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Golf Glossary
Learn the language of Golf — answer-first definitions with real examples, beginner to pro.
517 terms
- Junior Golf Club SizingBeginnerSize junior clubs by your child's height and swing speed, not by age. Dedicated junior clubs have lighter, more flexible shafts and smaller grips. Cutting down adult clubs makes them play very stiff and often too heavy for a child.
- Keep Your Head Down (Head Movement)BeginnerMany coaches now treat 'keep your head down' as a myth. Keep your eyes on the ball until impact, but let your head turn with your body through the shot. Forcing the head down blocks your rotation and follow-through, and topped shots usually come from losing posture, not from looking up.
- Keeping Score in Golf (Scorecard)BeginnerCount every stroke on each hole, including penalty strokes, and write the total in that hole's box. In a stroke-play competition your marker records your scores, and both of you certify the card before you return it. Returning a hole score lower than you took means disqualification, and a higher one stands.
- Kick Point (Shaft Bend Point)IntermediateKick point, or bend point, is the area of a golf shaft that bends the most during the swing. A low kick point near the clubhead tends to launch the ball a little higher. A high kick point near the grip tends to launch it lower.
- Kinematic SequenceProThe kinematic sequence is the order in which body segments accelerate and decelerate during the downswing: pelvis → torso → lead arm → clubhead. Each segment slingshots the next for maximum speed.
- Kinetic ChainProThe kinetic chain is the linked sequence of body segments, from the feet up to the club. Each segment passes energy to the next and amplifies it.
- Knee FlexBeginnerKnee flex at address is the slight bend in the knees that creates an athletic, ready posture. It should feel springy and stable without restricting hip rotation.
- Knock-Down ShotIntermediateA knock-down shot is an approach kept lower and more controlled than normal, usually with more club and a three-quarter swing. It fights wind or sharpens distance control.
- LagAdvancedLag is the acute angle between the lead arm and the shaft in the downswing. This loaded position releases into club speed at impact when timed correctly.
- Lag PuttingIntermediateLag putting is the deliberate strategy of putting distance control ahead of making a long putt. The aim is a short, stress-free second putt rather than an aggressive attack on the hole.
- Laid Off at the TopIntermediateThe club is laid off when, at the top of the backswing, the shaft points left of the target for a right-handed golfer (right of it for a left-hander). It is the opposite of across the line. Many coaches link a strongly laid-off top to a steep, out-to-in downswing, but many good players swing from a slightly laid-off position.
- Landing Angle (Descent Angle)IntermediateLanding angle is the angle at which the ball comes down relative to the horizon. A steeper angle means less bounce and roll. TrackMan recommends more than 45 degrees for approach shots, and its PGA Tour averages are about 50 degrees for a 7-iron and 38 degrees for the driver.
- Lateral ShiftAdvancedA lateral shift is a small move of the hips toward the target as the downswing starts. It moves the low point forward and works with hip rotation instead of replacing it.
- Launch AngleIntermediateLaunch angle is the vertical angle, in degrees above horizontal, at which the ball leaves the face. Together with spin it determines how high and far the ball flies.
- Launch Angle Benchmarks (Tour and Handicap Averages)IntermediateTrackMan's published averages put driver launch at 10.4° on the PGA Tour and 12.6° on the LPGA Tour. Male amateurs average 11.2° to 12.6° with the driver, and female amateurs 12.0° to 13.6°, depending on handicap. With a 6-iron, the PGA Tour averages 14.0° and the LPGA Tour 16.7°. Your own best number depends on your speed and spin, so get fitted rather than copy a tour figure.
- Launch Direction (Horizontal Launch)IntermediateLaunch direction is the horizontal angle the ball starts on, compared with the target line, measured right after it leaves the face. It tells you where the ball started, left or right. It comes mostly from where the clubface points at impact, plus a smaller effect from club path.
- Launch MonitorIntermediateA launch monitor uses radar or camera sensors to measure ball and clubhead data at impact. It quantifies a shot instead of relying on how it looked.
- Laying Up (Going for the Green vs Laying Up)IntermediateLay up when going for the green brings big trouble into play and you rarely reach it from that distance. Hit to your favorite full-wedge distance on the safe side of the fairway instead. Go for it when a miss still leaves an easy recovery or the reward clearly outweighs the risk.
- Lead Arm BendIntermediateLead arm bend is too much folding of the lead elbow in the backswing. It shortens the swing's radius and reduces the width and stored power of a fully extended backswing.
