Lie Angle
The angle between the shaft and the ground when the club is soled at address - too upright or too flat pushes your shots offline.
Lie angle is the angle formed between the shaft and the sole of the club when it rests on the ground at address. It is measured in degrees and is one of the most overlooked specs in golf, despite having a direct, measurable effect on accuracy.
When lie angle is correct, the sole sits flat at impact and the face points where you aim. When it is too upright, the toe sits up, the heel digs, and the face points left of target (for a right-handed golfer) - pulling shots. When it is too flat, the heel sits up and shots push right. The effect grows with loft, so it shows up most in the wedges and short irons.
Your correct lie angle depends on your height, arm length, posture, and the way you deliver the club - not just a static measurement. The gold standard is dynamic checking: hitting balls off a lie board or impact tape to see where the sole actually contacts the turf during your real swing.
Irons can be bent a few degrees upright or flat in minutes by a club technician, making lie angle one of the cheapest and highest-impact adjustments in fitting. Most off-the-rack sets are built to a one-size-fits-most standard that suits very few golfers exactly.