Golf Glossary

The fast guide to tems used In Golf Terminology.

Like any sport, golf has its own terminology in reference to many aspects of the game.  For example, when you make a shot from the tee box of a par-4 or par-5 hole, it is called the drive or tee shot.

On a par-3, it  is called just the tee shot. If your next move is to hit the ball onto the green and you are at a distance of at least 100 yards away, the shot you are about to take is called an “approach shot”. A pitch describes the same shot, but from a distance of only 40 to 90 yards.

When a player hits the ball, there are several descriptions which reflect each of those shots within a few seconds after the ball is in the air. Below is a brief description of each type of shot a golf player can make:

Basic Terminology

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.

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.

Ball Marker: A small-sized, flat object, that is used to mark the specific location of your ball when it is on the green.

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.

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.

Chip: The chip is a shot that is typically played right from the edge of the green.

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.

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.

The Slice: The slice is often referred to the type of shot a beginner may make. Most new golfers tend to put a sidespin on the ball Instead of hitting square from the face of the club. Typically, this hit comes from the “outside-in”, which describes the way a club approaches the ball from the right side to its left. This causes the ball to spend the opposite way, hence the name slice. Of course, left-handed shooters would reverse that description.

The Fade: The fade is basically like a slice, but with a lesser curve shot. The fade is often intentional by more experienced players.

The Hook: Considered to be the opposite of the slice, a hook is when the ball is hit from the “inside-out” and causes a spin from right to left. Like the slice, this is not a desirable shot.

The Draw: The draw is a positive shot, one that is desirable. The ball floats in a gradual right to left spin, and is more stable and under control than the above mentioned shots.

The Push: A push describes a shot in which the ball travels on a straight path to the right of your target area.

The Pull: The pull is essentially just like the push, but the ball moves in the opposite direction, pulling to the left.

The Fat: Nobody likes to have a shot described as “fat”.  When this happens, you have basically hit more ground than you did the ball.  The ball may pop up in the air, and fall short.

The Top: A top shot is when you hit the ball on its topside and it typically does not become airborne, instead it just glides down the path and becomes a “worm burner”, as they say.

The Shank: A shank shot is when the ball is hit from the club's side instead of the face, causing the ball to shoot sharply to the right.

The Chili Dip: A chili dip is typically done on purpose and describes a shot that is made “fat” in order to get the ball onto the green from a relatively short distance.

The Stiff: The stiff has only one meaning: A perfect shot!