Golf jargon can feel like its own language. Whether it’s from a caddy or a playing partner, you can learn the meaning behind what they say and even understand how to apply it to your game.
If you want to know what’s being said and how to interpret it in a way that will benefit your approach on the course, try these five common golf phrases:
1. “Give everything you have”
This phrase generally means that the shot is long; they imply that you should use your longest club, such as a 3-wood.
How to interpret it:
Use the longest club you can comfortably hit with. If that’s not a 3-wood, perhaps a 7-wood or a hybrid is the better choice — something you can hit consistently and with confidence.
2. “The next one is good”
You often hear this in team events like scrambles. It means that if you miss the putt, someone else in your group probably has it covered. What they’re really saying is, “Don’t leave it too short.”
How to interpret it:
Be a little more aggressive. Give the putt a chance to reach the hole, but don’t hit it so hard that excessive speed prevents it from falling. Remember: a golf ball can fall in around the edges if it slows down, but if it goes too fast it will just roll past.
3. “Don’t give away the hole”
This phrase also relates to putting and your goal. It means the putt will break, but not much – probably less than two inches in either direction.
How to interpret it:
Keep your exact aim in mind, especially on shorter putts. You might consider using the line on your ball to help with aim so that when you step in you can rely on the alignment of your putter face.
4. “You have a short stroke – here is your sand or lob wedge”
Caddies often assume that if you are close to the green and don’t need a full swing, your club of choice must be the loftiest club.
How to interpret it:
That can work, but it’s not always the best choice, especially if you have room to roll the ball to the pin.
First determine the type of shot (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 set it too high”
When you pop up a drivesomeone might tell you that this is because you set it too high. Although in most cases that is not true.
How to interpret it:
When teeing off your drives, you want about three-quarters of the ball to be above the crown of the club at address. While you may have set it too high, it’s more likely that some other aspect of your setup caused it to appear. Instead of writing it off as an error with your tee height, check other adjustment keys.
Like ball position for example. Ideally, you want to play the ball forward from your stance. It can also be a result of poor shoulder positioning. On rides you want to tilt your shoulders slightly, with the front shoulder slightly higher than the trail shoulder. This will help you hit the ball up and through the ball.
Now when you hear someone say you’ve put the ball too high, you know that this is only one possibility and that you also need to check your ball position and shoulder tilt and make sure you’re hitting the ball upwards – not downwards.
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