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Sports Glossary
Learn the language of your game — answer-first definitions across every SwingVantage sport, each with a real example. Free to explore.
All sportsGolfTennisPickleballPadelBaseballSlow-Pitch SoftballFast-Pitch SoftballCricket Analysis Concepts
1191 terms
- Stride (Batting)BeginnerThe stride is the small forward step or toe-tap the hitter takes to trigger timing. It is a timing mechanism, not a source of power, and must be soft and directional.Baseball
- Stride Length – PitchingIntermediateStride length is how far the pitcher's front foot travels from the rubber toward home plate. It is one of the clearest visible signs of lower-body drive.Fast-Pitch Softball
- Stride TimingIntermediateStride timing is when the front foot lands during the pitch's arc. In slow pitch, it should land early, near the peak, with the hands back for power.Slow-Pitch Softball
- 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.Golf
- Strike ZoneBeginnerThe strike zone is the three-dimensional region over home plate, between the batter's knees and the midpoint of the torso, where a pitch must pass to be called a strike.Baseball
- Strike Zone – Slow-PitchBeginnerThe slow-pitch strike zone (USA Softball) is the space over home plate between the batter's back shoulder and front knee. A strike is a legal, properly arced pitch that passes through that zone in flight. Mat-play leagues instead call strikes on pitches that land on the plate or strike mat.Slow-Pitch Softball
- Strikeout PitchIntermediateA strikeout pitch is a pitcher's go-to pitch for finishing two-strike at-bats. It is their most reliable swing-and-miss weapon, given the batter's tendencies.Fast-Pitch Softball
- Strikeout RateIntermediateStrikeout rate (K%) is the percentage of plate appearances that end in a strikeout — elevated K% reduces a hitter's value by eliminating batted-ball outcomes entirely.Baseball
- String GaugeAdvancedString gauge is the thickness of a tennis string measured in millimetres or gauge numbers, with thinner strings providing more spin and feel and thicker strings offering greater durability.Tennis
- String TensionIntermediateString tension is how tightly a racquet is strung, in pounds or kilograms. It shapes the string bed's trampoline effect, control, and power.Tennis
- Strokes GainedAdvancedStrokes gained measures the strokes a player gains or loses against a benchmark (tour average or a peer group). It covers tee shots, approach, around the green, and putting.Golf
- Strong GripBeginnerA strong grip turns both hands more to the trail side than neutral, showing 3 or more knuckles at address. It makes the face easier to close and is a common slice fix.Golf
- StumpsBeginnerStumps are the three upright wooden posts — off stump, middle stump, and leg stump — that form each wicket in cricket, topped by two small bails that fall if the ball strikes them.Cricket
- Super OverBeginnerThe super over is a tie-breaking mechanism in limited-overs cricket — if scores are tied at the end of a match, each team bats one final over of six balls to determine the winner.Cricket
- 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.Golf
- Sweep ShotAdvancedThe sweep is a cross-bat shot played on one knee to a good-length ball, usually from a spinner. It sweeps the ball around to the leg side to counter turn and length.Cricket
- 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.Golf
- Sweet SpotBeginnerThe sweet spot is the center of percussion on the clubface. A strike there transfers the most energy to the ball, with minimal vibration and maximum distance.Golf
- Sweet Spot Contact (Slow-Pitch)BeginnerSweet spot contact is meeting the ball at the bat's best vibration node, several inches from the barrel end. It transfers the most energy with the least sting.Slow-Pitch Softball
- Swing BowlingAdvancedSwing bowling makes a fast-bowled ball curve sideways in the air, toward the batter (inswing) or away (outswing). The angled seam, helped by keeping one side shiny, makes the air flow differently over the two sides of the ball.Cricket
- Swing ConsistencyIntermediateSwing consistency measures how much tempo, plane, and impact position vary from swing to swing. Less variation generally goes with tighter shot dispersion.Golf
- Swing DecodeBeginnerSwing Decode is the contact read inside Motion Lab results. It focuses on the moment of contact and shows the path, plane and timing reads your clip supports.Analysis Concepts
- 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.Golf
- Swing LengthAdvancedSwing length is how far the barrel travels from the start of the swing to contact. A shorter path generally needs less time, at some cost to peak bat speed.Baseball
- 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.Golf
- Swing PathIntermediateSwing path is the trajectory the barrel takes from the load position through contact and into the follow-through. In slow pitch the optimal path is level-to-slight-uppercut to match the ball's steep descent.Slow-Pitch Softball
- 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.Golf
- Swing SequencingAdvancedSwing sequencing is the downswing order in which hips, torso, arms, then club peak in speed. It separates efficient power from a swing that only looks fast.Golf
- 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.Golf
- Swing ThoughtBeginnerA swing thought is one simple cue a golfer holds in mind just before or during a swing. Most coaches agree one clear thought, or none, beats several at once.Golf
