Help on common words and rules.

[GreyZone]

Hello, I'm new to golf and I'm confused. What does loft mean, for example? What are some other words I should know? Also what are the most important rules I'm golf that aren't talked about as much? And I need clubs,golf bag, etc are their any stores that specializes in golf? Or stores that sell good golf gear? Thanks again for all the help Google is somewhat confusing me. 

[RandallT]

First, welcome to golf and welcome here.

That's a lot of questions! Each one could be a long write-up frankly. 

My thought is that while you might get someone to answer some of it here, I'd think you might simply ask how to get started with the sport, and if anyone has good advice for someone who is so new to the game that they don't own clubs yet. 

My first thought is that you should start with learning a basic swing to see if you enjoy the sport. Much of the rest (like rules) can come later when ready to hit the course. That could be a while.

[GreyZone]

4 minutes ago, RandallT said:

First, welcome to golf and welcome here.

That's a lot of questions! Each one could be a long write-up frankly. 

My thought is that while you might get someone to answer some of it here, I'd think you might simply ask how to get started with the sport, and if anyone has good advice for someone who is so new to the game that they don't own clubs yet. 

My first thought is that you should start with learning a basic swing to see if you enjoy the sport. Much of the rest (like rules) can come later when ready to hit the course. That could be a while.

Thank you! And okay I will ask that then in another form. And I I do like the sport as I had a 9 iron and a golf ball I would hit in the backyard. That got me interested and now I would just like actually get into and perfect my game. Thank you the answer.

[RandallT]

Let's let folks chime in here and see what they think. No need to post again. 

I'm my phone so writing more briefly than I might otherwise do. Welcome again. Friendly crowd here and hopefully you'll get some good insights. 

[saevel25]

19 minutes ago, GreyZone said:

What does loft mean

Loft is the angle formed between the face of the club and the golf shaft. 

20 minutes ago, GreyZone said:

 Also what are the most important rules I'm golf that aren't talked about as much? 

Hitting a provisional. It takes a few extra seconds to do, but it saves time if you think your ball is lost or OB. 

Hitting a provisional means that you tee up the ball again because you assume you might not find it or it might have gone out of bounds. You do not hit a provisional if your ball ends in a water hazard (areas marked by red or yellow stakes). 

Example, you hit a ball close to the white stakes on the right side of the hole. White stakes mark out of bounds. You announce you are hitting a provisional. You tee up again and hit a ball in the fairway. You go look for you ball and you find it is out of bounds. Now instead of being required to go back to the tee box to re-hit you can go to your provisional and play in from there. Just remember that a provisional is a stroke and distance penalty. The score would be as such

Ball 1: Hit first ball OB
Ball 2: Hit provisional + 1 stroke. 
Your shot from the fairway will now be your 4th stroke. 

25 minutes ago, GreyZone said:

And I need clubs,golf bag, etc are their any stores that specializes in golf? 

If you live in Florida then there should be a lot of golf stores down there. 

 

[GreyZone]

2 minutes ago, saevel25 said:

Loft is the angle formed between the face of the club and the golf shaft. 

Hitting a provisional. It takes a few extra seconds to do, but it saves time if you think your ball is lost or OB. 

Hitting a provisional means that you tee up the ball again because you assume you might not find it or it might have gone out of bounds. You do not hit a provisional if your ball ends in a water hazard (areas marked by red or yellow stakes). 

Example, you hit a ball close to the white stakes on the right side of the hole. White stakes mark out of bounds. You announce you are hitting a provisional. You tee up again and hit a ball in the fairway. You go look for you ball and you find it is out of bounds. Now instead of being required to go back to the tee box to re-hit you can go to your provisional and play in from there. Just remember that a provisional is a stroke and distance penalty. The score would be as such

Ball 1: Hit first ball OB
Ball 2: Hit provisional + 1 stroke. 
Your shot from the fairway will now be your 4th stroke. 

If you live in Florida then there should be a lot of golf stores down there. 

 

Okay thank you very much. But I'm a little confused, if you don't mind to clarify. I'm still lost on loft. I kinda get what you mean but would like more explanation and a why does the stroke after the provisional make it a  4th stroke and not your 3rd since it would be your 3rd time hitting the ball? (I hope that made sense).

[saevel25]

2 minutes ago, GreyZone said:

Okay thank you very much. But I'm a little confused, if you don't mind to clarify. I'm still lost on loft. I kinda get what you mean but would like more explanation and a why does the stroke after the provisional make it a  4th stroke and not your 3rd since it would be your 3rd time hitting the ball? (I hope that made sense).

Example of Loft

Here is how the strokes add up on stroke and distance

First Shot: 1 
Second Shot: 2 + 1 (Penalty stroke) = 3
Third Shot: 4

If you a ball out of bounds or lose a golf ball you take stroke and distance. Meaning you need to re-hit the ball from the previous spot. In doing so you also have to take a 1 stroke penalty. 

[GreyZone]

6 minutes ago, saevel25 said:

Example of Loft

Here is how the strokes add up on stroke and distance

First Shot: 1 
Second Shot: 2 + 1 (Penalty stroke) = 3
Third Shot: 4

If you a ball out of bounds or lose a golf ball you take stroke and distance. Meaning you need to re-hit the ball from the previous spot. In doing so you also have to take a 1 stroke penalty. 

okay that makes alot more sense about the stroke thank you very much and okay so if the loft is diagonally like a iron it will go higher but if it's only a couple of degrees it goes farther?

[saevel25]

Just now, GreyZone said:

okay so if the loft is diagonally like a iron it will go higher but if it's only a couple of degrees it goes farther?

In simple terms, golf irons are typically designed to have about 4 degrees of loft difference. 

Example, 
Pitching Wedge: 46 degrees
9 iron: 42 degrees
8 iron: 38 degrees
7 iron: 34 degrees
6 iron: 30 degrees
5 iron: 26 degrees
4 Iron: 22 degrees

Also, they are designed to have roughly 1/2 an inch in length increase between clubs. 

Example, 
Pitching Wedge: 35 inches
9 iron: 35.5 inches
8 iron: 36 inches
ect.. 

With this type of design, over years of trial and error from golf club makers, the irons are designed to have about 10-12 yards of distance between clubs. 

Example, 
Pitching Wedge: 90 yards
9 iron: 100 Yards
8 iron: 110 yards
ect...

That is how you are able to get a wide range of yardages to play the game. 

 

 

[GreyZone]

4 minutes ago, saevel25 said:

In simple terms, golf irons are typically designed to have about 4 degrees of loft difference. 

Example, 
Pitching Wedge: 46 degrees
9 iron: 42 degrees
8 iron: 38 degrees
7 iron: 34 degrees
6 iron: 30 degrees
5 iron: 26 degrees
4 Iron: 22 degrees

Also, they are designed to have roughly 1/2 an inch in length increase between clubs. 

Example, 
Pitching Wedge: 35 inches
9 iron: 35.5 inches
8 iron: 36 inches
ect.. 

With this type of design, over years of trial and error from golf club makers, the irons are designed to have about 10-12 yards of distance between clubs. 

Example, 
Pitching Wedge: 90 yards
9 iron: 100 Yards
8 iron: 110 yards
ect...

That is how you are able to get a wide range of yardages to play the game. 

 

 

Okay now I get it thank you and about the store. I just moved here from Indiana and the only sports stores we had where dicks and they didn't have a great selection but I did find a good store.