Skip to main content
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
135 terms
- 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
- TopspinBeginnerTopspin is forward spin imparted by brushing up the back of the ball. It makes the ball dip down into the court and kick up high after the bounce.Tennis
- Trophy PositionIntermediateThe trophy position is the serve checkpoint at the toss's peak: hitting arm up, body arched, tossing arm raised. The kinetic chain is fully loaded to fire.Tennis
- Two-Handed BackhandBeginnerA two-handed backhand places both hands on the grip, with the non-dominant hand providing additional stability, power, and disguise through contact.Tennis
- Unforced ErrorBeginnerAn unforced error is a point lost to a player's own mistake. They had reasonable time and position for the shot and little pressure from the opponent.Tennis
- Unit TurnIntermediateA unit turn is rotating the hips and shoulders together as one unit to prepare for a groundstroke. The arm does not take the racquet back on its own.Tennis
- Vibration DampenerBeginnerA vibration dampener is a small rubber or silicone device inserted at the bottom of the string bed to reduce the high-pitched "ping" vibration and change the sound of the racquet at contact.Tennis
- Volley TechniqueIntermediateVolley technique is the mechanics of striking the ball before it bounces. It uses a short, firm punch action rather than a full groundstroke swing.Tennis
- Western Forehand Grip TimingAdvancedWestern forehand grip timing is about the narrow contact-height window this grip demands. Contact too low or too high costs far more than with a neutral grip.Tennis
- Western GripAdvancedThe western grip rotates the hand fully under the handle (base knuckle on bevel 4–5). This enables extreme topspin on high balls while making low-ball and flat shots very difficult.Tennis
- Wide Serve (Deuce/Ad Court)IntermediateA wide serve is placed near the sideline of the service box. It pulls the returner off the court and opens the opposite side for the next shot.Tennis
- Windshield Wiper ForehandAdvancedThe windshield wiper forehand finishes with the racquet sweeping across the body like a car's wiper. The extra face rotation adds heavy topspin.Tennis
- Winner (Shot Outcome)BeginnerA winner is a shot that ends the point outright. The opponent makes no contact, or only an unsuccessful attempt at contact.Tennis
- Wrist Lay-BackAdvancedWrist lay-back is the cocked-back wrist that forms naturally as the racquet head lags the hand late in the swing. It stores energy released at contact.Tennis
- Wrist Snap on ServeIntermediateWrist snap (pronation) on the serve is the forearm-rotation motion through contact that accelerates the racquet head and directs spin, the final link in the serving kinetic chain.Tennis
Available in other languages
See these terms in your own swing
SwingVantage analyzes your swing against these benchmarks — free to start.
Analyze My Swing Free