Golf Slang Glossary

The language of golf must seem awfully confusing to beginners. Gimmes? Mulligans? Yips?

What in the name of Daniel Webster are these people talking about?

Indeed, golf’s slang terms could nearly fill their own dictionary. We’ll stick with a compact glossary, assuming readers know basic terms like birdie, par and bogey.

Following is a handy guide to the lingo you’re likely to hear next time – or the first time – you venture onto the golf course.

Commands

Golfers are notorious for talking to – and even yelling at – a ball that’s been launched. Knowing their orders are pointless, golfers nonetheless bark commands in the hopes that the ball will behave as instructed.

Here’s a list of futile directives players frequently hurl:

Bite – Used when the ball appears to be traveling farther than intended. Synonyms include “sit” and “get down.”

Break – Used when the golfer wants a rolling ball to curve toward the hole as she envisioned, rather than continuing on a straight path away from the hole.

Fore – Not directed at the ball, but shouted to nearby players or spectators to warn them a speeding ball is headed their way. In other words, duck or take cover.

Get up – Used when the ball appears to be falling short of the target. Synonyms include “fly,” “carry,” “go” and “get legs.”

Hold your head – Used when the ball is turning away from the target, with the golfer hoping to curtail said curvature.

Mis-hits and shot shapes

Average golfers hit very few perfect shots, and the golf ball rarely flies straight regardless of who strikes it. These terms describe the game’s various mis-hits and curves.

Cut – A shot that arcs gently from left to right (for a right-handed player); typically an intentional play by a skilled golfer. AKA: Fade.

Draw – A shot that curves to the left (for a right-hander); typically an intentional play by a skilled golfer.

Fat – A stroke in which the club makes contact with the turf before the ball, resulting in a poor contact and significant loss of distance. AKA: Chunk, chili-dip, heavy, hitting the big ball before the little ball, laying the sod over it.

Hook – A shot that curves sharply left (right-handed golfer), usually unintentionally. AKA: Duck hook, quacker, snap hook, snapper, shrimp.

Pop-up – A poor tee shot where the ball flies almost straight up into the air. AKA: Rainmaker, sky ball.

Shank – A shot in which the golf ball is struck by the hosel (where the shaft connects to the clubface). The most dreaded miss in golf, a shanked shot darts almost directly sideways. AKA: Hosel rocket.

Slice – A shot that curves sharply right (right-handed golfer), usually unintentionally. The most common miss in golf. AKA: Banana ball.

Thin – A shot where the clubhead strikes too high on the ball, which flies in a line-drive fashion. AKA: Skull, bladed shot.

Top – A shot where the bottom of the clubhead strikes the top of the ball, which rolls or bounces rather than flying.

Whiff – An attempt to strike the ball where the player fails to make contact. AKA: Fan.

Worm burner – A thin or topped shot that travels rapidly along the ground.

Miscellaneous

Gimme – A very short putt that is considered unlikely to be missed and is therefore “given” to the player by his partners, usually during informal play. AKA: Tap-in.

Mulligan – A do-over, or replay of a shot, without counting the initial shot as a stroke and without assessing any penalties that might apply. A mulligan is not allowed by the rules and not practiced in tournaments, but is common in casual rounds. AKA: Breakfast ball.

The yips – State of having a nervous or otherwise imperfect stroke which causes the golfer to miss very short putts. The yips often spring from a lack of confidence and can afflict even champion golfers. AKA: Whiskey hands, the shakes.