Acceleration: n. The increasing change in velocity of the hands, arms, and clubhead, from the beginning of the down-swing through impact.
Address: n. The position taken by a player in preparation for playing a shot. v. To take a stance over the ball and ground one's club.
Advice: n. Counsel given to a player relating to the game of golf, which could affect how a shot is played or what dub is used.
Aggregate: adj. Describing a stroke or score made over two or more rounds of golf, or by two players playing as partners. An aggregate score.
Aim line: See target line.
Air shot: n. A stroke that misses the ball entirely. Also called an "air ball" or whiff.
Albatross: n. A score of three strokes under par on a hole, Also called a double eagle.
Alignment: n. The arrangement of the shoulders, hips, feet, and clubface in relation to the target line. Used to aim shots in a particular direction.
All square: adj. Even or tied in match play.
Alternate-shot: n. A variation of the game in which two partners take turns playing strokes until the ball is in the hole. This format is used in international team competitions such as the Ryder, Walker, and Solheim Cups, as well as in many smaller tournaments.
Angle of approach (or attack): n. The angle at which the club-head approaches the ball.
Approach: n. A shot played to the putting green, usually relatively short in length. v. To aim or play a shot onto the putting green.
Apron: n. The narrow area of grass surrounding a putting green, cut shorter than the fairway but not as short as the green. Also called the fringe.
Arc: n. The route of the clubhead during the swing.
Architecture: n. The theory and practice of golf course design; the nature and design characteristics of a particular course or architect.
Attack: v. To play a hole or course aggressively.
Attend: v. To hold and remove the flagstick as a partner or opponent putts from a long distance. Also "tend."
Automatics: n. An extra Nassau bet that goes into effect when-ever a player is a set number of holes or points behind an opponent.
Away: adj. Describing a ball lying farthest from the hole, and therefore the one to be played next.
Axis: n. An imaginary straight line through the center of the body, around which it should rotate during the swing.
Back nine: n. The final nine holes of an eighteen-hole golf course. Also referred to as the back side.
Backspin: n. The reverse spin imparted to the ball at impact by the grooves of the club, causing it to fly on a relatively upward trajectory, stop quickly upon landing, and sometimes roll backward.
Backswing: n. The initial part of the swing, when the club, hands, arms, and body move away from the ball and rotate back over the head.
Back tees: n. The teeing ground located the farthest distance from the hole, usually used by better players. Also called tiger tees and "championship tees."
Baffing spoon: n. A wooden club, no longer in production, that was the shortest, most lofted of the set; considered equal to the modern wedge.
Baffy: n. A small-headed, steeply lofted wooden club no longer in production; equivalent to the modem 4- or 5-wood.
Bail out: v. To deliberately play away from a hazard or other trouble. n. and adj. Referring to, or the shot played away, from trouble.
Balance: n. Address position at which equilibrium is obtained; can also apply to a well-positioned follow-through.
Ball at rest: n. A situation in which the ball is not moving and is not being influenced by the actions of a player.
Ball deemed to move: n. A ball that has left its position and comes to rest in another place.
Ball flight laws: n. The physical relationships between clubhead path and angle that influence the golf ball's flight, identical for every golfer and for every swing.
Ball in play: n. A ball that has been struck by a player and stays within the bounds of the golf course. It stays in play until holed or replaced in accordance with the Rules.
Banana ball: n. A shot that curves enormously from left to right for a right-hander (see slice).
Bank shot: n. A shot played from close to the green with a steep bank in front of the player, so the ball hits the face of the bank and pops up into the air, landing softly on the green.
Barranca: n. A typically rocky or heavily wooded deep ravine, sometimes played as a hazard.
Baseball grip: n. A grip characterized by having all ten fingers on the club; also called the "ten-finger grip."
Beach: n. Common name for any sand hazard. v. To land a ball in a sand hazard.
Behavioral practice: n. The process of learning the game in a series of steps, from the simplest skill to the hardest.
Behind the ball: n. The body position at address and during the swing in which the head and torso are to the right of an imaginary line drawn vertically from the ball.
Bend: v. To cause a shot to curve using sidespin imparted at impact.
Bentgrass: n. A durable, resilient grass with very fine blades able to withstand harsh temperatures; used on northern golf courses.
Bermuda grass: n. A coarse grass that can withstand oppressive heat; used on southern golf courses.
Best-ball (better-ball): n. A match in which the lowest single score of a foursome on each hole counts as the score for the entire team on that hole. Called "better-ball" when referring to a team of two players.
Birdie: n. A score of one under par on a hole.
Bird's nest: n. A lie in which the ball is deeply cupped in grass.
Bisque: n. In match play, a handicap stroke that may be taken at any hole chosen by the player who is receiving it.
Bite: n. The backspin applied to a ball at impact that causes it to stop dead on the green or spin back toward the player. v. To land the ball on the green with backspin.
Blade: n. The hitting part of an iron clubhead, not including the hosel. Also, a type of putter having an iron head similar in shape to standard numbered irons. v. To hit the ball across its equator with the bottom edge of an iron club, resulting in a low shot that tends to fly too far. Also called a thin or skull shot.
Blast: v. To play a forceful shot from a sand bunker, hitting behind the ball and displacing a large amount of sand; to play an explosion shot.
Blind: adj. Hidden from the player by a large hill, tree, or other obstruction. A blind shot is one in which the player cannot see the target.
Block: v. To prevent or delay rotation of the arms, body, wrists, or club during the swing, resulting in a shot that starts and remains to the right of the target.
Bluegrass: n. A cool-weather grass with moderate-size blades that can thrive in a variety of climates. Most commonly found in Kentucky.
Body coil: n. The full turn away from the ball made by the hips and shoulders; the source of power in the golf swing.
Bogey: n. A score of one over par on a hole.
Bold: adj. Refers to a shot played too strongly and going past the intended target. Also, a bravely played shot, such as an approach to a well-guarded pin position.
Boring: adj. Refers to a low shot that holds its course through a wind.
Borrow: n. The amount of compensation taken on a green required to putt across a slope. v. In putting, to aim to one side or the other of the direct line to the hole in order to account for the slope of the green.
Bounce: n. The rounded flange attached to the sole of the sand wedge designed to prevent the club from digging into the sand, thus allowing the ball to be lofted toward the target.
Brassie: n. A wooden club with a brass sole plate and a bit more loft than a driver. Considered equal to the modern 2-wood.
Break: v. The cocking of one's wrists during the backswing. n. The curved line on which a ball travels because of the slope or grain of the green (see borrow).
