Glossary
Golf Glossary: Vocabulary from A to Z
From "birdie" to "waggle," here are 82 golf terms explained simply, each with its own video lesson. Type in a word or choose a letter.
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A
AddressThe address at golf is the position a player assumes facing the ball just before taking a shot: grip, stance, alignment…AlignmentIn golf, alignment refers to the orientation of the clubface and the body (feet, hips, shoulders) relative to the target…ApproachIn golf, an approach shot is a shot intended to land the ball on the green as close to the hole as possible. The term refers to…
B
BackspinBackspin is the backward rotation of a golf ball after impact: the top of the ball rotates toward the player. Created…BackswingThe backswing is the upward motion of the club in golf: the movement that takes the club from the position at address to the top of the swing, in t…Alignment sticksAlignment rods are thin, lightweight rods, usually made of fiberglass, that are placed on the ground or…Golf ballA golf ball is a sphere with a diameter of at least 42.67 mm and a weight of no more than 45.93 g, covered with dimples that help it…BirdieIn golf, a birdie is when you complete a hole one stroke under par: 2 strokes on a par-3, 3 on a par-4, or…BogeyIn golf, a bogey means finishing a hole one stroke over par: 5 strokes on a par-4, 4 on a par-3, or…WoodWoods are clubs with large, rounded heads and long shafts that are used for the longest shots: the driver (1-wood…3-woodThe 3-wood is the longest fairway wood after the driver, with a loft of about 15° in general. It is used on the course…5-woodThe 5-wood is a fairway wood that generally has a loft of about 18°, and is more open and shorter than the 3-wood. It makes my…BunkerA bunker is a specially designed area of sand on the course—often dug out—located around the greens or along the…BushnellBushnell is an optics brand that has become a household name in golf: many players say “a Bushnell” to simply mean…
C
Shopping CartIn golf, a caddie is the person who carries or transports a player's clubs during a round and offers advice. The…Caddie MasterThe caddie master is the person who welcomes players to a golf course: he registers players, collects green fees…Core DrillingCore aeration is a lawn care practice, especially for greens: a machine removes small cores of soil…CarryCarry is the distance the ball travels through the air between the point of contact and its first touch with the ground. It…ScorecardThe scorecard is the document on which you record, hole by hole, the number of strokes taken during a round of golf…Carte VerteThe Carte Verte is the certificate that proves a golfer can play alone on the course safely and at an appropriate pace…ChapmanThe Chapman, also known as Pinehurst, is a two-player team golf format: each player tees off, and the partners…ChippingChipping (or chip) is a short shot played near the green with a low trajectory: the ball doesn't travel far and lands on…TargetIn golf, the target is the specific spot where the player wants to hit the ball: an area of the fairway, a part of the g…Golf ClubA golf club is the tool used to hit the ball: it consists of a head, a shaft, and a grip.…ClubhouseThe clubhouse is the main building at a golf course. It usually houses the reception area, where you check in before your round…Golf LessonsA golf lesson is a training session led by a certified instructor, the “pro,” either one-on-one or in a group…CutIn golf, the cut is the elimination that takes place halfway through a tournament, usually after 36 holes: only the players…
D
Golf half-setA half set of golf clubs is a smaller set consisting of about six to eight clubs, instead of the maximum of fourteen allowed. It…DivotA divot is a clump of turf torn up by the clubhead at the moment of impact, especially on iron and wedge shots…Dog-LegA dog-leg (or dogleg) is a hole where the fairway curves to the left or to the right, like the hind leg of a…Double BogeyIn golf, a double bogey is a hole completed in two strokes over par: 5 strokes on a par-3, 6 on a par-4, or…DP World TourThe DP World Tour is the leading men's professional golf tour in Europe. It is the former European Tour, renamed…FlagThe flag is the movable pole placed in the hole to indicate its position on the green (“flagstick” or “pin” in…DriverThe driver (or No. 1 wood) is the longest club in the bag and the one that sends the ball the farthest. It's used almost all the time…DropperA dropper is dropping the ball from knee height in a relief area, when the Rules of Golf allow it…
E
