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| Sand Iron |
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Also called a sand wedge. A heavy, lofted club that was used for playing from bunkers. No longer in use.
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| Sand Trap |
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A hazard containing sand; a bunker.
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| Sand Wedge |
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An iron with a heavy flange on the bottom that is used primarily to get out of sand traps.
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| Sandbagger |
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A golfer who lies about his ability to gain an edge in the game.
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| Sandblast |
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Finish applied to the faces and cavities of certain irons. Metal wood heads may also have sandblasted finishes. Characterized by a light gray color, these finishes are applied through the use of an air compressor and special sandblast gun. The common media used for sandblasting is aluminum oxide sand. “Sandblast” is also the term given to the process of applying a sandblast finish.
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| Sandblasting Cabinet |
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Box-like cabinet with a “window” and “arm-holes” used for sandblasting. The purpose of the cabinet is to eliminate flying sand and to allow the club to be easily held and manipulated during the sandblasting process.
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| Sanding Belts |
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Long, thin belts or various grits (#120, 240, etc.) used in conjunction with 1” X 42” or 1” X 30” belt sanders.
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| Sanding Cone (Drum) |
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Attachment for a motor or specializes sanding station. Cone or cylindrically (drum) shaped and covered with sandpaper held in place by two-way tape; used to remove finishes from wood heads.
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| Sandy |
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Making par after being in a bunker.
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| Satin Finish |
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Type of finish applied to stainless steel iron heads and metal wood soles through a series of finishing belts. Appears as a brushed aluminum type of finish.
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| Saved on Rail |
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Benefiting from a rail position and missing/avoiding trouble.
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| Scare |
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The area of a wood club where the head and shaft are spliced together.
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| Scared Neck |
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Wooden shafted club construction in which the shaft and head are joined by glue and whipping. Gives the appearance of the club being one-piece.
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| Schenectady |
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Type of antique wooden shaft putter identified by its mallet shape. Originally made in Schenectady, NY, many similar putters are known by the same name.
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| Schooling Race |
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An unofficial training or qualifying race with no wagering allowed.
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| Scoop |
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An improper swing in which the club has a digging or scooping action
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| Scoop (Dig) Sole |
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An iron whose leading edge is lower than its trailing edge is determined to have a scoop sole.
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| Score |
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The number of strokes taken on each hole.
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| Scoring |
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Any marking on a club face, primarily for decorative or alignment purposes. Examples include, but are not limited to, lines, dots, circles and/or triangles.
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| Scotch Foursome |
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A match that has partners alternating hitting the same ball. They also alternate driving regardless of who holed out on the previous hole.
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| Scotchbrite Wheel |
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Type of wheel, approximately 5 ½” in diameter, mounted on a bench grinder or similar setup, used to return a club’s finish to satin. Typically used on metal wood soleplates or satin-finished irons to restore their finish to near-new.
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| Scramble |
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A team competition where players play the best ball of a team member after every stroke or drive.
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| Scratch |
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Withdrawal of a greyhound from a race.
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| Scratch Golfer |
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A player has a zero handicap; thus, one who averages par.
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| Scriber |
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Tool (approximately 6” long) with wooden or plastic handle and sharp metallic point used to clean out screw holes, engravings, etc.
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| Scruff |
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To misplay the ball by hitting or grazing the ground with the clubhead prior to hitting the ball.
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| Searching for All |
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Players are allowed five minutes to search for a ball before declaring it lost. Groups behind should be called through if they are ready to play.
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| Sensicore Gold |
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Line of shafts from True Temper in which the size of the Sensicore shaft insert varies through the set. The Sensicores are larger in the longer irons and shorter in the wedges in a set of Sensicore Gold shafts.
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| Sensicore™ |
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A vibration dampening core, developed by True Temper™, and inserted into the shaft to reduce vibration. Sensicores™ are used in both wood and irons shafts, steel and graphite.
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| Separate Pools |
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Money wagered on a race at another track, which is totally apart from the pool at the other track.
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| Set |
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A full complement of golf clubs.
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| Set Up |
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To position yourself for the address.