Broad focus: n. The ability to gather information on the big picture, such as wind, lie, slope, hazards, and any other information that may affect the shot.
Bump-and-run: n. A shot around the green intended to hit into a bank or slope and then roll forward toward the hole.
Bunker: n. A sandpit, often edged with embankments, defined as a hazard and forming an obstacle to both drives and approach shots.
Bunt: v. To hit an intentional short shot.
Buried lie: n. When part or all of a ball lies below the surface of soft turf or sand.
Bum: n. A Scottish term for a creel
Caddie: n. A person who carries a golfer's clubs during a round, giving advice
and otherwise assisting the player. v. To work as a caddie.
Calamity Jane: n. The name Bobby Jones gave to his favorite wooden-shafted
putter.
Cap: n. The top end of a club's grip and shaft.
Carry: n. The distance the ball travels in the air. v. To play over a hazard
or other obstacle.
Cast: v. To release the cocked wrists prematurely on the forward swing, causing
the clubhead to arrive at the ball ahead of the hands and arms. Same as "hitting
from the top."
Casual water: n. Any temporary accumulation of water on a course that is
not part of a defined water hazard. A player may lift his ball from casual
water without penalty.
Center of gravity: n. The point in the body, somewhere in the pelvic area,
where the torso, legs, and hips all balance.
Center of rotation: n. The axis around which the body winds and unwinds,
usually thought of as the spine.
Center-shafted: adj. A type of putter in which the shaft joins the head some
distance in from the heel. A common example is the Bull's Eye putter.
Centrifugal force: n. The action in a rotating body that moves mass away
from the center; it is felt in the downswing as the clubhead is pulled outward
and downward in a circular path.
Centripetal force: n. The force that moves mass toward the center of a rotating
body.
Charge: v. To roll a putt toward the hole with a bold and powerful stroke.
Chicken wing: n. A fault in the downward swing in which the left arm folds
or collapses at the elbow and points away from the body.
Chili dip: n. A mishit of this type. v. To mishit a chip shot by hitting
the ground before the ball, resulting in a weak, lofted shot that travels
only a short distance.
Chip: n. A short, low-trajectory approach shot, usually hit near the green,
that rolls farther than it flies. Also called a chip shot. v. To play a chip
shot onto the green.
Chip-in: n. A chip shot that goes into the hole. v. To hole out a chip shot.
Chip-and-run: n. A chip shot that rolls a great deal upon hit-ting the ground.
Chipper: n. A club designed only for chip shots.
Choke: v. To collapse under a great deal of pressure, so the muscles are
incapable of performing to their greatest ability.
Choke down: v. To shorten the effective length of a club by gripping down
the shaft.
Chop: v. To hit down on a ball with an axe-like motion to impart extra spin.
Chunk: v. Similar to a chili dip, the process of taking a large piece
of turf before hitting the ball, resulting in a mishit that does not travel
very far. n. A mishit of this type.
Clearing the left side: v. Turning the hips to the left of the target during
the downswing so the arms may follow in sequence.
Cleek: n. 1. The name given to a wooden (or metal) club with narrow
rails on the bottom of the clubhead, used to hit out of the rough. It generally
has the loft of a 4- or 5-wood. 2. Old name for a 4-iron.
Closed clubface: n. When the toe of the club leads the heel, causing the
clubface to point to the left of the target line. This can occur at any point
during the swing.
Closed stance: n. The positioning of the feet whereby the back foot is farther
from the target line than the front.
Closed-to-open: adj. Describing the clubhead when the player closes the clubface
during the backswing, then opens it during the downswing.
Clubface: n. The grooved surface of the club that makes con-tact with the
ball.
Clubface alignment: n. The direction in which the clubhead is aimed at address
relative to the target line.
Clubhead: n. The hitting portion of the club, attached to the end of the
shaft, which also contains most of the weight of the club.
Clubhead angle: n. The direction in which the clubface points at impact;
it influences the direction the ball will curve during flight.
Clubhead path: n. The path traveled by the clubhead during the swing, relative
to the target line.
Clubhead speed: n. The force with which the club swings through the ball,
measured in miles per hour.
Club length: n. The length of the club from grip to head.
Club shaft: n. The long, thin part of the club connecting the grip and the
clubhead. Also shaft
Cocked wrists: n. The position in which the wrists are flexed, or hinged,
during the backswing.
Coil: n. The circular windup of the body during the back-swing, creating
a source of power in the swing.
Collar: n. See apron.
Comeback putt: n. The follow-up putt after the previous putt has rolled past
the hole.
Come off the ball: v. To lift the body prematurely during the swing.
Come over the top: v. To steepen the plane or arc of the swing during the
downswing and throw the clubhead outside the target line prior to impact.
Compression: n. The degree of resilience a golf ball has when struck by a
clubface.
Concede: v. In match play, to grant one's opponent a putt, hole, or match
that has not been completed.
Connection: n. Maintaining the various body parts in the appropriate relationship
to one another during the swing.
Controlled shot: n. A stroke made with less than full power.
Course rating: n. The measure of the difficulty of a course relative to other
courses, evaluated by the United States Golf Association. It is expressed
in strokes and fractions of strokes, and based upon the ability of a scratch
golfer.
Crack: adj. Referring to a first-class or champion-caliber player. v.
1. To suffer a sudden collapse of good play, as in choke.
2. To hit a good drive.
Croquet-style: adj. A putting stance in which the player straddles the target
line and faces the hole, swinging the putter like a croquet mallet.
Cross bunker: n. A generally elongated bunker that runs across the fairway
at a right angle to the player's line of flight.
Cross-handed: adj. A putting grip in which a right-handed golfer places the
left hand on the putter below the right. Also referred to as "left hand low."
Crossing the line: v. Manipulating the clubhead so it comes from outside
the target line to the inside during the down-swing, resulting in a shot
that flies left to right.
Crosswind: n. Breeze blowing from one side to the other across a golf hole,
perpendicular to a player's line of flight.
Cup: n. The hole.
Cuppy lie: n. When the ball rests in a cuplike depression, frequently on
bare ground between two tufts of grass.
Cut: n. A score that eliminates a percentage of the field from a tournament.
v. To make the ball move from left to right (for right-handed golfers),
Cut shot: n. A high, soft shot that moves from left to right and does not
have much roll upon hitting the ground.
Cutspin: n. The clockwise rotation of the ball (for right-handed golfers)
that causes it to fly in left to right.
Dance floor: n. The putting green. See Green.
