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Golf Glossary
Learn the language of Golf — answer-first definitions with real examples, beginner to pro.
517 terms
- Putting PracticeBeginnerPractice putting in three separate parts: start line, speed and pressure. Roll putts through a gate to train start line, putt to a zone from different distances to train speed, and finish with a short-putt game where a miss resets your count. Spend the most time on whichever part costs you the most strokes.
- Putting StrokeBeginnerThe putting stroke is the controlled pendulum motion that rolls the ball along the intended line. Good mechanics include a square face at impact, consistent tempo, and path that matches the putter's arc.
- Putts per RoundBeginnerA useful baseline is 36 putts, which is two putts on every hole. Fewer than 36 means you are saving strokes on or around the greens. But putts per round can mislead, because missing greens and chipping close lowers your putt count even when your putting is average.
- Quiet Eye (Putting Focus)AdvancedQuiet eye is the final steady look at the ball just before you start your putting stroke. Researchers define it as the last fixation before the backswing begins. Golfers trained to hold a longer, steady quiet eye on the back of the ball putted better under pressure in studies.
- Raking BunkersBeginnerAfter playing from a bunker, smooth your footprints and the mark from your shot with the rake. Then leave the rake where the course asks. Policies differ between courses. If your ball comes to rest against a rake, remove the rake and replace the ball without penalty if it moves.
- Random PracticeIntermediateRandom practice varies the club, target, and shot type from one swing to the next. Progress looks slower, but retention and transfer to the course are better.
- Range vs. CourseIntermediateThe gap between range performance and on-course performance is one of golf's most common frustrations. Understanding why it exists helps close it through deliberate practice design.
- Rangefinders and GPS Devices (Rules)BeginnerRangefinders and GPS devices are allowed under Rule 4.3 unless a Local Rule bans them. You may get distance and direction. You must not use slope or plays-like readings, wind measured at the course or a club recommendation. A first breach costs the general penalty, and a second in the same round is disqualification.
- Reading BreakIntermediateReading break is predicting how much, and which way, a putt will curve based on slope. It is a separate skill from the putting stroke: a well-struck putt on a misread line still misses.
- Ready Golf (Pace of Play)Beginner"Ready golf" means whoever is ready hits next, instead of strictly waiting for the golfer farthest from the hole. It is widely encouraged in casual and recreational rounds to keep pace of play reasonable.
- Recovery ShotIntermediateA recovery shot is played from trouble like deep rough, trees, a bad lie, or an awkward stance. Its goal is getting back into play, not maximum distance.
- RegrippingBeginnerRegripping replaces worn grips, usually every 40 to 80 rounds or yearly for regular players. It restores the traction and feel that fade as rubber hardens.
- ReleaseIntermediateThe release is the natural unhinging of the wrists and turning of the forearms through impact. It squares the clubface and delivers maximum speed.
- Repairing Ball Marks and Spike MarksBeginnerYes, you may repair spike marks, ball marks and almost any other damage on the putting green, even on your putting line. That includes shoe damage, old hole plugs, turf seams, scrapes from equipment or the flagstick, and animal tracks. You may not repair natural imperfections, such as aeration holes, uneven growth or weeds, or the natural wear of the hole.
- Repeatable SwingBeginnerA repeatable swing produces similar results time after time, even with imperfect mechanics. For scoring, consistent results matter more than technical beauty.
- Replacing and Filling DivotsBeginnerOn the fairway, put your divot back in its hole and press it down with your foot if the turf comes out in one piece. If it breaks apart, or the course provides divot mix, fill the hole level with the mix and smooth it. On tees, many courses ask you to fill divots with mix rather than replace them.
- Retest ComparisonIntermediateA retest comparison is a follow-up swing recording measured against an earlier baseline swing. It checks whether a targeted change actually happened.
- Reverse PivotIntermediateA reverse pivot is weight moving toward the lead side during the backswing instead of the trail side. That leaves the golfer with nowhere effective to shift on the downswing.
- Reverse Spine AngleAdvancedA reverse spine angle is excessive backward spine tilt toward the target at the top of the backswing. It places the upper body in a position that is difficult to unwind safely and reliably on the downswing.
- Reverse Weight ShiftIntermediateA reverse weight shift is pressure moving toward the target in the backswing, then away from it in the downswing. This whole-swing pattern is the exact opposite of an efficient swing's weight transfer.
