A GUIDE TO GOLF ETIQUETTE
and you thought golf was simple......
| A GUIDE TO GOLF ETIQUETTE and you thought golf was simple...... |
There is no guarantee that we will all be good golfers - but it is important that we know how to act properly when playing. In other words, no matter how talented a golfer we may be, if we are unable to observe the proper golf etiquette, we will soon run out of golfing partners!
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 | GOLF TIPS FOR EVERYONE |
The Set-Up
Golfers striving to improve their scores must focus on fundamentals for success. The single most important and most overlooked full swing fundamental is the setup. The setup writes the script for the swing and all too often amateur and professional golfers struggle due to poor address positions. All great golfers and teachers are aware of the importance of the setup.
"If you setup correctly, there’s a good chance you’ll hit a reasonable shot, even if you make a mediocre swing. If you setup to the ball poorly, you’ll hit a lousy shot even if you make the greatest swing in the world." - Jack Nicklaus
"Before they ever begin swinging, I can improve nine out of every ten typical amateur golfers." - Tommy Armour
"What invariably distinguishes a good player from a poor one is their respective address positions or setups." - David Leadbetter
A good setup helps you achieve three important objectives. First, proper posture and foot placement allows you to maintain your balance throughout the swing. All great players are balanced from address to the finish, which allows them to hit the ball squarely in the center of the clubface. Balance is the key to consistent ball striking and a good setup allows you to remain in balance when swinging.
Second, a good setup helps you create power and control the direction of the shot. Key pre-swing elements such as ball position and body alignment create the conditions that lead to control. The body angles that you create at address directly influence the path and angle on which you swing the club. They influence the actual in-swing body positions and movements; therefore your setup directly affects all elements of the swing.
Finally, all great players pre-set themselves in positions that they try to create at impact. In other words, your setup puts you in positions of advantage, making a fundamentally sound swing possible. Your swing evolves from your setup and if you want to achieve a good impact position, you can simply setup with impact in mind. A good setup stacks the deck in your favor and places you in positions of advantage.
Your knees should be slightly flexed and directly over the balls of your feet for balance. The centre of the upper spine (between your shoulder blades), knees and balls of the feet should be stacked when viewed from behind the ball on the target line. Also, the back knee should be cocked slightly inward towards the target. This will help you brace yourself on this leg during the back swing, thus preventing lower body sway.
Your body should bend at the hips, not in the waist (your buttocks will protrude slightly when you are in this correct posture). The spine is the axis of rotation for the swing, so it should be bent towards the ball from the hips at approximately a 45-degree angle to the shaft of the club. This right angle relationship between the spine and the shaft will help you swing the club, arms and body as a team on the correct plane.
Your vertebrae should be in a straight line with no bending in the middle of the spine. If your spine is in a "slouch" posture, every degree of bend decreases your shoulder turn by 1.5 degrees. Your ability to turn the shoulders on the back swing equals your power potential, so keep your spine in line for longer drives and more consistent ball striking.
When viewed from face on, your spine should tilt to the side, slightly away from the target. The target side hip and shoulder should be slightly higher than the back hip and shoulder. The entire pelvis should be set an inch or two toward the target. This places the hips in the lead and it counter balances your body as your upper spine leans away from the target.
Your chin should be up, out of your chest to encourage a better shoulder turn. The head should be tipped at the same angle as the spine, and your eyes should focus on the inside portion of the back of the ball.
Alignment
The easiest way to conceptualize this is the image of a railroad track. The body is on the inside rail and the ball is on the outside rail. For right-handers, at 100 yards your body will appear aligned approximately 3 to 5 yards left, at 150 yards approximately 8 to 10 yards left and at 200 yards 12 to 15 yards left.
