Lesson #8: Golf Club Terminology & Definitions

Golf Lesson #8: Golf Club Terminology & Definitions

Golf has lots of jargon and it can be confusing. We have tried to include most of the terms we use and those you might see while shopping for golf clubs. If you find a new one or have any suggestions please provide them to us at golfersdictionary@pinemeadowgolf.com and we will add it to the list!

Alloy
Any combination of metals used to produce a club head or shaft. Alloys may contain aluminum, steel, beryllium, nickel, copper, titanium, or other metals in varying combinations. Less than honest descriptions of products often have the term "alloy" in them to hide the fact that the product may only contain trace elements of the desired metal. For example, "titanium alloy" may actually contain 98% aluminum and only 2% titanium which may be used to confuse the consumer with "real titanium" that has high levels of titanium. Alloy is often a code word for substituting a cheap metal for an expensive metal.
Back Weight
A weight, usually tungsten, brass or aluminum attached to the back of a wooden, graphite or titanium wood head. The back weight moves the center of gravity toward the back of the club to assist in getting the ball airborne.
Backspin
The backward rotation of a golf ball in flight around a horizontal axis as caused by the club hitting the ball. The more loft on a club, the greater the backspin. Certain finishes on a club face (e.g., milling, brass-blasting) can also increase backspin.
Balance Point
The point where a shaft's weight is evenly distributed in both directions when rested on a single point.
Belly Putter
Type of putter that positions the grip against the player's stomach in order to create a pendulum effect from a relatively stable pivot point. Most belly putters are about 40" in length. Belly putters generally are available in several lengths to accommodate different bellies.
Bent (or Curved) Shaft
A shaft designed for use in no-hosel putters, featuring a bend or bends within 5" from the shaft tip. The curved shaft creates offset and face balancing.
Beryllium Copper (BeCu)
An alloy used to produce heads for some irons. More dense than stainless and some players claim it has a softer feel. Beryllium heads are easily identified by their copper coloration.
Beta-Titanium
An alloy of Titanium both harder and heavier than typical cast titanium.
Big Butt Shaft
Any shaft with a butt size over .620".
Bi-Metal
Describes club heads constructed from two different materials, for instance, a stainless steel club head with a brass sole insert or brass sole rails.
Bi-Matrix Shaft
Patented by True Temper, the BI-Matrix is a shaft that contains both graphite and steel. BI-Matrix wood shafts have a steel tip section, with the remainder being made of graphite. BI-Matrix irons have a graphite tip for feel, with the remainder of the shaft being steel for control.
Blade (or Face)
The striking face of an iron head.
Blade Style Head
Blades are also known as muscle-back irons due to a possible concentration of weight directly behind the center of the club face. Predominately used by very experienced golfers.
Boron
A high strength element added to some graphite shafts to increase tip strength. Boron shafts are more expensive. Since the mid 1990's boron has become less common as the technology of manufacturing graphite shafts has improved their strength and reduced torque considerably.
Bounce
The measurement from the leading edge of the club face to the groundline. Wedges typically have the most bounce in a set of clubs. Bounce helps these clubs go through sand and high grass easily.
Bounce Angle
When looking at the sole of a wedge you will notice the trailing edge hangs beneath the leading edge. This angle in relation to the ground plane is called bounce angle.
Build-Up Tape
Masking tape applied to the butt end of the shaft to increase grip size. A single layer of masking tape (.005" thick) will increase grip size approximately 1/64".
Bulge
The curvature of the face of a wood or metal wood from heel to toe. Bulge helps give corrective spin to shots hit on the toe or heel of the wood face.
Butt (shaft butt)
The grip end of the shaft.
Butt Cap
The plastic or rubber cap at the top end of the grip. Also called the "End Cap."
Camber
The radius measurement of the sole of a club. A sole can be cambered from toe to heel, or from front to back, or both.
Cavity Back
An iron head with the weight is distributed toward the perimeter of the head. Cavity back irons are easily identified by their recessed area on the back of the head.
Center of Gravity (CG)
The point in a club head where all of the points of balance intersect. The lower the CG, the higher the ball flight. Higher CG clubs produce lower ball flight.
