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Golf Glossary
Learn the language of Golf — answer-first definitions with real examples, beginner to pro.
322 terms
- Shaft FlexIntermediateShaft flex describes how much a shaft bends during the swing. Ratings run from L (Ladies) through A (Senior), R (Regular), S (Stiff), to X (Extra Stiff) — matched to swing speed for optimal launch.
- Shaft LeanIntermediateShaft lean is when the grip end of the club is ahead of the clubhead at impact — the hands in front of the ball. It reduces dynamic loft, compresses the ball, and is the signature of good iron contact.
- Shaft WeightIntermediateShaft weight, measured in grams, influences both swing speed and control — lighter shafts generally allow faster swing speeds while heavier shafts often improve tempo consistency and control for faster swingers.
- Shallow DownswingIntermediateA shallow downswing describes a club delivery angle that has flattened too much relative to what a golfer's setup and swing plane call for. This can produce blocks, hooks, or thin contact when it goes beyond a useful amount.
- ShallowingAdvancedShallowing is when the club shaft flattens (becomes more horizontal) in the early downswing. This allows it to approach the ball from inside the target line for a powerful, in-to-out delivery.
- ShankIntermediateA shank is when the ball strikes the hosel (the socket where the shaft meets the head) instead of the face. This sends it violently to the right (for a right-hander) at roughly 45°.
- Shank PatternAdvancedA shank pattern is a recurring, structural tendency to strike the ball off the hosel, distinct from an isolated cold shank, usually traced to a consistent setup or swing-path cause.
- Short GameBeginnerThe short game is all shots played around and on the green — putting, chipping, pitching, and bunker play — and usually accounts for 60–65% of strokes in an average round.
- Shoulder TurnIntermediateShoulder turn is the rotation of the thoracic spine and shoulders during the backswing. A full shoulder turn (near 90°) is the primary source of swing arc and coil — the engine of a powerful backswing.
- Single-Digit HandicapAdvancedA single-digit handicap — a Handicap Index between 0.0 and 9.9 — identifies a genuinely accomplished amateur golfer, usually representing well under 10% of golfers who track an official handicap.
- Skeletal TrackingAdvancedSkeletal tracking is software that identifies a person's joints and limbs from a video image and connects them into a simplified stick-figure model. The technical foundation that lets a single smartphone video estimate body positions throughout a swing.
- Skied DriveBeginnerA skied drive is struck high on the driver face, launching the ball almost straight up with a distinctive scuff mark near the crown, and traveling a fraction of the expected distance.
- Skulled ShotBeginnerA skulled shot is contact made on the equator or upper half of the ball with the leading edge of the club. This sends a low, hot, unintended screamer across the green instead of a controlled chip or pitch.
- SliceBeginnerA slice bleeds away to the right for a right-handed golfer, costing both distance and fairway. It is the most common miss in the game, and it comes from a face pointing right of the head's direction of travel.
- Slow-Motion ReviewBeginnerSlow-motion review is watching swing footage played back at a fraction of real speed. This lets a golfer or coach see fast-moving positions — especially near impact — that are impossible to perceive at normal playback speed.
- Smash FactorIntermediateSmash factor is ball speed divided by club speed — a measure of strike efficiency. A driver smash factor near 1.50 means the ball left the face at 1.5× the clubhead speed, the practical maximum.
- Smothered HookAdvancedA smothered hook is a low, hooded shot that never gets airborne, caused by an excessively closed clubface at impact combined with a delofted, shut position through the strike.
- Snap HookAdvancedA snap hook is a sudden, sharp left curve that appears late but violently in the ball flight, usually from a clubface that closes rapidly relative to path in the last moments before impact.
- Speed Control (Putting)IntermediateSpeed control is calibrating stroke length and tempo so the ball travels the intended distance — widely considered the single most important putting skill, since a well-read putt at the wrong speed still misses and often leads to a three-putt.
- Spin AxisIntermediateSpin axis is the tilt of the ball's backspin axis relative to horizontal. This determines how much of the total spin curves the ball sideways versus keeps it flying straight and high.
- Spin LoftProSpin loft is the angle between the dynamic loft of the face and the attack angle at impact. It is the primary driver of spin and a key lever for controlling distance and flight.
- Spin RateIntermediateSpin rate is how fast the ball spins after impact, in revolutions per minute. It controls how the ball climbs, holds the air, and stops on landing.
- Spine AngleIntermediateSpine angle is the forward tilt of the upper body established at address, created by hinging from the hips — maintaining that same tilt throughout the swing is one of the clearest markers of consistent ball-striking.
- Spine TiltIntermediateSpine tilt at address is the slight away-from-target lean of the spine — especially with a driver — that promotes a positive attack angle and lets the trail shoulder drop below the lead shoulder.
- Square StanceBeginnerA square stance lines the feet, hips, and shoulders parallel to the target line. The neutral reference alignment every open or closed stance is measured against.
- SquatProThe squat is a slight downward drop of the body at the start of the downswing, where the golfer loads into the ground before exploding upward through impact.
- Stableford ScoringIntermediateStableford scoring awards points based on how a hole score compares to par (or net par) rather than counting total strokes. This softens the impact of a single disaster hole and keeps a bad hole from ruining an entire round's result.
- StanceBeginnerYour stance is how you position your feet, weight, and body at address before the swing. It sets your balance, swing width, and low point.
- Steep DownswingIntermediateA steep downswing is a club delivery angle noticeably more vertical than the backswing plane, usually caused by an upper-body-led transition, and associated with deep divots, pulls, and lost distance.
- Stinger ShotAdvancedA stinger is a on purpose low, boring, low-spin shot — usually hit with a driver or long iron off the tee — that stays under wind and rolls out extra yards on landing, made famous by tour players in windy major championships.