Dead: adj. i. Describes a ball that lands so dose to the hole there
is no doubt it will be holed with the next stroke. 2. Describes a shot that
hits the green and stops immediately, with no roll. 3. Describes a position
from which it is impossible to escape.
Dead wrists: n. When the wrists remain firm, without cocking or releasing
through the swing.
Deceleration: n. Slowing the speed of the clubhead through the ball, usually
resulting in a weak mishit.
Delayed hit: n. Retaining the wrist cock until the last possible moment in
the downswing, just before impact. Also "late hit.'
Divot: n. A piece of turf displaced by the clubhead during the swing.
Dogleg: n. A hole or fairway characterized by a sharp turn in either direction,
as in a dogleg-left or dogleg-right hole.
Dormie: adj. In match play, a situation where a player or team is as many
holes ahead as there are left to play. The opposing player or team must win
every hole to tie the match.
Double bogey: n. A score of two over par on a hole.
Double eagle: n. A score of three under par on a hole. Also called an
albatross.
Downhiller: n. A downhill shot or putt.
Downhill lie: n. When a player's back foot is higher than his front foot
at address, causing him to make compensations to hit a good shot.
Downswing: n. The movement of taking the club from the top of the swing down
to the point of impact with the ball.
Drag: v. An aerodynamic force that resists the forward movement of an object,
affecting clubhead speed and ball flight.
Drain: v. To sink a putt.
Draw: n. A controlled shot that flies slightly right to left for a right-handed
player. v. To deliberately play such a shot.
Drawspin: n. The counterclockwise rotation of the ball, which causes it to
fly right to left for a right-hander.
Drills: n. Exercises and movements designed to ingrain swing changes in a
golfer's body and mind.
Drive: n. The first shot on a hole, played from the tee. v.1. To
hit the opening shot. 2. To hit the ball with maximum power.
Driver: n. The No. 1 wood, usually the longest, longest hit-ting,
and, except for the putter, least lofted club in the bag.
Driving iron: n. Old name for a 1-iron, the iron club with the least amount
of loft, designed for maximum distance.
Driving range: n. An area for hitting practice shots.
Drive the green: v. To reach the green in a single stroke on a par-four or
par-five hole.
Drop: v. To put a ball back in play after it has been lost or retrieved from
an unplayable lie. n. An instance of a ball being dropped.
Dub: n. 1. A poorly played shot, usually one that dribbles along the
ground. 2., A player who hits a high number of such shots. v. To hit
such a shot.
Duck hook: n. A violent hook (right-to-left) shot that normally travels low
and hits the ground quickly.
Duff. v. To mishit a shot by hitting the ground before the ball. Duffer:
n. A bad golfer.
Eagle: n. A score of two under par on a hole-
Early hit: n. Premature release of the wrists on the down-swing, causing
deceleration at impact.
Effective loft: n. The actual loft of the clubface when it strikes the ball.
Owing to the design of the clubhead and the player's technique, this may
be different from the built-in loft of the club.
Embedded ball: n. When a portion of the ball is below the surface of the
ground.
Explode: v. To escape from a sand bunker with a shot that displaces a large
amount of sand along with the ball. Also called a blast.
Explosion shot: n. A shot in which the ball is exploded from the sand.
Extension: n. The straightened position of the left arm at impact and the
right arm in the follow-through. May also apply to arm position at the top
of the swing.
Face: n. 1. The grooved hitting surface of the clubhead. Also called
the clubface. 2. The front wall of a sand bunker.
Fade: n. A controlled shot that flies left to right for a right. handed golfer.
v. To deliberately play such a shot.
Fadespin: n. The rotation of the ball that causes it to fly left to right.
Fairway: n. The closely cropped grass that lies between the tee and the green
and between the rough.
Fairway wood: n. Any of the wooden- or metal-headed clubs that have more
loft than the driver.
Fan: v. To make a stroke that misses the ball completely. Also called a
whiff.
Fanning the face: v. An exaggerated rolling of the clubface into an open
position during the takeaway.
Fat: adj. i. Describing a shot in which the clubhead strikes
the ground before the ball, taking a large divot, so the ball does not travel
as far as intended. 2. Referring to the widest, safest, and easiest-to-hit
part of the green.
Feather: v. To hit a high, soft-landing shot that usually fades a little
and stops quickly upon landing.
Fescue: n. A cool-weather grass commonly found near salt water; it is standard
on links courses.
First cut: n. The strip of rough closest to the fairway.
Flagstick: n. A tall, narrow stick placed in the hole, indicating its location
on the green.
Flange: n. The additional surface area protruding from the bottom of a clubhead
that prevents it from digging too deeply into the sand or ground.
Flash trap: n. A small, shallow sand bunker.
Flat swing: n. A swing that moves the club on a more horizontal plane, more
around the body.
Flex: n. The amount of flexibility or bend in a shaft.
Flyer: n. A shot, usually struck from long grass, that flies much farther
than normal owing to a lack of spin.
Flyer lie: n. Any lie where the grass is certain to get between the club
and the ball at impact, and tending to produce a flyer.
Flight: n. 1. A division of players in a tournament based on their ability.
2. The ball's path in the air.
Flip wedge: n. A short, less-than-full wedge shot with a high trajectory
meant to stop quickly on the green. Also called a flop shot.
Floater: n. 1. A shot struck from deep grass that comes out slowly
and travels shorter than normal. Opposite of a flyer. 2. A variety
of golf ball, rarely used, that floats in water.
Flop shot: n. A soft, high shot usually played to the green with an outside-to-in
swing path. Useful when pitching over a bunker or other hazard. See flip
wedge.
Flub: v. To mishit a shot badly. n. A poor shot, usually caused by hitting
the ground before the ball.
Fluffy lie: n, A lie in which the ball is sitting up on light blades of grass
with room for the club to get under the ball.
Fly: v. To hit the ball too far.
Follow-through: n. The continuation of the swing after the ball has been
struck.
Forecaddie: n. A person employed to go ahead of a group of players and mark
the positions of any balls in play.
Forward press: n. A movement of the hands and arms toward the target that
can assist the player in starting the backswing smoothly.
Forward swing: n. The motion of the arms, hands, and club toward the target
and through the ball after the backswing is completed. Also downswing.
Four-ball: n. A match in which two partners match their better score on a
hole against the better score of another team.
Foursome: n. i. A match in which two partners alternately hit the
same ball (alternate shot), playing against another team doing the
same. 2. A group of four players playing together.