Center-Shafted
Hosel configuration where the shaft enters the head toward the center. Most common in putters.
Chrome Plated Finish
High-luster, shiny finish electrostatically applied to forged irons and to steel shafts.
Component
Parts used to assemble golf clubs. The three primary components of a golf club are the head, shafts and grips. Other components include ferrules, labels, tape, and epoxy.
Compression
The hardness of a golf ball, identified by a number - a higher number indicates a ball that requires more force to compress it. Lower compression balls flatten more when hit. 100 would be a high compression golf ball, 80 would be a low compression golf ball.
Compression Molded
Manufacturing method for graphite heads and face inserts where layers of graphite are placed upon one another and heat cured to create a clubhead or insert.
Conforming Club
A golf club that conforms to standards set by the USGA.
Core (Grip)
Inside diameter measurement of a grip, which determines the size of the grip. Core size does not match shaft butt sizes. The standard core size for a man's grip is .620", for a lady is .590", but both use the same shaft butt size.
Cover
Outside surface of a golf ball. The cover may be one of any number of materials, Surlyn and balata being most common.
Crown
The top of the head of a wood or metal wood. It's what the golfer sees at address.
Cubic Centimeters (cc's)
Measurement of the volume of a wood head.
Curved (or Bent) Shaft
A shaft designed for use in no-hosel putters, featuring a bend or bends within 5" from the shaft tip. The curved shaft creates offset and face balancing.
Deep Face
A club face with higher than average distance from the sole of the club to the crown. Deep face clubs have a higher CG and launch the ball on a lower trajectory.
Diamond Face
A face coating containing fine diamond crystals to enhance backspin and face wear. Primarily used on wedges.
Die Cast
Injection of material into a pre-formed die to form club heads. This process is generally used on lower-priced heads such as zinc alloy irons and aluminum alloy woods. It is also commonly used on putters made from brass and zinc.
Driver
The club that used to hit the ball for the first shot on a par 4 or par 5 hole. The longest hitting club in the set. Drivers commonly have lofts between 7 and 12 degrees.
Driving Iron
A golf club with low loft and a muscle or hollow body similar to a wood. The driving iron is a utility club most commonly used by golfers who have difficulty hitting their long irons.
Face (or Blade)
The striking face of an iron head.
Face Angle
Position of the club face relative to the intended line of ball flight. For right-handed golfers, a square face angle aligns directly at the target; an open face aligns to the right, while a closed face aligns left.
Face Insert
An epoxy, graphite or fibrous material in the center portion of the face on a wooden, composite, or metal head.
Ferrule
Decorative trim ring, directly on top of the hosel on many woods and irons.
Flat Lie
A lie flatter than specification. For example, if the spec is 60 degrees, a 2 degree flat club would have a lie angle of 58 degrees.
Flex
The relative bending properties of a golf club shaft. Flex is usually identified by a letter: L for ladies, A for senior, R for regular, S for stiff and X for extra stiff. Graphite shafts commonly use the term Firm instead of Stiff for Firm and Extra Firm graphite shafts.
Flexible Face
A golf club face designed to "flex" upon ball impact, potentially propelling the ball a longer distance than if the face did not flex. See also "Spring-Like Effect" or "Trampoline Effect".
Flow Weighting
Head design where weight positioning shifts from one club to the next. For example, a #1 iron may have more weight concentrated on its toe, a #2 iron slightly less, and so on. Also called Progressive Weighting.
Form Forged
Iron club head manufacturing process in which a club is first investment cast from an alloy of carbon steel and then formed to shape through a series of forging dies.
431 Stainless Steel
Stainless steel used in iron and putter head construction, not more than 20% carbon, 15-17% chromium, and 1.25-2.5% nickel, with the remainder being iron and a few trace elements. The most common iron making material in high quality irons. Softer than 17-4 stainless steel.
Forged Titanium
A method of wood head manufacture in which the body and sole of the head is forged from 100% pure titanium. The face and hosels are usually cast from 6-4 Ti.
Forging
Producing a golf club head from a series of forging dies stamping the head to final shape. Forged heads are made of softer metals than cast heads and require hand finishing and chrome plating.
