Definition:

"Square face" (or "square clubface") refers to the position of the clubface relative to the target line at impact (the moment the clubface strikes the ball).

Picture a straight line extending out from the golf ball and down the target line. Now picture another straight line extending across the face of the club you are using, from heel to toe. If you have a square face at impact, those two lines will be perpindicular, forming a right angle at impact.

The heel and the toe of your club will be level with one another, or "squared up."

(If the heel of the club is in front of the toe at impact, that is an open face. If the toe of the club is ahead of the heel at impact, that is a closed face.)

The ideal is to put the clubface onto the ball with the face in a square position, with the face perpindicular to the target line. Doing so gives you the best chance of hitting a good shot. A clubface that is not square at impact can cause pushes and pulls, slices and hooks.

Compare to closed face and open face.

Video: Clubface positions - square, open and closed

Return to Golf Glossary index

Also Known As: Square clubface, square at impact, squared up, square