Foot Placement
The feet should be shoulder width (outside of the shoulders to the inside of the heels) for the middle irons. A short iron stance will be two inches narrower and the stance for long irons and woods should be two inches wider. The target-side foot should be flared towards the target from 20 to 40 degrees to allow your body to rotate toward the target on the downswing. The back foot should be square (90 degrees to the target line) to slightly open to create the proper hip turn on the back swing. Your flexibility and body rotation speed determine the proper foot placement.
 | A-Z GOLF TERMINOLOGY |
A
ace A hole made in one stroke.
address The stance taken by a player in preparing to hit the ball. The positioning of your body in relationship to the golf ball. Same as "addressing the ball".
albatross Former name of a "Double Eagle" - the score for a hole made in 3 strokes under par. A British term.
angle of approach The angle or degree at which the club moves downward, or upward, toward the ball.
approach shot Normally a short or medium shot played to the putting green or pin.
apron The grassy area surrounding the putting surface. See fringe.
attend the flag To hold and then remove the flag while another player putts.
away The ball that is the greatest distance from the hole when more than one golfer is playing. It is the first to be played.
B
backspin A reverse spin placed on the ball to make it stop short on the putting surface.
backswing The backward part of the swing starting from the ground and going back over the head.
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 1850's and strip rubber wound around a core in the 1900's. 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 techinical term for a plugged ball.
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 marker A token or a small coin used to spot the balls position on the green prior to lifting it.
ball retriever A long pole with a scoop on the end which is used to collect balls from water hazards and other areas.
birdie One stroke under par for a hole. Also possibly derived from the term "It flew like a bird" to indicate a good shot.
bite The backspin imparted on the ball that makes the ball stop dead, or almost so, with little or no roll.
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 that takes a large amount of sand with it when hitting out of a sand trap. An explosion shot. An aggressive shot. A powerful drive.
blind hole If the putting green cannot be seen by the player as he approaches, the hole is called blind.
bogey A score of one over par for the hole. To play a hole in one stroke over par.
break The way in which the ball will roll or bounce. Also the sideways slope on the green.
bump and run A chip shot including the run of the ball after landing. Also known as 'chip and run'
bunker A depression in bare ground that is usually covered with sand. Also called a "sand trap". It is considered a hazard under the Rules of Golf.
C
casual water Any temporary accumulations of water that are visible before or after a player takes his stance and is not a hazard or in a water hazard. A player may lift his ball from casual water without penalty.
chip shot A short approach shot of low trajectory usually hit from near the green. It is normally hit with overspin or bite.
chip in A holed chip shot.
Choke down To grip down farther on the club handle.
chop To hit the ball with a hacking motion.
closed face When the clubface is pointed to the left of the target when you address the ball.
closed stance A stance taken with the right foot pulled back, away from the ball.
D
dance floor for the green. As in 'you're on the dance floor'.
dogleg A left or right bend in the fairway.
double bogey A score of two over par for a single hole.
double eagle A score of three under par for a single hole. Same as "albatross".
downhill lie When addressing the ball and your right foot is higher than your left (for right-handed players).
downswing The motion of swinging a club from the top of the swing to the point of impact.
E
eagle Two strokes under par for a single hole. To play a hole at 2 under par.
F
fade A term used to describe the slight turning of the ball from left to right (by a right-handed player) at the end of its flight. From right to left for a left-handed player.
fairway The area of the course between the tee and the green that is well-maintained allowing a good lie for the ball.
flagstick A movable marker to show the location of the hole.
fore A warning shouted out to warn anyone who may be in danger from the flight of the ball.
free drop A drop where no penalty stroke is incurred.
fried-egg A ball half-buried in the sand.
fringe The area surrounding the putting green which is sometimes cut to a height lower than the fairway but not as short as the green itself. Same as "apron".
G
gimme : A putt that is certain to be made on the next shot and will most likely be conceded by an opponent.
grounding the club Placing the clubhead behind the ball at address.
ground under repair : Any part of the course being repaired is ground under repair. A ball that lands in such an area must be removed without penalty.
H
half Shot A shot played with a less than full swing.
handicap The number of strokes a player may deduct from his actual score to adjust his scoring ability to the level of a scratch golfer. It is designed to allow golfers of different abilities to basically compete on the same level.
handicap certificate a document issued by the player's home club or golfing association that indicates his current handicap.
hole out To complete the play for one hole by hitting the ball into the cup.
honor The privilege of hitting first from the tee. Usually assigned at the first tee. After the first tee, the privilege goes to the winner of the last hole.
hook To hit the ball in a manner that causes it to curve from right to left in the case of a right-handed player or left to right for a left hander.