- Reverse-Overlap Putting GripBeginnerThe reverse-overlap grip is the traditional putting grip. The palms face each other, the thumbs sit on the flat top of the grip and the lead index finger rests over the fingers of the trail hand. That links the hands and quiets the wrists.
- Rolling the Wrists Through ImpactIntermediateYou should not consciously roll or flip your wrists at the ball. The forearms do rotate through impact, and the face closes as the body turns and the arms swing. Let that happen on its own. Forcing it causes hooks, and blocking it causes pushes and slices.
- Root Cause vs SymptomIntermediateA root cause is the underlying issue that creates a swing fault. A symptom is the visible downstream result. Confusing them means practicing the wrong fix.
- Sand SaveIntermediateA sand save is an up-and-down from a greenside bunker: one bunker shot, then one putt. This harder statistic judges bunker play in particular.
- Sand WedgeBeginnerThe sand wedge, usually 54° to 58° of loft with generous bounce, is built for bunker shots and short, high greenside shots. Its wide, high-bounce sole keeps it from digging into sand.
- Sandbagger (Golf Slang)BeginnerA sandbagger is a golfer who keeps their handicap higher than their real ability to win net competitions. They may skip posting good scores or play badly on purpose in casual rounds. The World Handicap System gives handicap committees tools to review and adjust a player's index.
- Saw Putting GripIntermediateThe saw grip is a putting grip where the lead hand holds the putter normally and the trail hand sits on the side of the grip, palm facing the hole, fingers along the shaft, as if holding a saw. The trail hand only guides the putter, which stops it from rotating the face.
- ScoopingBeginnerScooping is the instinct to "help the ball up" by flipping the wrists upward at impact. It adds loft, reduces compression, and produces weak, high, short contact.
- Score Differential (How a Handicap Index Is Calculated)IntermediateA Score Differential rates one round against the difficulty of the tees you played. The formula is (113 divided by the Slope Rating) times (adjusted gross score minus Course Rating minus any playing conditions adjustment). Your Handicap Index is the average of your lowest 8 differentials from your most recent 20, rounded to one decimal.
- ScramblingIntermediateScrambling is how often a golfer saves par or better after missing the green in regulation, in any number of strokes. It is the broadest short-game stat.
- Scratch GolferAdvancedA scratch golfer is one with a Handicap Index of 0.0. On an average day, they are expected to shoot right around the course rating. It is a benchmark reached by only a small fraction of golfers.
- Self-DiagnosisBeginnerSelf-diagnosis is a golfer trying to find the cause of their own swing fault without outside feedback. It is error-prone, because feel is an unreliable guide.
- Senior Golfer AdjustmentsBeginnerMany senior golfers keep their distance by making the turn easier rather than swinging harder: flare the feet, let the lead heel lift and keep grip pressure light. Lighter shafts, more loft, hybrids in place of long irons and forward tees also suit slower swing speeds.
- SeparationProSeparation is when body segments rotate at different rates and times in the swing. Most importantly, the hips lead the shoulders as the downswing starts, creating torque.
- Setup RoutineBeginnerA setup routine builds the address position in the same order every time: clubface, then feet, posture, and grip. Alignment and ball position stay identical on every shot.
- Shaft FlexIntermediateShaft flex describes how much a shaft bends during the swing. Ratings run from L (Ladies) through A (Senior), R (Regular), S (Stiff), to X (Extra Stiff) — matched to swing speed for optimal launch.
- Shaft LeanIntermediateShaft lean is when the hands and grip end are ahead of the clubhead at impact. It reduces dynamic loft, compresses the ball, and marks good iron contact.
- Shaft TorqueIntermediateShaft torque is how much a golf shaft twists under a standard load, measured in degrees. A shaft rated 3.0° twists less than one rated 5.0°. Lower torque feels firmer and resists the face twisting. Higher torque feels softer and can suit smoother swings.
- Shaft WeightIntermediateShaft weight is measured in grams. Lighter shafts generally allow faster swings, while heavier shafts often give faster swingers steadier tempo and control.
- Shallow DownswingIntermediateA shallow downswing delivers the club too flat for the golfer's setup and swing plane. Past a useful amount, it can cause blocks, hooks, or thin contact.
