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how to read golf club terminology

by Mrs. Ashtyn Koelpin I Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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What are the different terms used in golf?

The list, although not exhaustive, is designed to be a complete A to Z of all Golf Terms/Lingo used in golf. Ace – Otherwise known as a hole in one an ace is when the ball finds the hole from the tee in a single stoke. It is the dream of many golfers. Address – The way you stand and position your club before a shot is known as address.

What do the numbers on a golf club mean?

Iron: Golf clubs numbered from 3 to 9. Lay up : Hitting the ball short of a hazard or trouble on the course when it’s possible to try hit it on the green in one shot. This is a good tactic if you are not confident you can clear the hazard. Lie: How the ball is position on the grass or sand or wherever it is on the course.

What is a chunk in golf?

Chunk – A mishit golf shot where the golf club makes contact with the ground before the ball. Clone Clubs – A knockoff brand that makes clubs at a much more discounted price compared to name brand golf clubs. Collar of the Green – The first cut of grass off the green.

What is a “wood” in golf?

A term for any club featuring a large wooden head. The “woods” in your bag are the “driver” (1-wood) and the fairway woods (2 wood and above). The term originates from the sport’s early days, where manufacturers would design drivers with large wooden heads.

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How do you read golf club specs?

Generally speaking, the following clubs are used in the following shot range:Driver = 230 yards.3-wood = 210 yards.2-iron/4-wood = 190 yards.3-iron/5-wood = 180 yards.4-iron = 170 yards.5-iron = 160 yards.6-iron = 150 yards.7-iron = 140 yards.More items...

What do the letters mean on golf clubs?

Again, breaking it down to its simplest form, the numbers on your golf clubs relate to how far they hit the ball - the lower the number, the further the ball should travel. A club with a #4 on it will hit the ball further than one with a #9 on it.

What do the numbers and letters mean on golf clubs?

2:4810:02What do the numbers on my golf clubs mean? [Beginners Guide] - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNow golf is strange. And it's a bit of a quirk. But we don't have a 10 iron. Instead after the nineMoreNow golf is strange. And it's a bit of a quirk. But we don't have a 10 iron. Instead after the nine iron. Numbers generally change to letters. Because these are kind of speciality irons called wedges

What are the 4 types of strokes in golf?

Most shots in golf can be categorized into the following types of shot:Drive. This is a long distance shot usually taken from the tee, but can also be taken from the fairway if necessary. ... Approach. ... Putt. ... Lay-Up. ... Chip. ... Punch. ... Flop. ... Draw.More items...

What does G mean on a golf club?

What degree is a Gap Wedge? A gap wedge has a loft of 50 – 52º. Golfers tend to hit a gap wedge 75 – 100 yards. This club is also known as a 'G wedge”, so if you are curious a G wedge also has a loft of 50 – 52º.

What is PW and SW in golf clubs?

So there you are, pitching wedges to go long, sand wedges for bunkers and shots that go short, gap wedges which go in between and lob wedges for the spectacular aerial shots around the green.

What does H mean in golf?

Hole High. Means that the ball has landed on the green level with the hole as you are looking at it. Hole In One. The ball goes straight into the hole from your tee shot.

What does W mean on a golf club?

The term "pitching wedge" is now used by virtually all manufacturers and players to describe this club; Karsten Manufacturing (maker of the PING brand) simply labels their pitching wedges "W" for "wedge".

What does M on a golf club mean?

"A" originally stood for "amateur." The "M" stands for "mature" or "medium." Also, of course, "S" is taken by "stiff."

What is the 90 rule in golf?

The 90-Degree Rule Under this rule, carts are allowed on the fairway, but they must maintain a 90-degree angle from the cart path. You must take the cart path to a spot that is even with your ball, make a right angle turn and drive straight toward the ball. This rule may be in effect for all or some holes.

What are the 9 basic golf shots?

Looking to add another dimension to your shot shaping ability when on the course? This simple drill will have you ready for anything the course throws at you. Shots include a High Draw, Mid Draw, Trap Draw, High Straight, Normal, Punch, High Fade, Mid Fade, and Low Fade.

What does E mean in golf?

even parMost 18-hole golf courses range from par 70 to 72. When the number of strokes taken matches par, it's considered even par, signified with an "E" on most scoreboards. ADVERTISEMENT. If a player completes the hole in one shot less par, or birdie, minus 1 is calculated on the scoreboard.

What does H mean on golf clubs?

Hybrid golf clubs help fill in the gap between your harder-to-hit irons and fairway woods. They are designed for distance, trajectory, control and playability, combining features from irons and fairway woods. They could even replace a fairway wood or iron in your bag.

What does W mean on a golf club?

The term "pitching wedge" is now used by virtually all manufacturers and players to describe this club; Karsten Manufacturing (maker of the PING brand) simply labels their pitching wedges "W" for "wedge".

What does the G stand for in Ping irons?

