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We’ve all seen it before. Impossible approaches performed by seasoned golfers where golf balls jump mere inches near the pin from bunker-flanked green. How do they do it? Well, aside from being especially skilled, these players showcase how important it is to understand golf ball physics. More specifically, they demonstrate the advantages of using backspin.
Spin is one of the integral elements of the golf sport. While it’s typically seen as a potential threat to straight, forward flight, there are ways that you can utilize it to your advantage. Short game is the prime stage for backspin. Offering conditions that make the intricate movement of a backspinning ball essential to reach a hazard-surrounded hole. Now the question, what are the specifics of how to put backspin on a golf ball?
What makes backspin such a challenge is the fact that it’s the result of more than just one factor. The outcome of several carefully calculated elements. Backspin can be perfected only if you’re able to precisely fine-tune every aspect that contributes to the skill.
The general rule is that a higher loft produces more spin. That’s why off the tee, some high handicappers and beginners choose a driver that doesn’t have severe loft angle. This will reduce the amount of side spin and thus create a straight flying shot. And that’s another thing, more loft doesn’t just produce backspin, it also generates side spin. And when an element of side spin joins with a hint of backspin, the result becomes topspin. The opposite spin direction of what you want.
Often regarded as an unwanted consequence of a mishit. Side spin can cause your ball to veer to the left or right, depending on where you hit it on the club face. A shot that’s centered low on the face of a high lofted club will produce substantial backspin that’s void of side spin. But hitting anywhere other than the sweet spot would produce more left or right trajectory that could further endanger your round.
You’ll find that some golf balls tout a precision milled face, but what does that exactly mean? The texture on the face of a club makes it possible for the surface to ‘grasp’ your ball, so to speak. A more prominent texture holds the ball through the upswing and imparts valuable back spin as it rolls off of the face. If your club face is too smooth, then it might cause the ball to slip off too soon, causing a low trajectory and low spin. Moisture on your club face as well as dirt and grass between ball and club can also significantly reduce friction.
The velocity of your swing - especially during the downswing - will have a lot to do with the amount of backspin you generate. According to experts, a player who can swing at a speed of at least 90 mph at an angle of minus 2.5 degrees can generate 3,017 rotations per minute. Of course, it’s also important to consider the distance that you’re playing. For shorter approach shots around the putting greens, you might not need such swing power or speed. Especially if you want something more of a chip. Nonetheless, the faster you swing, the more spin you’re likely to generate.
There are a few other factors that you might want to consider in your pursuit of backspin. Some of them might be within your control. But then again there are others that you might have to work around in order to execute the perfect shot.
There will be instances when your ball just falls in a place that’s less than ideal. A bad lie can be a tough situation even for the most seasoned of golfers. In these circumstances it might be hard to produce the right kind of spin. Tall rough or even rocky terrain as well as moisture will reduce the amount of friction your club face has with your ball as elements like blades of grass come between your ball and club. Attacking the ball from a steep angle so that you hit the ball before the turf should make it possible for you to produce enough spin to launch your ball out and off of the challenging terrain.
Not all swings will produce the desired spin effect. For shots that require a massive amount of backspin, it’s imperative that you execute a steep swing plane. Hit the ball downwards on its back, as though scooping it upwards and tossing it in the air. Don’t break your wrists on the upswing. Also try to keep your arms and hands as straight as possible to launch the ball up and over.
There are some golf balls that are designed specifically to produce more spin. This depends mostly on their construction, since golf balls with more layers tend to produce more spin. A multi-layered golf ball is most likely to generate more aggressive spin, not just around the green, but also from the tee. That said, you will have to sacrifice some control to get the right kind of spin. However the versatility can be a great way to build on your skill.
When exactly will backspin come in handy? There are very specific situations in the golf game when creating backspin becomes vital to keep your ball in play. In these instances, there’s often no other choice but to strike your ball to produce valuable backspinning power to get out of a sticky situation and keep your handicap to a minimum.
Backspin is often used on short-game shots, especially when the pin is too close to risk too much roll. A ball imbued with backspin will hit the ground and roll as little as possible, keeping it relatively in place as it strikes the green. Players who are close to the pin, but still too far to putt have the opportunity to get their ball closer to the hole or even in the hole all together by using a shot that doesn’t move around the putting green.
