1. Sports

Discuss in my forum

Toe Hang

By , About.com Guide

Definition: "Toe hang" is a quality of toe-balanced putters (also called toe-weighted or toe-down putters). The clubface of a toe-balanced putter will, when the shaft of the putter is balanced on a golfer's finger, be angled toward the ground. In other words, the toe of such a putter will hang down, pointing toward the ground.

The more toe hang a toe-balanced or toe-weighted putter has, the more the clubface will open and close during an arcing putting stroke (also known as an inside-to-inside or swinging gate putting stroke).

So golfers with a more pronounced arcing putting stroke will want a putter with more toe hang; golfers with a more subtle arc will want a putter with less toe hang. (And golfers who use a straight-back-and-through putting stroke will want a putter with no toe hang - see face-balanced.)

The amount that the clubface of a putter opens and closes during a putting stroke is called "toe flow." The more toe hang a putter has, the more toe flow it will have.

Toe hang is also sometimes referred to as "toe droop."

Return to Golf Glossary index

Examples:
"If you have a big-arcing putting stroke, look for a putter that exhibits a lot of toe hang."

©2012 About.com. All rights reserved.

A part of The New York Times Company.