Table of Contents
Last updated Nov 11, 2023
Golf Slang: 15 Phrases Every Golfer Should Know
Golf can be intimidating because of all the slang, phrases, and lingo you might come across. Here is what it all means in beginner terms!
Written By: Zach Gollwitzer
Golf Slang Starting With ‘A’
Away
"You're away" is golf slang which means you are the furthest from the hole and it is your turn to play. Generally, when a golfer says "you're away", they are telling you it's your turn to play and it is not meant in a derogatory sense. That said, more experienced golfers may use this slang for trash-talking their playing partners in good fun.
Looks like you're away, feel free to hit when you're ready!
Read more: Away
Golf Slang Starting With ‘B’
Ball Striking
In golf, "ball striking" refers to a player's skill when hitting approach shots (often with irons). It can also be used as a more general term to describe a golfer who hits the ball well overall.
Tiger Woods was one of the best ball strikers in golf history.
Read more: Ball Striking
Big Ball First
Hitting the big ball first is golf slang for chunking a shot. The "big ball" is the earth (ground) while the "little ball" is your golf ball.
Oops, hit the big ball first on that one!
Read more: Big Ball First
Blow Up Hole
A "blow-up hole" refers to a hole where you shoot a much higher score than you want to. For pro golfers, a double or triple bogey might be considered a "blow-up hole". For beginners, a "blow-up hole" would be making an 8, 9, 10, or worse on a hole.
If it weren't for that blow-up hole I had, I would have shot a great round!
Read more: Blow Up Hole
Golf Slang Beginning With ‘C’:
Golf Slang Starting With ‘D’
Dead Hands
When someone plays a "dead hands shot", it generally refers to a short game shot where they use as little wrist action as possible. This helps them control trajectory and spin better than a normal pitch shot by reducing as many variables (i.e. wrist hinge) as possible.
Try hitting this next pitch shot with dead hands to control the trajectory and spin a little bit more.
Read more: Dead Hands
Golf Slang Beginning With ‘E’:
Golf Slang Starting With ‘F’
Flat Stick
"Flat Stick" is common golf slang for a putter (type of golf club). Since a putter has a relatively flat face (usually around 4 degrees of loft), we call it a "flat stick" since other clubs have significantly more loft than this.
Hey, let me see that flat stick you got there, I want to try it out on the greens today.
Read more: Flat Stick
Foot Wedge
A play on words, the "foot wedge" is where a golfer who dislikes his/her lie kicks the ball to a more favorable position. This is technically not legal to do in golf, but casual golfers may use it to make the game more enjoyable. It is also common to see casual golfers use when playing during fall and winter where course conditions are not as good.
Your ball is behind a tree, you might need a little foot wedge to help you out on this one!
Read more: Foot Wedge
Golf Slang Starting With ‘G’
Go-to Shot
Golfers refer to their "go-to shot" as the type of shot they are most comfortable hitting, especially when they are a bit nervous. Typically, this is used for tee shots to get the ball in play. For example, my "go-to shot" is a fade. I'll always try to hit a fade when the pressure is on.
When you're under pressure, you'll need a go-to shot that you are comfortable with.
Read more: Go-to Shot
Grounding the club
Grounding the club is when you set up to a shot and your club touches the ground behind the ball. This is not allowed in the bunker or hazards.
When you hit that bunker shot, make sure you don't ground your club!
Read more: Grounding the club
Golf Slang Starting With ‘H’
Hitting Bombs
Made famous by Phil Mickelson's social media accounts, "hitting bombs" refers to hitting the driver a far distance in golf and swinging hard.
Phil Mickelson was hitting bombs off the tee during that round.
Read more: Hitting Bombs
Golf Slang Beginning With ‘I’:
Golf Slang Beginning With ‘J’:
Golf Slang Beginning With ‘K’:
Golf Slang Starting With ‘L’
Lip Out
A lip out is when a putt rolls over the edge of the hole, almost goes in, then "lips out" and misses.
What a terrible lip out, you got robbed on that putt!
Read more: Lip Out
Golf Slang Beginning With ‘M’:
Golf Slang Beginning With ‘N’:
Golf Slang Starting With ‘O’
On a Rope
You might hear, "That shot was on a rope" or "That shot was on a string". This means that the golfer has hit a perfectly straight golf shot that never left the target line. This is a compliment that describes a great golf shot!
Nice, that shot was on a rope!
Read more: On a Rope
Golf Slang Starting With ‘P’
Play it as it lies
In a round of golf, you can get free relief and change your "lie" in some scenarios. For example, if your ball is plugged in the fairway, sitting on a cart path, or resting against a man-made structure like a water fountain. In other cases, you must "play it as it lies", which means you cannot touch the ball or change how it sits. In the majority of golf shots, you will "play it as it lies".
Be an honest golfer and play it as it lies!
Read more: Play it as it lies
Golf Slang Beginning With ‘Q’:
Golf Slang Beginning With ‘R’:
Golf Slang Starting With ‘S’
Soft Hands
When someone has "soft hands", that means that they have great feel around the greens and are good at chipping and pitching. On tour, Phil Mickelson is famous for having one of the best short games (putting and chipping), so we might say, "Phil has soft hands around the greens".
Try and soften up the hands on this next chip. You're hitting it too hard.
Read more: Soft Hands