Glossary

133 terms

Acetennis

A serve the receiver does not touch, which wins the point outright.

Active recoveryfitness

Light movement such as walking, cycling or swimming on the day after hard play, to help you feel fresh again.

Adjustable driverracket games

A driver whose head can be removed from the shaft with a small wrench, which makes it easier to pack safely. Read more

Advantagetennis

The point after deuce. Win the next one as well and you win the game; lose it and the score returns to deuce.

Albatrossgolf

Three strokes under par on a single hole, for example a two on a par five. Also called a double eagle.

Alignment sticksgolf

Thin rods laid on the ground to check the aim of your feet, body and clubface during practice. Read more

Americanoracket games

A social padel tournament format in which partners rotate and each player collects points individually. Read more

Anti-rotationracket games

Training the trunk to resist twisting forces, which helps it stay stable while the arms and hips move. Read more

Australian formationtennis

A serving formation in which the server’s partner stands at the net in the same half as the server. Read more

Back glasspadel

The glass wall behind each pair, which returns the ball on a predictable angle once it has bounced. Read more

Bajadapadel

An attacking padel shot played after the ball has come off the back glass, usually as a powerful overhead or drive.

Balancepadel

Where the weight of a racket is concentrated, from head-light for control to head-heavy for power. Read more

Band pull apartracket games

An exercise pulling a light resistance band apart at chest height, squeezing the shoulder blades together. Read more

Bandejapadel

A padel overhead hit with slice and control from the back half of the court, used to keep the net position rather than to win the point.

Base layerracket games

A thin garment worn next to the skin to keep you warm and move sweat away. Read more

Birdiegolf

One stroke under par on a hole.

Bogeygolf

One stroke over par on a hole. A double bogey is two over.

Break pointtennis

A point that would win the game for the receiving side.

Buggyracket games

A small electric cart for two players and their bags, called a golf cart in North America. Read more

Bump and rungolf

A low running shot played with a less lofted club, landing short of the green and rolling to the hole. Read more

Chiquitapadel

A soft, low padel shot played at the feet of the net players to make them volley upwards.

Clinicracket games

A coached session or short series of sessions focused on one theme or stroke. Read more

Continental griptennis

The grip with the base knuckle of the index finger on the second bevel, used for serves, volleys and slices.

Contraparedpadel

A padel recovery shot hit against your own back or side wall so that the ball rebounds over the net. It is allowed.

Cool downracket games

Five to ten minutes of easy movement and light stretching after play to let breathing and heart rate settle. Read more

Course Handicapgolf

The number of strokes you receive on a particular set of tees, worked out from your Handicap Index, the Slope Rating, the Course Rating and par.

Course Ratinggolf

The expected score of a scratch golfer on a set of tees under normal conditions, for example 71.8.

Court Pace Ratingtennis

The ITF’s measure of how fast a court plays, used to place surfaces in five categories from slow to fast. Read more

Crossesracket games

The strings woven across the mains from one side of the head to the other. Read more

Delayed onset muscle sorenessracket games

Muscle stiffness that appears after unaccustomed exercise, usually peaking a day or two later and fading within days. Read more

Deucetennis

Forty all. From deuce a player must win two points in a row, unless a golden point is played.

Dispersionracket games

The spread of a series of shots, left and right as well as long and short. Read more

Divotgolf

The piece of turf a club cuts out of the ground. On the fairway you replace it or fill the hole with sand.

Double faulttennis

Missing both the first and the second serve, which loses the point.

Double wallpadel

A rebound off both the side and the back glass, which sends the ball off at a new angle. Read more

Dynamic warm-upfitness

Moving exercises that take joints through their range and raise the pulse before play, rather than holding long stretches.

Eaglegolf

Two strokes under par on a hole.

Eccentric exerciseracket games

Exercise that emphasises the slow lowering phase of a movement while the muscle lengthens under load. Read more

EVApadel

Ethylene vinyl acetate, the rubber-like foam used in most padel racket cores, available in softer and harder versions. Read more

Fescuegolf

A fine grass common on links and heathland courses that thrives on sandy soil and plays firm and fast. Read more

FIPracket games

The International Padel Federation, the governing body that sets the rules of padel worldwide. Read more

Foam rollingracket games

Rolling slowly over muscles on a firm foam cylinder with moderate pressure to feel looser after exercise. Read more

Foot faulttennis

Touching the baseline or the court inside it with a foot before hitting the serve. It counts as a fault.

Foregolf

The warning shout when a ball may hit someone. If you hear it, cover your head and turn away.

