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
1191 terms
- Effective VelocityAdvancedEffective velocity is the idea that how fast a pitch feels depends on location, not just the radar gun. Inside pitches feel faster, outside and low ones slower.Baseball
- End LoadIntermediateEnd load is extra weight concentrated toward the barrel end of a bat, increasing swing momentum and exit velocity on squared-up contact. End-loaded bats only deliver their benefit when the hitter generates enough bat speed to keep their swing on time.Slow-Pitch Softball
- ErneAdvancedAn Erne is an aggressive volley hit from beside the net post. The player jumps or runs around the outside of the kitchen and contacts the ball legally outside the non-volley zone for an unexpected, sharp-angled winner.Pickleball
- Erne SetupAdvancedThe erne setup is the positioning and read a player makes before jumping around or through the kitchen. The aim is to volley a ball outside the sideline without stepping through the kitchen itself.Pickleball
- Estimated ValueBeginnerAn estimated value is a number derived from observable cues and encoded rules rather than from direct sensor measurement. A confident, grounded inference that is never presented as a measured fact.Analysis Concepts
- Evidence LabelBeginnerAn evidence label separates what SwingVantage measured with a sensor or launch monitor from what it estimated. Estimates are never shown as lab measurements.Analysis Concepts
- Exit Speed (Slow-Pitch)IntermediateExit speed is how fast the ball leaves the bat. Bat speed, contact-point quality, and the bat's certified performance rating (within legal limits) drive it.Slow-Pitch Softball
- Exit Velocity (EV)IntermediateExit velocity is how fast the ball comes off the bat, in mph. It is a ceiling metric — the harder you hit it, the farther it can go.Baseball
- Explosion ShotIntermediateAn explosion or splash shot is a standard greenside bunker shot. The club slides under the ball in a spray of sand, lifting the ball out without touching it.Golf
- Extension at ContactIntermediateExtension is the arms straightening through and just past contact, not folding in. At impact the rear arm usually keeps some bend, especially on inside pitches.Baseball
- Extension at ContactIntermediateExtension at contact is the point in the swing where the arms reach near-full length through the contact zone, transferring maximum energy from the kinetic chain into the ball.Fast-Pitch Softball
- Extension Through ContactIntermediateExtension through contact is the full straightening of the arms through the hitting zone. This allows the barrel to stay on the ball's path as long as possible and maximize energy transfer.Slow-Pitch Softball
- Extra Player (EP) RuleBeginnerThe extra player (EP) rule lets a slow-pitch team bat more players than it fields. Only ten, or the league's standard number, play defense at a time.Slow-Pitch Softball
- Face AngleAdvancedFace angle is where the clubface points at impact, relative to the target line, in degrees. It determines roughly 75–85% of the ball's starting direction.Golf
- Face-Balanced PutterIntermediateA face-balanced head is weighted so that, resting the shaft across a finger, the face points at the sky rather than rolling over. The design resists twisting through a straight-back-and-through motion, and it is most often found in mallets.Golf
- Face-On ViewBeginnerThe face-on view films the swing from in front of the golfer. It best shows hip and shoulder rotation, weight transfer, spine tilt, and early extension.Golf
- Face-to-PathProFace-to-path is the difference between face angle and club path at impact. It is the single number that determines how much, and which way, the ball curves.Golf
- FadeBeginnerA fade is a small, controllable left-to-right bend for a right-hander. It is a slice's tame, repeatable cousin, and many pros play it as their stock shot.Golf
- Fade BiasIntermediateA fade bias is a repeatable tendency to curve shots left to right (for a right-hander). Many better players prefer it for consistency and control, at some cost in distance.Golf
- Fairway Bunker TechniqueIntermediateFairway bunker technique puts clean, ball-first contact ahead of distance. It uses a slightly narrower stance, a more level swing, and often one extra club.Golf
- Fairway WoodBeginnerA fairway wood is a lower-lofted, larger-headed club, commonly a 3-, 5-, or 7-wood. It is designed to be hit off the turf as well as a tee, covering long shots between the driver and hybrids or long irons.Golf
- Fairways HitBeginnerFairways hit measures driving accuracy: the percentage of par-4 and par-5 tee shots that finish in the fairway. It is a key input into greens in regulation.Golf
- Fake ATPProA fake ATP is a deceptive shot where the player winds up as if going around the post, drawing the opponent wide, then redirects the ball crosscourt or down the line.Pickleball
- Fake Bunt SlapAdvancedA fake bunt slap has the hitter show bunt to draw the corner infielders in. Then the hitter pulls the bat back and slaps the ball into the space they left.Fast-Pitch Softball
- Falling Forward Through ImpactIntermediateFalling forward through impact is an overcorrected weight shift. Momentum carries the golfer's body noticeably past a balanced finish, toward or beyond the target, instead of finishing in control.Golf
- Fast BallIntermediateA Fast Ball in padel is any shot struck with deliberate pace to reduce opponents' reaction time. Most commonly a flat or light-topspin drive aimed at the body or feet of a net-zone player.Padel
- Fault (General)BeginnerA fault is any rule violation that immediately ends a rally, including serve errors, non-volley zone violations, out-of-bounds shots, and illegal contact. The side that commits it loses the rally. A fault by the receiving side scores a point for the servers, and a fault by the serving side loses the serve.Pickleball
- Feel vs RealIntermediate"Feel vs real" is the frequent gap between what golfers feel and what a camera shows. The mismatch is normal, and it is why video review is so valuable.Golf
- Fence DistanceBeginnerFence distance is the measured distance from home plate to the outfield fence. Standard slow-pitch fields run 275–315 feet down the lines and 275–325 feet to center, though recreational parks vary widely.Slow-Pitch Softball