Gear Effect
The effect that tends to cause a ball hit toward the toe or heel side of face center to curve back to the intended target line.
Gooseneck
A putter (or iron) that has an extremely offset hosel.
Graphite
Synthetic filament material used for shaft and head production, produced through a series of heating steps. Graphite fibers may differ greatly in strength and modulus.
Grip Collar
Plastic collar used to secure the bottom of a grip in place on the shaft. Most commonly seen on leather grips.
Gunmetal
Dark, almost black, finish applied to the surface of iron heads for cosmetic reasons or to prevent rusting of a carbon steel head.
Heel-Toe Weighting
A type of club head design with weight positioned toward the heel and toe of the clubhead, resulting in stabilizing the clubhead (and produce straighter shots) on off-center impacts.
High-Modulus Graphite
A shaft material stiffer than standard graphite. The higher the modulus of graphite, the lower its compression strength.
High Polish Finish
Shiny (mirror) finish applied to stainless steel iron heads through a series of polishing operations.
Hook Face
A wood with a closed face angle. Hook face woods may help players who slice to hit the ball straight.
Horizontal Flow Weighting
Distributing weight from club to club in a set of irons, with the highest concentration of weight moving from the toe of the longer irons to the heel of the shorter irons.
Hosel
The entry point of the shaft into the head on any golf club.
Inset Hosel
A club design with the hosel toward the center of the club face in an attempt to reduce head twisting.
Leading Edge
The front edge of the clubface.
Lie
The angle from the shaft to the ground line when the club is measured in normal playing position.
Lift
Upward force on a golf ball as it flies.
Lightweight Shaft
A shaft that falls within 3.80-4.24 ounces in steel or alloy shafts and within 3.20-3.60 ounces in composite shafts.
Loft
The angle of the clubface that controls trajectory and affects distance.
Low Balance Point (LBP)
A shaft with a high percentage of its weight toward the tip.
Low Profile Head
An iron or wood head that is shorter from topline to soleline than typical.
Mallet
A type of putter head identified by its broad appearance from front to back when positioned at address.
Maraging Steel
A steel alloy harder than are non-maraging steels such as 17-4 and 15-5. Maraging steel is commonly used in club face applications, rather than in entire club heads.
Melonite
A black corrosion-resistant plating applied to some club heads.
Milled Face
A club face milled to .001" for flatness to promote smoother roll.
Midsize Wood
Any wood with a clubhead around 185cc in size.
Modulus
The measure of a fiber's stiffness or resistance to bending. The higher the modulus, the stiffer the material.
Muscleback Iron
See Blade Style Iron.
Non-Conforming Club
A club whose construction does not allow it to be played in any event (either professional, amateur or club-level) as sanctioned by USGA Rules.
Non-Conforming Club (Driver) List
A list of clubs (particularly drivers) that do not conform to USGA equipment requirements. The list, updated regularly, is available at www.usga.com.
Offset
The distance from the forward most point of the hosel to the leading edge of the blade. Offset will help a player to align the club face with the target, reducing a slice, and may produce higher ball flight.
Oversize Iron Head
Any iron head larger 43 millimeters and a blade length of 75 mm.
Oversize Wood Head
A wood head with volume greater than 200 cc's.
Perimeter Weighting
Redistributing weight on a club head to the heel and toe in an attempt to stabilize the club on all types of impacts.
Progressive Offset
Iron sets with longer irons having more offset and shorter irons having less.
Progressive Weighting
Head design where weight positioning shifts from one club to the next. For example, a #1 iron may have more weight concentrated on its toe, a #2 iron slightly less, and so on. Also called Flow Weighting.
Rails
Raised areas on the soles of metal woods, lowering the center of gravity of the club and providing less resistance as the club travels through the turf.
Rescue
A name given to any number of clubs that combine features of a wood and an iron. "Rescue" is also the trademarked name of this type of club from TaylorMade that began the trend. See also "Hybrid."
Roll
The measure of face curvature from crown to sole on woods.
Sandblast
Light gray finish applied to the some iron and wood heads. Applied using an air compressor and sandblasted with aluminum oxide sand.
Satin Finish
"Brushed" finish applied to some stainless steel iron heads and metal wood soles by finishing belts.