Gaugeracket games

The thickness of a string; a higher gauge number means a thinner string. Read more

Golden pointracket games

A deciding point at deuce: the next point wins the game. One of the official scoring options in padel and common in club play; in tennis the same idea is called no-ad.

Golfer’s elbowracket games

An overuse problem felt on the inner side of the elbow, where the muscles that bend the wrist attach. Read more

Green feeracket games

The charge for a visitor to play one round on a course. Read more

Handicap Indexgolf

Your portable measure of playing ability under the World Handicap System, the average of your best 8 of your last 20 score differentials.

Hard caseracket games

A rigid travel case for golf clubs that offers the most protection but adds weight and bulk. Read more

Herringbonetennis

A zigzag tread pattern on tennis shoe soles that grips loose clay and releases it easily. Read more

Herringbone soleracket games

A zigzag outsole pattern that grips sand filled artificial grass while allowing small, controlled slides. Read more

Hip hingeracket games

Bending forwards from the hips with a neutral back and soft knees, the movement behind deadlifts and the golf posture. Read more

Honourgolf

The right to play first from the tee, traditionally held by the lowest score on the previous hole. Read more

Hybridracket games

A string job using two different strings, usually one in the mains and another in the crosses. Read more

I formationtennis

A serving formation in which the net player crouches near the centre line and moves after the serve. Read more

Interlocking gripgolf

A grip in which the little finger of the trail hand links with the index finger of the lead hand. Read more

Kick servetennis

A second serve with heavy topspin and side spin that clears the net safely and bounces high.

Lateral supportracket games

How well a shoe holds the foot over the sole during sideways movements, stops and changes of direction. Read more

Launch monitorracket games

A radar or camera system that measures club and ball data such as speed, launch angle, spin and carry. Read more

Lettennis

A serve that touches the net and lands in the correct box. It is replayed without penalty.

Liegolf

The position of the ball on the ground; also the angle between the club’s shaft and its sole.

Lie angleracket games

The angle between the shaft and the sole of the club when it rests on the ground. Read more

Linksgolf

A coastal course on sandy ground between sea and farmland, with firm turf, few trees, pot bunkers and wind.

Live ballracket games

A drill in which the coach feeds one ball and the players then play the rally out as in a match. Read more

Lobracket games

A high ball played over opponents at the net. In padel it is the main way to take the net from the other pair.

Loft gappingracket games

Spacing the lofts in a set so each club gives a useful, even step in distance. Read more

Lovetennis

Zero in tennis and padel scoring.

Mainsracket games

The strings running lengthwise, from the tip of the head down to the throat. Read more

Match playgolf

A format in which you play hole by hole against an opponent; you win the match by winning more holes.

Match tiebreaktennis

A tiebreak to ten points, with a lead of two, played instead of a full deciding set in many doubles and club formats.

Meshpadel

The metal fencing around parts of the court; rebounds from it are irregular and it has its own rules. Read more

Mini tennisracket games

A gentle rally played inside the service boxes, used to find timing before moving back to the baseline. Read more

Mobilityfitness

The ability to move a joint actively through its full range, for example rotating the upper back in a golf swing.

Mock neckracket games

A short stand-up collar without flaps, accepted instead of a traditional collar at many golf clubs. Read more

Net double bogeygolf

The highest score on a hole that counts for handicap purposes: par plus two plus any strokes you receive on that hole.

Neutral gripgolf

A grip in which neither hand is turned too far, so the clubface returns square without extra hand action. Read more

No-ad scoringtennis

A format in which a single deciding point is played at deuce, so each game ends on the next point. Read more

Open matchracket games

A game that one player creates and others join until there are four, usually with a level attached. Read more

Outsoleracket games

The bottom layer of a shoe, the rubber that touches the ground and carries the tread pattern. Read more

Overgripracket games

A thin tape wrapped over the racket handle for grip and comfort. It adds a little to the grip size.

Overlapping gripgolf

A grip in which the little finger of the trail hand rests between the index and middle fingers of the lead hand. Read more

Overuseracket games

When the load on a tissue rises faster than it can adapt, often after a sudden increase in playing time. Read more

Pallof pressracket games

An exercise pressing a band straight out from the chest while resisting its pull to twist the trunk. Read more

Pargolf

The number of strokes a very good player is expected to need for a hole or a whole course.

Pitch markgolf

The dent a ball leaves when it lands on the green. Repair yours, and one more, with a tee or a repair tool.

Playing Handicapgolf

Your Course Handicap after the handicap allowance of the format, for example 95 percent in individual stroke play.

