Golf Glossary
Learn the language of Golf — answer-first definitions with real examples, beginner to pro.
322 terms
- Club SpeedIntermediateClub speed is how fast the clubhead is moving just before impact, in mph. It sets the ceiling for ball speed and distance — but only if contact is clean.
- Cold ShankAdvancedA cold shank is a shank that appears without warning in an otherwise solid ball-striking session, caused by contact on the hosel rather than the face. This sends the ball sharply right at a steep angle.
- Common Beginner Swing FaultsBeginnerThe handful of misses nearly every beginner experiences. This means topped shots, chunked shots, slices, and shanks. This means almost all trace back to a small set of setup and contact issues rather than dozens of unrelated problems.
- Compensation PatternAdvancedA compensation pattern is a movement the body adds, usually unconsciously, to offset an earlier fault and still make contact with the ball. This means it often becomes a habit in its own right, layered on top of the original problem.
- ConnectionIntermediateConnection is keeping the arms and body moving together during the swing. As a result, the arms never get ahead of or behind the body's rotation, maintaining a consistent arc and face delivery.
- Course Handicap vs Handicap IndexBeginnerHandicap Index is a portable number representing a golfer's general ability, calculated from past scores. Course handicap converts that same index into the actual number of strokes they receive on a specific course and tee. This uses that course's slope rating.
- Course ManagementIntermediateCourse management is the decision-making strategy for where to aim. This club to use, and how to play each hole to minimize risk and score effectively relative to your skills.
- Course Rating vs Slope RatingIntermediateCourse rating estimates the score a scratch golfer would shoot on a course. At the same time, slope rating measures how much harder that same course plays for a bogey golfer relative to a scratch golfer. This means together they adjust a handicap for the specific course being played.
- Cross-Handed Grip (Putting)IntermediateA cross-handed (left-hand-low) putting grip reverses the standard hand order. As a result, the lead hand sits below the trail hand on the handle. This means a common fix for golfers whose trail hand dominates and breaks down the lead wrist through impact.
- Cupped WristAdvancedA cupped wrist at the top of the backswing means the lead wrist bends backward (away from the palm), opening the clubface and commonly contributing to slices or weak fades.
- Curve Ball FlightBeginnerA curve ball flight is any shot that bends noticeably left or right in the air, produced whenever the clubface angle and swing path differ enough at impact to tilt the ball's spin axis away from horizontal.
- D-PlaneAdvancedThe D-Plane is the modern model explaining that a ball's initial direction is determined mostly by face angle (not path). At the same time, path relative to face determines the curve. This means replacing the older, oversimplified "path starts it, face curves it" idea.
- Data Overload (Too Many Metrics)BeginnerData overload happens when a golfer is shown. As a result, many numbers from a launch monitor or video analysis at once that no single one gets acted on. This means more information without clear prioritization can leave a golfer more confused, not less.
- DecelerationIntermediateDeceleration is when the club slows down through the impact zone instead of accelerating past the ball. This means a common cause of mishits on chips, pitches, and bunker shots.
- Deep DivotIntermediateA deep divot is an unusually thick chunk of turf taken on an iron shot. This indicates a steep angle of attack or a low point positioned too far behind the ball, both of which cost distance and consistency.
- Deliberate PracticeAdvancedDeliberate practice is structured, focused improvement work with specific targets, immediate feedback, and repeated challenge at the edge of current ability. This means distinct from casual hitting or playing rounds.
- Delivery PositionAdvancedDelivery position describes where the club shaft and clubface point relative to the body and target line in the final moments before impact. This means the checkpoint coaches and video analysis use to predict where a shot is headed before it is actually struck.
- Descending BlowIntermediateA descending blow is contact made. At the same time, the club is still moving downward relative to the ground, the standard, correct angle of attack for iron and wedge shots struck off the turf.
- DispersionAdvancedDispersion is how spread out your shots are, plotted as a pattern. A tight dispersion means repeatable contact; a wide one signals uneven results in face, path, or strike.