- Lead Heel Lift in the BackswingIntermediateYes, it is OK to lift your left heel a little in the backswing if it helps you turn. Let the turn pull the heel up rather than lifting it on purpose. Then replant it early in the downswing so you can push into the ground and turn through.
- Lead WristIntermediateThe lead wrist is the wrist of the top hand (left for right-handers). Its position throughout the swing — especially at the top of the backswing and at impact — directly controls clubface angle and low point.
- Left-Handed Golfers (Lefty or Righty?)BeginnerPlay the side that feels most natural and powerful when you swing, not just the hand you write with. Many left-handed people play golf right-handed, and some right-handers play lefty. Try swinging both ways, ideally with a coach, before you buy clubs. Left-handed clubs are widely available, though in fewer models.
- Letting a Group Play ThroughBeginnerLet a group play through when they are faster and waiting on you, especially if there is open space ahead of you. Also wave them on if you are searching for a ball. The Rules of Golf encourage players to allow faster groups to play through.
- Lie AngleAdvancedLie angle is the angle between the shaft and the ground when the club is soled correctly. A lie angle that is too upright pulls shots left; too flat and they drift right (for a right-hander).
- Links vs Parkland CoursesBeginnerA links course is a coastal course built on sandy ground near the sea, with firm, fast turf, few trees, deep bunkers and lots of wind. A parkland course is an inland course with trees, softer and lusher grass and less wind. The two play very differently.
- Lip-OutBeginnerA lip-out is when the ball catches the edge of the hole and spins around or away instead of dropping in. It usually happens when the ball arrives too fast or only clips the side of the cup. A ball that circles the hole and comes back toward you is often called a horseshoe.
- Lob Wedge ShotIntermediateA lob wedge shot uses the most-lofted club in the bag (58–64°) for a high, soft landing. It works best for carrying a hazard and stopping fast on a small target.
- Local RuleIntermediateA local rule is a course- or competition-specific change adopted by the committee running play. It commonly covers embedded balls, temporary conditions like winter rules, or unique course features the standard Rules of Golf do not address.
- Loft (Golf Club Loft)BeginnerLoft is the angle of the clubface tilted back from vertical when the shaft is upright. More of it sends the ball higher and shorter with more spin. Less sends it lower and farther with less spin. Each club in your bag has a different angle, which is why each one flies a different distance.
- Loft GappingIntermediateLoft gapping checks that neighboring clubs, especially wedges, are spaced in even loft and yardage steps, with no big distance gaps or overlaps.
- Long Bunker ShotAdvancedFor a 30 to 50 yard bunker shot, take a less lofted wedge, such as a gap or pitching wedge, and keep the face closer to square. Hit the sand a little closer to the ball and take a thinner layer. Make a smooth, longer swing rather than a harder one.
- Long Putter and the Anchoring RuleIntermediateYes, a long putter is legal. The club length limit does not apply to putters. What is banned is anchoring: under Rule 10.1b you may not hold the club or a gripping hand against your body, such as your chest or belly, during a stroke.
- Loose ImpedimentsBeginnerLoose impediments are unattached natural objects such as leaves, twigs, stones and loose grass, and you may move them without penalty. That applies anywhere on the course, including bunkers and penalty areas. But if moving one makes your ball move, you get one penalty stroke and must replace the ball. The exception is a ball on the putting green or teeing area, where there is no penalty.
- Loss of PostureIntermediateLoss of posture is any change in spine angle, knee flex, or forward bend from the address position during the swing. It shifts the swing's plane and low point away from where they were originally set.
- Lost BallBeginnerA ball is officially lost if it isn't found within three minutes after the player or their caddie begins to search for it. Once that window closes, the golfer must take stroke-and-distance relief, replaying the shot from its original spot plus a one-stroke penalty.
- Low Draw ShotAdvancedA low draw shot launches low on purpose and curves right to left, running out far on landing. It can get under trouble on the right or add roll on firm fairways.
- Low PointProLow point is where the clubhead reaches the bottom of its arc through impact. Controlling it — keeping it at or just ahead of the ball with irons — is the basis of pure contact.
- Low-Spin MissAdvancedA low-spin miss has sharply reduced backspin, usually from a thin or low-face strike. It flies on an unstable, "knuckling" path instead of a controlled flight.
- Lower Back Pain and GolfBeginnerThe lower back is one of the most common places golfers report pain. Common contributing factors include a swing with extreme side bend or over-rotation, stiff hips or upper back, weak trunk endurance and heavy practice without rest. Stop if it hurts, and see a qualified medical professional for pain that persists.
