as an opponent.

Match Play – It is a contest scored on the basis of how many holes are won or lost. This is the opposite of a stroke or medal game. Matches in this form usually do not play all 18 holes.

Medal Play – Another term for ‘Stroke Play’ is ‘Stroke Play’ which keeps the score of each hole. The player with the lowest quantity of strikes, also known as gross or net is the winner.

Mixed – A man and a woman play together. such as”Mixed Foursomes”. Each player plays off their own tees.

Moment of Inertia (MOI) – The acronym MOI is ” moment of inertia.” MOI is measured in grams per centimeter squared. It determines the amount of resistance a golf clubhead faces to turn. The greater the resistance more resistance, the higher the reading of MOI, and, crucially for golfers, the more tolerant the club can be played.

Mulligan – Possibility to replay one’s final shot, granted during an informal game played by an opponent. This is not allowed in the course of the competition. (See Also Gilligan)

N

Net Score – The score after handicap strokes have been subtracted from the score total.

Niblick – An old-fashioned Scottish word for the nine iron.

Nobble – To nobble means to top the ball or catch it in the upper part of the club, leading to the ball bouncing down, resulting in a weak, low running shot, referred to as”nobbler.”

O

OB – Short for “out of bounds. The area outside the course play area is typically defined by a white line, white stakes, or boundaries like fences, walls, or railings.

P

Par – The standard number of strokes is required for every hole, including two putts. Most golf courses are par 3 or 5, however, some new courses are developing extremely long par 6 holes.

Penalty – An additional stroke(s) is added to a player’s score due to infraction of rules, the loss of ball, being out of bounds, etc…

PILS – It’s possible to have the pleasure of a Pils or three on the 19th after you’ve finished all of your putting practice. The word PILS means “Pure In Line Square, ” the putting technique advocated by a Short game expert, scientist Dave Pelz, and many others. It is basically an oscillation of the shoulders, removing any independent hand or arm movements while keeping the putter’s face square all the way through the stroke.

Pin – The flagstick that sits in the hole.

Pin-High – A ball that is in line in relation to its pin but is to one side.

Pitch – A type of shot that is used to reach the green. It is shorter than a normal shot but higher than a chip.

Play Through – When a group of slow golfers or people looking for a ball, let other players pass them. It is a good manner to let faster players play through.

‘Plus’ Golfer -A golfer’s handicap is greater than scratch. Therefore, he must add “plus” strokes to his score following a round instead of subtracting these strokes.

Plus Fours/Plus Twos – Golfing trousers were once popular due to their length ending just below the knees, thus preventing the splattering of mud on your trousers while playing. Fours plus are conventional and more full cut, with a fold that is four inches above the knee. Meanwhile, plus twos are more slim and contemporary, folding just 2 inches.

Q

Quarter Shot – A great reduction in the swing when shooting. It is used for shots with a short distance, or when a lot of control is needed. (Also “three-quarter” shot, somewhere in between a half-shot and a full-swing.)

R

Range – Practice area (also known as a”Driving Range). Recovery – A shot played back in an excellent position from an unfavorable position. Redan – Redan golf holes are secured, similar to the fortifications used by the military, which they’re named after. The greens are often offset to a 45-degree angle that moves from left to right and is protected by a huge deep bunker on the left side. The Redan is usually played in its original form as a par-3 it is the Redan is often used as a mid-length, long par-3 to make longer irons and shorter trajectory shots. The range of them can be anywhere between 170 and 240 yards. Relief – Permission to move and drop the ball without risking a penalty. Rough – The grass is thicker and longer in this area of the course. It is not the fairway and the ball will not roll. In thick rough finding, the ball can sometimes prove to be a challenge.

S

Sandie – A term used to describe playing for money, or betting against a player. One could mean either getting par on a hole following being in a bunker an earlier time or being able to get from a hole and entering holes in 2 (an ‘ up and down‘).

Sand Save – Professional equivalent to a ‘ sandie’ (version b). The ability to get out of a bunker to the golf hole with just two shots. The fact that the player is the cut or is not important but it’s the ‘ upward and downward count. As an amount of percentage of the times achieved from the number of attempts is one of the numerous statistics compiled for the various professional tours.

Sand Trap – A pit filled with sand to act as an obstacal. See also Bunker.

Shank – Shot that is struck by the hosel on the club, which makes the ball roll straight to the right. Also known as a “socket”.

Shiperio – Similar to a Mulligan or a second shot, which is that is graciously accepted by your opponent, however, you have the option to select which of the two balls you take.

Shotgun Start – Shotgun starts are an idea in which all players participating in a tournament play simultaneously and start from different locations within the course. Every player starts at a different spot when the tournament starts and players will play the course starting at the hole they started from.

Skinny – It’s a shot that’s hit thin and goes lower than usual and is out of control.

Slice – A shot that is violently curving towards the right, banana-shaped. It is usually caused by striking balls with an open-faced clubface and an out-to-in swing. The most common shot form for high-handicappers and beginners.

Stroke Play – Playing strokes is an art of playing where a person (or players) plays against the other players to determine the total score of at least one round. In regular golf, one-on-one stroke play, you have to sink the ball into every hole on each hole on the course. Each hole score for each hole during your round will be added together to determine your final score.

T

Thin – A shot that falls somewhere between an upper (see the below) and an accurately struck ball. The ball is struck beneath the equator but not high enough to be able to fly properly leading to a low, uncontrolled shot. Particularly damaging in the event of making chipping as well as pitching on the green.

Top – To hit the ball over the center, causing the ball to sink and roll, rather than rise.

Turn – The 9th hole is the one after, that is the halfway point of golf courses, you’re able to turn back for your home.

U

Unplayable Lie – If it is not possible to shoot due to ground conditions or obstructions. The player is allowed to pick up and drop the ball in an improved place, as per the rules but this is under penalty.

Up and Down – A player does not get on the green in the typical fashion, but he gets on the green through an approach shot and then one-putts it into the hole to make up for the extra shot.

V

Vardon Grip – A different name for an overlapping grip that was popularized with Harry Vardon. The tiny finger on the left hand (for right-handed users ) overlaps the left hand’s forefinger.

W

Whiff – To strike and fail to hit the ball completely. It is considered a stroke. Also known as an air-shot or “fresh air”.

Worm-Burner – A Topped or thinned shot that is slid across the ground, harming the valuable little invertebrates that could be taking a breath of fresh air just at that moment.

X

X-Outs – Balls that don’t meet the stringent quality standards of a company’s products due to small cosmetic imperfections or simply because they are small in comparison to the weight or size tolerances (1.680′ 1.620oz and 1.620oz). They are offered at a discounted price and the name of the manufacturer is ‘x’-d out. It is otherwise completely normal and excellent value However, you should be wary of applying them to competitions since the wrong tolerances could render them illegal.

Y

Yardage – Distance between the ball of the player and the goal he is seeking. The yardage of a hole will be the amount shown on the scorecard of an exact tee. However, it will differ based on the location of the tee markers and the position of the pin on the green. Most top players use yardage charts to determine the distance they travel from certain places on the course as well as aid in club selection. Distance between the ball of the player and the goal he is seeking. The yardage of a hole will be the amount shown on the scorecard of an exact tee. However, it will differ based on the location of the tee markers and the position of the pin on the green. Most top players use yardage charts to determine the distance they travel from certain places on the course as well as aid in club selection.

Yips – Insanely missing (or anxiety) of short putts mostly due to an uncontrollable twitch. The condition is difficult to conquer, however, it is possible to ease by non-traditional grips and long (eg the ‘broom-handle’ or “belly’) shafted putters.