Golf Glossary

Q

quail high

A low shot, either hit accidentally or perhaps on purpose to bore into the wind.

quitting

Not hitting through a shot with conviction.

R

rabbit

A beginning player.

rake

Device used to smooth the sand after you leave a bunker.

range

Practice area.

range ball

Type of ball used at a driving range facility. The balls may be used balls or may be specially made, difficult-to-cut balls purchased by upscale ranges for durability. Usually range balls are marked in some way; typically by a red stripe and/or name encircling the ball.

ranger

A golf course employee whose duty it is to keep the pace of play at an acceptable time. A ranger typically drives the course in a motorized cart, identified in some way (flag, sign, etc.), encouraging slow groups to speed up or to allow other groups to play through.

rap

To hit a putt firmly.

read the green

To assess the path on which a putt must travel to the hole.

red numbers

Term given to under par scores in a tournament.

regular

A shaft with normal flex.

regulation

Par figures.

release

The point in the downswing where the wrists uncock.

relief

Where you drop a ball that was in a hazard or affected by an obstruction.

resort

Type of golf course catering to the guests of the resort with which it is associated. Resort courses may sell limited memberships and may allow public play at specific times.

reverse overlap

Putting grip in which the little finger of the right hand overlaps the index finger of the left hand.

rhythm

The tempo of your swing.

rider

Slang term, usually applied to a beginner's shot, in which that shot has been hit far enough that the player has to ride in a cart (rather than walk) to hit the next shot. Somewhat of a derogatory term applied to the skill of a beginner.

rifle a shot

To hit the ball hard, straight, and far.

ringer score

Your best-ever score at each hole on the course.

Road Hole

The 17th hole at St. Andrews - the hardest hole in the world.

rolled

Term given to a shot that does not get airborne and simply rolls along the ground.

rough

Unprepared area of long grass on either side of the fairway.

round

Eighteen holes of golf.

Royal and Ancient

One of the two governing bodies of golf, along with the USGA. Often called the "R & A", it is headquartered in St. Andrews, Scotland.

rub of the green

A term given to a ball affected in some way by an outside agency (See "Outside Agency.") A rub of the green occurs if a ball is headed out of bounds and hits an animal, deflecting it back in to play.

run

The roll on the ball after landing.

run-up shot

An intentionally low shot designed to roll on to the green, usually played with a lower lofted iron such a #6 iron or lower.

S

sandbagger

A golfer who lies about his or her ability/handicap to gain an advantage.

sand trap

A bunker.

sandbagger

A golfer who consistently plays to a score better than his handicap indicates that he should.

sandy

Making par after being in a bunker.

scorecard

Where the length, par, and rating of each hole is recorded. Also, your score.

scoring

The grooves on the clubface.

Scotch Foursome

A type of competition wherein partners alternate hitting the same ball.

scramble

To play erratic golf but still score well. Or a game where a team of, say, four all tee off and then pick the best shot. All then play their balls from that spot; continues with each set of shots.

scratch

A handicap of 0, indicative of a highly skilled player.

second cut

Term applied to a section of rough (or higher grass) that borders the first cut (See First Cut) of rough. The second cut is farther from the fairway and is generally more severe than the first cut.

Semi-Private

Type of golf club in which memberships are sold, but that allows public play during specific time periods.

semirough

Grass in the rough that is not too long, not too short.

senior golfer

Any golfer 50 years of age or older is considered to be a senior golfer.

shaft

The part of the club that joins the grip to the head.

shag

To retrieve practice balls.

shag bag

To carry practice balls.

shallow

Narrow clubface. Or a flattish angle of attack into the ball.

shank

Shot struck from the club's hosel; flies far to the right of the intended target.

short cut

Cut of grass on the fairway or green.

short game

Shots played on and around the green.

shotgun start

When competitors all begin play simultaneously from different tees around the course. The starter used a shotgun blast to announce the start. An air horn is now generally used.

shut

Clubface aligned left at address or impact; looking skyward at the top of the backswing. Results in a shot that goes to the left of the target.

sidehill lie

Ball either above or below your feet.

sidesaddle

Putting style where a player faces the hole while making the stroke.

sink

To make a putt.

skins

Betting game where the lowest score on a hole wins the pot. If the hole is tied, the money carries over to the next hole.

sky

Term give to a shot, usually with a wood, that goes much higher and shorter than desired. A "skied" shot is often hit on or near the top of the club.

skull

To strike the top of the ball with an upwards, glancing blow. Similar to "hitting it thin". Sometimes spelled "scull" as in the glancing motion of an oar that makes improper contact with the water.

sleeve of balls

Box of three golf balls.