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| Seven Iron |
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An iron club used for a distance of 125-160 yards for men's clubs. Also known as a mashie-niblick.
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| Shaft |
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The part of the club, including the grip, that is joined to the head.
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| Shaft Cutting Board |
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Wooden or metal board, usually attached to a chop saw that measures and cuts a number of shafts at one time. Usually found in higher volume shops.
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| Shaft Extension |
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A piece of material inserted into the shaft butt that is used to make the club longer. The portion of the extender inside the shaft holds it in place (with epoxy), while the portion sticking out of the shaft butt will make the club longer, up to 1 ½”. The extension may be made of wood, steel, aluminum or graphite.
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| Shaft Extractor |
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Threaded steel rod inserted into a shaft broken off at the hosel. The threads lock onto the shaft, making it removable after the application of heat. May also be called and “Easy Out.”
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| Shaft Identification (Id) Gauge |
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Rectangular aluminum gauge (approximately 3” X 5”) used to measure shaft tip sizes and step patterns. Helpful in identifying shaft types and tip diameters.
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| Shaft Lab |
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Computerized system of shaft fitting developed by True Temper that places a high emphasis on how a player “loads” a shaft during the swing. Shaft lab provides computer readouts and graphics as part of its fitting system.
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| Shaft Pattern |
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The design of a particular shaft, indicating the distribution of flexibility about the shaft. Pattern is also the term used to designate a particular model of shaft, e.g., Dynamic™, Spectre™, FCM™, etc.
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| Shaft Puller |
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Specialized tool used in the removal of graphite shafts from steel or titanium club heads. The puller is designed to force the head from the shaft at the precise moment the epoxy bond is broken by heating. The concept of a shaft puller is to reduce the number of damaged graphite shafts as they are removed.
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| Shafting Beads |
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Small nylon (or other non-abrasive material) beads, when mixed with epoxy, that help center a shaft in a hosel.
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| Shag |
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To retrieve balls hit from the practice tee.
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| Shag Bag |
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A bag in which practice balls are carried.
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| Shagging |
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Picking up golf balls from practice ranges
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| Shallow Face |
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Any wood or iron having a face height less than the norm. Shallow face clubs typically have lower CG’s, thus making them easier to get airborne.
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| Shank |
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The portion of the hosel nearest the club's face. As a verb, to hit a shot with the shank, which causes it to go sharply off line, usually to the right for a right-handed golfer.
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| Shanked Ferrule |
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Ferrule, with a raised lip at its top, used in conjunction with wooden woods. The "shank” or lip, helps clubmakers begin the whipping without slippage.
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| Shapiro |
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Similar to a mulligan, but after hitting the second ball, the player can choose which one to play for the rest of the hole.
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| Shear Strength |
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Resistance of material (i.e., epoxy) to being broken or torn apart.
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| Sheet Wrapping |
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The process of making a graphite shaft in which sheets of graphite and epoxy resin are wrapped around a mandrel to produce a shaft. The process is quite labor intensive. It may also be known as “Table Rolling.”
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| Shim |
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Thin metallic or paper wedge used to center a shaft in a hosel. The use of shims is not a highly recommend practice among clubmakers.
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| Shiperio |
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Similar to a mulligan where a player is allowed a second shot without penalty but is allowed to choose which ball to play, the first one or the second one.
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| Short Game |
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That part of the game of golf involving shots in which is accuracy is more important than distance.
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| Short-Shafting |
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He process of installing a shaft short of the bottom of the hosel bore. In effect this makes the shaft play softer than it was designed to play. Most common in deep bore metal heads.
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| Shot Peen Finish |
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Type of finish applied to stainless steel iron heads that leaves the appearance of a “silvery, semi-rough” surface.
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| Shotgun |
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Start In tournaments when players are to start at different holes; a firing of a shotgun may be used as a signal to start play.
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| Shotmaker |
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A player who has the ability to play a great many different shots.
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| Shotmaking |
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The ability to play a great many different shots.
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| Show |
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A wagering term describing the greyhound finishing third in a race.
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| Shut Off |
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Blocked when trying to make a move.
