Golf is its own universe, and has its own language. Understanding that language helps you to play with clearer purpose, and with focused intent. This blog post explains some very useful golf terms. Future blog posts will “connect the dots” so that you can apply these terms to your practice and your play.

The target line is an imaginary line that runs from the ball to the target. To identify the target line, stand behind the ball and look at the target. Then, imagine a line running from the target, through the ball, to where you are standing. It’s best to get into the habit of straddling the target line when you identify it.

​The target line is important because it helps you to align your clubface, and your body, correctly for the shot you are about to play. When you know the target line, you have the correct reference point from which to judge and control your face-to-path relationship.Clean clubs are essential for optimal performance. Dirt and debris can alter the club's weight, balance, and gunk-filled grooves will change for the worse how your ball behaves (how it launches and spins).

When you take your address position and are ready to hit the ball, you are standing on the inside -- all the area between you and the target line.

If you are standing on the inside of the target line, then the other side of the target line is the outside.

This is the lowest part of your swing arc in the downsing/forwardswing. Most of the time we want the low point to be on the target-side of the golf ball (hit the ball first then the ground).

This is part of the golf club that is designed to make contact with the ball. In irons and wedges, the face has scoring lines (also called grooves) in the area where contact is made. These grooves serve a similar purpose as the tread on your car tires.

This describes the direction that your clubhead is traveling through impact. We use Inside and Outside to describe how the clubhead moves; very often these are simply abbreviated to In and Out.

If the clubhead approaches the ball from the Inside (this is desirable) then the club path is described as from the Inside.

​If the clubhead approaches the ball from the Outside (not often desirable) then the club path is described as from the Outside.

The golf ball launches in the direction the clubface is pointing at impact. And, it curves because of the relationship between the face and the path.

If the face is open to the path, the ball curves in the direction of Outside the target line.

If the face is closed to the path, the ball curves in the direction of Inside the target line.

How much the ball curves depends on the angular difference between the face and the path.

If the face matches the path, then the ball does not curve.

​By combining this information (by altering the face-to-path relationship intentionally) you can create whatever ball flight you want. And it's not that difficult to learn how to do that; future blog posts will explain different ball flights and how to create them.

Taking time to internalize these (and other) important golf terms will help your game. If you don't understand the language of golf, then it's difficult to play golf.

​Future blog posts will go in depth into these concepts and terms.

Ideas and editing: Coach Karl
Writing assistance: MS Copilot