- Fence-and-Glass Rebound ReadIntermediateA fence-and-glass rebound read is the skill of telling whether a ball will hit glass or metal mesh. Mesh absorbs pace and kills the bounce instead of rebounding it.Padel
- Field Dimensions (Slow-Pitch)BeginnerSlow-pitch field dimensions cover base paths (commonly 65 feet), pitching distance, and fence distance, which vary by league and division.Slow-Pitch Softball
- Fielding FootworkBeginnerFielding footwork is how a player positions and moves their feet to field a ball cleanly. Good footwork also sets up a strong, accurate throw right away.Baseball
- Fielding Position (Ready Stance)BeginnerThe fielding position is a pre-pitch stance for moving quickly in any direction. Knees are bent, feet shoulder-width, and weight on the balls of the feet.Baseball
- Fifth Shot PatternAdvancedThe fifth shot pattern refers to the serving team's planned response on the fifth shot of the rally — usually a drop or drive based on what the fourth-shot return produces.Pickleball
- Figure-8 Wind-UpIntermediateThe figure-8 wind-up is a distinct legal fast-pitch delivery. The ball goes down past the hip, behind the body, and forward to release, never overhead.Fast-Pitch Softball
- First Baseman Bunt CoverageIntermediateFirst baseman bunt coverage is the job of charging bunts toward the first-base line. The second baseman covers first base in her place.Fast-Pitch Softball
- First Baseman StretchIntermediateThe first baseman stretch extends one leg toward the throw, keeping the other foot on the bag. It shortens the ball's path so the out comes sooner.Slow-Pitch Softball
- First Serve PercentageIntermediateFirst serve percentage is the share of first serves that land in the box. It is a core indicator of serve rhythm and risk management.Tennis
- First StepIntermediateFirst step is how quickly a fielder starts movement toward a batted ball — often the largest separator between good and great defenders.Baseball
- First-and-Third DefenseAdvancedFirst-and-third defense is the set of plays used with runners on first and third. It tries to stop the runner on third from scoring while still getting an out.Fast-Pitch Softball
- First-Pitch Strike RateIntermediateFirst-pitch strike rate is the percentage of at-bats that start with a strike. It is among the strongest signs of pitching effectiveness and count control.Fast-Pitch Softball
- First-Pitch Swing RateIntermediateFirst-pitch swing rate is how often a hitter swings at the first pitch (0-0) of a plate appearance. It is a simple measure of early-count aggressiveness.Baseball
- First-Step QuicknessIntermediateFirst-step quickness is how fast a fielder's first move reacts off the bat. It is widely seen as the biggest factor in range, more than sprint speed.Baseball
- Five-Tool PlayerIntermediateA five-tool player is a position player rated above average in all five scouting tools. The tools are hitting for average, power, speed, arm, and fielding.Baseball
- Flared DivotIntermediateA flared divot is wider or more angled at its start than at its end. It indicates the clubhead was rotating (opening or closing) through the strike rather than moving cleanly along a single path.Golf
- Flat BackhandIntermediateA flat backhand has little face tilt and a near-level path through contact. It sends a low, penetrating ball with less topspin than a standard drive.Tennis
- Flat Bat PathIntermediateA flat bat path travels roughly parallel to the ground through the contact zone. A reasonable path against a low, flatter arc. But a common cause of topped balls against a steeper, high-arc pitch.Slow-Pitch Softball
- Flat DriveIntermediateA Flat Drive in padel is a low, fast, topspin-free groundstroke aimed to pass or pin opponents at the net by travelling fast through the court rather than over them.Padel
- Flat ServeIntermediateA flat serve is struck with minimal spin at maximum racquet-head speed. This produces the highest velocity and least margin for error of the three main serve types.Tennis
- FlickIntermediateThe flick is an attacking wrist stroke played to a full ball on the leg side. This uses a strong wrist roll to whip the ball to the mid-wicket or square-leg area.Cricket
- Flick AttackAdvancedA flick attack is a sudden, wrist-driven acceleration on a mid-height dink that catches the opponent off guard with a sharp speed-up to the shoulder or hip.Pickleball
- FlipIntermediateA flip is a flick or scoop of the hands at impact, instead of forward shaft lean. It adds loft, kills compression, and is a defensive reaction to poor sequencing.Golf
- Flip-Flop RuleIntermediateThe flip-flop rule lets the home team bat first in the final inning of a time-limited game if the visiting team is leading. That gives the home team a fair last chance to respond instead of running out the clock without ever batting in a winning position.Slow-Pitch Softball
- Flop ShotAdvancedA flop shot is a very high, soft-landing chip or pitch played with a wide-open lob wedge. It stops quickly and is used when there is little green between the ball and the hole.Golf
- Flying ElbowIntermediateA flying elbow is the trail elbow lifting up and away from the body during the backswing. It disconnects the arms from the torso's rotation and often produces an overly steep, arms-dominant swing.Golf
- Follow-ThroughBeginnerThe follow-through is the club's path after impact, up and around to a balanced finish. It is not just for looks: a full, free finish shows the swing did not slow down.Golf
- Follow-ThroughBeginnerThe follow-through is the path the racquet takes after contact. A complete finish confirms the swing was not decelerated before the ball was struck.Tennis
- Follow-ThroughBeginnerFollow-through is the continuation of the paddle motion after contact. It determines ball direction, spin, and pace, and signals whether the swing was committed or interrupted early.Pickleball
- Follow-ThroughBeginnerThe follow-through continues the swing after contact. The bat completes its arc, the arms extend fully, and the body finishes balanced and weight-forward.Slow-Pitch Softball
- Foot FaultBeginnerA foot fault occurs when a server's foot touches the baseline or crosses into the court before contacting the ball on the serve. It results in a fault.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