Free drop: n. A drop without penalty.
Fried egg: n. A lie in which the ball is partially buried in the sand, sitting
in its own hole. Also plugged lie.
Fringe: n. The short grass just off the putting green. Also apron.
Frog hair: n. Same as apron or fringe.
Front nine: n. The first nine holes of an 18-hole golf course. Also the "front
side."
Full swing: n. The longest swing you can make.
Gap wedge: n. A wedge with loft somewhere between that of a pitching wedge
and sand wedge.
Gimmie: n. A very short putt, often conceded by an opponent in match play.
G.I.R.: n. Greens in regulation.
Gorse: n. A thick, prickly shrub usually found on links courses (especially
in Great Britain) and apt to swallow errant golf shots,
Go to school: v. To learn about the speed and break of a putt by observing
someone else's putt.
Grain: n. The direction in which the blades of grass on a putting green grow,
which can affect the speed and direction of putts.
Green: n. 1. The area of closely cropped grass where the hole is situated;
the putting surface. Also putting green 2. The entire golf course.
Greenie: n. Bet won by the player whose tee shot on a par-three hole finishes
closest to the pin.
Greens in regulation: n. A statistic, expressed as a percent-age, that measures
how often a player hits his approach shot onto the green in two strokes less
than whatever is par for the hole.
Greenkeeper: n. The employee responsible for the maintenance of the course.
Also called "golf course superintendent."
Grip: n. 1. The part of the shaft, covered with leather or other tacky material,
that the player holds while swinging. 2. A player's way of holding the club.
v. To hold a club in a specified manner.
Groove: n. 1. A narrow scoring line cut into the clubface that imparts spin
on the ball. 2. A consistent succession of good swings v. To practice a swing
and develop consistency.
Gross: adj. Describing a score made before the deduction of handicap strokes.
Ground: v. To touch the clubhead to the ground behind the ball at address,
Ground under repair: n. An area of a course undergoing maintenance work and
designated as such, from which a player may receive a free drop.
Hack: v. 1. To hit the ball violently and imperfectly, especially
from heavy rough or a bad lie. 2. To play poor golf
Hacker: n. An unskilled golfer, also duffer.
Half. n. In match play, a tie score on a hole.
Half-shot: n. A shot made with approximately 50 percent of a full swing and
meant to fly about half the normal distance.
Halve: v. In match play, to play a hole in the same number of net strokes
as an opponent.
Ham-and-egg: v. To play well with a partner, so both golfers contribute to
the teams success.
Handicap: n. The number of strokes a player is able to deduct from his gross
score. It is based on past performance and the difficulty of the course,
designed to adjust his scoring ability to that of a scratch golfer. v. To
assign a handicap to a player.
Handicap differential: n. The difference between a player's gross score and
the course rating.
Handicap index: n. The measure of one's golf ability, it is the number that
determines a player's handicap on a given course.
Hanging lie: n. When the ball rests on a downhill slope.
Hardpan: n. Very firm turf, often without grass.
Hazard: n. A sand bunker or any defined water obstacle on a course from which
a free drop is not allowed.
Head: n. See clubhead.
Headwind: n. A breeze blowing into a player's face, causing the ball to travel
a shorter distance than normal.
Heel: n. The end of the clubhead nearest to the player at address, usually
where the shaft enters. v. To hit the ball with this end of the club.
High side: n. That area of the green above the hole, especially when the
cup is on a slope. Also called the pro side.
Hit: v. To play a stroke or shot.
Hitting area: n. Part of the swing from where the club is parallel to the
ground on the downswing to just after impact.
Hog's back: n. A large ridge running across a green or fairway-
Hole: n. i. The round receptacle in the putting green, 4.25 inches
in diameter and UP to 4 inches in depth. Also called the CUP. 2. The
nine or i8 distinct units on a course, each extending from a tee to
corresponding green. v. To get the ball in the hole, also to "hole out."
Hole-high: adj. Referring to a shot that finishes even with the hole.
Hole-in-one: n. A tee shot that finishes in the hole; a hole played in one
stroke. Also ace.
Homeward nine: n. The back nine of a golf course.
Honor: n. The privilege of hitting first off the tee, awarded to the player
who had the lowest score on the previous hole.
Hood: v. To tilt the clubface forward by leaning the grip toward the target,
reducing the club's effective loft.
Hook: n. A shot that moves from left to right for a right-handed player.
v. To hit a shot of this nature.
Hookspin: n. The counterclockwise rotation of the ball that causes a hook.
Horizontal: adj. and n. The desired position at the top of the swing, with
the clubshaft parallel to the ground. Also parallel.
Horizontal axis: n. An imaginary line, parallel to the ground, running through
the center of the ball. Hitting below this line will lift the ball into the
air; striking above it will cause a topped shot. Also called the "ball's
equator.'
Hosel: n. The hollow part of the clubhead extending up from the heel where
the shaft attaches.
Hustler: n. A golfer who purposefully maintains (or claims to maintain) a
handicap higher than his true skill level so he can easily defeat other golfers.
Also sandbagger.
Impact: n. The moment the club strikes the ball.
Impediment: n. Loose debris that may be moved from around a ball as long
as it is not in a hazard. Also loose impediments.
Improve your lie: v. To move the ball illegally or affect the area around
it so the next shot is easier.
inside: adj. Nearer to the hole than another player's ball.
Inside-to-in: adj. Describes a swing path in which the clubhead approaches
the ball from inside the target line, makes contact, then returns
inside the target line on the follow-through.
Inside-to-out: adj. Describes a swing path in which the club-head approaches
the ball from inside the target line, makes contact, then swings outside
the line.
intended line of flight: n. An imaginary line drawn through the ball and
extending to the intended target. Also called the target line.
Interlocking grip: n. For a right-handed player, a way of placing the hands
on the club with the right pinky meshing with the index finger of the left
hand.
In-the-leather: adj. Describing a putt that is closer to the hole than the
length of the putter's grip or the distance from the putterhead to the bottom
of the grip.
Intermediate target: n. A leaf, divot, or other object or mark just in front
of the ball and directly between it and the target, used as an alignment
aid.
Iron: n. Any of numerous clubs with an Iron clubhead and available in a variety
of lofts.
Jail: n. A spot from which it is almost impossible to play a safe shot.
Jack: n. An unpredictable bounce taken by the ball after it lands.
Kikuyu: n. A fast-growing grass, common in California and other mild climates,
with thick, wiry blades that can wrap around the clubhead, causing errant
shots.