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| Side |
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Can mean the first 9 holes (front side) or the last 9 (back side) of an 18 hole course. Also two or more players who are partners.
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| Sidehill Lie |
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A lie in which the ball is on a hillside and is therefore either above or below the golfer's feet.
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| Silkscreen |
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A method of identification found on most shafts. On steel shafts, it typically encircles the shaft approximately ¼ of the distance from the shaft tip, and is usually black in color. On graphite shafts, it is typically located near the grip and is much more colorful and noticeable.
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| Single |
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A match involving two players, one against the other.
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| Sire |
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The father of a greyhound.
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| Six Iron |
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An iron club that gives a distance of 135-170 yards for men's clubs. Also known as a spade or spade-mashie.
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| Skins |
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A betting game in which the player who wins a hole wins a pot. If there is no winner, the pot is carried over and added to the pot for the next hole.
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| Skiving |
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The thin edges on the underside or a leather or other wrap-on grip, making the grip easier to wrap in place.
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| Skull |
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To hit the ball above its center, usually on a chip or pitch shot, causing it to travel too far.
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| Skulling |
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Hitting the ball at or above its center causing the ball to be hit too hard and travel too great a distance.
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| Sky |
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To hit well underneath the ball, causing it to go higher and therefore shorter than intended.
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| Skywriting |
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A poor swing, on which the club head makes a loop or circle at the top of the backswing. This usually results in a shank.
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| Slice |
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A shot that curves strongly from left to right, for a right-handed golfer, because of clockwise rotation. As a verb, to hit such a shot.
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| Slider |
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A low shot that takes erratic bounces.
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| Slope |
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Adjusts your handicap to the difficulty of the course you play. The more difficult the course, the more strokes you'll need. Under slope, golfers will no longer have a handicap. You will have an index. An average course will have a slope rating of 113. Your index is a mathematical calculation of your playing ability on an average course. Maximum index allowed is 36.4 for men and 40.4 for women. Conversion charts will be located at the first tee.
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| Slope Frequency |
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As per Frequency Slope: The graph line formed when plotting the frequencies of the shafts in a set of clubs. A well-matched set will have a consistent slope; a mismatched set will show shafts that vary several cycles from their expected range.
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| Slow Play |
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You are required to keep up with the group in front of you at all times. Slow play can be penalized. It's common courtesy as well.
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| Slump |
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A prolonged period of bad play.
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| Smother |
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To hit down on the ball, causing it to travel a short distance along the ground.
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| Snake |
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A three-putt off any green. A game played where the last three-putts of round, occuring on any hole owes the other members of the group the pre-agreed total of all three-putts. Gets pretty exciting the last few holes with some competitors playing snake-avoidance.
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| Snipe |
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A ball that is hooked and drops quickly
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| Socket |
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The opening, in the neck of an iron, where the shaft is fitted.
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| Sofftie |
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Eneral term given to a one-piece grip composed of a very soft compound. First developed by the Eaton Corporation and marketed under the Golf Pride name.
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| Soft-Stepping |
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A process of assembly in which a shaft with a longer tip section is put into a club that would normally require a shorter tip section in order that the club play to a softer flex. Installing a #2 iron shaft into a #3 iron to gain more flexibility is an example of this process.
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| Sole |
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The bottom underside portion of any type of golf club. It is the area where the club rests on the ground in playing position.
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| Sole Plate |
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A metal plate that protects the bottom of a wood club.
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| Sole Weighted Iron |
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The design of an iron had in which the majority of its weight is concentrated toward the sole of the club. This produces a lower center of gravity making it easier to get the ball airborne.
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| Sole Width |
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The measure of a sole from the leading edge to the trailing edge. A narrow sole width is better from firmer ground; wide soles are helpful in getting the ball airborne and are more suited to less-firm ground.
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| Solid Ball |
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Also known as a two-piece ball, a solid ball is characterized as one with a cover (usually of a durable material) molded over a central core. Solid balls are considered to have a harder feel and may tend to go farther than other types of balls.
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| Sp700 |
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Ny one of a number of unique titanium alloys used in club faces or entire heads. SP700 is a lighter, stronger alloy of titanium.