slice

Shot that curves sharply from left to right.

slope

Mathematical formula used to compare the difficulty of one course to the next. It takes into account length, hazards, terrain, etc. A course with a slope rating of 150 will be far more difficult  than one sloped at 100. Slope ratings allow fair matches between members from clubs of varying difficulty.

smile

Cut in a ball caused by a mishit.

smother

To bring the clubface down and over the ball when hitting a shot causing the ball to be poorly struck.

snake

A long putt; one that is usually holed from a long distance.

snap hook 

A shot that starts quickly to the left and angles sharply downwards and further to the left generally producing a very short and undesirable result.

snipe hook

Similar to "Snap Hook" The ball dips and dies quickly to the left.

socket

Seeshank.

sod

A chunk of turf from the course. Commonly referred to as a "divot.

soft spikes

Generic term given to the plastic type of spikes required on many courses. These softer spikes are believed to do less damage to the course, especially to the greens.

sole

Bottom of the clubhead.

sole plate

Piece of metal attached to the bottom of a wooden club.

spade-mashie

Old term for a 6-iron.

Spikes

Metal implements on the bottom of golf shoes designed to aid in traction. Spikes are approximately ½" in length. "Spikes" may also be a slang term used for golf shoes themselves.

spin-out

Legs moving too fast in relation to the upper body on the downswing.

spoon

Old term for a 3-wood.

spot putting

Aiming for a point on the green over which the ball must run if it is to go in the hole.

square

Score of a match is even. Or the clubface and stance are aligned perfectly with the target.

square face

Clubface looking directly at the hole at address/impact.

square grooves

USGA banned them from clubfaces.

St. Andrews

Considered to be the "home" of golf, St. Andrews is the location of Europe's rules-making body, the R & A, as well as being the location of one of the most famous courses (St. Andrews) in all of golf.

stableford

Method of scoring by using points rather than strokes.

stake it

Slang term used to indicate a player hits the ball close to the hole.

stance

Position of the feet prior to making a shot. A player placing his feet in position to make a stroke is said to have taken his stance.

starter

Person running the order of play (who plays when) from the first tee.

starting time

When you tee off at the first tee.

stick

The pin in the hole.

stiff

A shaft with reduced flex. Or very close to the hole.

stimp

Term given to the speed of a green after measurement with a specialized piece of equipment (Stimpmeter.) The higher the Stimp reading, the faster the green. Most courses rate at between 6 and 9 on the Stimp Scale; pro tournament venues may rate at over 12.

stimpmeter

Apparatus used to measure the speed of a green. It is basically an angled metal piece from which a ball is rolled onto a flat area of the green. Depending upon how far the ball rolls, a "Stimp" reading is determined. The farther the ball rolls, the higher the Stimp reading and the faster the green.

stoney it

Slang term used to indicate a player hits the ball close to the hole.

stroke

The forward movement of the club made with the intent of hitting the ball.

stroke hole

Hole at which one either gives or receives a shot, according to the handicap of your playing.

stroke and distance

Penalty assessed for a ball hit out of bounds or for a lost ball. It involves going back to the spot of the original ball, hitting another ball from there and adding a penalty shot to the score.

stymie

Ball obstructing your route to the hole - now obsolete.

sudden-death

Form of playoff whereby the first player to win a hole wins the match.

stroke lay

Type of competition, also known as medal play, in which the lowest total score (number of strokes) wins.

stymie

A situation, commonly on a putting green, in which one player's ball is directly in the line of another's. The Rules allow for the ball in the line to be marked and moved, allowing the player farther from the hole to play without obstruction. Stymie is also the generic term given to a situation when any object is between the player and the hole, blocking the normal play toward the hole.

sudden death

A type of playoff among tied individuals or teams at the completion of a competition. As soon as a team or individual makes the highest score on a hole, they are eliminated from play.

summer pules

Term given to standard USGA Rules' play. When playing "summer rules", courses are generally in their best shape (in the summer); the ball must be played as it lies except on tees and greens.

Super Senior

A senior PGA Tour player who has reached the age of 60.

supination

A term made popular by Ben Hogan referring to the rotation and angling of the right wrist during the golf swing.

surlyn

Material from which most balls are made.

swale

Depression or dip in terrain.

sway

To move excessively to the right on the backswing without turning the body.

sweet spot

Perfect point on the clubface with which to strike the ball.

sweet swing

Term given to a player who swings at the ball in a skilled manner. A golfer who makes a smooth swing is considered to be a "sweet swinger."

swing plane

Angle at which the club shaft travels around the body during a swing.

swing weight

Measure of a club's weight to its length.