- Lower-Body SlideIntermediateA lower-body slide is excessive sideways movement of the hips toward the target in the downswing, without matching rotation. It pushes the swing's low point too far forward and leaves the upper body behind.
- Mallet PutterBeginnerA mallet putter has a large, often geometric head weighted toward its edges for forgiveness. Many are face-balanced to suit a straighter stroke.
- Marking Your Ball on the GreenBeginnerOnce your ball is on the putting green, you may mark, lift and clean it whenever you like. First place a ball-marker, or hold a club on the ground, right behind or right next to the ball. Replace the ball on exactly the same spot, and remove the marker before you putt. Lifting a ball without marking it first costs one penalty stroke.
- Match Play vs Stroke PlayBeginnerStroke play scores every shot across the whole round for a cumulative total. Match play scores hole by hole, awarding each hole to whoever takes fewer strokes on it. So a single bad hole only costs one point, not a pile of extra strokes.
- Moment of Inertia (MOI)AdvancedMoment of inertia (MOI) measures a clubhead's resistance to twisting on off-center hits. A higher MOI keeps the face more stable at impact, so perimeter-weighted, forgiving clubs retain more ball speed on mishits.
- Motion CaptureIntermediateMotion capture tracks a golfer's body in 3D to build a precise digital skeleton for swing analysis. It traditionally uses reflective markers and several cameras.
- Movable Obstructions (Rakes, Stakes and Other Objects)BeginnerYes, you may move a rake or most stakes without penalty. They are movable obstructions, and Rule 15.2 lets you remove one anywhere on the course. The exception is a white boundary stake, which you must not move. If your ball moves while you remove an obstruction, there is no penalty and you replace it.
- MulliganBeginnerA mulligan is an informal "do-over": hitting a second ball after a poor shot without counting the first one. It has no basis in the actual rules of golf and is purely a casual, friendly-round convention.
- Muscle MemoryIntermediateMuscle memory is how a movement like the swing becomes automatic through repetition. It lets you swing without conscious thought.
- Narrow StanceBeginnerA narrow stance puts the feet inside shoulder width, trading some stability for freer hip rotation. It suits shorter shots like chips, pitches, and short irons.
- Nassau and Wolf (Golf Side Games)IntermediateA Nassau is three matches in one: the front nine, the back nine and the full 18 holes. Each is scored as a separate match, so a player can lose the front and still win the back and the overall. Wolf is a game for four players where a rotating "wolf" picks a partner on each hole, or plays alone for more points.
- Net Double Bogey (Maximum Hole Score)IntermediateNet double bogey is the most you can count on any hole for handicap purposes once you have an index. It equals par plus 2 plus any strokes you receive on that hole. Before you have an index, the cap is par plus 5.
- Net Score vs Gross ScoreBeginnerGross score is the actual number of strokes taken. Net score subtracts a player's course handicap from that total, letting golfers of different skill levels compete on a fair, adjusted basis.
- Neutral Ball FlightIntermediateA neutral ball flight starts at the target and flies with little sideways curve. It happens when the clubface angle and swing path nearly match at impact.
- Neutral GripBeginnerA neutral grip shows 2–2.5 lead-hand knuckles at address, with the trail palm facing the target. It is the "middle" grip position that squares the face without extra hand manipulation.
- Nine Ball FlightsIntermediateThe nine ball flights are a classic chart of every basic shot shape. Each pairs a start direction (left, straight, right) with a curve (draw, straight, fade/slice).
- Offset IronsIntermediateOffset irons have the leading edge set back behind the hosel — giving the hands more time to square the face at impact. They are a fitting tool for chronic slicers and high-handicappers.
- On-Course Practice GamesIntermediateGood on-course practice games include playing two balls and keeping the worse one, playing every hole from a set distance like 100 yards, and an up-and-down challenge around each green. Each game gives you real lies and real targets, which range practice can't copy.
- One-Piece TakeawayBeginnerA one-piece takeaway starts the backswing with the club, hands, arms and shoulders moving away together as one unit. The wrists stay quiet until the hands reach about hip height. It keeps the club in front of your chest and on plane.
- One-Plane SwingIntermediateA one-plane swing keeps the arms near the tilted plane the shoulders set at address. The backswing looks flatter, and the trail arm folds close to the chest.
- One-PuttBeginnerA one-putt is holing out with a single putt once on the green. It comes from a made long putt or, far more often, an approach or chip left close enough to be a near-automatic make.
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