Golf Swing Terminology

Closed clubface: when the clubface is aligned to the left of the target line (for right-handed golfers)

Closed stance: having the body (feet, hips, shoulders) aligned to the right of the target line. Sam Snead played from a closed stance. Ben Hogan used a closed stance for the longer clubs.

Compression: squeezing of a golf ball when it is struck by a clubhead

Cut: a shot that curves slightly toward the right (for right-handed golfers)

Delofting: decreasing the amount of loft on the club face by tilting the shaft in the direction of the target

Divot: small piece of turf which is removed by the golf club when hitting a ball

Draw: a shot that curves to the left

Explosion shot: a bunker shot that sends a large amount of sand into the air

Fade: a shot that curves the ball slightly to the right

Fat: when the clubface strikes the ground before hitting the ball

Flex: the amount of bend within the shaft of a golf club

Hook: a shot that curves to the left; a hook curves more to the left than a “draw”

Impact: the moment at which the clubface strikes the ball

Interlocking grip: a grip in which the index finger of the left hand is intertwined with the pinky finger of the right hand

Lag: the relationship between the clubhead and the hands; Sergio Garcia and Ben Hogan are players who maintain lag until very late in the swing.

Laid off: when the clubshaft is pointing to the left of the target at the top of the backswing

Neutral grip: when a golfer has the hands directly on top of the grip, with the V’s of the thumb and the forefinger pointing at the chin; examples of players with neutral grips

Neutral stance: when both feet are in line and parallel to the target line

Open clubface: when it is aligned to the right of the target line

Open stance: having the body (feet, hips, shoulders) aligned to the left of the target line; examples of golfers who use an open stance

Punch shot: a shot that uses a shortened swing, especially a shortened follow-through. Also referred to as a “knockdown” shot

Release: letting the clubhead return to square at impact

Slice: a shot curves from left to right; a slice curves more than a “cut” or a “fade”

Square (neutral) stance: having the body (feet, hips, shoulders) aligned parallel to the target line examples of golfers who use a square stance

Strong grip: when a golfer has the hands rotated to the right side of the grip, with the V’s of the thumb and the forefinger pointing toward the right shoulder. A common test is to hold up the clubface and see how many knuckles you can see on your left hand, if you can see three or more, then you have a strong grip. Examples of players with strong grips.

Here’s an explanation for why a strong grip is best for the average golfer:

Swing plane: an imaginary representation of the path of the clubshaft as it travels through the swing

Trap draw: “trapping” means to hit the golf ball with a descending blow, compressing the ball between the club face and the ground. So, a “trap draw” is a trapped shot that flies right to left.

Vardon grip: a grip in which the pinky finger of the right hand sits on top of and between the index finger and middle finger of the left hand. Named after golfing great Harry Vardon, who made it popular.

Weak grip: when a golfer has the hands rotated to the left of the grip, with the V’s of the thumb and the forefinger pointing to the left of the chin. Examples of players with weak grips