Kinesiology: n. The scientific study of human movement and the motions of
tools and equipment used in sporting activities.
Kinetic energy: n. The energy associated with the speed of an object. Increasing
clubhead velocity produces more kinetic energy and thus more distance.
Knee-knocker: n. A short putt, in the two- to four-foot range, that causes
a golfer mental and physical anxiety.
Knockdown: n. A deliberate low, boring shot that holds its line into the
wind. Sometimes used to escape from or avoid a tree or other trouble. Also
a punch.
Lag: n. A long putt hit with the intention of stopping the ball close to
the hole and leaving an easy second putt.
Lateral hazard: n. A water hazard running approximately parallel to the line
of play and defined by red stakes.
Lateral shift: n. The movement during the forward swing in which the body's
weight is transferred from the back foot to the front.
Launch angle: n. The angle at which the ball comes off the clubface immediately
after impact.
Lay off. v. To point the club to the left of the target at the top of the
swing.
Layout: n. A golf course, especially when considered in terms of architectural
style and routing of the holes.
Lay up: v. To deliberately hit a shot short of a green or hazard to avoid
trouble and leave a manageable approach shot. n. A shot of this nature.
Leak: v. To fade undesirably to the right, for a right-handed player, as
a shot does while flying toward the target.
Leg drive: v. The movement of the legs toward the target during the downswing.
Lie: n. 1. The position of the ball on the ground after it has come
to rest. 2. The angle at which the clubhead is attached to the shaft,
measured between the shaft and the ground when the club is soled. v. 1.
To be at rest in a certain position or situation on the course. 2.
To have played a specified number of strokes.
Lift, dean, and place: v. To pick up the ball when playing in extremely wet
conditions, clean the mud off, and replace it without penalty. n. The Rule
that goes into effect when the ball can easily become embedded in the course
of normal play.
Line: n. The intended or correct path of a shot or Putt. Line of fight:
n. The direction in which the shot actually travels. Line up: v.
To study the line of a shot; to take aim.
Links: n. A seaside course laid out along a body of water, usually the ocean.
Often used to refer to any golf course.
Linksland: n. The seaside terrain typical of British courses.
Lip: n. The edge or rim of the cup.
Lip out: v. To hit a putt that circles the edge of the cup but does not fall
in.
Lob: v. To deliberately play a high, soft-landing pitch shot, usually over
a sand bunker or other hazard. n. A high, soft-landing shot.
Local knowledge: n. The tricks of playing a course that regular patrons know.
Local rules: n. A set of rules, particular to a certain course or tournament,
established to handle situations unique to that venue.
Loft: n. The measurement of the degree to which a clubface is set back from
vertical. v. To play a high-trajectory, shot.
Long game: n. Those parts of the game in which distance is required-driving,
fairway woods, and long irons-and usually demanding a full swing.
Long irons: n. Iron clubs without many lofts, used when distance is required;
the I-, 2-, 3-, and 4-irons.
Loop: n. 1. A round of golf 2. A swing quirk in which the player
takes the clubhead back on one line, then reroutes it with a circular motion
near the top. v. To carry a player's bag; to caddie.
Loose impediments: n. Objects that are not fixed or growing on the course,
and thus may be moved from near a ball without penalty (except when in a
hazard). Also impediments.
Low finish: n. A follow-through that stops, deliberately or otherwise, shorter
than normal, as for a punch.
Low side: n. Part of the green below the hole, especially when the hole is
cut on a slope. Opposite of high side.
Mallet putter: n. A putter with a semicircular head.
Marker: n. 1. An object on the tee that indicates the forward boundary
of the teeing ground. Also called a "tee marker." 2. A coin or small
object placed behind a ball to indicate its location on the green. Also "ball
marker." 3- In stroke play, someone appointed to keep another player's score,
particularly in an odd-numbered field when the player would be teeing off
alone.
Mashie: n. An iron club, no longer in use, used for medium-length shots to
the green. Considered equal to a 5-iron.
Mashie-iron: n. An iron club, no longer in use, used for driving and full
shots to the green. Considered equal to a; 3- or 4-iron.
Mashie-niblick: n. An iron club, no longer in use', having a loft between
that of a mashie and a niblick. Considered equal to a 7-iron.
Match of cards: n. A way to break ties in which scorecards are compared,
with the lower score on a particular hole winning the match.
match play: n. The original form of golf competition, where the winner is
the player or team that wins the most individual holes. The match does not
necessarily extend to i8 holes, e.g., if a player is four holes up with three
to play, he wins the match, 4 & 3.
Mechanics: n. The techniques a player uses during a golf swing.
Medal: n. A prize awarded to the player who scores the lowest in a stroke-play
tournament. v. To score the lowest in a stroke-play qualifying tournament.
Medalist: n. The person who scores the lowest in a stroke-play qualifying
tournament for a match-play championship.
Medal play: n. Competition in which the winner is the player who scores the
lowest number of strokes over a designated number of rounds. Also stroke
play.
Middle irons: n. The iron clubs used for intermediate distances, generally
the 5-, 6-, and 7-irons. Also called "mid-irons."
Mid-iron: n. Old term for a 2-iron.
Mid-mashie: n. Old term for a 3-iron.
Misdub: v. To play the wrong dub for a certain situation or shot.
Mishit: v. To hit a shot poorly; to make bad contact with the ball.
Misread: v. To read a green incorrectly and play the putt on the wrong line.
Muff. v. To mishit a shot badly.
Mulligan: n. A second attempt at the same shot, usually off the first tee.
Sometimes permitted in a casual round but never in competition.
Narrow focus: n. Mentally honing in as tightly as possible on the target
while blocking out unnecessary thoughts and distractions.
Nassau: n. A three-part bet in which a point or wager is awarded for winning
the front nine, the back nine, and the Overall 18
Net: adj. A player's gross score minus any handicap strokes.
Neutral grip: n. A way of gripping the club so the hands will return to the
same position at impact, usually parallel to the clubface.
Niblick: n. A very lofted iron club, no longer in use. Considered equal to
a 9-iron.
Obstruction: n. Anything artificial, whether erected, placed, or left on
the course, except for markers defining course boundaries and cart paths.
Offset: adj. Describing a club with a bent neck or hosel so the clubhead
is set slightly behind the line of the shaft, designed to give the player
an extra split-second to square the clubface at impact.
One-piece takeaway: n. The desired motion for the early portion of the backswing,
with the arms, hands, and wrists moving away from the ball together.
One-shotter: n. A par-three hole.