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| Spade Mashie |
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Antique club identification equivalent to modern #6 iron.
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| Specification (Specs) Gauge |
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A specialized piece of equipment used to measure a club’s loft, lie, face angle, offset and face progression.
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| Spga |
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Senior Professional Golf Association.
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| Spherical Symmetry |
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USGA rule parameter that states a ball must have flight patterns of a spherically symmetrical ball. In other words, regardless of how a ball is positioned at address or struck at impact, the ball must perform the same in respect to ball flight versus ball orientation.
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| Spike Mark |
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Mark made on the green by the cleats of a golf shoe.
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| Spin Rate |
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The amount of spin on a golf ball. A high-spin ball will carry longer and roll less than a low spin shaft. High spin balls will also react to side spin more than do low spin shaft, and are said to be easier to draw or fade as a result. Low spin balls will fly lower and roll farther; their overall distance may be greater.
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| Spine |
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The point of a shaft in which it exhibits uniform bending properties in relation to the target.
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| Spoon |
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N old designation for a type of fairway wood still used by TaylorMade for a metal wood club of 13 or 15-degree loft popular among better players.
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| Spot Putting |
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A player aims at a spot on the green that will allow the ball to roll into the cup, rather than directly at the hole.
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| Spray |
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To hit the ball erratically off line.
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| Spring |
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The flexibility of the club shaft.
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| Spring-Like Effect |
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A general term given to the faces of metal woods elated to how much the face compresses and decompresses (springs back) upon ball impact. The USGA recently established standards for this effect, based upon their assumption that if a face springs more, overall ball distance may be increased, making some of today’s courses obsolete.
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| Sprint |
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A race run over five-sixteenths of a mile or shorter.
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| Square |
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Descriptive of a tied match, as in, "The golfers were square after 15 holes."
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| Square Stance |
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A stance in which the feet are lined up parallel to the ball's expected line of flight.
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| Stableford |
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A scoring system based on points rather than strokes. Eight points are awarded for a double eagle, 5 for an eagle, and 2 for a birdie. A point is subtracted for a bogey and 3 points are subtracted for a double bogey or worse. The player who accumulates the most points wins the round.
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| Staked Trees |
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Usually a free drop is allowed from staked trees to avoid damage to them. Check the local rules.
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| Stakes |
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Identified by different colours. Check the local rules to identify what the colours mean. -Top
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| Stakes Race |
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A championship race or one for a purse larger than those offered for other feature races.
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| Stance |
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Placing your feet firmly and getting ready to play the ball.
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| Standard Weight Shaft |
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A steel shaft weight classification that falls within the range of 4.25-4.62 ounces.
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| Starter |
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An official who is responsible for seeing that golfers tee off at the proper time and in the correct sequence.
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| Static Fitting |
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The process of fitting an individual without actually watching him or her hit balls. Examples of static fitting include mailed in fitting forms, and telephone fitting.
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| Static Weight |
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Also known as overall weight or total weight, total weight is the weight of the entire assembled club as expressed in ounces or grams.
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| Steel Center |
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Term given to three-piece balls having a small center made of steel.
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| Step |
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Ocation on a steel shaft where the diameter of the shaft "steps up" noticeably to a larger diameter. The average steel shaft has numerous steps arranged in a pattern unique to that shaft's specific model allowing clubmakers to distinguish one unmarked shaft from another.
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| Step Drilling |
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A method of enlarging the bore of a hosel through the use of a series of drill bits. The process is begun with the smallest bit , then progresses to a medium sized bit, followed by a larger sized bit. Step drilling makes the process of enlarging a hosel bore easier and less time-consuming.
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| Stepless |
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Erm describing a steel shaft that contains no "steps up" in diameter, making instead the transition from thin to thicker in a smooth, gradual manner. FCM Rifle and Apollo Balistik are stepless shafts.
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| Stick |
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The pin in the hole.
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| Stimpmeter |
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An instrument for measuring the speed of greens. It's a 30-inch aluminum trough raised to a 20-degree angle. A ball is placed in the top of the trough and released to roll down onto the green. The distance it rolls after leaving the trough is then converted to a Stimp reading.