The most noticeable difference between a Ping I and a Ping G iron is that the G is built for game improvement, and the I is built for the better player.

What is a golf course called?

Course: A place to play golf is called a golf club or golf course, either with 9 or 18 holes. Cross-handed (putting grip): Usually right handed players have right hand below left hand. Some golfers such as Jordan Spieth putt with the left hand below the right.

What is match play in golf?

Match play: Where golfers or teams play against other golfers or teams hole-by-hole. You play against another player and if you make a 4 and he makes a 5, you win the hole. The aim is to win the majority of the 18 holes. There is no count of all the strokes at the end. You count strokes only on each hole to see who wins it.

What is a distance marker in golf?

Distance markers: Stakes on the side of the fairway or plates embedded in the fairway marking 100, 150, 200 and sometimes 250 yard marks from the green. Dogleg : A type of golf hole which starts off straight but then the fairway turns left or right toward the green.

What is a green fee?

Green Fee : The amount you pay for a round of golf. Green in regulation (GIR): When your ball is on the surface of the green in 2 shots under the par number. Landing on every green in regulation and taking two putts on each green, you would shoot level-par. GIR means you land on the green in: 1 shot on a par 3.

What is the back nine on a golf course?

Back nine: Holes 10-18 on an 18 hole course. The opposite and complement to the front nine. Backspin: When you hit a ball, the grooves create a spin on the ball that rotates backward and is responsible for stopping the ball on the green or fairway and often can roll backwards. Alternatives: zip, rip, bite.

What is a sandbagger in golf?

Sandbagger: A golfer who manipulates his handicap to be higher than his skill level suggests. Guys do this to win more prizes in competitions. You might see a guy playing off a 9 handicap but shoots 75 or 76 very often on competition days but 84 or 85 during social games. Often are not popular with other competitors. In golf, it truly is ‘you’re only cheating yourself’.

What is a rangefinder?

The Range: The driving range where you can hit golf balls. Rangefinder: A laser device to measure distances to and from things on the course. Usually to find the distance to carry hazards or distance to the pin. There are numerous budget rangefinders for beginners to start using to really improve fast.

What is a local rule in golf?

Local Rule – Specific rule or rules that are not mainstream and only for that particular golf course. Long – A term for a golfer who hits the ball far (Dustin Johnson). Long Game – Refers to hitting long irons, woods, hybrids, and driver. Lob Wedge – A type of wedge that is usually in the 60 to 64-degree range.

What is the back nine of a golf course?

Back Nine – This refers to the last 9 holes of a typical 18 hole course, also known as heading in. Backswing – As the term suggests, this is simply the action taking when swinging back before striking the golf ball. It is important for distance and accuracy.

What is a baseball grip?

Baseball Grip – A type of grip that resembles a baseball bat grip. Others might call it a 10-finger grip. Below the Hole – A term that refers to a putt where the hole is at a higher elevation than the ball. Big Dog – A Driver. Bite – A term used by golfers for a golf ball to stop rolling.

Why is backspin important in golf?

It is important for distance and accuracy. Backspin – Spin is very important in most aspects golf and you will often come across the term when comparing clubs or in golfing instructions. Simply put, more backspin will give you a high ball with a fair amount of control.

What is an ace in golf?

Ace – Otherwise known as a hole in one an ace is when the ball finds the hole from the tee in a single stoke. It is the dream of many golfers.

What is a fat shot in golf?

The specifics and colors can vary from course to course. Fat – A fat shot is when the club strikes the ground before the ball.

What is green in regulation?

Green in Regulation – Occurs when the golf ball is on the green and the player is putting for a birdie or better. Green Fee – The cost of playing a round of golf at a certain golf course. Grip – There are a number of different grips golfers use to hold the club.

What is the part of a golf club that strikes the ball?

the part of a golf club that strikes the ball. One of the three components of a golf club with the shaft and the grip being the other two. See components for more information.

What is a face in golf clubs?

the part of the clubhead that impacts the ball. Faces can be made of various steels for irons and fairway woods and titanium for drivers. See golf club design for more information.

What is a Mallet putter?

the type of putter where the head tends to be larger with more weight back and away from the face. Mallet types of putters tend to have larger moments of inertia which means they tend to twist less when hit on the toe. See putters for more information.

What is a gap wedge?

A gap wedge is designed to fill that gap in loft. See wedges for more information.

What is loft in golf?

the angle of the clubface relative to a perpendicular line up from the ground. More loft creates a higher, shorter shot with more backspin imparted to the ball. In drivers however, where the ball is usually impacted with an ascending blow, optimizing distance is a matter of balancing launch angle, spin rate and angle of attack.

What is hybrid golf?

the type of club that combines wood technology with long iron technology. Hybrid clubs are typically the same length as the long iron they are meant to replace but the head design uses features from woods including wide soles and lower centers of gravity. Hybrids use iron shafts which are a little wider than wood shafts. See “hybrids” for more information.