EagleAn eagle in golf is a hole completed two strokes under par: 3 strokes on a par-5, 2 strokes on a par-4, …Draw EffectA draw is a ball trajectory that curves slightly from right to left for a right-handed player (from left to right…Fade EffectA fade is a ball flight that curves slightly from left to right for a right-handed player (from right to left…Escalope (Divot)In golf, an “escalope” is French slang for a divot: the piece of turf torn up by the club at impact. “Taking…LabelGolf etiquette refers to the set of rules governing behavior on the course: safety, respect for other players, and so on…
F
Fairway The fairway is the strip of short-cut grass that runs from the tee box to the green. It is the ideal target for the tee shot…IronsAn iron is a golf club with a flat, narrow head, typically numbered from 3 to 9: the higher the number, the wider the face…FFG (French Golf Federation)The FFG, now known as ffgolf, is the French Golf Federation: the organization that organizes…FittingA golf club fitting is the process of matching golf clubs to a player: a specialist, known as a fitter, measures the player's swing, usually by…FoursomeA foursome is a golf format in which two partners play a single ball, taking turns hitting it. They share…
G
GreenIn golf, the green is the area of very short-cut grass surrounding the hole, marked by a flag: this is where the ball is played…GreenkeeperThe greenkeeper is the person responsible for maintaining the golf course: mowing, watering, core aeration, sanding the greens, etc.GreensomeGreensome is a format of golf played in teams of two: both partners play their own tee shots, and the team chooses the…GripIn golf, the term "grip" refers to two things: the way you hold the club—that is, how you position your hands on the shaft (overla…
H
HookIn golf, a hook is a shot in which the ball curves sharply to the left for a right-handed player (and to the right for a left-handed…Off LimitsOut of bounds refers to anything located outside the course, which is generally marked by stakes or white lines…HybridA hybrid is a golf club that falls somewhere between an iron and a wood: its hollow, rounded head is smaller than that of a wood,…
I
L
The ACEAn ace in golf, also known as a hole-in-one, is when the ball goes into the hole on the very first shot, in one…The Air ShotAn air shot in golf is a swing that completely misses the ball: the club swings through thin air. If the player wanted to…The AlbatrossAn albatross in golf is a hole completed in three strokes under par: two strokes on a par-5 or a hole-in-one on a…
M
P
Golf CourseA golf course is the set of holes—usually 9 or 18—that are played in sequence.…PGA (Professional Golfers’ Association)The PGA (Professional Golfers' Association) is an association of golf professionals, primarily instructors. Each…Pitch and PuttPitch and putt (or pitch & putt) is a form of golf played on 9 or 18 very short holes, each less than 100 yards long, with t…Pitching wedgeThe pitching wedge (PW) is the club with the widest face in the iron set, with a loft generally ranging from 42 to 47...Range PracticeThe driving range is the practice area of a golf course where players hit balls from fixed positions, on mats or…
R
S
ShaftThe shaft is the stem of a golf club: the tube that connects the grip to the head. Made of steel or graphite, it…Shank (shank)A shank is a mishit shot in which the ball is struck by the club's hosel instead of the fa…SliceA slice is a ball trajectory that curves sharply from left to right for a right-handed player (from right to left for…Slope and SSSIn golf, the SSS (or course rating) is the score a player with a handicap of 0 must achieve on the course, and the slope measures…Solheim CupThe Solheim Cup pits the best female golfers from Europe and the United States against each other every two years in match play. It's the Ryd…Stroke playStroke play is a golf format in which all strokes played during the round are counted: the player who finishes with the fewest…Golf SwingA golf swing is the complete motion a player makes with the club to hit the ball: from address to the finish…
V
W
Y
Z
Penalty areaA penalty area is an area of the course—such as a body of water, a ditch, or other feature—marked in yellow or red. You may play the ball from there…Starting AreaThe tee box, often called the “tee” or “tee box,” is the spot from which the first shot of a hole is played…Golf Course Dropping Zone / Dropping ZoneThe dropping zone is a special clearance area, designated by the committee, where…
#
“All Square”In match play, “all square” means that the two sides are tied: they have won the same number of holes. The term…“Upright”In golf, “upright” refers to a club with a lie angle that is more vertical than standard: the shaft is more upright…“Vardon”In golf, “Vardon” refers to Harry Vardon (1870–1937), a British champion born in Jersey who won the Open six times,…