5 phrases every golfer should know
Golf lingo can feel like a language of its own. Whether it's coming from a caddie or a playing partner, you can learn the meaning behind what they're saying – and even understand how to apply it to your game.
If you want to know what is being said and how to interpret it in a way that benefits your on-course approach, try it out with these five common golf phrases:
1. "Give it all you got"
This phrase generally means the shot is a long one – they're implying you should use your longest club, such as a 3-wood.
How to interpret it:
Use the longest club you're comfortable hitting. If that's not a 3-wood, maybe a 7-wood or a hybrid is the better choice – something you can hit consistently and confidently.
2. "The next one's good"
You'll often hear this in team events like scrambles. It means that if you miss the putt, someone else in your group likely has it covered. What they're really saying is: "Don't leave it short."
How to interpret it:
Be slightly more aggressive. Give the putt a chance to reach the hole, but don't hit it so hard that it has no chance of dropping due to excess speed. Remember – a golf ball can fall in at the edges if it's slowing down, but with too much pace, it'll just roll right past.
3. "Don't give the hole away"
This phrase also relates to putting and your aim. It means the putt will break, but not by much – likely less than two inches either way.
How to interpret it:
Be mindful of your exact aim, especially on shorter putts. You might consider using the line on your ball to help aim, so when you step in, you can trust your putter face alignment.
4. "You have a short shot – here's your sand or lob wedge"
Caddies often assume that when you're near the green and don't need a full swing, your go-to should be your most lofted club.
How to interpret it:
That can work, but it's not always the best choice – especially if you have room for the ball to roll toward the pin.
Decide the type of shot first (lofted pitch or lower bump-and-run), and then choose the club. Often, a bump-and-run with a pitching wedge is less risky and more consistent.
5. "You teed it too high"
When you pop up a drive, someone might tell you it's because you teed it too high. Although, in most cases, that's not true.
How to interpret it:
When teeing up your drives, you want about three-quarters of the ball to be above the crown of the club at address. While you could be teeing it up too high, it’s more likely that a different aspect of your setup caused you to pop it up. Rather than write it off as an error with your tee height, try checking other setup keys.
Like ball position, for example. Ideally, you want to play the ball forward in your stance. It could also be a product of poor shoulder positioning. On drives, you want to tilt your shoulders slightly – where the lead shoulder is slightly higher than trail shoulder. This will help you hit up and through the ball.
Now when you hear someone say you teed it up too high, you’ll know that’s just one possibility and that you should also check your ball position, shoulder tilt, and ensure you're hitting up on the ball – not down on it.
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