- Swing WeightAdvancedSwing weight measures how heavy a club feels in the swing, based on where its weight sits. It uses a letter-number scale (commonly C9 to D5), not grams.Golf
- SwingweightProSwingweight measures how heavy a racquet feels when swung, accounting for where its mass is distributed. Higher swingweight gives more plow-through and power but is harder to maneuver.Tennis
- Switch in DoublesIntermediateA switch is a doubles maneuver where partners trade sides of the court — one crosses to cover a shot the other cannot reach — requiring immediate verbal communication to avoid collisions.Pickleball
- T-ServeIntermediateA T-serve is aimed at the center service line. It uses the shortest path for speed and takes away the returner's easiest angles.Tennis
- T20 FormatBeginnerT20 (Twenty20) cricket is the shortest mainstream format of the game — each side bats for a maximum of 20 overs — producing fast-paced, high-scoring matches usually completed in under three hours.Cricket
- Tag PlayBeginnerA tag play requires a fielder to touch a runner with the ball, or a glove securely holding it, while the runner is off base. Used when no force is in effect, it is common on run-downs, on runners trying for an extra base, and on any runner not forced to advance.Slow-Pitch Softball
- Tag UpBeginnerTagging up means a baserunner returns to and touches their current base as a fly ball is caught, then takes off toward the next base — the legal method of advancing on a caught fly.Baseball
- 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 sets the backswing's shape.Golf
- 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.Golf
- 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.Golf
- TempoBeginnerTempo is the timing relationship between the two halves of a swing — the rhythm that separates efficient, repeatable mechanics from a rushed or laboured transition.Analysis Concepts
- Ten-Finger Grip (Baseball Grip)BeginnerThe ten-finger (baseball) grip places all ten fingers on the handle with no overlap or interlock. It is a common starting point for young children, beginners, and golfers with limited hand or wrist strength.Golf
- Test CricketBeginnerTest cricket is the oldest, longest, and most prestigious format of the sport — played over up to five days between two national teams, with each side receiving two innings and ten wickets to be dismissed.Cricket
- The SlotAdvanced"The slot" is the club's ideal downswing channel: inside and shallow, between the target line and shoulder plane. It allows an efficient, in-to-out strike.Golf
- 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.Golf
- Thin ShotBeginnerA thin shot is when the club's leading edge catches the ball near its equator instead of below it. The opposite of a fat shot, it produces a low, skimming flight.Golf
- Third Shot DriveIntermediateA third shot drive is a hard, low third shot hit from the baseline instead of a drop. It aims to pressure the returning team into a defensive pop-up.Pickleball
- Third Shot LobAdvancedA third shot lob is a high, arcing third shot by the serving team, instead of the more common drop or drive. It is aimed over the returning team as they move up to the kitchen line.Pickleball
- Third-Shot DropIntermediateThe third-shot drop is a soft, arcing shot hit from the baseline that lands in the opponent's kitchen — forcing them to hit upward and giving the serving team time to advance safely to the kitchen line.Pickleball
- Three-and-Two Count StrategyIntermediateThree-and-two count strategy is a batter's full-count approach, one pitch from a walk or strikeout. It protects the plate instead of hunting a perfect pitch.Slow-Pitch Softball
- 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.Golf
- Throwing MechanicsBeginnerThrowing mechanics are the sequence of arm and body movements that deliver the ball accurately and with arm-safe velocity. They apply at every position.Baseball
- Throwing Mechanics – FieldingIntermediateThrowing mechanics in cricket fielding refers to the technique for generating an accurate, powerful, low-trajectory throw from the outfield or inner ring to the wicket-keeper or bowler's end stumps.Cricket
- Tiebreak StrategyAdvancedTiebreak strategy is how players adjust tactics for a tiebreak's short, high-pressure points: serve selection, return aggression, and side-switch pacing.Tennis
- Time Limit RuleBeginnerA time limit rule sets a maximum game duration, after which no new inning starts. In recreational slow pitch it is commonly 50 to 70 minutes, keeping league schedules on track across multiple fields and multiple games per night.Slow-Pitch Softball
- Time to ContactAdvancedTime to contact is the split-second a swing takes from trigger to ball. It sets how late a hitter can afford to start swinging against a given velocity.Baseball
- Time ViolationIntermediateA time violation is a code violation for going over the allowed time between points. A warning usually comes first; repeats cost a fault or a point.Tennis
- Timing the ArcBeginnerTiming the arc is tracking a slow-pitch delivery from release through its descent. The swing starts so the barrel arrives just as the ball reaches the zone.Slow-Pitch Softball
- Timing the Pitcher's ReleaseIntermediateTiming the pitcher's release means starting the swing in sync with the ball leaving her hand near the hip. The cue is the release, not the whole arm circle.Fast-Pitch Softball
- Today — LaunchpadBeginnerToday is SwingVantage's daily screen. While you work on a fix, it shows your current focus, today's drill and your retest timing, so each session starts with clear direction.Analysis Concepts
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