Golf Glossary
Learn the language of Golf — answer-first definitions with real examples, beginner to pro.
144 terms
- 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 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. This means 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. This means especially with a driver. This means that promotes a positive attack angle and lets the trail shoulder drop below the lead shoulder.
- 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.
- Steep DownswingIntermediateA steep downswing is a club delivery angle noticeably more vertical than the backswing plane, typically caused by an upper-body-led transition, and associated with deep divots, pulls, and lost distance.
- Strike QualityIntermediateStrike quality is a composite assessment of how solidly and reliably a golfer contacts the ball. This means combining strike location, low-point control, and smash factor. Instead of any single measurement alone.
- 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. This means appropriate for the driver, fairway woods, and hybrids. This means that brushes the turf rather than taking a deep, digging divot.
- Swing ConsistencyIntermediateSwing consistency measures how much a golfer's key swing traits. This means tempo, plane, impact position. This means 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 on its own.
- 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. This means a baseline versus a retest, or two different swings. This means 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 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. It is one of the simplest, most widely coached numbers in swing analysis.
- 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.
- 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 by a lot reduces ball speed.
- Toe-Hang PutterIntermediateA toe-hang putter has its head weighted. As a result, the toe droops noticeably when the shaft is balanced on a finger. This means a design that naturally works with a stroke that has an arcing, opening-and-closing rotation.
- 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. This means a genuinely different and complementary skill to numeric or video-based analysis.
- Two-Plane SwingIntermediateA two-plane swing lifts the arms onto a steeper, more upright plane than the shoulders establish at address. This produces a taller-looking backswing with more separation between arm swing and body rotation.
- Up-and-DownIntermediateAn up-and-down is getting the ball into the hole in two strokes from just off the green. This means one chip or pitch (the "up") followed by one putt (the "down"). This means a key measure of short-game efficiency.
- Wearable Sensor (Golf)IntermediateA wearable sensor is a small device clipped to a glove, grip, or belt that measures swing data. This means like tempo, plane, and swing speed. This means directly from its own motion, as an alternative to camera-based video analysis.
- Wrist HingeIntermediateWrist hinge is the upward cocking of the wrists during the backswing that creates the angle between the lead arm and shaft. This means storing energy to be released at impact.
- Yardage GapsIntermediateYardage gaps are the distance differences between consecutive clubs in your bag. Even, consistent gaps (typically 10–15 yards per club) minimize the situations where no club covers a specific distance.
- YipsIntermediateThe yips are involuntary twitches or spasms — most often in putting or chipping — that disrupt the stroke. They are part neurological, part anxiety-driven, and affect golfers at every level.
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