I-L
lag To putt the ball with the intention leaving it short to ensure being able to hole out on the next stroke.
lateral hazard Any hazard running parallel to the line of play.
lay up To play a shorter shot than normally might be attempted. Would be done to achieve a good lie short of a hazard rather than trying to hit the green in one less shot.
lie The position in which the ball rests on the ground. The lie can be good or bad in terms of the nature of ground where is rests, the slope, and the level of difficulty in playing it. The number of strokes a player is to have played during the hole.
line The correct path of a putt to the hole when putting. Also when on the fairway, the correct direction in which the ball to be played toward the putting green.
lip The top rim of the hole or cup..
lob shot A shot that goes straight up and comes almost straight down with very little spin or forward momentum. Useful when there is not much green to play to.
local rules A set of rules for a club determined by the members.
loft The elevation of the ball in the air. Also means the angle at which the club face is set from the vertical and is used to lift the ball into the air. It is measured precisely as the angle between the face and a line parallel to the shaft.
loose impediments Any natural object that is not fixed or growing. This can include loose stones, twigs, branches, molehills, dung, worms and insects.
M
marker A small object, like a coin, that is used to mark the spot of the ball when it is lifted off the putting green.
match play A competition played with each hole being a separate contest. The team or player winning the most holes, rather than having the lowest score, is the winner. The winner of the first hole is "one up". Even if the player wins that hole by two or three strokes, he is still only "one up". The lead is increased every time the player wins another hole. The winner is the one who wins the most holes. This was the original form of golf competition.
medal play A competition decided by the overall number of strokes used to complete the round or rounds. Same as "stroke play".
mulligan A second shot that is allowed to be taken in friendly play when the player has "muffed" the first one. Not allowed by the rules.
N
net A player's final score after he subtracts his handicap.
O
obstruction Any artificial object that has been left or placed on the course with the exception of course boundary markers and constructed roads and paths.
out of bounds The area outside of the course in which play is prohibited. A player is penalized stroke and distance. That is he must replay the shot with a penalty of one stroke.
outside agency Anyone who is not part of the competitors side in stroke play or not part of the match. Such as observers, forecaddies, referee etc.
overclub To use a club that gives too much distance.
overlapping grip As used by a right-handed player having the little finger of the right hand overlapping the space between the forefinger and second finger of the left hand. The opposite for a left-handed player.
P
par The number of strokes a player should take to complete a round with good performance. Par for each hole is given on the scorecard.
pin-high A ball even with the pin but off to one side. Same as "hole high".
provisional ball A ball played if the previously played ball may be lost or out of bounds.
putting green The surface area around the hole that is specially prepared for putting.
Q-R
reading the green Determining the path which the ball will take on its way to the hole by analyzing the contour and texture of the green.
reverse overlap For a right-handed player, a putting grip in which the index finger of the right hand overlaps the little finger of the left and the converse for a left-handed player..
rough Long grass areas adjacent to fairway, greens, tee off areas or hazards.
rub of the green Any accident, not caused by a player or caddie, that moves or stops a ball in play and for which no relief is given under the rules. This is when your ball is deflected by agencies beyond your control that are not part of the match or the competitor's side in stroke play. A bit of bad luck.
S
sand trap The common name for a bunker .
sand wedge An iron with a heavy flange on the bottom that is used primarily to get out of sand traps.
T
tee A disposable device, normally a wooden peg, on which the ball is placed for driving. Also refers to the area from which the ball is hit on the first shot of the hole. Originally a pile of sand used to elevate the ball for driving.
tee off To play a tee shot.
tee up To begin play by placing the ball on the tee.
tee-shot A shot played from a tee.
teeing ground The area in which you must tee off your ball. Ball must be teed off within the markers and no more than two club lengths behind them.
temporary green A green used in the winter to save the permanent green.
thin The ball is hit thin when it is hit above center with the clubhead traveling on too high a line.
trajectory The flight path of the ball.
triple bogey This term is used when a golfer is 3 over par on a hole.
U
unplayable lie A lie in which the ball is impossible to play such as in a thicket of trees.
V-Z
waggle Movement of the club head prior to swinging. A flourishing of the club behind and over the ball.