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Golf Glossary
Learn the language of Golf — answer-first definitions with real examples, beginner to pro.
234 terms
- Saw Putting GripIntermediateThe saw grip is a putting grip where the lead hand holds the putter normally and the trail hand sits on the side of the grip, palm facing the hole, fingers along the shaft, as if holding a saw. The trail hand only guides the putter, which stops it from rotating the face.
- Score Differential (How a Handicap Index Is Calculated)IntermediateA Score Differential rates one round against the difficulty of the tees you played. The formula is (113 divided by the Slope Rating) times (adjusted gross score minus Course Rating minus any playing conditions adjustment). Your Handicap Index is the average of your lowest 8 differentials from your most recent 20, rounded to one decimal.
- ScramblingIntermediateScrambling is how often a golfer saves par or better after missing the green in regulation, in any number of strokes. It is the broadest short-game stat.
- 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 hands and grip end are ahead of the clubhead at impact. It reduces dynamic loft, compresses the ball, and marks good iron contact.
- Shaft TorqueIntermediateShaft torque is how much a golf shaft twists under a standard load, measured in degrees. A shaft rated 3.0° twists less than one rated 5.0°. Lower torque feels firmer and resists the face twisting. Higher torque feels softer and can suit smoother swings.
- Shaft WeightIntermediateShaft weight is measured in grams. Lighter shafts generally allow faster swings, while heavier shafts often give faster swingers steadier tempo and control.
- Shallow DownswingIntermediateA shallow downswing delivers the club too flat for the golfer's setup and swing plane. Past a useful amount, it can cause blocks, hooks, or thin contact.
- ShankIntermediateA shank is when the ball hits the hosel, where the shaft meets the clubhead, instead of the face. It flies violently right (for a right-hander) at roughly 45°.
- Shoulder Pain and GolfIntermediateYes, golf can hurt your shoulder, mostly through overuse or by forcing a turn the body can't make easily. Common contributing factors are lots of balls without rest, a poor warm-up, a very long backswing and stiffness in the upper back. Stop if it hurts, and see a qualified medical professional for pain that lasts.
- Shoulder TurnIntermediateShoulder turn is the rotation of the upper back (thoracic spine) and shoulders during the backswing. A full turn, near 90°, is the main source of swing arc and coil.
- Side, Curve and Offline (Launch Monitor)IntermediateOn TrackMan, curve is how far the ball bends sideways in the air, from its launch direction to where it lands. Side is how far that landing spot is from the target line. Side total, which other systems call offline, is how far the ball finishes from the target line after it rolls.
- Sidespin (Is It Real?)IntermediateSidespin is not a separate kind of spin. A golf ball spins around one axis. When that axis tilts, the backspin pushes the ball sideways, and launch monitors call that tilt the spin axis. Sidespin is just a name for the sideways part of that tilted spin.
- Single-Length IronsIntermediateSingle-length irons can suit beginners and high handicappers who want one setup for every iron. Every iron is about the length of a 7-iron. In a GOLF.com test, the single-length long irons launched lower, while short-iron carry was similar.
- 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.
- Speed Control (Putting)IntermediateSpeed control is calibrating stroke length and tempo so a putt rolls the intended distance. It is widely considered the single most important putting skill.
- Spin AxisIntermediateSpin axis is the tilt of the ball's backspin axis relative to horizontal. It determines how much of the total spin curves the ball sideways, and how much 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 lean of the upper body set at address by hinging from the hips. Keeping that same lean through the swing is one of the clearest markers of consistent ball-striking.
- Spine TiltIntermediateSpine tilt is a slight lean of the spine away from the target at address, especially with a driver. It promotes a positive attack angle and a lower trail 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.
- Stay Behind the BallIntermediateYes, your head and chest should stay behind the ball at impact, but your weight should not. Good players keep their head slightly behind the ball while most of their pressure has moved to the lead foot. Staying back with your whole body causes hanging back and fat or thin shots.
- Staying Focused for a Whole RoundIntermediateNobody can concentrate hard for a whole round, so switch your focus on for each shot and let it go between shots. Use your pre-shot routine to switch on and commit to one clear target. Afterward, briefly review the shot and switch off by chatting or enjoying the walk. A consistent routine before and after every shot helps bring your attention back when it drifts.
- Steep DownswingIntermediateA steep downswing delivers the club noticeably more vertically than the backswing plane. It usually follows an upper-body-led transition, with deep divots, pulls, and lost distance.
- Strike QualityIntermediateStrike quality is a composite assessment of how solidly and reliably a golfer contacts the ball. It combines strike location, low-point control, and smash factor rather than relying on any single measurement alone.
- Stroke Index (Handicap Holes)IntermediateStroke index ranks the 18 holes from 1 to 18 to show where strokes are given. You receive a stroke on every hole ranked at or below your Course Handicap. With a Course Handicap of 8, your strokes fall on the holes ranked 1 to 8.
- Strong Lofts (Iron Loft Creep)IntermediateStrong lofts mean modern irons have less loft than older irons with the same number. A typical 7-iron around 2000 had about 35 to 37 degrees. Some 7-irons today have about 30 or less. That is why a new 7-iron can fly as far as an old 5- or 6-iron.
- SwayIntermediateA sway is a sideways slide of the hips and upper body away from the target during the backswing. It replaces rotation with sideways movement, which makes a consistent return to the ball difficult.
