A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Back Door

The rear of the hole. Often used in putting terms when a ball drops in the cup via the back door.

Back Lip

The edge of the bunker that is farthest from the green

Back Nine

The final nine holes of an eighteen hole round

Backspin

A reverse spin placed on the ball to make in stop short on the putting surface

Backswing

Before you hit the ball, the backswing is the part where you begin to move back from the ball, to the point where it starts to move forward.

Backweight

Modern woods have the centre of gravity moved to the rear of the head by placing heavier metal such as tungsten in the sole or inside the head. The effect is to get the ball airborne easier and for greater carry.

Baff

An obsolete term, Scottish in origin, meaning to hit or graze the ground behind the ball.

Baffle

Previous name given to a 5 wood

Baffy

A lofted wooden club developed from the baffling-spoon no longer in use. Also the alternate name given to the 4 wood.

Bail Out

You hit a shot to avoid danger, such as a bunker.

Balata

A hard, resilient sap-like substance from the South American Balata tree that is used to make a cover for rubber-cored golf balls

Ball

The round object which we attempt to hit into the hole. Prior to the 17th century it was made of wood or wool in a leather cover. After the 17th century feathers were boiled and compressed, then sewn in a leather cover. It continued to evolve to a solid gutta percha (or a mixture with gutta percha other substances) in the 1850s and strip rubber wound around a core in the 1900s. Presently made of solid compressed synthetic rubber with hundreds of surface indentations which aid in the flight of the ball.

Ball at Rest

The ball has come to a complete stop on the fairway or green

Ball Embedded

A technical term for a plugged ball

Ball Flight Observation

Enables the custom fitter to evaluate the effects different club specifications have on ball flight trajectory.

Ball Holed

A ball is holed when it is entirely below the level of the lip of the hole

Ball in Play

A ball is in play as soon as the player has made a stroke in the tee off area. It remains in play until it is holed out except when it is out of bounds, lost, lifted or when another ball is substituted in accordance with the rules.

Ball Mark

Indentation made to the grass/ground on a putting green when a lofted shot lands on the green. Ball marks must be repaired as soon as noticed to properly heal and to maintain a uniform putting surface.

Ball Marker

A token or a small coin used to spot the balls position on the green prior to lifting it

Ball Moved

A ball is said to have moved if it does not return to its original position once it has been at rest. This is usually caused by a player grounding his club behind the ball or removing loose impediments near the ball. In either case a one stroke penalty is awarded to that player. A ball is said to have moved if it does not return to its original position once it has been at rest. This is usually caused by a player grounding his club behind the ball or removing loose impediments near the ball. In either case a one stroke penalty is awarded to that player.

Ball Retriever

A long pole with a scoop on the end which is used to collect balls from water hazards and other areas.

Ball Washer

A device found on many tees for cleaning golf balls

Ballooned

A shot pattern wherein a golf ball accelerates upwards to an unreasonably high trajectory.

Banana Ball

A sliced shot that has a flight pattern shaped liked a banana

Bandit

Description given to a player who far exceeds his handicap in a competition.

Baseball Grip

Holding the club with all ten fingers on the grip.

Beach

A sand hazard on the course

Bend

The curve on a shot created by sidespin.

Bend One

To hook or slice a shot by using sidespin

Bent Grass

Type of grass, characterized by thin blades, found on most courses with varying seasonal climates.

Bermuda Grass

Type of grass found on most courses located in warmer or tropical climates. Characterized by thick blades and "grainy" surface.

Best Ball

A match in which one player plays against the better ball of two players or the best ball of three players.

Best Ball

Game for two teams of two players, in which each player plays all of their shots, and the low score on each side counts as the team's score for the hole.

Better Ball

A match play or stroke play game when two players on a side each play their own ball score the better of their two scores at each hole against the other side.

BIGGA

The British & International Golf Green keepers Association is the professional association dealing with all matters of golf management from a green keeper’s viewpoint.

Bird's Nest

A lie in which the ball is cupped in deep grass.

Birdie

A score of one under par for a hole.

Bite

When the ball stops, rather than rolls, when it lands.

Blade

1) The hitting part of an iron clubhead, not including the hosel. 2) To hit the ball with the leading edge of the blade of an iron.

Blade Putter

A type of putter with an iron head with the basic form the same as other standard numbered irons.

Blast

A shot made from a bunker that displaces a noticeable amount of sand.

Blind Bogey

A type of competition in which each player tries to come the closest to a score that has been drawn out of a hat.

Blind Hole

If the putting green cannot be seen by the player as he approaches, the hole is called blind.

Block

A shot played severely to the right; as opposed to slices, which curve from left to right, a blocked shot goes directly right. Similar to the "push".

Block

Shot that goes straight, but suddenly makes a turn to the right (assuming you are a right handed golfer)

Bogey

This means to take one shot more than par for a hole. A double bogey is two shots more, a triple bogey is three shots more, and so on. For example a 6 on a par 5 is a bogey.

Bogey Competition

A form of stroke play in which players play against a fixed score at each hole. Scored as in match play with the winner being the most holes.

Bold

A firmly played approach to a well -protected pin. Also, too strong or long a shot.

Boron

A strong metal powder that is added to the construction of graphite shafts at the hosel end to help provide extra strength.

Borrow

A term referring to how much break will need to be anticipated when lining up a putt.

Bounce

The angle that is formed between the leading edge of the club and the lowest part of the sole. Clubs with higher bounce angles (sand wedges) tend not to dig into the turf and clubs with lower bounce angles (pitching/lob wedges) tend to dig into the turf.

Boundary

The edge of the golf course that defines the area of play.

Box

A system of scoring for matchplay with three players.

Bramble

A small molded bump on some types of golf balls (gutta purcha and rubber core). Intended to give aerodynamic properties like the dimples on present day balls.

Brassie

Former name given to a 2 wood. A wooden club with a brass sole plate with more loft than a driver and less than the than the spoon.

Break

The curve the ball makes as it rolls toward the hole on the green. Also is a reference to the slope of the green.

Break the Wrists

To bend the wrists back during a swing.

British Ball

The type of golf ball specified by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews. Diameter is not less than 1.620 inches and the weight is not more than 1.620 ounces. Now used mainly in amateur play.

British Open

Golf championship in Britain that is run by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews.

Bulge

The curve across the face of a wooden club.

Bulger

A wooden club with a slightly convex face. Mainly a driver.

Bull Dog

Former name for a 4 or 5 wood.

Bump And Run

A style of golf shot that is most commonly used on traditional British-style courses. With a bump and run shot the golfers aims well short of the intended target and allows for substantial roll to his shot after its initial landing. The majority of American style courses are designed with "Target" golf shots in mind; ones that allow for higher ball flights and less roll.

Bunker

Holes with sand in the bottom which are placed around the course as obstacles. Usually when your ball goes into a bunker you waste at least one shot hitting it out. They are also called traps.

Bunt

To hit an intentional short shot

Buried (Lie)

The lie of a ball, typically in a sand bunker, in which most of it is below the surface. See also "Fried Egg."

Burn

The Scottish term for a creek or stream

Buzzard

A score of two strokes over par for a hole.

Bye

A term used in tournaments. The player who draws a "bye" is allowed to advance to the next round without playing an opponent. In match play, it is the hole or holes still left to play if the match is won before the 18th hole.

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z