Sometimes, you’ll find yourself in a place where there’s a hazard between your ball and the pin. Bunkers, fallen branches, rocks, and trenches of water should be avoided at all costs. But if you’re too close to the putting surface and you don’t want your ball to travel too far, then a high launch, high spin shot can get you up and over the obstacle without overshooting the short distance.
Backspin is a vital element of successfully escaping a bunker. A ball that’s launched with enough height and backspin will fall with better control once it’s pitched. If a ball comes out of a bunker without backspin, it can be difficult to predict where it might roll or fall. The risk of having it find its place back in another bunker is significantly increased.
While backspin might seem like a complicated and often difficult technique. The entire process can be summarized into three elements coming together to produce the perfect spin.
BACKSPIN = LOFT + FRICTION + SPEED
These three factors are what make backspin possible. So executing a backspin shot should incorporate these three main aspects. And while every golfer might employ a different technique or golf backspin drills to achieve the perfect backspin. There is a fool-proof step-by-step method you can try to get your ball to launch with valuable roll-stopping spin.
The bedrock of any successful shot is proper stance. Try to get as close to your ball as possible, closing in the distance to achieve a tighter, more precise shot. The ball itself should be closer to the heel of the club rather than the toe.
Try to hit down on your ball, as though attempting to scoop it out from underneath. As it sits on your clubface on the downswing, it rolls off of the face on the upswing which generates that quintessential spinning motion. Remember, your objective is to hit down on the ball. Hitting it square on the face on its back or the top of its head will produce forward motion rather than upward.
Aside from your aim, it helps to make sure you’re swinging as fast as you can. Tighten your address and stay close to the ball. Keep your wrists locked to sustain the ball’s movement on the upswing. And most importantly, give it your fastest whip to guarantee roll-stopping spin and crisp launch.
Technically speaking, every club save for the putter, should be capable of backspin. But there are some clubs that are specifically designed to produce spin because of their designated purpose to get players out of bunkers and around hazards. And this is the wedge family.
With incredibly high lofts, these backspin golf clubs were engineered with the intention to launch a golf ball upwards on a shorter but higher trajectory. And in the process, they imbue the ball with more backspin to help it launch with stability just on the other side of a bunker or hazard.
Some of the hybrids, short irons, and even the woods all produce backspin to some degree. But the longer clubs intended for distance use the element of backspin not to launch the ball out of a bunker or hazard. But to get it to fly higher for better control over longer carry.
A crowd favorite. The Pinemeadow Wedge is one of the greatest on the market, offering sublime performance that’s simplified and effortless. Made from steel, these optimally weighted clubs create a pendulum effect that can help resolve a jittery swing. And because it comes with an oversized club face, this wedge series promises to give you a larger sweet spot for better contact on some of the most challenging lies.
Incorporating stainless steel heads with matte black finish. The Texan Classic Wedge series makes it easy to view your ball at address with minimum glare on hot, sunny days. Easy to wield, these clubs are the choice for high handicappers because of their forgiving performance that makes it easier to achieve spin regardless of where your golf ball lies. And since they’re weighted intuitively closer to the bottom of the head. These wedges make the perfect choice for players learning how to put backspin on a chip shot.
The Wilson Harmonized Golf Wedges use the brand’s signature True Temper material that delivers perfect resonance for valuable feedback. Giving you a strong feel that tells you more about your swing and your skill. These clubs are perfect for the developing golfer who wants to be more involved in the physics of the hit. And because they use modified bounce angles, the Wilson Harmonized Golf Wedges produce dead stop backspin that plants your ball in place after crashing back to the turf.
There are lots of golf balls out there that are designed specifically for spin. But the TaylorMade TP5 Golf Balls were made with the sole intention of maximizing performance spin. These 5-piece golf balls combine a semi-rigid inner cover and a soft urethane cover that enhances the interaction between the ball surface and the club grooves. Helping you create that scooping effect for excellent spin around the green.
How to put backspin on a golf ball? It’s about time you stopped being so afraid of spin, and started using it more to your advantage. Backspin can be a great way to save yourself from a sticky situation and keep your golf ball in play. Sure, there’s a lot that goes into achieving the perfect spin. But with more practice - and with the right gear - you should be able to manage those tough shots just like those flashy pros.