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| Stimpmetre |
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Superintendents measure green speed with a stimpmetre. Its readings give a snapshot of the green speed at that time of day. Stimpmetre readings in the five to six range mean slow greens, seven to eight mean medium, nine to 10 fast and above 11 extremely fast - PGA Tournament speeds.
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| Stipulated Round |
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A round played on all 18 holes of a course in their numbered sequence.
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| Stitched Buffing Wheel |
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Type of wheel (approximately 6” in diameter) used, along with a bench grinder and Emery Cake, Tripoli or Rouge compounds, to polish stainless steel heads. The wheel is identified by its fibers stitched tightly together.
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| Stony |
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Descriptive of a shot hit very close to the flagstick.
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| Stroke |
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The forward movement of the club to hit the ball is counted as a stroke. If there is an intention to hit the ball and the player misses, that is also counted as a stroke.
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| Stroke and Distance |
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A penalty in which the golfer is penalized a stroke and has to play the shot again, thus is also penalized the distance the first ball was hit.
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| Stroke Play |
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Competition based on the number of strokes taken for a stipulated round, or a predetermined number of stipulated rounds, with the low score winning.
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| Strong Loft |
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The loft of any club, particularly an iron, that is less than the standard specification for that club. Stronger lofted clubs tend to hit the ball lower and longer than standard lofts, but may sacrifice some control.
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| Stronomic™ |
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Proprietary face insert material from Odyssey™ Golf that helped to first popularize face insert putter designs.
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| Studio Design |
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Rademarked name given to a line of milled putters made by Scotty Cameron for Titleist.
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| Stymie |
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Originally, the situation in match play in which an opponent's ball lies in the line of a player's putt. Formerly, the shot had to be played, but now the blocking ball may be lifted, so the term usually refers to a tree or other object that lies between the ball and the flagstick.
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| Subflex |
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N the True temper stiff Dynamic Gold series, for example, each individual flex. S200, S300 & S400 are all subflexes of stiff, for example.
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| Sudden Death |
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When in a match or stroke competition the score is tied after completing the round, play continues until one player wins a hole
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| Super-Steel |
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A term given to any number of alloys of steel that are stronger and often lighter than the 17-4 type of steel used commonly in metal woods.
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| Superfecta |
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A wagering term describing the first four greyhounds crossing the finish line in a race.
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| Supination |
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The rotation of the wrist so that the palm of the hand faces upward.
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| Surebrite Wheel |
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Ype of wheel used on a bench grinder or similar setup used to return a club’s finish to satin. Typically used on metal wood soleplates or satin-finished irons to restore their finish to near-new. See also “Scotchbrite Wheel.”
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| Surlyn |
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Material from which most golf balls are made of.
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| Surlyn™ |
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A thermoplastic resin (ionomer) cover, invented by DuPont in the late 1970’s, Surlyn™ is a very common material in durable cover balls.
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| Swaging |
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A method, used in shaft manufacture, in which the tip of the shaft is elongated in order to make it a specific smaller diameter.
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| Swale |
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A moderately contoured depression or dip in terrain.
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| Sweet Spot |
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The position on the club face at which maximum energy and feel will be transferred.
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| Swing |
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The full action involved in stroking the ball, which includes the takeaway, backswing, downswing, and follow through.
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| Swing Computer |
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Device used in club fitting to accurately define swing characteristics such as swing path, swing speed, tempo, face angle, etc. Typically used indoors only, swing computers may cost several thousand dollars and will graphically display a golfer’s swing, aiding in the fitting process.
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| Swingweight |
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A club’s weight distribution around a fixed fulcrum point. The fulcrum point is typically 14” from the butt of the club. Swingweight is commonly referred to as the relationship between the weight of the grip end of the club and head end. It is measured in alpha-numeric units such as D-1, D-2, and so on with higher letter-number units indicating more weight in the head relative to the grip.
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| Swingweight Scale |
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A measuring scale specific to golf clubs that utilizes a balance system to determine the swingweight and possibly the total weight of a golf club.
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