Golf is a sport in which individual players or teams of players strike a ball into a hole using several types of clubs. A game of putting a small ball in a hole in the ground using clubs was played in 17th century Netherlands.

Ball

Four-balls can be played as match play or stroke play. In best ball, each player plays the hole as normal, but the lowest score of all the players on the team counts as the team's score. A severe slice is commonly referred to as a Banana-Slice or a Banana-Ball. Slice: The ball curves sharply to the right for a right-handed player (to the left for left-handed players). Pull: For a right-handed player the ball is 'pulled' across the body and flies to the left of the intended target without curvature (the ball flies to the right for left-handed players).

A Pull-Hook indicates that the ball started out left of target and curved even further to the left. A Pull-Slice means the ball starts out left then curves back to the right. Push: The opposite of a Pull, where the ball is 'pushed' away from the body. The ball flies to the right of the intended target for right-handed players (to the left for left-handed players). A Push-Slice indicates that the ball started out right of target and curved even further to the right. A Push-Hook means the ball starts out right then curves back to the left. Shank or Lateral: The ball is struck by the hosel or the outer edge of the club rather than the clubface and shoots sharply to the right for a right-handed player. This may damage the surface of a golf ball with a soft cover material, and may result in a stinging sensation in one's hands on a cold day.

Team

When all players of a group have completed the hole, the player or team with the best score on that hole has the honor, that is, the right to tee off first on the next tee. In match play, two players (or two teams) play each hole as a separate contest against each other. The party with the lower score wins that hole, or if the scores of both players and teams are equal the hole is "halved" (drawn).

In some team events a player whose ball is farther from the hole may ask his partner to play first. For example, a skilled golfer expects to reach the green on a par-four hole in two strokes, one from the tee (the "drive") and another, second, stroke to the green (the "approach") and then roll the ball into the hole with two putts. Each player plays a ball from the tee to the hole, except that in the mode of play called foursomes two teams of two players compete, and the members of each team alternate shots using only one ball until the ball is holed out. When all individual players or teams have brought a ball into play, the player or team whose ball is the farthest from the hole is next to play.

About the Author

James Clark is a successful Webmaster and publisher of www.AGolfersParadise.com. He provides more information about golf and golf issues that you can research in your pajamas on his website.