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why do people yell four playing golf

by Mrs. Syble Roberts Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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Golfers yell fore as a verbal warning to nearby golfers that an errant shot has been hit in their direction. While not mandatory, it falls within the principles of proper golf etiquette to warn other golfers that a ball is heading their way.

It Is Derived from the Word 'Forecaddie'
Forecaddies were in charge of watching the golf balls and indicating where the golf balls landed. To let the forecaddie know when the ball was being struck, the golfers would yell out forecaddie. Eventually, the caddie part was dropped, leaving just the fore.
May 4, 2022

Full Answer

Why do you shout "four" in golf?

· Its not "four" but rather "fore" that is shouted to warn any people where your golf ball is directed that a golf ball is going to their direction. It is shouted as an advance warning to "forewarn"... 395 People Used More Offers Of Store ›› Visit Site Why Do Golfers Shout Fore? - What Does It Mean?

Why do they say four in golf?

people call the word "four" just to warn other people that are golfing to get out of the way or they might get hit with the golf ball

Why do people yell 4 in golf?

Why do lumberjacks yell "Timber!"? When they were using hand saws and it took MANY people to cut down a grove of trees, Timber was a safety word used like “four” in golf. It was the final warning for people to look out for a falling tree. They yell “Timber!" for the same reason blasters yell “Fire in the hole!"

Why do golfers Shout "fore" when teeing off?

Why Do Golfers Shout Fore

  • Fore Right And Fore Left. ...
  • Why Do Golfers Shout Fore? ...
  • Historians at the British Golf Museum (and many others) have surmised that the term " fore ," as a warning in golf, evolved from "forecaddie." A forecaddie is a person ...

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Why do people yell fore after hitting a golf ball?

In general people yell “fore” after hitting a golf ball when their ball is flying near another group of golfers. It’s a way to warn other people that they need to look out and avoid being hit. It’s like a long distance “heads up”.

What does closed face mean in golf?

Closed - The face might be closed relative to the swing path, that is pointing to the left of the path - which causes the ball to spin further to the left.

Why is it shocking to see a shank occur?

It’s shocking to see a shank occur because you are not expecting it, and because the deviation from what you expected is enormous. There is a related effect for hitting a Driver, which doesn’t have a protruding hosel but does have a curved surface where the hosel would be. A mis-hit with Driver using a shank-swing will produce a dribbler that goes along the ground short-left. The two problems are directly related and have a similar cause even though the outcome is very different.

What is the green circle on a golf club?

In the shot above, the GREEN circle is the “sweet spot” of the club, the ideal place to hit the ball on every swing. A shank occurs when you strike the ball on the red circle, because the ball hits the hosel of the club first (which bulges forward of the face itself on an iron, at the point where the shaft is joined to the club face). If you hit an iron on the hosel, the usual ball flight will be drastically different from a normal shot, diving 45 degrees to the right of a normal shot. The YELLOW oval drawn on the club face is discussed below, as one likely explanation for golfers who too-frequently shank the ball.

What is shank in golf?

Let’s start with what a shank is, and specifically what causes it. It occurs when a ball strikes the club face at the location of the RED circle below.

What is the path of a swing relative to the intended target?

The path of the swing relative to the intended target: This can point right of the target, left of the target, or straight at the target.

What happens when a shot is errant?

When an errant shot occurred, players would call out and point in the direction of the forecaddy who was minding the errant side of the fairway.

What is the best reaction to a yelled fore?

When you hear the word, your immediate reaction might be to look around for the incoming ball. The best reaction, however, is to duck and shield your face.

When to shout fore?

Shouting the word once usually suffices, although it's acceptable to shout it repeatedly if you see your shot sailing toward another group of golfers. If you lose sight of your shot but know it was errant, yelling the term is suitable.

What does "fore" mean?

The term is a short form of the word "before," which is a synonym to "ahead.". Thus, fore literally means, "look out ahead.".

Should you yell "fore"?

Considerations. Golf etiquette dictates that golfers should always yell "fore" upon hitting a shot that carries the risk of hitting another golfer. As long as you yelled "fore," you did all you could to warn the other golfers. Convey this message to them in as polite a manner as possible.

What Happens When a Golfer Yells ‘Fore!’?

If you hear ‘Fore Right’ and it didn’t come from your mouth AND you’re standing on the right side of the hole, chances are there is a golf ball headed your way. Here are some tips for what you should do should such an occasion occur the next time you visit your local golf course:

How Often Do Golfers Yell Fore?

However, it should be used every time you or any other golfer hits an errant shot near another person, even if the person is in the same group.

What Is the Origin of the Word Fore in Golf?

An Old English word dating back as far as the 13th century, ‘fore’ is simply the abbreviated form of the words ‘afore’ and ‘before’ and refers to something or someone in front.

What to do if a golf ball hits you?

Keep your cool. If a golf ball lands near you or actually hits you AND you heard the warning cry, mind your temper and understand that all golfers will hit bad shots. The intent to hit another person with a golf ball is very rare. A simple wave to say thanks for the warning is a great way to reciprocate the verbal warning from your fellow golfers. Chances are the golfer that yelled ‘fore’ feels terrible not only about almost hitting you but also because it was not a good shot.

