Golf Glossary

Waggle: Pre-shot movement in which a golfer moves the club back away from the ball a time or two, usually to relieve tension.

Waiting List: The number and ranking of individuals waiting to join a private club that has a full membership at the time. Waiting lists at some private clubs can be many years.

Walk Over: When an opponent fails to turn up you will proceed to the next round.

Waste Area: An area on a golf course that is similar to a sand trap, but is not declared an official hazard. It is generally not maintained or raked and is often comprised of sea shells or pebbles.

Water Club: Obsolete club from around the 1880's to the 1930's that was designed for playing the ball from a water hazard.

Water Hazard: The term applied to any relatively permanent and open area of water (sea, lake, pond, etc.) anywhere on the course. The penalty for hitting your ball into a water hazard is one stroke.

Wedge: A club used to give the ball maximum loft.

Weight Transfer: The movement of your weight backwards and forwards during your swing.

Whiff: Term applied to the situation when a player has swung at the ball and missed completely. This is counted as a stroke.

Whins: A British term for heavy rough. Gorse bushes.

Whipping: The material used to wrap the space where the head and shaft are joined.

Whippy: A shaft more flexible than normal.

Wind Cheater: A shot that flies low into the wind in an effort to achieve less wind resistance and greater distance.

Winter Greens: Prepared surfaces, for putting on when the normal green is unplayable due to adverse weather.

Winter Rules: These usually permits a player to clean his ball and move it to a better lie.

Wood: Clubs made of wood. They are made in varying sizes and thicknesses for different ways of hitting the ball.

Worm Burner: A poor shot characterized by the ball not getting airborne and simply rolling fast along the ground.

Wrist to Floor: Important measurement in static fitting by measuring from the crease just above the palm. Left arm for RH golfers. Right arm for LH golfers.