Golf is a challenging sport as it is, so don’t let its lingo be another obstacle you need to overcome.

Whether you’re new to the sport or have been teeing it up for decades, golf terminology is a language that can get confusing. On that note, let’s decipher some popular jargon to keep you in the loop.

Pin-High

Often used on golf telecasts, the term “pin-high” refers to a player’s approach shot finishes at the same depth of the green as the pin. In other words, the ball isn’t below the hole or past the hole, but is perfectly distanced along the same latitude. A shot that ends up pin-high is the result of savvy distance control.

Fried Egg

A term you hopefully won’t often hear, a “fried egg” is a lie in a bunker wherein the ball doesn’t release from its impact site. The ball rests half submerged in the sand resembling the look of—you guessed it—a fried egg.

Lag Putt

A lag putt, or simply a “lag,” is a long putt that a player hits with the intention of leaving their next putt in a very make able position. Instead of trying to sink a 40-footer and then running it 10 feet past the hole, players will hit “lags” to cozy the ball up to the hole and make their distant two-putt a near guarantee.

Bump n’ Run

A type of pitch or chip shot, a “bump n’ run” is where you decrease the loft on your wedge, or use a less lofted iron, to scoot the ball across the ground to get it close to the hole. The opposite of a bump n’ run would be a flop shot, where you add extra loft to your wedge and utilize the open air to get it close.

Draw

If you’re right-handed, a draw is when your shot shape has a gentle curve from right to left, and vice versa for left-handed players. Top pros will often hit draws since they tend to carry and release farther.

Fade

The opposite shot shape of a draw, a fade is when the ball gently curves from left to right for a right-handed player and vice versa for lefties.

Pitch mark/Ball mark

Used interchangeably, these terms refer to the indentation your ball makes after your approach shot lands on the green. When playing be sure to find where your ball landed and fix your pitch mark. If left untreated, pitch marks can damage the grass and make for uneven putting surfaces.

Shank

The one term that can make golfers cringe, a shank is when the hosel of the club first makes contact with the ball during the intended strike, leading to wildly erratic outcomes. Shanks are also sometimes called “hosel rockets.” And yes, even professionals hit shanks from time to time.

Dog-Leg

A layout of a hole that starts out straight and then turns to the left or right in a way that, from an aerial view, resembles the shape of a dog’s leg.

High-side

When you hit a putt that doesn’t break enough, you’ll miss it on the “high-side,” meaning the ball runs above the hole. The low-side is the term used when you don’t play enough break and your shot runs beneath the hole.

Hardpan

A type of lie where the ground is very firm and the grass is wispy, hardpan lies leave very little margin for error and are difficult to chip and pitch from.

Halfway House

Usually a small building or hut, a halfway house is an on-course rest area that provides food and beverage. After a few bad holes, you may be thinking more about the halfway house’s cold drinks than your next tee shot.

So, next time you’re out on the course and your buddy references getting his fried-egg pin-high after shanking his previous shot from a hardpan lie, fear not, you’ll know exactly what he means.