hosel: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical / Sports-specific
Quick answer
What does “hosel” mean?
The socket or part of a golf club head into which the shaft is inserted.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The socket or part of a golf club head into which the shaft is inserted.
In golf terminology, specifically refers to the part of the clubhead that connects to the shaft. The term is also used to describe a specific type of mishit where the ball strikes this part of the club (e.g., 'a hosel rocket').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or usage. The term is standard in golf communities in both regions.
Connotations
Neutral technical term. When referring to a mishit ('hosel shot'), it connotes a poor, often embarrassing, strike.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both dialects, confined to golf contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “hosel” in a Sentence
The [CLUB] has a [ADJECTIVE] hosel.He hit the ball off the hosel.The [ADJECTIVE] is located in the hosel.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “hosel” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The clubfitter will hosel the new shaft precisely.
- I managed to hosel my approach shot into the pond.
American English
- He hoseled his wedge shot right into the bushes.
- The technician needs to hosel the graphite shaft.
adverb
British English
- The ball flew hosel-ward after the poor strike.
American English
- He hit it hosel-first, sending it right.
adjective
British English
- The hosel bore was damaged.
- A hosel adjustment can change the lie angle.
American English
- Check for hosel wear on that old iron.
- It was a classic hosel shank.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in the business of golf equipment manufacturing and retail (e.g., 'Our new driver features a forged hosel.').
Academic
Rare; possibly in sports engineering or kinesiology studies related to golf.
Everyday
Virtually never used outside of discussing golf.
Technical
The primary context. Used in club fitting, repair, coaching, and commentary.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “hosel”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “hosel”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “hosel”
- Misspelling as 'housel' or 'hose'l'.
- Incorrect pronunciation as /ˈhɒzəl/ (like 'hazard').
- Using it as a general term for any connector.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a low-frequency technical term specific to the sport of golf.
Yes, informally in golf slang, meaning to hit the ball with the hosel (e.g., 'I hoseled my shot').
The hosel is the metal socket part of the clubhead. The ferrule is the decorative plastic or rubber ring often found at the top of the hosel, covering the joint between the hosel and the shaft.
Because the hosel has very little loft and is not designed to strike the ball. Contact here usually imparts extreme sidespin, sending the ball on a low, sharp, uncontrolled trajectory to the right (for a right-handed player).
The socket or part of a golf club head into which the shaft is inserted.
Hosel is usually technical / sports-specific in register.
Hosel: in British English it is pronounced /ˈhəʊz(ə)l/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈhoʊzəl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “hosel rocket (a shot that comes off the hosel)”
- “shank it off the hosel”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: HOSE + L. Imagine a GARDEN HOSE connected to a sprinkler head. The hosel is like the 'socket' where the hose (shaft) connects to the sprinkler (clubhead).
Conceptual Metaphor
THE CLUB IS A BODY: The hosel is the 'neck' connecting the 'head' to the 'spine' (shaft).
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of a golf club's hosel?