Golf Glossary: Everything You Need To Know About Golf
It can take years on the course to become an expert in the terminology of golf. The only thing golfers may enjoy more than a few drinks after their round is finding better ways to describe their golf shots. Here is my Golf Glossary E – F. These golf sayings are always tweaking and changing. So here is my easy guide in one place.
I’ve pulled together a total glossary of golfing terms and slang. I’m pretty sure it covers 99% of everything you need to know!
Comment below – did I miss any favorites?
E
Etiquette:
Etiquette is a set of guidelines that golfers are expected to follow both on the course and in the clubhouse. It is an important aspect of the game, and golfers are expected to behave in a respectful manner towards other players, caddies, course staff and the course itself. Some of the basic guidelines include keeping up with the pace of play, not distracting other players, being aware of who has the right of way, repairing divots and ball marks, and taking care of the course by avoiding unnecessary damage.
Effective Loft:
Effective loft refers to the actual loft of the clubface at impact. By opening up the face of the club, the ball can be hit on a higher trajectory, resulting in a higher effective loft. The kick point of the shaft can also affect the loft at impact.
Elastomer:
Elastomer is a synthetic material that is sometimes used in golf clubs, golf balls, grips and putter face inserts. It provides a soft, comfortable feel and helps to reduce vibration on impact.
Even Par:
Even par is a score that is equal to the par of the course. For example, if the par for the course is 72, then a score of 72 is even par.
Eagle:
An eagle is a score of two under par for a hole. This means a score of 3 on a par 5, or 2 on a par 4.
Explosion Shot:
An explosion shot, also known as a splash shot, is a type of shot used when the ball is in a greenside bunker. The goal of the shot is to hit the sand behind the ball, causing it to pop up and land softly on the green.
Elevated Green:
An elevated green is a green that is higher than the surrounding area. This can make it more challenging to hit, as the player may need to adjust their club selection and shot trajectory to reach the green.
F
Foursome:
A foursome, also known as alternate shot, is a type of golf competition where two teams of two players compete against each other. Each team shares a golf ball and takes turns hitting the ball after each shot.
Flush:
Flush is a term used to describe a golf shot that is hit perfectly from the sweet spot of the club, resulting in a satisfying and solid impact on the ball.
Flyer:
A flyer is a type of golf shot where the ball travels further than expected due to the ball being caught up in long grass or other debris on the ground.
Face:
The face of a golf club is the part of the clubhead that is used to strike the ball. With irons, putters, and wedges, the face is typically flat, while with woods, the face may have a bulge and roll.
Frequency Matching:
Frequency matching is a club fitting term used to measure and standardize the frequency or stiffness of the shafts throughout a player’s set of clubs. This can help improve the feel and consistency of the player’s shots.
First Cut:
The first cut, also known as the rough, is the area of grass surrounding the fairway that is longer and more challenging to play from.
Forgiving:
A golf club is said to be forgiving if it allows for some margin of error in the golfer’s swing, meaning that mishit shots are less likely to result in significant loss of distance or accuracy.
Feel:
In golf, feel refers to the sensation or feedback that a golfer experiences in their hands when they hit a shot. It is often used to describe the degree of control or connection that a golfer feels with their club.
Flight:
Flight refers to the trajectory or path that a golf ball takes through the air after it is hit.
Face Insert:
A face insert is a harder or softer material used in the striking area of a putter or wedge than the rest of the club. This can help to improve feel and control on the greens or from the fairway.
Fairway:
The fairway is the part of a golf hole that is well trimmed and easier to hit shots from than other parts of the course. It is typically found between the tee box and the green.
Flex:
Flex is used to describe the flexibility or stiffness of a golf club shaft. Common flexes include junior, senior, ladies, regular, stiff, and extra stiff.
Face Balanced:
A face balanced putter is a type of putter that is designed to have the putter face pointing upwards when the shaft is balanced on a golfer’s finger. This design can help golfers with a straight back and through putting stroke.
Face Angle:
Face angle is a term used to describe the orientation of the clubface in relation to the target line. A square face angle means the clubface is perpendicular to the target line, while an open or closed face angle means the clubface is angled away from or towards the target line.
Flag:
The flag, also known as the flagstick, is the marker that indicates the location of the hole on the green. Golfers often aim for the flag when making their approach shots.
Flat Swing:
A flat swing is a type of golf swing that travels on a plane that is more horizontal than vertical. This is the opposite of an upright swing.
Fluff:
Fluff is another term for a fat shot, which occurs when the club strikes the ground before the ball, resulting in a loss of distance and accuracy.
Flight Control Technology (FCT):
FCT is a proprietary technology used by TaylorMade-adidas Golf. It allows golfers to remove the shaft from the clubhead of the R9 range of golf clubs and reposition it in eight different positions to change the trajectory and shape of their shots.
Flier:
A flier is a golf shot that travels further than expected due to grass or other debris getting between the ball and the clubface during impact.
Follow Through:
The follow through is the final part of the golf swing after impact with the ball, where the golfer completes their swing.
Forged:
Forging is a manufacturing process used to create golf clubs where heated metal is pressed into shape instead of being cast into molds. This process is believed to create clubs with better feel and consistency.
Flop Shot:
A flop shot is a type of shot used to hit the ball high and land it softly on the green. It is typically used around the green with a sand wedge or lob wedge and requires an open clubface and a steep angle of attack.
Fairway Bunker:
A fairway bunker is a hazard on the golf course that is located in or next to the fairway. It can make it more challenging for golfers to hit accurate shots and can result in lost strokes if the ball lands in the bunker.
Fourball:
A fourball is a golf match where two teams of two players each compete against each other, with each player hitting their own ball and the best score for each team being recorded.
Ferrule:
A ferrule is a small plastic or metal ring that is used to cover the joint between the clubhead and the shaft. It serves a mainly cosmetic purpose.
Full Swing:
A full swing is the most common type of golf swing, used for most iron and wood shots. It involves a full backswing and follow through.
Flatstick:
Flatstick is a slang term used to describe a putter, which typically has a flat clubface.
Keep reading Golf Glossary G – H
If you’re looking to improve your golf why not check out our other article on the best cheap golf rangefinders, or have a look at our best golf balls for beginner golfers. We also review the best golf simulators to help improve your golf whilst at home.
