A quick reference to every golf term in our glossary that starts with B — 18 terms in total. Each one links through to a full plain-English definition.
- Back NineBack Nine The back nine is the second set of nine holes on a standard 18-hole golf course, made up of holes 10 through 18. What is a back nine in golf? The back
- BackspinBackspin Backspin is the backward rotation of a golf ball in flight, where the top of the ball spins toward the player while the ball travels toward the target.
- BackswingBackswing The backswing is the first half of the golf swing, where the golfer turns the club back and up, away from the ball, to load power for the downswing. W
- Ball Flight LawsBall Flight Laws Ball flight laws are the physics principles that explain how a golf ball behaves after impact. They describe how the clubface, swing path, angl
- Ball MarkerBall Marker A ball marker is a small, artificial object used to mark the spot of a golf ball on the putting green so the ball can be lifted and later replaced i
- Ball PositionBall Position Ball position is where the golf ball sits between the feet at address. It changes depending on which club the player is using, sitting further for
- Ball SpeedBall Speed Ball speed is how fast a golf ball travels in miles per hour immediately after leaving the clubface. It is the biggest factor in how far a golf shot
- Banana BallBanana Ball A banana ball is golf slang for a shot that curves so severely in the air that its flight path looks like the shape of a banana. The term almost alw
- BarkieBarkie A barkie in golf is when a golfer makes par or better on a hole after their ball hits a tree. It is also spelled barky, and sometimes called a woodie or
- BeachBeach Beach is golf slang for a sand bunker, named for the sandy material that fills these features. What is a beach in golf? Beach is an informal term golfers
- Best BallBest Ball Best ball is a team golf format where each player plays their own ball throughout the round, and only the lowest individual score on each hole counts
- BirdieBirdie A birdie is a score of one stroke under par on a single hole. On a par 4, that means finishing the hole in three strokes. What is a birdie in golf? In go
- BladeBlade In golf, “blade” can mean a type of iron with a compact, solid-back clubhead, a traditional putter style with a thin, narrow head, or a mishit where the c
- BogeyBogey A bogey in golf is a score of one stroke over par on a single hole. A golfer who takes 5 strokes on a par-4 hole, for example, has made a bogey. What is a
- Bogey GolferBogey Golfer A bogey golfer is a player who averages one stroke over par per hole, shooting around 90 on a standard par-72 course. The USGA defines a bogey golf
- BreakBreak In golf, a break is the curve a putt takes as it rolls across a sloped or contoured putting green. It describes both the direction the ball deviates from
- Bump and RunBump and Run A bump and run is a low-trajectory golf shot played near the green that lands short of the flag and rolls most of the way to the hole, usually hit
- BunkerBunker A bunker is a sand-filled depression on a golf course, designed to test a golfer’s ability to play from sand. Bunkers are one of the five defined areas o