Golf has its own language. This glossary explains the words you'll hear on the course, in the shop and on golf TV, in plain English. Terms are grouped by scoring, shots, course and equipment, rules and formats, and slang. Terms marked with a link have their own full page covering what they mean and where the word comes from.
Scoring terms
- Par: The number of strokes a skilled golfer is expected to need on a hole, including putts. Most holes are par 3, 4 or 5. Full story: what is par
- Birdie: One stroke under par on a hole. Full story: why it's called a birdie
- Eagle: Two strokes under par on a hole. Full story: what is an eagle
- Albatross (double eagle): Three strokes under par on a hole. Rarer than a hole-in-one. Full story: what is an albatross
- Ace (hole-in-one): Getting the ball in the hole with your tee shot, almost always on a par 3. Full story: hole-in-one meaning and history
- Bogey: One stroke over par. The most common over-par score for recreational golfers. Full story: the Bogey Man
- Double bogey: Two over par. Often one bad shot plus a penalty stroke.
- Triple bogey: Three over par, usually from several mistakes stacking up.
- Snowman: Slang for scoring an 8 on a hole, because the number looks like a snowman.
Shot terms
- Drive: The first shot on a hole from the tee box, usually hit with a driver.
- Approach shot: Any shot aimed at the green, usually from the fairway or rough.
- Chip: A short, low shot near the green that rolls most of the way to the hole.
- Pitch: A short, higher shot with more carry and less roll than a chip.
- Bump and run: A low chip that lands short of the green and runs up to the hole.
- Flop shot: A very high, soft shot that lands with little roll.
- Punch shot: A low, controlled shot to stay under wind or tree branches.
- Putt: A rolling shot on or near the green, hit with a putter.
- Draw: A controlled shot that curves gently right to left for a right-handed golfer.
- Fade: A controlled shot that curves gently left to right for a right-handed golfer.
- Slice: An unintended shot that curves hard to the right for a right-hander, usually from an open clubface.
- Hook: An unintended shot that curves hard to the left for a right-hander, from a closed clubface.
- Lay up: Choosing a shorter, safer shot instead of going for the green.
- Provisional ball: A second ball played when your first might be lost or out of bounds.
- Shank: A mishit off the hosel that shoots sharply off line.
- Chunk (fat shot): Hitting the ground behind the ball first.
- Thin (skull): Catching the ball too high on the face, sending it low and often too far.
Course and equipment terms
- Tee box: The starting area of each hole.
- Fairway: The short grass between the tee and the green.
- Rough: Longer grass bordering the fairway.
- Green: The very short grass around the hole where you putt.
- Apron (fringe): The strip of slightly longer grass around the green.
- Pin (flagstick): The pole and flag marking the hole.
- Bunker (sand trap): A hollow filled with sand, near greens or fairways.
- Penalty area (formerly water hazard): Water or other marked areas where a ball usually costs a penalty stroke. Renamed in the 2019 Rules of Golf.
- Dogleg: A hole that bends left or right partway down.
- Divot: The piece of turf your club takes out. Replace it or fill it with sand.
- Links course: A seaside course style from Scotland with firm turf, dunes and few trees.
- Driver: The longest club with the least loft, used off the tee. Browse used drivers.
- Wood: A large-headed club for long shots from the tee or fairway.
- Hybrid: Part iron, part wood. Easier to launch than a long iron.
- Iron: Flat-faced clubs numbered by loft, used for approach shots.
- Wedge: High-lofted clubs for short shots and bunkers. See wedge bounce explained.
- Putter: The flat-faced club used on the green. Browse used putters.
- Shaft flex: How much the shaft bends during the swing. See what shaft flex do I need.
- Sweet spot: The point on the face that gives the best distance and feel.
Rules and formats
- Handicap: A number measuring a golfer's ability, so players of different levels can compete fairly.
- Stroke play: Every shot counts and the lowest total wins.
- Match play: Players compete hole by hole.
- Scramble: Everyone hits, the team picks the best shot, and everyone plays from there.
- Best ball: Everyone plays their own ball, and the team takes the best score on each hole.
- Out of bounds (OB): Outside the course boundary, usually white stakes. Costs stroke and distance.
- Penalty stroke: A stroke added to your score for breaking a rule.
- Relief: Permission to move your ball without penalty in certain situations.
- Ground under repair: A marked area under maintenance. You usually get free relief.
- Drop: Putting a ball back into play after taking relief, from knee height under the current rules.
- Temporary water (casual water): Puddles that aren't part of a marked area. Usually free relief.
Golf slang and phrases
- Fore!: The warning you shout when your ball might hit someone. Full story: why golfers yell fore
- Mulligan: An unofficial do-over in a casual round. Full story: who was Mulligan?
- Gimme: A very short putt your partners agree to count as made. Not allowed in stroke play competitions.
- In the leather: A putt is a gimme if it's closer than the length of your putter grip.
- Sandbagger: Someone who keeps a higher handicap than their real ability.
- Yips: A sudden loss of control on short putts or chips.
- Reading the green: Studying slope, grain and speed to predict how a putt will break.
- Nineteenth hole: The clubhouse bar after the round.
- Grip it and rip it: Swinging as hard as you can off the tee.
- Texas wedge: Using your putter from off the green.
Common questions
What's the difference between a birdie and an eagle?
A birdie is one under par on a hole. An eagle is two under par.
What's the difference between a draw and a hook?
Both curve right to left for a right-handed golfer. A draw is controlled and gentle. A hook curves too much and usually isn't intended.
What clubs does a beginner actually need?
A wood or hybrid, a mid iron, a wedge and a putter. That's the idea behind our Just the Roots starter set.
Building a bag? Start with used full sets, or bring in your old clubs through our trade-in program.
