Dictionary

There are a quite a few ways to hit – or miss – a golf ball. Here is a short compilation of common terms used to describe the unseasoned golfer’s game.

Air shot Missing the ball completely when intending to play the ball. Not an uncommon experience to the new golfer.

Airmail To hit a shot much farther than planned (most commonly over the green). Amateur golfers frequently airmail approaches to greens fronted by hazards.

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

Banana ball A slice that curves to the right (if you are right handed) in the shape of a banana. In other words an extreme slice.

Buttonhook A putt that hits the cup on one side and rolls all the way around the edge of the cup before coming out the front edge of the cup. Also called a horseshoe. Either way, very nasty.

Choke Collapsing under pressure. The term is also used to describe a rather firm grip of the club, which is not recommended practice.

Crack To allow one’s good play to suffer when under pressure.

Dub All golfers do this from time to time. Some more often: A missed or badly-hit shot

Duff To mishit a shot by hitting the ground behind the ball and then top the ball.

Duffer An unskilled golfer, also known as a hacker.

Dunk To hit your ball into a water hazard.

Fan To miss the ball completely.

Fat shot When the club hits the ground behind the ball. This results in high or low shots with a loss of distance

Flub A poorly hit shot usually caused by hitting the ground before the ball

Hack To chop violently at the ball. To make bad shots. To play bad golf.

Hacker An unskilled golfer. Same as duffer.

Muff To mis-hit a shot.

Mulligan A second shot that is allowed to be taken in friendly play when the player

has “muffed” (see above) the first one. Not allowed by the rules, but common practice among duffers.

Off-centre A nice way to explain a poor hit.

Scoop An improper swing in which the club has a digging or scooping action

Shank This is almost as bad as an air-shot. A shot struck by the club’s hosel. Travels to the right of the intended target

Skulling Hitting the ball at or above its center causing the ball to be hit too hard and travel too great a distance. The can result in air-mail.

Sky To hit underneath the ball sending it much higher than intended.

Slice A shot that curves strongly from left to right as a result of sidespin. The converse applies to a left-handed player.

Slump A prolonged period of bad play.

Snake-killer Same as wormburner

Snap-hook To hit a ball with an acute hook. Similar curve to a banana-ball (see this) but the oposite way.

Snipe A ball that is hooked and drops quickly. More embarassing than the ordinary hook.

Thin The ball is hit thin when it is hit above center with the clubhead traveling on too high a line.

Whiff To swing and miss the ball completely. Same as air-shot or fan.

Wormburner A ball hit with adequate distance that hugs the ground.

Yip To mishit a putt due to an attack of yips.

Yips Shakiness or nervousness in making a shot.