Scoring Lines
Lines or grooves on the face of an iron or wood club.
17-4 Stainless Steel
Stainless steel alloy used in Iron and metal wood head construction. 17-4 is no more than 0.07% Carbon, between 15 and 17% Chromium, 4% Nickel, 2.75% Copper, and 75% Iron and trace elements. Harder than 431 stainless steel.
Shallow Face
Any wood or iron having a face height shorter than normal.
6-4 Titanium
Titanium is used in wood heads manufactured with the formula 6Al-4V: these are 90% Titanium, 6% Aluminum and 4% Vanadium. Titanium is often used in oversize and larger heads.
Sole
The bottom or underside of any type of golf club. It is where the club rests on the ground in playing position.
Sole Weighted Iron
An iron head with the majority of its weight concentrated near the sole of the club, producing a lower center of gravity.
Sole Width
The measure of a sole from the leading edge to the trailing edge. A narrow sole is better from firmer ground; wide soles are helpful in getting the ball airborne from softer ground.
Sole Camber
The curvature from the leading edge to the trailing edge.
Spring-Like Effect
A golf club face designed to "flex" upon ball impact, potentially propelling the ball a longer distance than if the face did not flex. See also "Flexible Face" and "Trampoline Effect".
Square (Box, "U") Grooves
Face lines or grooves pressed, cut, or cast into a rectangular shape.
Standard Size Wood
Any wood head with volume of around 150cc.
Standard Weight Shaft
A steel shaft within the range of 4.25-4.62 ounces.
Step
Where the diameter of a steel shaft "steps up" noticeably to a larger diameter.
Stepless
Steel shafts without"steps up" in diameter. FMC Rifle and Apollo Balistik are stepless shafts.
Step Pattern
The pattern made by the sequence of steps of a steel shaft which vary by manufacturer and shaft model.
Strong Loft
A club, usually an iron, with loft 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.
Super-Steel
Alloys of steel that are stronger and lighter than 17-4 stainless.
Swingweight
A club's weight distribution around a fixed fulcrum point. The fulcrum point is typically 14" from the butt of the club. 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.
Ti-Alloy
Alloy used for wood heads that contains some Titanium, but a much larger amount of less expensive (generally Aluminum) alloys.
Tip Stiff
A shaft with a tip stiffer than the rest of the shaft. Tip stiff shafts are generally designed with harder swinging players in mind.
Titanium
Club head metal primarily for woods with a higher strength-to-weight ratio than most steel alloys. See also Forged Titanium and 6-4 Titanium.
Topline
The top part of an iron blade, running from heel to toe visible to the golfer at address.
Torque
Measure of a shaft's resistance to twisting. Low torque shafts twist less and are recommended for stronger players.
Total Weight
Weight of the entire assembled club as expressed in ounces or grams.
Trajectory
The shape and height of a golf ball's flight in relation to its direction.
Trampoline Effect
A golf club face designed to "flex" upon ball impact, potentially propelling the ball a longer distance than if the face did not flex. See also "Flexible Face" and "Spring-Like Effect".
Trailing Edge
The back edge of the sole.
Tri-Metal
A club head comprised of three separate metals.
Trouble Club
Clubs used to play the ball from a difficult lie. Trouble clubs often have unusual sole construction - perhaps rails - that lower the center of gravity. Trouble clubs may be irons, woods or hybrids.
Tungsten
A heavy steel/tungsten compound is used to add weight to a club head, either as a swingweighting material in the shaft or as a defined weight attached somewhere in/on the head.
U-Groove
Used in iron face structure, more pronounced than "V" grooves. See "Square Groove."
Ultralight Shaft
Composite shafts weighing less than 2.00 ounces or 65 grams.
Upright Lie
A club's lie that is more upright than the standard specification for that particular head.
V Grooves
Face grooves pressed, cut, or cast into a "V" shape during club manufacture.
Velocity
The speed of a golf ball.
Vertical Flow Weighting
Club set weighting with weight shifting vertically from a concentration of weight toward the sole of long irons to more traditional weighting on short irons.
Volume
The measurement of the size of a wood head as measured by liquid displacement.

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