What is a ferrule in golf?

the part of the club that covers the connection between the clubhead and the shaft. Originally just cosmetic the ferrule now helps protect today’s graphite shafts from cracking due to too much shearing.

What is a course rating?

Course Rating – “Course Rating” represents an estimate of the average strokes a scratch golfer is expected to make in the best 50% of rounds they have for a given course. Therefore, a golf course with a higher course rating should be more difficult than a course with a lower rating.

What is a hole in golf?

Hole – “Hole” can both describe the physical hole on the green that you have to hit the ball into or the (usually 18) individual sections of the golf course. The latter meaning includes everything from the tee box to the green (and the physical hole in the green). Examples of both uses:

What is the fairway in golf?

Fairway – The “Fairway” is the portion (s) of a golf hole where the grass is cut the shortest between the tee box and the green. On golf holes where you can’t reach the green in one stroke (most par-4s and all par-5s), your goal should be to keep your ball on the fairway before getting to the green.

What is a tee box?

Tee Box/Tees/Teeing Ground – The “Tee Box,” “Teeing Ground,” or “Tees” is the area of a golf hole where players begin the hole. This area is the only area that you can use a golf tee to “tee up” the golf ball. Golf courses use color-coding systems for their tee boxes. Historically, the most commonly used colors are red, white, and blue.

What is the meaning of stroke in golf?

Stroke – A “Stroke” in golf is any forward club swing/putt where a golfer is trying to hit the ball.

How many putts are allowed on a par 4?

Par – “Par” is the number of strokes an expert golfer is expected to make in their round or on an individual golf hole. All pars allow for 2 putts. On a par-4 hole, an expert golfer should reach the green in 2 strokes then have 2 putts for a total of 4 strokes. The current yardage guidelines from the USGA for men are:

What does "out of bounds" mean in golf?

Out of Bounds – “Out of Bounds” is the area of a golf course that the course staff or tournament committee has ruled play is not allowed. In casual play, many golfers will just drop a ball where they think their ball went out of bounds and add a penalty stroke to their score.

What Is Golf Terminology & Why Is It Used?

Golf terminology is the specific set of words used to state a particular event or rule of golf.

Scoring Terms

A golf handicap is a rating or a number assigned to each player based on their skill level. This number measures the number of strokes that go over par on average in each round for each player. It is used to measure the potential and level of skill of a player.

Golf Course Terms

This is the designated starting point of a hole where you start taking your golf shot. Make sure to stay within the bounds of the box, or else you will be penalized with a one stroke penalty. The tee shot is taken from this area.

Gameplay

The common gameplay method is where all the strokes of a player are counted to find out their final score. In this method, the total sum of the strokes for one or several rounds (this number is pre-determined) determines who won. This method is also called medal play.

Conclusion

So, that is all the common golf terms I had in store for you today. Remember, there are a lot more terms you will encounter once you start playing the game. However, you will get the hang of the game with the terms described here.

What is the tip of a golf club called?

TIPPING: The tip end of the shaft, which is inserted into the clubhead, sometimes is cut or trimmed to provide more stiffness in the shaft. This is called tipping. While the practice is common on professional tours, it is not widely used among amateur golfers.

Where is the ferrule on a golf club?

FERRULE: The ferrule is an oval piece, commonly made of plastic, that is located just above the neck of the clubhead. Modern ferrules not only are decorative, they are made with great precision to provide accurate and secure bonding between the shaft and clubhead. BUTT: The top end of the shaft, called the butt, is located underneath the grip.

What is a raw shaft?

RAW: A raw shaft is an uncut shaft that has not been installed in a clubhead. BLANK: This is another word for a raw shaft. When clubmakers refer to a blank, they mean a raw shaft. SPINE ALIGNMENT: Golf shafts, because they are round and hollow, have a spine that is a result of the manufacturing process.

What does low torque mean on a golf swing?

Normal measurements are in the 2- to 6-degree range. A low torque number means less twisting of the shaft but also can mean a harsher feel . A high torque number is associated with a soft-feeling shaft, although there may be a sacrifice in accuracy. FLEX: The strength of a shaft as it bends during the swing.

What is the kick point of a golf shaft?

KICK POINT: Modern shafts, particularly graphite shafts, can produce kick in different sections of the shaft — high kick, mid kick and low kick being three obvious points of reference. Fitters often spend considerable time matching a golfer’s swing with a particular kick.

What is balance point?

BALANCE POINT: Closely related to counter-balancing, balance point is sometimes cited as an important element of feel and performance. The more weight in the butt, the higher the balance point. Although it is not a widespread practice, some fitters use balance point as one of the variables in prescribing a shaft.

How much does a true temper iron shaft weigh?

True Temper’s Dynamic Gold, the most popular steel iron shaft on the PGA Tour, weighs abourt 130 grams. At the other end of the spectrum, Mitsubishi Rayon has a Bassara graphite driver shaft that weighs about 35 grams. RAW: A raw shaft is an uncut shaft that has not been installed in a clubhead.

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