Poachtennis

When the net player crosses to intercept a ball that was heading towards their partner. Read more

Pot bunkergolf

A small, deep bunker with a steep face, typical of links courses. Read more

Progressive overloadracket games

Gradually increasing repetitions, weight or difficulty over time so the body keeps adapting. Read more

Pronationtennis

The inward turn of the forearm through contact that squares the strings to the target on a continental grip. Read more

Ready golfgolf

Playing when you are ready rather than strictly in turn, as long as it is safe. It keeps the pace of play up.

Score differentialgolf

The value a round adds to your record: 113 divided by the Slope Rating, times your adjusted score minus the Course Rating.

Scratch golfergolf

A player with a Handicap Index of zero, who is expected to play to the Course Rating.

Serve and volleytennis

A style in which the server follows the serve straight to the net to volley the return. Read more

Service linepadel

The line 6.95 metres from the net behind which the server stands and bounces the ball. Read more

Shaft flexracket games

How much a shaft bends during the swing, from flexible to extra stiff. Read more

Skortracket games

A skirt with shorts built in underneath, common in golf, tennis and padel. Read more

Sliceracket games

Backspin or side spin that keeps the ball low and slows it after the bounce.

Slidetennis

The controlled skid into a shot used on clay, so the player arrives balanced and ready to recover. Read more

Slope Ratinggolf

How much harder a course plays for a bogey golfer than for a scratch golfer. It runs from 55 to 155; 113 is standard.

Soft spikesracket games

Replaceable plastic cleats screwed into the sole of a golf shoe for grip without damaging greens. Read more

Special baggageracket games

An airline category for bulky items such as sports equipment, often with its own fees and booking rules. Read more

Split squatracket games

A leg exercise with one foot forwards and one back, lowering the back knee towards the floor. Read more

Split steppadel

A small hop made as the opponent strikes the ball, which prepares you to move quickly in any direction. Read more

Stablefordgolf

A scoring format that awards points per hole against your net par, two points for a net par, so one bad hole costs little.

Star Pointpadel

The deuce rule of the professional padel tours since 2026: two advantages are played, and if deuce comes round a third time a single deciding point settles the game.

Static stretchingracket games

Holding a muscle in a lengthened position without moving, best kept short before play and longer afterwards. Read more

Stiff armracket games

A telescopic rod placed in a golf travel bag, slightly taller than the longest club, to protect the shafts. Read more

String bedracket games

The woven surface of strings inside the racket head that makes contact with the ball. Read more

String tensiontennis

How tightly a tennis racket is strung, in kilograms or pounds. Lower tension tends to add power and comfort, higher tension control.

Stroke playgolf

A format in which every stroke counts and the lowest total score over the round wins.

Sweet spotracket games

The area of the string bed or the paddle face where impact feels most solid and the least vibration reaches your arm.

Takeawaygolf

The first movement of the backswing, as the club starts to move away from the ball. Read more

Teardroppadel

A racket shape between round and diamond, with a medium balance for all-round play. Read more

Tee timeracket games

The booked starting slot for your group on the first tee. Read more

Tennis elbowracket games

An overuse problem felt on the outer side of the elbow, where the muscles that extend the wrist attach. Read more

Thoracic spinefitness

The upper and middle part of the back, whose rotation drives the turn in golf, padel and tennis strokes.

Tie-breakpadel

A game played at six games all, won by the first pair to reach seven points with a two point lead. Read more

Tiebreaktennis

A game played at six games all to decide the set: first to seven points with a lead of two.

Toe dragracket games

Dragging the toe of the back foot along the court on serves and low shots, which wears the front of a shoe. Read more

Topspinracket games

Forward rotation that makes the ball dip and then kick up after the bounce.

Training loadracket games

The total amount and intensity of your playing and training over a period, usually considered week by week. Read more

Tramlinestennis

The side strips between the singles and doubles sidelines, called the alley in North America, in play in doubles. Read more

Trophy positiontennis

The loaded moment of the serve with tossing arm up, hitting elbow raised and racket pointing up behind the head. Read more

Twilightracket games

A late afternoon tee time, often sold at a lower price, which may not leave daylight for all 18 holes. Read more

Underhand servepadel

A serve struck below waist height after a bounce, compulsory in padel. Read more

UPFracket games

Ultraviolet Protection Factor, a rating that shows how much ultraviolet radiation a fabric lets through. Read more

Víborapadel

A faster, more aggressive padel overhead with heavy side spin, so the ball skids low off the side glass.

Video analysisracket games

Filming a player’s strokes so coach and player can review them together, often in slow motion. Read more

Volleyracket games

A shot hit before the ball bounces, usually close to the net.

Waste areagolf

A sandy, unmaintained area on desert courses, often treated as general area rather than as a bunker. Read more

Wrist cordpadel

The compulsory safety strap attached to the handle and worn around the wrist. Read more