Hosel
The part of the clubhead that connects to the shaft, the exact spot a shank makes contact with instead of the face.
Hosel design varies by club: a longer hosel typically moves weight toward the shaft (reducing forgiveness on off-center hits), while modern game-improvement irons often use a shorter hosel to push more weight to the perimeter instead.
See the full breakdown: Shank
Every common cause and fix for this exact issue.
See the full breakdown: Shank Around the Green
Every common cause and fix for this exact issue.
More equipment terms
Loft
The angle of the clubface relative to a vertical plane, which controls launch angle and, largely, distance.
Lie Angle
The angle between the shaft and the ground when the club is soled correctly at address.
Bounce
The angle built into the sole of a wedge that helps it glide through sand or turf instead of digging in.
Offset
A design feature where the leading edge of the clubhead sits slightly behind the hosel.
Shaft Flex
How much a shaft bends during the swing, rated from Extra Stiff down to Ladies/Senior flex.
Cavity Back vs. Blade
Two iron head designs: cavity-back irons hollow out the back of the head for forgiveness, while blades (muscle backs) are more compact for feel and control.