Do you know the difference between a Putt and a Punch? When should you use a Chip? Familiarising yourself with different shots and strategies can make all the difference in a game of golf.

Use our quick guide below to study up on different golf techniques.

• Drive
• Fairway
• Approach
• Chip
• Punch
• Flop
• Shank
• Draw
• Fade
• Putt

Drive

You don’t need a driving licence for this golf shot, just a good swing. The drive is usually the first shot on a hole, aiming to get your ball as far as possible. This shot is all about finding a balance between power and aim to get a good distance towards the green.

Fairway

A fairway shot is what it says on the tin - a shot taken from the fairway!

Approach

This is how you get your ball onto the green. A variety of clubs are used to achieve this, as the distance to the green will depend on how successful your drive was.

Chip

Less popular than the potato chip, but still very useful, is the chip shot. This is a quick, short manoeuvre which sends the ball a short distance. It is sometimes needed to get onto the green from a very short distance away, or to avoid a hazard.

Punch

A punch shot is very similar to a chip, but each has its own uses. A punch shot is a flat shot, meaning the ball stays close to the ground - perfect for nailing shots on a windy day!

Flop

Good for mini-golf, a flop lets you jump over an obstacle. Think short-distance, but with a lot of height, like a big arch. Flop shots are particularly useful if you don’t want the ball to roll very far once it lands.

Shank

While a flop may sound like a bad thing, you’re probably actually thinking of a shank. This is when you strike the ball with the wrong part of the club, and it goes careening off in completely the wrong direction. Needless to say, this is not a strategy you really want to use.

Draw

This shot is when the ball spins, curving slightly from right to left…

Fade

…and this shot is when the ball spins, curving slightly from left to right! At least, that’s the case if you’re a right-handed golfer. If you’re left-handed, just flip it the other way around.

Putt

If you’ve made it to the putt, then you’ve made it to the hole! This is usually the last shot. It takes a lot of focus and accuracy, but usually isn’t a very powerful shot. The goal is to cover the final bit of distance between your ball and the hole.

There are a few other shots, such as Lay-ups and Bunker shots (for avoiding and escaping hazards). However, these are ten that will get you well on your way to understanding the language of golf.

Once you’ve got your shots in order, it’s time to start thinking about golf balls. With our wide selection of personalised balls from a variety of well-known brands, we can help.

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Whether you’re new to golf or a pro, it’s easy to get confused by golfing terms. You probably know what a Bogey is, but what’s a Snowman? What’s a Dogleg? With official terms, shots, scores, and common lingo – golfers practically have their own language!

We’ve broken down some common golfing terms into a simple cheat sheet to help you understand. With a bit of help, you’ll be speaking golf before you know it.

Basic Terms

Let’s start with the simple stuff. Here are some basic words that you’ll hear a lot when out playing golf.

• The Green

The Green is the grassy area surrounding the hole. Generally, your first few shots are spent trying to get onto the green.

• Fairway

Outside of the green, you have the fairway. You can tell the difference because the grass is much shorter. If you’re on the Fairway, then you’re aiming for the Green!

• Tee

The place where it all begins. This refers to both the peg that you balance your ball on, and the area that the peg is in.

• Bunker

Pits of sand that act as a hazard. Try to avoid these, if you can!

• Handicap

A score that suggests how good a player is at golf. The lower the handicap, the better.

• Bandit

Someone plays better than their handicap suggests. This is usually frowned upon, so try not to be a bandit.

• Mulligan

A chance to retake a shot that you aren’t happy with (usually not allowed in official tournaments). Supposedly named for Canadian golfer David Bernard Mulligan, after he dared to take a second shot.

• Whiff

If someone says you’ve “whiffed” then that’s not a great sign. This means you’ve missed the ball entirely! Not to worry, have another swing at it.

Other Terms

Now here are some words you’re a little less likely to know, even if you’re a seasoned player. Phrases come in-and-out of fashion, so a few of these may be more popular with some golfers than others. Still, throwing “Fried Egg” or “Snowman” into your golf conversations should help brighten up the fairway.

• Dogleg

A hole with a noticeable left or right turn in the fairway.

• Gimme Putt

If your ball is right on the edge of the hole, everyone might agree that it’s a gimme putt. Basically, everyone agrees that you could probably hit it into the hole, so they just move on instead.

• Fried Egg

When your ball gets half-buried in a bunker, so that it looks a bit like a fried egg (but less delicious).

• Snowman

When you score an eight – so it looks like there’s a tiny snowman drawn on your scorecard. Cute, but not great for your overall score.

• Scratch

A “scratch” golfer usually plays at or below par, because they have a handicap of zero.

• Plumb Bob

When a golfer holds a putter out vertically and allows gravity to help them figure out the angle the green lies at. This is a useful technique.

Now that you know what golf terms mean, it’s time to get out there and practise your new vocabulary. Ask the Bandit if he wants to Mulligan because of his Fried Egg, or ask a Scratch for a Gimme Putt on the Green.

Once you’ve practiced the lingo, you might feel like practising some actual golf. We can help you get started, with great prices on personalised golf balls and golfing accessories.

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