- ShallowingAdvancedShallowing is when the club shaft flattens (becomes more horizontal) in the early downswing. This allows it to approach the ball from inside the target line for a powerful, in-to-out delivery.
- Shamble and Chapman (Pinehurst) FormatsBeginnerA shamble is a team format where everyone tees off. The team picks the best drive, and then each player plays their own ball into the hole from that spot. Chapman, also called Pinehurst, is a pairs format where both partners tee off, swap balls for the second shot, choose one ball, and then alternate shots.
- ShankIntermediateA shank is when the ball hits the hosel, where the shaft meets the clubhead, instead of the face. It flies violently right (for a right-hander) at roughly 45°.
- Shank PatternAdvancedA shank pattern is a recurring, structural tendency to strike the ball off the hosel. Unlike an isolated cold shank, it usually traces to a consistent setup or swing-path cause.
- Short GameBeginnerThe short game covers putting, chipping, pitching, and bunker play, on and around the green. It usually accounts for 60–65% of strokes in an average round.
- Short PuttsBeginnerShort putts are often missed because the putter face is not square at impact or the stroke slows down through the ball. Pick a precise target, make a firm stroke that would roll the ball a little past the hole, and keep your head still until the ball is gone.
- Short-SidedBeginnerShort-sided means your ball missed the green on the same side as the flag. There is very little green between you and the hole, so the next chip is hard to stop close. Smart players aim for the side of the green with more room.
- Shotgun Start (and Tee Times)BeginnerA shotgun start means every group starts at the same time, each on a different hole. A group that starts on the 5th plays to the 18th, then plays holes 1 to 4. A tee time is the more usual system, where groups start one after another from the 1st or 10th tee at set times.
- Shoulder Pain and GolfIntermediateYes, golf can hurt your shoulder, mostly through overuse or by forcing a turn the body can't make easily. Common contributing factors are lots of balls without rest, a poor warm-up, a very long backswing and stiffness in the upper back. Stop if it hurts, and see a qualified medical professional for pain that lasts.
- Shoulder TurnIntermediateShoulder turn is the rotation of the upper back (thoracic spine) and shoulders during the backswing. A full turn, near 90°, is the main source of swing arc and coil.
- Side, Curve and Offline (Launch Monitor)IntermediateOn TrackMan, curve is how far the ball bends sideways in the air, from its launch direction to where it lands. Side is how far that landing spot is from the target line. Side total, which other systems call offline, is how far the ball finishes from the target line after it rolls.
- Sidespin (Is It Real?)IntermediateSidespin is not a separate kind of spin. A golf ball spins around one axis. When that axis tilts, the backspin pushes the ball sideways, and launch monitors call that tilt the spin axis. Sidespin is just a name for the sideways part of that tilted spin.
- Single-Digit HandicapAdvancedA single-digit handicap is a Handicap Index of 0.0 to 9.9. It marks an accomplished amateur, a small minority of golfers who keep an official handicap.
- Single-Length IronsIntermediateSingle-length irons can suit beginners and high handicappers who want one setup for every iron. Every iron is about the length of a 7-iron. In a GOLF.com test, the single-length long irons launched lower, while short-iron carry was similar.
- Skeletal TrackingAdvancedSkeletal tracking is software that finds a person's joints in video and links them into a stick figure. It lets one phone video estimate body positions.
- Skied DriveBeginnerA skied drive is struck high on the driver face and flies almost straight up, traveling a fraction of the usual distance. It can leave a telltale scuff mark near the crown.
- Skins GameBeginnerIn a skins game, each hole is worth a prize, or skin. The player with the lowest score on a hole wins that skin outright. If two or more players tie for low, the skin usually carries over and the next hole is worth more.
- Skulled ShotBeginnerA skulled shot is contact with the club's leading edge on the ball's equator or upper half. It sends a low, hot, unintended screamer across the green instead of a controlled chip or pitch.
- SliceBeginnerA slice bleeds away to the right for a right-handed golfer, costing both distance and fairway. It is the most common miss in the game, and it comes from a face pointing right of the head's direction of travel.
- Slow-Motion ReviewBeginnerSlow-motion review is watching swing video at a fraction of real speed. It shows fast positions, especially near impact, that the eye misses at normal speed.
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