One-up: adj. In match play, describing a player or team that has won one
more hole than his opponent.
Open: v. 1. To turn the toe of the clubface slightly out from
the target line. 2. To align one's body so it is aiming to the left of the
target for right-handers. n. A tournament open to amateurs and professionals.
Open clubface: n. One in which the heel of the club leads the toe through
impact, causing the clubface to point to the right of the target line.
Open stance: n. For right-handed players, when the left foot is farther back
from the target line than the right foot.
Open-to-closed: ad. The rolling of the clubface open during the backswing,
then dosed during the downswing.
Out of bounds: n. Outside the boundary of the golf course; a ball
which lands here cannot be played and must be rehit with a penalty stroke.
Also referred to as "O.B."
Outside agency: n. Any object not part of a match that stops, deflects, or
moves a ball while in play.
Outside-to-in: adj. Describing a swing path in which the club-face approaches
the ball from outside the target line, makes contact, then swings
inside the line.
Overclub: v. To hit with a club that produces too much distance for the
situation.
Overlapping grip: n. The most popular grip for right-handed players, it involves
placing the little finger of the right hand in the space between the index
and middle fingers of the left hand. Also Vardon grip.
Overspin: n. The forward rotation of a ball in motion. Also topspin.
Overswing: v. To swing too hard, usually resulting in a mishit.
Over-the-top: adj. Referring to a swing that starts on an out-side-to-in
path as soon as the downward movement begins.
Pace: n. 1. The speed of the green. 2. The rate at which a putt is rolling
- 3. The rate of movement in a swing or stroke. v. To measure the distance
of a shot by walking from the ball to the target.
Par: n. 1. The theoretical number of strokes it should take a scratch
golfer to complete a hole. 2. The standard of good performance. v.
To make a score of par on a hole.
Parallel: adj. and n. The desired position at the top of the swing, with
the clubshaft parallel to the ground. Also horizontal.
Path: n. The directional arc on which the club is swung.
Penalty stroke: n. A stroke added to a player's score for a violation of
a Rule or as punishment for hitting into a water hazard, unplayable lie,
or out of bounds. Also a "penalty shot."
Pendulum stroke: n. The desired motion in putting in which the big muscles
of the shoulders and back move together, so the arms rock around a fixed
point (the spine).
Piccolo grip: n. A very loose hold on the club, especially at the top of
the backswing.
Pick up: v. To swing the club away from the ball with a sharp cock of the
wrists, rather than a one-piece takeaway, resulting in the club lifting
prematurely.
Pin: n. The pole that marks the position of the hole on the green. Also
flagstick.
Pin-high: adj. Referring to a ball that comes to rest level with the pin.
Also hole-high.
Pinehurst: n. A game in which partners play each other's drive, then select
one ball with which to finish the hole.
Pin placement: n. The positioning of the hole on the green on a given day
or occasion.
Pitch: n. A short shot with a steep trajectory, typically with backspin,
that flies in the air farther than it rolls after landing. v. To play a pitch
shot.
Pitch-and-run: n. An approach shot consisting of a low, short pitch shot
that lands on the green, then rolls a long way. v. To play a pitch-and-run
shot.
Pitching niblick: n. Old term for a pitching wedge.
Pitching wedge: n. A high-lofted iron club used primarily for pitch
shots to the greens.
Pivot: n. Rotation of the shoulders, torso, and shoulders during the swing.
v. To rotate the body in this manner.
Plane: n. An imaginary flat surface that describes the path and angle of
a swinging club. Also swing plane,
Play club: n. Old term for the driver.
Playing partner: n. A golfer playing in a partnership or on the same team
as another.
Playoff. n. A tiebreaker in which the players continue play after the regulation
number of holes. v. To decide a tie by playing extra holes.
Play through: v. To pass through golfers playing ahead, giving faster players
the chance to continue at a quick pace,
Plugged lie: n. A ball that is partially buried beneath the surface. Also
"embedded lie."
Plumb-bob: v. The act of lining up a putt by sighting along the shaft of
a putter hanging vertically in front of the face.
Poa Annua: n. A weedlike grass found on many courses in the cooler spring
months before dying out in the summer heat.
Point of contact: n. The spot on the clubface that strikes the center of
the ball.
Pop: v. To play a short shot, hitting under the ball so it rises quickly.
n. A shot of this type.
Pot bunker: n. A small, deep sand trap, often invisible from the tee.
Power: n. The amount of force with which a golf ball is struck.
Practice aids: n. Devices-videos, swing trainers, special clubs, etc.-designed
to make practice more worthwhile and productive.
Practice tee/green: n. Areas of a golf course devoted to practice.
Preferred lie: n. The spot to which a ball is moved, when the Rules allow.
Part of winter rules.
Preshot routine: n. A physical and mental routine done before hitting a shot,
to promote consistency.
Press: n. An additional bet made during the course of a match. v. To try
too hard in playing a stroke or shot.
Pro-am: n. Competition in which professionals and amateurs team together.
Pronation: n. Inward rotation of the wrist; at address, toward the target
with the right hand, away from the target with the left for right-handed
golfers.
Pro side: n. On a sloped green, the side above the hole. Also high side.
Provisional ball: n. A ball played when there is the possibility that the
original shot may be lost or out of play.
Pull: v. For right-handed players, to play a shot that starts left of the
target line and flies straight left. n. A shot of this type.
Pull-hook: n. For right-handed players, a shot that starts left of the
target line, then hooks farther left.
Pull-slice: n. For right-handed players, a shot that starts left of
the target line, then slices to the right.
Punch: n. A hard, low-flying shot often hit with a good deal of backspin;
same as a knockdown. v. To play a shot of this type.
Punchbowl: n. A putting green that sits in a hollow.
Push: v. For right-handed players, to play a shot that starts right of the
target line and flies straight right. n. A shot of this type.
Push-hook: n. For right-handed players, a shot that starts right of the
target line, then hooks left.
Push-slice: n. For right-handed players, a shot that starts right of the
target line, then slices farther right.
Putt: v. To stroke a ball toward the hole on a putting green. n. A shot hit
on the putting green. designed to get the ball into the hole.
Putter: n. 1. A dub designed for putting. 2. Someone who putts.
Putting green: n. i. Any putting surface. 2. A practice green.
Putt out: v. To stroke the ball into the hole.
Quail-high: adj. Describing a shot hit on a low, flat trajectory (after the
way quails fly).
Quarter-shot: n. A shot hit with approximately 25 percent of normal power.
