
Golfers yell fore when it appears others are in danger of being hit by their golf ball. More about why golfers yell fore. In modern golf the call of fore is used to alert others that they might be struck by a golf ball heading their way.
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?
- Where did ‘fore’ originate from in golf?
- Why do golfers yell ‘fore’ on the course?
- When should you yell ‘fore’ on the golf course?
- How loud should I yell ‘fore’ on the golf course?
- What happens if I don’t yell ‘fore’ in golf?
- Do the pros yell ‘fore’ on the PGA and European Tours?
- Final message
Why are golfers hitting farther than ever?
There are basically three levels of PGA Tour Golf:
- PGA Tour. This is what you see on TV on the weekends. ...
- Korn Ferry Tour (formerly Web.com). This is the second level PGA Tour, and is essentially the “feeder tour” for the main PGA Tour.
- Mackenzie (Canada) and Latin America PGA tours. ...

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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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 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.
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.
When did golfers yell fore?
The John Knox theory. Some golf historians contend that the cry of fore dates back to the 16th century.
Why do golfers call out to their forecaddies?
Historians assume golfers would call out to their forecaddies to warm them before hitting a ball. In this theory, the cry of “Forecaddie!” gradually got shortened to just “Fore!”. Because the term “forecaddie” has plenty of historical documentation, this theory is the most plausible and widely accepted explanation.
What does the MLB call a hit ball?
The MLB has a whole idiom devoted just to describing hit balls, with terms like “ can of corn ” and “frozen rope.”. One of the most distinctive pieces of sports terminology comes from the world of golf. Players commonly yell the word “fore” before striking a ball.
Why do soldiers use the word "fore"?
After the front row of soldiers fired their weapons, the rows behind them would take turns firing. Historians speculate that soldiers used fore as a warning to those in the front to protect their heads while the back ranks fired.
What is the term for putting the ball through an opponent's legs?
The sports world is full of odd and unusual terminology. Putting the ball through an opponent’s legs is known as a “nutmeg” in both soccer and basketball. Hockey players commonly “deke” defenders, faking them out to get by.
Who was the cry of fore?
Some golf historians contend that the cry of fore dates back to the 16th century. As evidence, they point to the Scottish protestant reformer John Knox. In one of his writings, Knox relates a story about the tactics used to defend the city of Leith. When an enemy approached, one of the defenders would cry out, “Ware Before!” This warned his fellows to lay down so the guns could fire over their head.
Did Rory McIlroy yell fore?
In 2018, golfer Rory McIlroy took massive amounts of flack for not yelling fore in the third round of the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth. As a result of his oversight, McIlroy ultimately hit three innocent bystanders. At the other end of the spectrum are golfers who yell fore with a little too much enthusiasm.
What is the fore in golf?
Fore (golf) The tough rubber core of a golf ball makes it a hazard to others following a wayward shot, despite its weight not exceeding 1.620 oz (45.93g). "Fore!", originally a Scots interjection, is used to warn anyone standing or moving in the flight of a golf ball.
Where did the term "fore caddie" come from?
A possible origin of the word is the term "fore-caddie", a caddie waiting down range from the golfer to find where the ball lands. These caddies were often warned about oncoming golf balls by a shout ...
What was the Colonel Bogey March based on?
The Colonel Bogey March is based on the descending minor third which the original Colonel Bogey whistled instead of yelling "fore" around 1914.