- Distance ControlIntermediateDistance control is calibrating how far the ball travels. This means in putting by swing length and tempo, in the short game by carry distance. This means. As a result, the ball ends up close to its target.
- DivotIntermediateA divot is the strip of turf taken after impact with an iron. Its location and direction reveal your low point and club path — a free, visible feedback tool.
- Doppler Radar TrackingAdvancedDoppler radar tracking measures a golf shot by bouncing radio waves off the ball and club in flight and reading the frequency shift, calculating speed, spin, and trajectory from actual flight data rather than a single frozen frame.
- Double Bogey and Blow-Up HolesBeginnerA double bogey is two strokes over par on a hole. A "blow-up hole" is the more casual term for any hole that goes much worse than that, and learning to limit blow-up holes is usually the single biggest lever a beginner has for lowering their score.
- Double-HitBeginnerA double-hit occurs when the clubhead contacts the ball a second time during the same swing, most common on slow, decelerating chips and pitches near the green, and counts as an extra stroke under the rules.
- Down-the-Line ViewBeginnerThe down-the-line view films the swing from directly behind the golfer along the target line. It is the best angle for reading swing plane, club path, and delivery position.
- DrawBeginnerA draw is a controlled shot that curves gently from right to left for a right-handed golfer (the opposite for a lefty). It is produced by a clubface slightly closed to the swing path but still open to the target line.
- Draw BiasIntermediateA draw bias is a golfer's repeatable tendency to curve shots right-to-left (for a right-hander), whether by natural swing pattern. A related detail is a deliberate stock shot, or equipment setup, as opposed to a golfer who tends to fade or hit it straight.
- Driver LoftIntermediateDriver loft is the angle stamped on the club face — typically 8–12° for tour players, higher for moderate swing speeds. The correct loft maximizes carry by delivering the optimal launch-spin combination.
- Drop ProcedureIntermediateThe modern drop procedure requires releasing the ball from knee height, straight down, within the defined relief area. This means a simpler process than the older shoulder-height drop. But one still commonly done incorrectly.
- Duck HookAdvancedA duck hook is a low, hard, sudden left-diving shot caused by a closed clubface relative to a steep, out-to-in or excessively in-to-out path at impact, often with an active release and a flip of the hands.
- Dynamic LoftAdvancedDynamic loft is the actual loft presented by the face at impact — not the loft stamped on the club. It is the main driver of how high the ball launches.
- Early ExtensionAdvancedEarly extension is thrusting the hips toward the ball during the downswing. This causes the golfer to stand up out of posture and forces compensations at impact.
- Early ReleaseIntermediateAn early release is when the wrists unhinge and the forearms fire before the hands reach the hitting zone, costing lag, speed, and compression.
- Explosion ShotIntermediateAn explosion shot (also called a splash shot) is a standard greenside bunker shot named for the visible spray of sand the club displaces as it slides underneath the ball, lifting it out without direct clubface contact.
- Face AngleAdvancedFace angle is where the clubface points at impact, relative to the target line, in degrees. It determines roughly 75–85% of the ball's starting direction.
- Face-Balanced PutterIntermediateA face-balanced head is weighted so that, resting the shaft across a finger, the face points at the sky rather than rolling over. The design resists twisting through a straight-back-and-through motion, and it is most often found in mallets.
- Face-On ViewBeginnerThe face-on view films the swing from directly in front of the golfer. It is the best angle for reading hip and shoulder rotation, weight transfer, spine tilt, and early extension.
- Face-to-PathProFace-to-path is the difference between face angle and club path at impact. It is the single number that determines how much, and which way, the ball curves.
- FadeBeginnerA fade is a small, controllable left-to-right bend for a right-hander. This means the tame, repeatable cousin of a slice. The shape many pro players play as their stock ball.
- Fade BiasIntermediateA fade bias is a golfer's repeatable tendency to curve shots left-to-right (for a right-hander). This many better players prefer for its consistency and control even though it typically sacrifices some distance compared to a draw.
- Fairway Bunker TechniqueIntermediateFairway bunker technique prioritizes clean ball-first contact over distance. This uses a slightly narrower stance, a more level swing, and often one club more than a comparable fairway shot to make up for choked-down grip and reduced swing speed.