- Sweeping ContactIntermediateSweeping contact is a shallow, level-to-slightly-descending strike style that brushes the turf rather than taking a deep, digging divot. It is appropriate for the driver, fairway woods, and hybrids.
- Swing ConsistencyIntermediateSwing consistency measures how much tempo, plane, and impact position vary from swing to swing. Less variation generally goes with tighter shot dispersion.
- Swing Fault PriorityIntermediateSwing fault priority means choosing which swing issue to fix first. Faults are often connected, so fixing the right one can resolve others automatically.
- Swing Left (Rotation Cue)IntermediateSwing left is a coaching cue for right-handers. It means the club should keep moving left of the target after impact as your body turns, instead of chasing straight down the target line. It helps you rotate through and stops blocks to the right.
- Swing Overlay ComparisonIntermediateA swing overlay comparison syncs two swing videos, overlaid or side by side, at a shared point like impact. Differences then show without relying on memory.
- Swing PlaneIntermediateSwing plane is the tilted circle the club travels on around your body. A consistent plane makes it easier to return the club squarely and on path at impact.
- Swing Tempo RatioIntermediateSwing tempo ratio compares backswing time to downswing time, commonly near 3:1 for tour players. It is one of the simplest, most coached swing numbers.
- Thin DivotIntermediateA thin divot is a shallow scuff or bruise in the turf rather than a proper strip of removed grass. It indicates a shallow, sweeping angle of attack, which may suit 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. It produces horizontal gear effect that curves the ball left and significantly reduces ball speed.
- Toe-Hang PutterIntermediateA toe-hang putter's head is weighted so the toe droops noticeably when the shaft is balanced on a finger. That design naturally works with an arcing stroke that opens and closes the face.
- TPI Screen (Golf Physical Screening)IntermediateA TPI screen is a set of simple physical tests from the Titleist Performance Institute. It checks how your body moves and links any limits to swing faults. TPI calls this the Body-Swing Connection. Its Level 1 screen has sixteen parts and is run by TPI-certified coaches, trainers and therapists.
- Trained Eye AssessmentIntermediateA trained eye assessment is an experienced coach's visual read of a swing, drawing on pattern recognition. It complements numeric or video-based analysis.
- Two-Plane SwingIntermediateA two-plane swing lifts the arms onto a steeper plane than the shoulders set at address. The backswing looks taller, with more arm-body separation.
- Up-and-DownIntermediateAn up-and-down means holing out in two strokes from off the green: one chip or pitch (the "up"), then one putt (the "down"). It is a key short-game measure.
- Uphill and Downhill LiesIntermediateOn an uphill lie, tilt your shoulders with the slope, play the ball a bit forward and take more club for a higher, shorter flight. On a downhill lie, tilt your shoulders down the slope, play the ball back and use less club. Swing along the slope and expect a lower shot that runs.
- Uphill and Downhill PuttsIntermediateUphill putts need a firmer stroke and break less. Downhill putts need a softer stroke, break more and should die at the hole. On a fast downhill putt, picture a hole short of the real one and roll the ball to it.
- Using the Bounce When ChippingIntermediateUsing the bounce means letting the rounded sole of the wedge glide along the turf instead of digging the leading edge in. Set up with the shaft closer to vertical, the face square or slightly open and the ball near the middle of your stance. Then brush the ground with a shallow stroke driven by your body turn.
- Visualization (Seeing the Shot)IntermediateYes, most golfers benefit from visualizing each shot before they swing. Picture the ball's starting line, its curve and where it lands, then step in and swing to that picture. Keep it short, and if you can't see it clearly, feel the shot instead.
- Wearable Sensor (Golf)IntermediateA wearable sensor is a small device clipped to a glove, grip, or belt that measures swing data from its own motion. It is an alternative to video analysis.
- Wedge BackspinIntermediateBackspin on wedge shots comes from clean, ball-first contact with a descending strike, enough clubhead speed and a clean, dry clubface. A clean lie on short grass and a urethane-covered ball add more spin. Grass, sand or water between the face and the ball cuts it sharply.
- Wedge Groove Wear (When to Replace Wedges)IntermediateWedge grooves wear down with use. Worn grooves cut spin, most of all from the rough and in wet conditions. Titleist's wedge team has suggested considering new wedges after about 75 rounds, based on robot testing. Your most-used wedge and frequent bunker practice wear grooves faster.
- Which Side of the Tee Box to Tee Up OnIntermediateTee up on the same side as the trouble you want to avoid, then aim away from it. If out of bounds runs down the right, tee up near the right marker and aim toward the left half of the fairway. This angle gives your shot more room to curve away from danger.
- Wrist Breakdown in the Putting StrokeIntermediateTo stop your wrists breaking down when putting, let your shoulders rock the putter while your wrists stay quiet. Keep light, even grip pressure and hold the lead wrist flat through impact. A grip change, such as cross-handed or claw, can also calm the hands.
- Wrist HingeIntermediateWrist hinge is the upward cocking of the wrists in the backswing. It creates the angle between the lead arm and shaft, storing energy to release at impact.
- Yardage GapsIntermediateYardage gaps are the distance differences between consecutive clubs in your bag. Even gaps between clubs leave fewer distances that no club covers.
- YipsIntermediateThe yips are involuntary twitches or spasms that disrupt the stroke, most often in putting or chipping. They are part neurological, part anxiety-driven, and affect golfers at every level.
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