Golf Terminology - The Golf Club - South Africa - Golf Tours

You are here: Golf Club Membership > Golf Information > Golf Terms > A

Golfing Terminology brought to you by The Golf Club

Golfing Terminology starting with "A"

Ace: A hole in one shot whether it be on a par 3, 4 or 5.
Acceleration: The steady increase in speed most often associated with the hands, arms or club.
Action: To impart backspin onto the ball.
Address: When a player lines up to hit the ball and begins the pre-swing routine, adjusting one's stance and position relative to the ball. If the ball moves once a player has addressed the ball, there is a one-stroke penalty.
Aim: Generally, the direction in which your target lies and the direction you intend for your ball to go.
Aimline: When lining up for a putt, the direction of the invisible straight line running from the ball directly to the pin, which you must then adjust according to the amount of break which you have determined the green to have, based on your read of the green.
Airmail the green: When a player overpowers a shot aimed at the putting green, and the ball flight carries it completely over the green.
Albatross: a hole played three strokes under par. They are statistically more difficult to get on a par 5 than it is to get a hole in one on a par 4.
Alignment: The position of a player's body relative to the target line of the ball.
All Square: in match play, a match is all square (tied) when both players or teams have won the same number of holes. It is abbreviated "AS" on the scorecard.
Allen Wrench: Type of wrench used to remove or install screws in adjustable-weighted clubheads. It is also called a hex wrench.
Alloy: Any combination of metals used to produce a club head or shaft. Alloys may contain aluminum, steel, beryllium, nickel, copper, titanium, or any number of other metals in varying combinations.
Ambrose: A system of team play whereby each player takes a shot, and the ball is next played from the best position. All players then take a shot from this position, and so on.
Angle of Attack: Also referred to as "Angle of Approach". The angle at which the club head strikes the ball. This affects the trajectory the ball will travel and spin.
Approach Shot: A shot intended to land the ball on the green.
Apron: The grass surface on the perimeter of the green that separates it from the fairway.
Ascending Weight Technology: The concept of using progressively heavier shafts in the set as the club becomes shorter. The lighter shafts are used in the long irons for added club head speed and distance, while the use of heavier shafts in the shorter irons to promote control.
Attend (the Flagstick): When a player holds and removes the flagstick for another player.
Axis: Generally refers to a straight line (the spine) that the upper body rotates around in the course of the golf swing.