A quick reference to every golf term in our glossary that starts with S — 46 terms in total. Each one links through to a full plain-English definition.
- Sand SaveSand Save A sand save in golf is when a player who hit into a greenside bunker gets the ball into the hole in two or fewer strokes from that point. It’s most of
- Sand TrapSand Trap A sand trap is a sand-filled depression on a golf course, placed near fairways or greens to challenge a player’s shot-making. It is the common,
- Sand WedgeSand Wedge A sand wedge is a high-lofted golf club, typically 54 to 56 degrees, designed to lift the ball out of bunkers and play short approach shots around th
- SandbaggerSandbagger A sandbagger is a golfer who keeps their handicap artificially high so they can win bets, tournaments, or net competitions by playing better than the
- SandySandy A sandy is when a golfer makes par or better on a hole after their ball has been in a bunker. It is also the name of a popular side bet built around the s
- Scoring AverageScoring Average A scoring average in golf is a player’s total strokes across a set of rounds divided by the number of rounds played. It is one of the simp
- ScrambleScramble A scramble is a team golf format in which every player on a team tees off, the team selects the best of those shots, and all players then play their ne
- ScramblingScrambling Scrambling in golf is the percentage of holes where a player misses the green in regulation but still makes par or better. It’s the standard way prof
- Scratch GolferScratch Golfer A scratch golfer is an amateur player with a Handicap Index of 0.0, meaning they can play to a Course Handicap of zero on any rated golf course.
- SetupSetup In golf, the setup is the complete pre-shot position a player takes before starting a swing, covering stance, posture, grip, ball position, and alignment
- ShaftShaft A golf shaft is the long, tapered tube that connects the grip to the clubhead. It transfers the energy of the swing from the golfer’s hands to the ball. W
- ShankShank A shank in golf is a mis-hit where the ball strikes the rounded hosel of the club instead of the clubface, usually causing the ball to fire sideways at a
- Short IronShort Iron A short iron is one of the higher-lofted, shorter-shafted irons in a golfer’s bag, used for shorter approach shots into the green. The term most comm
- SidespinSidespin Sidespin is the sideways rotational component of a golf ball’s flight that causes the ball to curve left or right instead of flying straight. It
- Signature HoleSignature Hole A signature hole is a golf course’s most memorable or recognisable hole. It usually stands out for a dramatic visual feature, a distinctive desig
- Single Digit HandicapSingle Digit Handicap A single digit handicap in golf is a Handicap Index from 0.1 to 9.9, calculated under the World Handicap System. About 30% of U.S. golfers
- SkinsSkins A skin in golf is a prize, usually a sum of money, awarded to the player with the outright lowest score on a single hole. In the wider skins game format,
- SkullSkull A skull in golf is a mishit where the club’s leading edge strikes the middle or top half of the ball instead of its lower back, sending the ball off on a
- SliceSlice A slice is a golf shot that curves sharply from left to right for a right-handed player, or right to left for a left-handed player. It is almost always un
- Slope RatingSlope Rating Slope rating is a number from 55 to 155 that measures how much harder a golf course plays for an average (bogey) golfer than for a top-level (scrat
- Smash FactorSmash Factor Smash factor in golf is ball speed divided by club head speed at impact. It measures how efficiently a swing transfers energy from the club to the
- SnowmanSnowman A snowman in golf is a score of 8 on a single hole. The term gets its name from the visual resemblance between the number 8 and the stacked circles of a
- Solheim CupSolheim Cup The Solheim Cup is a biennial team golf competition between the top professional women’s players from the United States and Europe, played in a matc
- Spin RateSpin Rate Spin rate is the speed at which a golf ball rotates immediately after impact, measured in revolutions per minute (RPM). It determines how high the bal
- SquareSquare In golf, “square” has three distinct meanings: a scorecard symbol for a bogey (one stroke over par), a match play term meaning the match is t
- StablefordStableford A Stableford is a golf scoring format where you earn points on each hole based on your score relative to par, instead of counting total strokes. The
- StanceStance In golf, a stance is the way a player positions their feet and body in relation to the ball before swinging. It gives the player a stable, repeatable bas
- StarterStarter A starter in golf is the course employee who runs the first tee, checking players in and sending each group off at its scheduled tee time so the course
- StickStick A “stick” in golf is a casual term with more than one meaning. Most often, it refers to the flagstick, the pole marking the hole on the green. It can also
- StiffStiff Stiff is a golf shaft flex rating, sitting one step below extra stiff and one step above regular. A stiff shaft bends less during the swing, which suits p
- StimpmeterStimpmeter A stimpmeter is a simple metal device that golf course staff use to measure the speed of a putting green. It works by rolling a golf ball down an ang
- StingerStinger A stinger is a low, penetrating golf shot that flies well under normal trajectory, carries little backspin, and runs out a long way after it lands. Golf
- StrokeStroke A stroke in golf is the forward movement of the club made to strike the ball. Every stroke counts as one toward a player’s score, even if the ball is mis
- Stroke IndexStroke Index A stroke index is a number from 1 to 18 given to every hole on a golf course that sets the order in which handicap strokes are shared out. Stroke i
- Stroke PlayStroke Play Stroke play is a scoring format in golf where a player counts every shot taken across one or more rounds, and the lowest total wins. It is the most
- Strokes GainedStrokes Gained Strokes gained is a golf statistic that measures how well a player performs on each shot compared to a benchmark average, expressed as a positive
- Strokes Gained ApproachStrokes Gained Approach Strokes gained: approach is a golf statistic that measures how many strokes a player gains or loses on the field with their approach sho
- Strokes Gained Around the GreenStrokes Gained Around the Green Strokes gained around the green is a golf statistic that measures how many strokes a player gains or loses on the field with sho
- Strokes Gained Off the TeeStrokes Gained Off the Tee Strokes gained off the tee is a golf statistic that measures how many strokes a player’s tee shots on par 4s and par 5s gain or lose
- Strokes Gained PuttingStrokes Gained Putting Strokes gained putting is a golf statistic that measures how well a player putts compared to a benchmark, usually the PGA Tour average, b
- Sudden DeathSudden Death Sudden death is a golf playoff format used to break a tie for the lead, in which the players play extra holes one at a time, and the first player t
- Sunday BagSunday Bag A Sunday bag is a small, lightweight golf bag built for carrying a handful of clubs while walking the course. It is the smallest and lightest type of
- Sweet SpotSweet Spot The sweet spot is the exact point on a golf club’s face where contact transfers the most energy to the ball, producing the longest and most solid-fee
- Swing AnalyzerSwing Analyzer A golf swing analyzer is a device that uses sensors or cameras to measure what a golfer’s club and body do during the swing, then sends that data
- Swing PlaneSwing Plane A swing plane is the angle at which the golf club travels around the body during a swing, measured against the ground. Swinging “on plane” means kee
- Swing SpeedSwing Speed Swing speed is how fast the head of a golf club is moving at the moment it strikes the ball, measured in miles per hour (mph). What is swing speed?