How many golfers can a caddie serve?

Conversely, a caddie is a full-fledged golf assistant and will serve only one or two golfers at a time.

How to tell if a golf ball is going right or left?

If the ball is going right, use your right arm and if the ball is going left, well, use your left arm as the signal. As words shouted over distances of 200-300 yards can oftentimes be difficult to understand, the visual cue supplied by the raised appendage provides additional clarity as to the direction of the errant golf shot.

Why do golfers shout at the forecaddie?

Shouting at the forecaddie to warn them of the incoming shot became the norm and over time, the word ‘fore’ became the shortened dominant term used by golfers to signify that the ball was approaching the landing area.

What does it mean when you shout for golf?

The immediate reaction of most people when they hear a shout of for is to cover their heads from protection from a potentially incoming, usually stray, golf ball. Fore is the shout that is traditionally used in golf to warn other golfers on the course that you have mishit your shot and it could potentially be heading in their direction in order ...

Why do artillery men yell "fore"?

It could come from the military meaning where the Artillery men would yell ‘Fore’ to warn infantry in front to drop down and get cover and it could also come from the use of Fore Caddies in golf in the old days, no one is quite sure.

What does "fore" mean in golf?

Fore is the warning call that alerts golfers that they may be in the way of an errand shot. An example of yelling fore is when you tee up on the first tee with all the eager spectators watching on and you hit an almighty slice towards the third fairway, you need to yell ‘Fore’ to let anyone on the third fairway know that they might be in danger and to tried to cover themselves as best they can.

How to shout fore on golf course?

Hen you hear it on the golf course, do not turn towards the shout but turn away and block the back of your head. Crouch down if you can and get behind a tree or a golf cart if possible. If you hit an errand shot, make sure to shout ‘Fore’ because golf balls can cause some serious damage even though they do compress on impact.

What to do if you can't see where your ball is going to land?

If you cant see the area where your ball is going to land and their could be golfers there, yell ‘FORE’ anyway, it is better to be safe than sorry.

Why do they say "fore"?

The word fore may have it’s origins from the military when artillery men would yell ‘Warning Be ’Fore’ so any infantry could protect themselves and not be exposed to dangerous shell explosions. While a golf ball is not exactly a projectile of war, it can cause a lot of damage if it hits you on the face or the head.

Why does the sailor shout "mashed potatoes"?

One of the fans wanted his mother to be able to spot him on the TV so he said he would shout ‘Mashed Potatoes’ when the cameras were around and it went down a treat with fans in attendance and also went viral online causing many more renditions at future tournaments.

Why do golfers shout fore?

Golfers often shout fore to warn players or others ahead of them when they hit a wayward shot. It is a warning for them to look out and not be struck by a golf ball. It is a common golfing term but many people are not aware of the origins and might well wonder, why do golfers yell “fore!”

Why do golfers use alerts?

While initially, the alert was only used for tee shots it is now used to warn anyone ahead that they are at risk of an errant ball. Despite being small and light, no one wants to be hit by a golf ball. Even a relatively soft shot can cause a lot of damage. It is dangerous to the person being stuck and also distressing to the player.

What Is The Origin Of The Term “Fore”?

While there are a few theories, the most accepted understanding comes from the use of forecaddies which dates back to the 1700 and 1800s. These caddies would stand ahead of the players to spot where the ball lands after the tee shot. These days, we call them spotters.

Why do players shout out "forecaddies"?

If the player was concerned that the ball might strike one of the forecaddies, he would shout out “fore” as a warning. This would, hopefully, give them time to avoid being hit by a fast-moving ball. Initially, so we are told, the players would shout “forecaddie” as a warning. This was later shortened to fore.

How to avoid a bad hit in soccer?

The last thing you want to do is to look directly towards the call as this could result in an even worse hit. Duck, take cover and access the situation. Always try to be aware of the players behind you.

Do you have to shout fore in golf?

As a player, hopefully, you do not have to shout it too often but if you do hit a shot that could potentially hit or even land near someone, it is the right thing to do. Don’t hesitate and loudly shout “Fore!” to warn the person or people. Either that or, keep it safely in the middle of the fairway or better still, on the green.

Where did the word "fore" come from?

The origin, like the sport itself, is Scottish. The term “fore” is a prefix that has been used since the Middle Ages and is used to indicate something that is ahead.

Why do golfers yell "fore"?

For professional golfers, they also yell "Fore!". to indicate if they've hit a ball that's going to potentially hit someone in the gallery watching them play.

What does "caddie" mean in golf?

The term caddie is a shortening of the term forecaddie, which meant the person that went ahead of the golfer to hunt for their ball once struck. Another theory contends yelling "Fore!". was designed to warn the forecaddie that the ball was going in a particularly bad direction.

Do pro golfers point in the direction of their ball?

Many times, pro golfers will also point in the direction in which their ball is heading so those who may not hear them shout from hundreds of yards away could at least see them pantomime and know that they should be on the lookout for an incoming ball.

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