Quit: v. To give up on a shot while hitting it: to decelerate through impact
of a shot.
Radius: n. The distance between the center of the swing arc and the hands.
Range: n. The driving range or practice tee.
Rap: v. 1. To hit a putt firmly. 2. To stroke the putt with
a long backstroke and short follow-through. Also a "pop" or "pop stroke.'
Read: v. i. To determine the direction and speed necessary to stroke
a putt. 2. To survey the slope of the putting green. Also referred to as
"reading the green." n. The direction or line of a putt.
Recover: v. To play back to the fairway or other safe spot from rough, a
hazard, or other undesirable position.
Recovery shot: n. The shot played when trying to recover.
Release: v. To uncock the wrists and rotate the forearms in the downswing
so as to square the clubface and create power. n. The uncocking of the wrists
and rotating of the arms on the downswing.
Relief.- n. When a player is allowed to lift and drop the ball without penalty.
Reverse-C: adj. Describes the position in which the back and legs are arched
backward at the finish of the swing.
Reverse overlap: n. For right-handed players, a putting grip in which the
little finger of the right hand overlaps the index finger of the left hand.
Reverse pivot: n. A motion in which the body's weight stays on the front
side during the backswing, then shifts backward to the back side on the
downswing; the opposite of the weight shift in a good swing. Also 'reverse
weight shift."
Rhythm: n. The tempo of a golf swing.
Roll over: v. To rotate the wrists and arms during the swing.
Rough: n. Long grass, usually found along the edges of the fairway.
Round robin: n. A tournament in which every player or team plays one match
against every other player or team.
Rub of the green: n. i. A ball in motion stopped or deflected by an
outside agency. 2. Any misfortune, such as a bad bounce or other unintended
result.
Run-up: n. A low, running shot onto the green. v. To play this shot.
Ryegrass: n., A cool-season grass that dies in intense heat; similar to Poa
Annua. Often used to overseed Bermuda grass fairways in winter to provide
a healthier-looking surface.
Sandbagger: n. A golfer who lies about his playing ability in order to gain
an advantage, particularly when betting.
Sand trap: n. A bunker, also referred to as a trap.
Sand wedge: n. An iron club with a lot of loft, used for explosion shots
from bunkers and short approach shots around the green.
Sandy: n. A par on a hole after being in a bunker.
Save: v. To recover after a misplayed shot. n. A well-played recovery shot.
Sciaffi v. To hit the ground unintentionally before the ball, resulting in
a mishit. n. A mishit shot of this type.
Scoop: v. To attempt to lift the ball by dipping the club through impact.
Scotch foursome: n. An alternate-shot match in which partners take
turns hitting the same ball.
Scramble: v. To play erratic golf, yet still be able to score well by playing
good recovery shots. n. A team format in which each player hits his
drive, the best one is chosen, each player hits the next shot from that point,
the best of those is chosen, and so on until the ball is holed.
Scrambler: n. A player who plays erratically, yet still scores well.
Scratch: adj. Refers to a player with a zero handicap.
Scratch golfer: n. A player whose handicap is zero; one who receives
no handicap strokes,
Scuff- v. To mishit the ball so as to damage its cover slightly. n. A slight
damage mark on the cover of the ball.
Second cut: n. Second level of rough, longer than the first cut.
Set: n. A complete collection of golf dubs. v. To place the club-head behind
the ball at address.
Set-up: v. To position oneself to hit the ball. Also called address.
n. A golfer's position when he is about to swing the club.
Shaft: n. The long, thin part of the club connecting the club-head to the
grip.
Shallow: adj. Refers to a flat swing plane or angle of attack.
Shank: v. To hit the ball with the hosel of the club, causing it to
fly dramatically right and short. n. A shot of this type.
Shape: v. To move the ball deliberately from one direction to the other while
in flight; purposely to hit a fade or draw.
Short game: n. Shots played on and around the green; pitching, chipping,
the sand game, and putting.
Short irons: n. The shorter hitting, higher lofted clubs. Generally the 8-iron,
9-iron, and any wedges.
Shot: n. i. A stroke that results in the movement of the ball. 2.
A particular type of stroke.
Shotmaker: n. A player who can consistently move the ball in a variety of
different ways.
Shotmaking: n. The art of playing a range of different shots.
Shut: adj. Describing the clubface when it is tilted forward relative to
the line of play. Also hooded. v. To manipulate the clubface in this
manner.
Side: n. 1. In match play, one of the two teams or players competing.
2. The front or back half of the course.
Sidehill: adj. Situated on the side of a hill, especially a putt that breaks
over the hill on its way to the hole.
Sidespin: n. The way the ball spins when the clubhead is moving in a direction
other than the way the clubface is pointing. It causes a ball to fade
slice or draw hook.
Single: n. A match between two players.
Sink: v. To hole out a putt.
Skins: n. A betting game in which the lowest score on a hole wins the wager
for that hole; if any players tie, the bet carries over to the next hole.
Skull: v. To hit the ball above its equator with the leading edge of the
club; to top the ball. n. A shot of this type.
Sky: v. To hit the ball extremely high. n. A shot of this type.
Slice: v. For right-handed players, to hit the ball sharply from left to
right. n. A shot of this type.
Slicer: n. One who habitually slices the ball.
Slope: n. 1. The tilt in a green. 2. A measurement of the difficulty
of a golf course, used to compute a player's handicap for that course.
Smother: v. To hit down on the ball with a closed clubface so it runs along
the ground, usually with hookspin. n. A shot of this type.
Smother hook: n. A violent hook that falls quickly to the ground, caused
by a closed clubface at impact.
Snake: n. A very long putt, usually one that breaks several times.,
Snap-hook: v. To hit the ball with a severe, fast hook. n. A shot
of this type.
Snipe: n. A snap hook or smother hook.
Socket: n. The hosel of an iron clubhead; where the shaft joins the
clubhead.
Sole: n. The bottom of a clubhead. v. To set the club on the ground at address.
Spade-mashie: n. A deep-faced mashie, no longer in use, generally considered
to be equal to a 6-iron.
Splash: v. To explode the ball from a sand bunker or deep rough. n. A shot
of this type.
Spoon: n. An old term, somewhat still in use, for a fairway wood; generally
considered equal to a 3-wood.
Spot putting: n. The act of aiming a putt toward a mark or discoloration
in the green or some other intermediate target.
Square: v. To tie a match. adj. 1. Referring to the position of the
body's stance when parallel to the target line. 2. Referring to the
position of the clubface when perpendicular to the tar-get line.