- Straight Ball FlightBeginnerA straight ball flight is a shot that shows essentially no sideways curve because the clubface angle and swing path are matched closely enough at impact that the spin axis stays close to horizontal.
- Strike QualityIntermediateStrike quality is a composite assessment of how solidly and reliably a golfer contacts the ball — combining strike location, low-point control, and smash factor — rather than any single measurement alone.
- Strokes GainedAdvancedStrokes gained measures how many strokes a player gains or loses relative to a benchmark (tour average or peer group) on each category of shots — off the tee, approach, around the green, and putting.
- Strong GripBeginnerA strong grip rotates both hands further to the trail side than neutral — 3 or more knuckles visible at address — which makes the face easier to close and is a common fix for a chronic slice.
- SwayIntermediateA sway is a lateral slide of the hips and upper body away from the target during the backswing, substituting sideways movement for rotation and making a consistent return to the ball difficult.
- Sweeping ContactIntermediateSweeping contact is a shallow, level-to-slightly-descending strike style — appropriate for the driver, fairway woods, and hybrids — that brushes the turf rather than taking a deep, digging divot.
- Sweet SpotBeginnerThe sweet spot is the center of percussion on the clubface. The point where a strike produces maximum energy transfer to the ball, felt as minimal vibration and maximum distance.
- Swing ConsistencyIntermediateSwing consistency measures how much a golfer's key swing traits — tempo, plane, impact position — vary from one swing to the next, with lower variability generally correlating with tighter shot dispersion.
- Swing Fault PriorityIntermediateSwing fault priority is the process of deciding which of several visible issues in a swing to address first, since faults are often connected and fixing the right one first can resolve others automatically.
- Swing Overlay ComparisonIntermediateA swing overlay comparison places two swing videos on top of or beside each other, synced to the same reference point (usually impact). As a result, differences between them. A baseline versus a retest, or two different swings — are visible directly rather than relying on memory.
- Swing PlaneIntermediateSwing plane is the tilted circle the club travels on around your body during the swing. A consistent plane makes it easier to return the club squarely and on path at impact.
- Swing SequencingAdvancedSwing sequencing is the order and timing in which body segments — hips, torso, arms, then club — accelerate and peak in speed during the downswing, and it is the biomechanical signature that separates efficient power transfer from a swing that looks fast but isn't.
- Swing Tempo RatioIntermediateSwing tempo ratio is the proportion of time spent in the backswing versus the downswing, commonly cited near 3:1 for tour-level swings, and it is one of the simplest, most widely coached numbers in swing analysis.
- Swing ThoughtBeginnerA swing thought is a single, simple cue a golfer holds in mind right before or during a swing, and most coaches agree that one clear thought — or none at all over the ball — outperforms trying to consciously manage several mechanical details at once.
- Swing WeightAdvancedSwing weight is a measurement of how heavy a club feels during the swing based on where its weight is distributed, expressed on a letter-number scale (commonly C9 to D5) rather than the club's total weight in grams.
- TakeawayBeginnerThe takeaway is the first movement of the club away from the ball. Where and how the club moves in the first 18–24 inches often determines the rest of the backswing shape.
- Tee HeightBeginnerTee height is how high the ball sits on the tee peg. For a driver, half the ball should sit above the top of the club at address to promote a positive attack angle and high launch.
- TempoBeginnerTempo is the overall timing and rhythm of your swing — the ratio of how long the backswing takes versus the downswing. A smooth, repeatable tempo is what makes contact consistent.
- Ten-Finger Grip (Baseball Grip)BeginnerThe ten-finger (baseball) grip places all ten fingers on the handle with no overlap or interlock — a common starting point for young children, beginners, and golfers with limited hand or wrist strength.
- The SlotAdvanced"The slot" is the ideal delivery channel for the club in the downswing. An inside, shallowed path between the target line and the shoulder plane that allows an efficient, in-to-out strike.
- Thin DivotIntermediateA thin divot is a shallow scuff or bruise in the turf rather than a proper strip of removed grass. This indicates a shallow, sweeping angle of attack that may be appropriate for some clubs but signals an issue for others.
- Thin ShotBeginnerA thin shot is when the leading edge of the club catches the ball near its equator rather than below it — the opposite of a fat shot — producing a low, skimming ball flight.
- Three-PuttBeginnerA three-putt means taking three strokes to hole out after reaching the green. It usually starts with poor distance control on the first putt.
- Toe StrikeIntermediateA toe strike is contact made closer to the outer edge of the clubface than the center. This produces horizontal gear effect that curves the ball left and significantly reduces ball speed.
- Toe-Down ImpactAdvancedToe-down impact is the natural drooping of the clubhead's toe due to shaft dynamics and gravity during the downswing. This shifts the effective strike location toward the toe if not accounted for at setup.
- Toe-Hang PutterIntermediateA toe-hang putter has its head weighted so the toe droops noticeably when the shaft is balanced on a finger. A design that naturally works with a stroke that has an arcing, opening-and-closing rotation.
- Topped ShotBeginnerA topped shot is when the club makes contact above the ball's equator — hitting the top half — so the ball dribbles forward along the ground with very little height or distance.
- Total DistanceBeginnerTotal distance is how far the ball travels from the moment it is struck until it stops — carry distance through the air plus roll after landing.
- Trail Elbow CollapseAdvancedTrail elbow collapse is the trail elbow over-folding and losing structure in the downswing. This causes the club to lose width and speed and often forcing a compensating early release or chicken wing.
- Trained Eye AssessmentIntermediateA trained eye assessment is an experienced coach's visual read of a swing, drawing on pattern recognition built from watching thousands of swings — a genuinely different and complementary skill to numeric or video-based analysis.
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