Although the ideal would be to go out to the golf course and always take a perfect shot, there are times when that shot goes wrong. Surprisingly, it is so common for a shot to go wrong, that names have been given to the different ways a shot can be played wrong.

The push

This occurs when a ball lands to the right of the target hole that was actually following a straight path to the target hole.

The pull

This is the opposite of the push shot, in which the ball falls to the left of the target, even though it is on its way straight to the target.

The thin one

This is when the ball does not reach the target hole, due to the ball being hit on the leading edge of the clubface.

The phin

This shot is similar to the skinny shot, but when landing the ball ends up in a fishtail (the ball moves back and forth repeatedly).

Top

This results in the ball being sent a very short distance, practically only dribbling away from where it was hit, and it occurs when the top half of the ball is hit with the golf club.

Fat

This results in the ball falling below the target hole and occurs when it is hit with insufficient power.

The slice

This type of shot is the opposite of a hook, in which the golfer mistakenly sends the ball at an acute angle to the right for a right-handed player and sharply to the left for a left-handed player. Again, this can also be used to good effect by a skilled golfer.

The stem

This is when the ball is inadvertently sent to the right of the desired path (right handed golfer), or sharply to the left of the desired path (left handed golfer), and occurs when the golf ball is hit by the hosel of the golf club. (see below the definition of “hosel”).

The pop-up window

This causes the ball to fly higher than intended, in fact much higher, and occurs when the ball is hit with the top half of the club.

The smell

This happens when the golfer misses the ball (onomatopoeia, named for the sound made when the club misses).

The hook

When the golf ball is hot and arches at a severe angle when not intended, this type of poorly played shot is known as a hook. Right-handed golfers tend to curve the ball sharply to the left and left-handed players turn sharply to the right. This type of shot can be done on purpose and can serve the skilled golfer quite well.

Golf terminology used:

Hosel – The part of the golf club where the club is attached to the shaft.