- Fairway WoodBeginnerA fairway wood is a lower-lofted, larger-headed club (commonly a 3-, 5-, or 7-wood) designed to be hit off the turf as well as a tee, covering long-distance shots between the driver and hybrids or long irons.
- Fairways HitBeginnerFairways hit tracks driving accuracy. This means the percentage of tee shots on par 4s and par 5s that finish in the fairway. This means a key input into greens in regulation, since a fairway lie makes hitting the green with the approach shot meaningfully easier.
- Falling Forward Through ImpactIntermediateFalling forward through impact is an overcorrected weight shift where momentum carries the golfer's body noticeably past a balanced finish, toward or beyond the target, rather than finishing in control.
- Feel vs RealIntermediate"Feel vs real" describes the frequent gap between what a golfer senses their body is doing during a swing and what a camera actually shows it doing. This means a mismatch that is completely normal and is exactly why video review is. As a result, valuable.
- Flared DivotIntermediateA flared divot is wider or more angled at its start than at its end. This indicates the clubhead was rotating (opening or closing) through the strike rather than moving cleanly along a single path.
- FlipIntermediateA flip is when the hands flick or scoop under the ball at impact rather than the shaft leaning forward. This means it adds loft, kills compression, and is a defensive reaction to poor sequencing.
- Flop ShotAdvancedA flop shot is a very high, soft-landing chip or pitch played with a wide-open lob wedge that stops quickly. This means used when there is little green between the ball and the hole.
- Flying ElbowIntermediateA flying elbow is the trail elbow lifting up and away from the body during the backswing, disconnecting the arms from the torso's rotation and often producing an overly steep, arms-dominant swing.
- Follow-ThroughBeginnerThe follow-through is the path the club takes after impact — swinging up and around to a balanced finish. It is not just cosmetic: a full, free finish confirms the swing was not decelerated through the ball.
- Forward PressIntermediateA forward press is a small movement of the hands or right knee toward the target just before the takeaway. This means a trigger to start the swing in motion with consistent timing.
- Frame Rate (Video Capture)IntermediateFrame rate is how many individual images per second a video captures. It directly determines how precisely fast-moving moments of a golf swing. This means especially impact. This means can be measured from that footage.
- Free ReliefIntermediateFree relief means moving the ball to a better spot with no penalty stroke added. This means available for situations like an immovable obstruction, ground under repair, or an embedded ball, distinguishing it from penalty relief options like unplayable lie or a penalty area.
- Game-Improvement IronsBeginnerGame-improvement irons use a wide sole, thick top line, and hollow or heavily perimeter-weighted construction to maximize forgiveness and launch. This means the recommended category for the large majority of recreational golfers.
- Gap WedgeBeginnerThe gap wedge, typically 50° to 52° of loft, fills the yardage hole between a pitching wedge and a sand wedge. This means some manufacturers market the identical club as an "approach wedge" or "A-wedge."
- Gear EffectIntermediateGear effect is the extra spin and directional change produced when the ball is struck away from the clubface's center of gravity. This causes the clubhead to twist slightly at impact like two meshing gears.
- Gimme PuttBeginnerA "gimme" is a short putt that playing partners agree is close enough to the hole that it can be counted as made without actually being holed. This means a casual convention rather than an official rule, and formally allowed only in match play through a genuine concession.
- Golf Ball Compression RatingIntermediateCompression rating describes how much a golf ball deforms at impact. This means lower-compression balls suit slower swing speeds and feel softer. At the same time, higher-compression balls suit faster swing speeds and feel firmer, though modern ball design has narrowed the practical difference.
- Golf Ball DimplesBeginnerDimples are the small indentations covering a golf ball's surface that reduce aerodynamic drag and manage lift, letting the ball fly farther and more predictably than a smooth ball would.
- Golf Swing BasicsBeginnerGolf swing basics are the handful of fundamentals. This means grip, stance, posture. A simple takeaway. This means that everything else in the swing is built on, and getting these right before adding complexity prevents most early bad habits.
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