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A Glossary of Golf Terms for Beginners

By: Bobby Lopez, PGA

Address: The process of placing the club behind the ball and taking a stance in preparation of hitting it.
Alignment: Having the shoulders, hips, knees and feet in proper alignment with each other.
Aim: Having the shoulders, hips, knees and feet properly aligned and pointed in the same direction, usually at a 90-degree angle to the target.
Backspin: The spin of a ball where the forward area of the ball rotates over the top area of the ball causing the ball�s forward movement to slow on impact.
Backswing: The start of the swing as the club moves away from the target.
Ball Flight: The path and trajectory of a ball while in the air.
Closed Club Face: Occurs when the club face is turned slightly counterclockwise
within the swing path. Can cause the ball to hook.
Club Face: The front of the club, which makes contact with the ball.
Compensation: A movement for the purpose of overcoming another flawed motion.
Divot: The mark left in the fairway or rough, caused by the removal of turf by an iron. Indicates the [proper] descending blow of an iron.
Downhill Lie: The angle caused by the ball being on a downward sloping hill.
Draw: The flight of a ball where it bends slightly to the inside, relative to the swing.
Fade: The flight of a ball where it bends slightly to the outside, relative to the swing.
Flier Lie: The lie of a ball on fluffy grass, which causes the ball to pop up more quickly than expected.
Green: The manicured portion of the hole where the cup resides.
Grip: The rubber, plastic or leather sheath on the shaft.
Heel: Where the club head is attached to the shaft.
Hook: The flight of a ball where it bends sharply to the inside, relative to the swing.
Inside Path: The path of the club when it is inside the plane.
Lie: How the ball is sitting (good, bad, flier, etc.)
Lie Angle: The angle of the club shaft in relation to the sole of the club head.
Loft: The face angle relative to the sole of the club head.
Open Club Face: Occurs when the club face is turned slightly clockwise within the swing path. Can cause the ball to slice.
Outside Path: The path of the club when it is outside the plane.
Par: The number of strokes designated by the golf course for each hole and tallied for a total amount. Most 18-hole courses are between 70 and 72.
Pivot: The turning or �coiling� of the upper body during the swing.
Pull: Ball flight characterized by going straight and left of the target
Pull Hook: Ball flight characterized by starting left of the target and bending/curving even more.
Push: Ball flight characterized by going straight and right of the target
Push Slice: Ball flight characterized by starting right of the target and bending/curving even more.
Shank: Hitting the ball off the heel area of the club, which causes the ball to squirt low and to the inside.
Slice: The flight of a ball where it bends sharply to the outside, relative to the swing.
Square Club Face: Occurs when the club face is perpendicular to the swing path.
Sweet Spot: The area on the face of a club where the impact is most beneficial, as designed by the manufacturer.
Toe: The outside of the club, or part of the club head opposite the heel.
Unplayable Lie: A lie where the ball cannot be played due to natural obstructions. See the Rules for details on penalties.

Get a FREE online golf lesson from the Golf Swami at: Bobby Lopez, PGA Bobby Lopez and the G-TEAM (757) 382-5500 bobbylopez@bobbylopezgolf.com www.bobbylopezgolf.com golftipsbobbylopez.blogspot.com/

More Info On Golf Swing Aid

Try Some High-Tech Clothes
We know some of the new materials look a bit different, but they really do wick away moisture and keep you cooler than cotton.
...Golf Tips magazine

Controlling the Course
In order to play the course well, you need to control the ball, it's a vicious circle. Control the ball, control the club, the body must be doing the right thing, the mind must be at ease and then you can control the course. We get two types of golfers at our school. Those who hit there ball and follow it around the golf course and it leads them on a very merry chase, and those who actually pick a target and direct, not steer, their golf ball toward the target. Basically, golfers swing different, but they all play the same. It's just a different target that they're playing to, a very long hitter is picking one out at 300 yards, a shorter hitter maybe picking one at 125 yards, but everybody needs to pick targets and break the course up into manageable bits of real estate. Very much like you'd cut your steak at night, you cut it in size bits that you're comfortable chewing and that's the way you have to chew up the golf course. So learn to control the golf ball, if you can control the ball, you must be controlling the club. If you're controlling the club, your body must be doing the right thing. If your body is doing the right thing then the minds probably in the right place and has been programmed correctly. Then, and only then, do you have any chance of controlling the golf course.
...by Jack Lumpkin

Add More Wedges
It's easier to fill distance gaps with new wedges than with tons of practice.
...Golf Tips magazine

The off-season is also a good time to renew your equipment, in particular your clubs. If you start practicing with your new clubs during winter you have more time to get used to them, rather than having to struggle in spring when the 'serious' golf season starts again. Another reason to stock up during winter is that prices are usually at their lowest, with many merchants offering off-season and (post-)holiday specials.
...PGA Tour

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Open champion calls on Faldo to pick Monty

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 00:00:01 +0100
<p>If Nick Faldo is to ignore the wildcard claims of Colin Montgomerie for the Ryder Cup he will not only be working merely against the wishes of the majority of European supporters but also against that of The Open champion. Padraig Harrington yesterday added his weight to the "Pick Monty" campaign. And he did so with some gusto. "It is very important to get the balance in the team and now that I am in, I hope to tee it up with Monty in Valhalla in September," he said yesterday. "Of course, I would look forward to playing with anyone in the team but going back to the last couple of times I have played, I would certainly pick Monty."</p>

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