Face
1. the striking surface of the club head 2. the sloped surface of a bunker that is (usually) toward the player (also "clubface")
Face balanced
a method of weighting a putter so that when the shaft is balanced on the finger the face points generally upward
Face progression
the distance from the center of the shaft or hosel to the blade, or leading edge, of the club face
Fade
a gently curving shot from left to right (right-handed player)
Fairway
the closely mown area between the tee and green
Fairway bunker
a sand or deep grass hazard situated in, or adjacent to, the fairway
Fairway markers
markers place on a golf course indicate the distance from the marker to the green
some fairway markers give the yardage as exact numbers, while many are color-coded for different distances (example yellow=250 yards, blue=200 yards, white=150 yards, red=100 yards. These colors are not standardized and may vary based on the specific course layout.
Fairways in regulation FIR
a fairway is considered hit "in regulation" if any part of the ball is touching the fairway surface after the tee shot on a par 4 or 5.
Fairway wood
a wood or metalwood other than the driver, or 1 wood
Fall line
the natural and most direct downhill course of a given slope, the path water would take, or that gravity would dictate, down a slope without obstacles
False front
a slope back towards the fairway on the front section of a putting green, usually where the ball will roll back off the green, effectively making the "true" front of the green beyond the slope, where the ground is more level
Fan
A stroke that missing the ball completely (also "whiff")
Fat / Fat shot
hitting the ground before the ball, usually resulting in the ball not going as far as intended (also "chunky, fat, thick, heavy, laying the sod over it, hairpiece, hitting the big ball [the Earth] before the little ball" and many more)
Feathery
early type of golf ball made with a leather cover and stuffed with goose feathers
Feel
the sensation of, or level sensitivity for, playing shots in golf (also "touch")
Ferrule
a decorative "cap" where the shaft inserts into the clubhead to make the transition from the head to the shaft smoother, more tapered or finished (some clubs have ferrules, others are designed without them)
Fescue
type of grass usually used for rough, mainly found in coastal regions
Finish position
the last position, or end, of the swing (also just "finish")
Flag
usually, but not always, a fabric banner atop the pin or flagstick to make the location of the hole visible
Flagstick
a slender pole, usually between 6-7 feet in height, with a flag on it placed inside the cup to mark the location of the hole (also "pin, stick")
Definition by the Rules of Golf: The "flagstick" is a movable straight indicator, with or without bunting or other material attached, centered in the hole to show its position. It must be circular in cross-section. Padding or shock absorbent material that might unduly influence the movement of the ball is prohibited.
Flange
1. the back edge of the sole (bottom) of an iron club (usually associated with the Sand Wedge) 2. a style of putter head with a slightly projecting rear-bottom edge
Flare
a shot that is typically high and a push (to the right for a right-handed player) (also "block, push")
Flat stick
another name for the putter
Flat
a relatively shallow or more horizontal swing plane or lie angle
Flex
the relative strength (stiffness or softness) of a club shaft (also "frequency")
Flex point
the point of maximum bending of a club's shaft, measured with the club in a horizontal position by securing the grip end of the club and hanging a standardized weight just above the club head (also "kick point")
Flier
a shot that flies further than desired as a result of decreased backspin, usually resulting from long grass (but also could be water) between the ball and clubface at impact 2. a lie that causes the ball to fly farther than intended (also perhaps "flier lie, flyer, shooter, jumper")
Flip
1. the active pushing or throwing of the club with the hands and wrists (usually used in reference to the club head getting past the hands) 2. implies a very short or insignificant distance remaining for an approach shot (usually used together with the word "wedge")
Flop shot
a soft-landing, relatively vertical shot from close to the green (usually played with a sand wedge or lob wedge)
Florida scramble
a modified scramble tournament format in which the same player's shot may not be selected on two consecutive shots
Fluffy
when the ball is sitting up in longish grass with a lot of air underneath it and a lot of grass surrounding it ("fluffy lie")
Follow-through
the continuation of a golf stoke after the bottom of the swing and impact area (also "finish")
Foot wedge
kicking the ball (which, of course, is against the rules)
Fore
used (usually yelled loudly) to warn golfers in range when it appears a ball flight may possibly hit other players or spectators
Forecaddie
persons situated in the general landing area of holes to help quickly identify a ball's position (also "spotter")
Forged
a process of manufacturing clubheads where 100% stainless steel is stamped or hammered and ground into shape, with or without heat (as in "forged irons")
Forward press
a (usually slight) movement of the hands and arms forward (in the direction of the target) to initiate or trigger the backswing
Foursome
1. four players playing together in a group 2. a match in which two 2-person teams compete against each other with each side only playing one ball
Four-Ball
a match in which two 2-person teams compete against each other using the one best score from each side -- commonly and mistakenly referred to as "Best-Ball," which is actually one player competing against the better ball of two or three other players
Free drop
dropping the ball without penalty in any number of situations allowed by the rules of golf (also "free relief")
Frequency
a measurement of the relative flexibility, firmness, tension or strength of a club shaft (also "flex")
Frequency analyzer
a device that measures the flex, or frequency, of a golf club's shaft by holding the grip end of the club fast while the club head end is bounced, or vibrated, and the cycles per minute (CPM) counted
Frequency matched
different club shafts that are of consistent flex as measured by a frequency analyzer
Fried egg
a liein which the ball is half buried and thus resembles a fried egg (usually in a sand filled bunker)
Fringe
the short grass that separates the putting green from rough or fairway (also called "apron, collar, frog hair")
Frog hair
short grass that separates the putting green from rough or fairway (also called "apron, collar, fringe") the
From the tips
playing each hole from its longest possible yardage (from the farthest back place you can stand on the farthest back teeing ground) so that you play the entire course at its longest possible yardage (also "playing from the tips")
Front nine
the first 9 holes (1-9) of an 18 hole golf course (also "front, front side")
Full finger grip
a method of holding the club using all ten fingers on the grip with no overlapping or interlocking fingers (also "baseball, ten finger" grip)