Stab: v. To hit a putt halfheartedly. n. A shot of this type.
Stableford: n. A way to keep score in which points, rather than the number
of strokes, are given for the result of a hole.
Stance: n. The position of the feet at address.
Steer: v. An exaggerated attempt to control the direction of a shot by
manipulating the body or club.
Stick: n. 1. The flagstick. 2. Slang for a golf club. v. To
play a shot that finishes close to the hole.
Stiff.- adj. Referring to a shot that finishes very close to the hole.
Stimpmeter: n. A device used to measure the speed of a green.
Stroke: n. 1. A player's attempt to hit the ball. 2. A shot or shots
added to a player's score when penalized. v. To strike the ball with a fluid
and rhythmic motion, especially a putt.
Stroke hole: n. Hole at which a player either receives or gives a shot, depending
on handicap.
Stroke play: n. Competition in which the total number of strokes in a round
or rounds determines the winner.
Strong grip: n. A grip on the club in which the hands begin rotated away
from the target at address so they will close the clubhead through impact.
Summer rules: n. The ordinary playing of golf by the stipulated Rules, playing
the ball as it lies.
Supination: n. Outward rotation of the wrist; at address, away from the target
with the right hand, toward the target with the left (for right-handed golfers);
the natural rotation of the wrists through the swing.
Sway: v. To move the weight to the back side on the back. swing. n. An excessive
weight shift.
Sweet spot: n. That point of the clubface where the club does not torque
when striking a golf ball.
Swing: v. To move the body and the club for the purpose of hitting the ball.
n. The movement of body and club to strike the ball.
Swing arc: n. The path traced by the clubhead during its complete motion.
Swing center: n. The point around which the swing rotates, located roughly
between the base of the neck and the top of the spine.
Swing plane: n. The plane.
Tailwind: n. A breeze that blows in the same direction as the shot, helping
it fly farther.
Takeaway: n. The first twelve to eighteen inches of the back-swing.
Tap-in: v. To hole a very short putt. n. A very short putt; a gimme.
Target line: n. The imaginary line running from the ball to the target.
Tee: n. 1. A small wooden peg on which a ball is placed in preparation
to being hit from the teeing ground. 2. The area from which tee shots
are plaved. v. To place the ball on a tee.
Tee box: n. Teeing ground.
Teeing ground: n. The beginning of a hole, defined as an area the width of
the tee markers and two club-lengths deep.
Tee off. v. To play a tee shot.
Tempo: n. The rhythm of a golf swing.
Texas wedge: n. A shot played with a putter from off the green.
Thin: adj. Referring to a shot hit above the equator of the ball with the
leading edge of the club, causing the ball to fly low and usually far. v.
To hit a shot in this manner.
Three-quarter shot: n. A shot made with approximately 75 percent of a full
swing.
Three-putt: v. To take three putts to get the ball in the hole from on the
green. n. A situation in which a player takes three putts to hole out.
Through the green: n, The entire course except the teeing grounds
and greens.
Tiger tees: n. The tees farthest away from the hole, the back tees or
"championship tees."
Tight: adj. i. Referring to a fairway or hole that is very narrow,
usually lined on both sides by trees or hazards. 2. Referring to a
lie when the ball is very close to the ground, with little grass beneath
it.
Timing: n. The pace and movement in a swing; also, the way in which the muscles
coordinate to produce a good golf swing.
Toe: n. The end of the clubhead farthest from the shaft. v. To hit a shot
with the toe of the clubhead.
Toed shot: n. A shot hit off the toe of the clubhead.
Top: v. To hit the ball above its equator with the leading edge of the clubface,
so it runs low along the ground rather than getting in the air. n. A shot
hit in this manner.
Top of the swing: n. The position of the body and club at the completion
of the backswing.
Topspin: n. Forward rotation of a ball in motion. Also overspin.
Torque: n. Twisting of the shaft and clubface at impact.
Trajectory: n. The height and direction of the ball's path in the air.
Transition: n. The change in direction from backswing to downswing.
Trap: n. Sand trap or bunker.
Triple bogey: n. A score of three over par on a hole.
Trouble: n. Rough, hazards, trees, or other obstacles on a course.
Trouble shot: n. A recovery stroke made from or near an obstacle on the course.
Turn: n. 1. The halfway point in an i8-hole round of golf. 2. The
motion of rotating away from the ball on the backswing. v. To rotate
away from the ball on the backswing.
Uncock: v. To allow the wrists to straighten during the for-ward swing.
Underdub: v. To select a club that does not provide enough distance for the
required shot.
Unplayable lie: n. The position of a ball at rest that makes it too difficult
to attempt a stroke.
Uphill lie: When a player's front foot is higher than his back foot at address,
causing him to make compensations to hit a good shot.
Up and down: n. Playing the ball from off the green into the hole in two
shots.
Upright: adj. I. Referring to a very steep swing path.
Upswing: n. The backswing; the portion of the swing from address to the top
of the swing.
Vs: n. The V-shapes formed by the thumb and forefinger of each hand when
gripping the dub.
Vardon grip: n. See overlapping grip.
Visualization: n. Forming a mental picture of the correct swing or shot needed
as a way better to prepare to make it happen.
Waggle: v. to move the clubhead and wrists in a flexing motion before swinging;
used to relieve tension as part of a Preshot routine. n. Any movement in
this manner.
Water hazard: n. A defined body of water on a course.
Weak grip: n. A grip on the dub in which the hands begin rotated toward the
target at address so they will keep the clubhead from closing through impact.
Wedge: n. A pitching wedge, sand wedge, or other high lofted club
primarily used for short shots around the green. v. To play a shot using
a wedge.
Weight distribution: n. The division of body weight between each side of
the body at address.
Weight shift: n. The movement of body weight during the swing, preferably
to the back side on the backswing and to the front side on the downswing.
Whiff. v. To miss the ball completely with a swing. n. A shot that misses
the ball completely; "air ball."
Whins: n. Another name for gorse.
Wind cheater: n. A low, driving shot that remains relatively unaffected by
the wind.
Winter rules: n. Rules in force when the course is in bad condition; allows
a player to improve lies on the fairway.
Wormburner: n. A mishit shot that travels very low to the ground.
Wrist cock: n. The hinging of the wrists during the swing.
Yardage rating: n. The evaluation of a course's difficulty based on its distance.
Yips: n. Extreme nervousness over short putts that causes a player to miss
the hole badly.
Zoysia: n. A warm-climate grass with coarse blades that can handle extreme
temperature change.