Instruction
The science of adding spin to your wedge shots
This story was selected as one of the 15 best GolfWRX stories of 2015!
For as long as I can remember, golfers have been fascinated watching the professionals hit wedge shots into the green — especially when their shots land past the hole on the green, hop forward, and then zip back toward the hole. It’s a sexy shot that every golfer wants to have at his disposal.
What I have learned from teaching golf for more than 20 years, however, is that relatively few golfers can actually hit a high-spinning wedge shot. One of the main reasons why? Few golfers actually understand how spin is created. The purpose of this article is to help golfers understand just that, as well as how they can improve their chances of hitting a PGA Tour-quality wedge shot.
How spin is created
Since I starting using a Trackman launch monitor, my understanding of spin creation has grown exponentially. It has taught me and other teaching professionals that spin is created by specific, measurable factors.
The main factor is called Spin Loft, which is calculated by subtracting “Angle of Attack,” or the amount of degrees a golfer hits up or down on a ball, from “Dynamic Loft,” which is the amount of loft (in degrees) on the club face at the moment of impact.
Spin Loft Formula = Dynamic Loft – Angle of attack
Yes, there are other factors that influence spin such as club head speed, face-to-path ratio, impact friction, and horizontal and vertical impact point, but they are relatively minor compared to the effect of Spin Loft.
Why you have trouble spinning the ball
The first mistake amateurs make when they try to add spin to their wedge shots is trying to hit the ball higher. Trackman has taught us that it is impossible to increase the spin rate of a golf ball while simultaneously increasing the ball’s landing angle. That means that most golfers won’t spin the ball more by hitting it higher.
The second mistake amateur golfers make is believing that an exaggerated downward hit on the golf ball more will create more spin. I’m here to tell you that this does NOT automatically increase your spin rate. When golfers hit more “down” on the golf ball, they also tend to lean the shaft more forward as well.
Remember the spin loft formula? Added shaft lean decreases Dynamic Loft, which either lowers Spin Loft or keeps it the same. That won’t give you the added spin you’re want. Here’s why.
Spin Loft in real life
Since we know that Spin Loft creates the spin we are looking, then what is the perfect Spin Loft value for maximum spin output?
Trackman studies have shown that once your spin loft values rise above a 45-50 threshold, the ball will begin to lose friction/compression and it will slide up the face of your wedge, reducing spin.
If you look at the Trackman screen shot above, you’ll see that my AoA was -5.7 degrees (that means I hit 5.7 degrees down on the ball) and my Dynamic Loft was 34.5 degrees (that means the amount of loft on my club at impact was 34.5 degrees at impact). Therefore, my Spin Loft was 40.2, which is in the range for maximum spin production.
Spin Loft (40.2 degrees) = Dynamic Loft (34.5 degrees) – Angle of Attack (-5.7 degrees)
To create optimal spin, you must hit shots within a certain spin loft range to be most effective. For better golfers, that means hitting lower-launching shots that give them the “hit, jump, and grab” on the green they want. This flatter launch angle, combined with a shallower Angle of Attack, will help them reach the apex of what Andrew Rice calls the “Spin Loft Mountain.” To learn more from my friend Andrew Rice, visit his site.
Increasing your spin rate without changing mechanics
Ok, so we’ve covered the technical part of spin creation. I know that a lot of golfers might need to work on their mechanics with an instructor before they can start to effectively tweak things such as their Dynamic Loft and Angle of Attack. And since this is GolfWRX, I also know that a lot of you are already spinning the ball like Tour players with your wedges.
For both types of players, here are my tips on increasing your wedge spin without changing your mechanics.
- Use a premium golf ball: To create maximum spin, you must be using a premium ball. If you’re not willing to spend $30+ per dozen on your golf balls, know that higher-compression golf balls tend to spin more on wedge shots that lower-compression golf balls.
- Use a versatile wedge: Most equipment companies sell two types of wedges: those that “match their iron sets,” and specialty wedges such as Titleist’s Vokey and TaylorMade’s Tour Preferred EF models, to name a few. Generally, specialty wedges have sole grinds and groove designs that encourage more spin, particularly on partial shots around the green.
- Use fresh grooves: Over time, the faces and grooves of your wedges become less effective due to loss of friction. For that reason, newer wedges will generally spin more than older ones. If you play or practice a lot and you’ve had your wedges for more than a season or two, it may be time to change. I don’t recommend that golfers use groove sharpening tools, as they often make wedges non-conforming in tournament play.
- Clean your wedges in between shots: If your wedge faces and grooves are caked with dirt and grass, you will not be able to achieve maximum spin. The only exception is if there is sand on the face of your wedge from a past bunker shot. It actually helps the ball spin more, but for consistency reasons you should clean your wedges before every shot. Better players may even want to do this between shots when they practice.
My last bit of advice is to understand how course and wind conditions will affect spin, and to have realistic expectations about the shot at hand. If you’re playing firm, fast greens, it’s going to be very difficult to get your wedge shots to spin back. Plan accordingly. The same is true for wedge shots that are downwind or shots from deep rough.
Finally, remember that wet conditions will decrease your ability to add spin to shots, as moisture reduces the friction between the ball and club face at impact. For that reason, make sure your club faces are as dry as possible.
The LPGA Tour is kicking off its 2026 season this week at Lake Nona Golf and Country Club in Orlando, and the pros are dealing with something most Florida golfers rarely face: freezing temperatures.
“It’s colder here than in the UK at the minute, which is a first,” said England’s Charley Hull during Wednesday’s media day at the Hilton Grand Vacations Tournament of Champions.
Even Lydia Ko, who lives at Lake Nona, seemed surprised by the cold snap. “We’re pretty much getting to below zero in celsius here, which maybe in other parts of the country they would be thankful, but when you’re in Florida it is a little bit of a surprise,” she said.
If the world’s best players are adjusting their games for cold weather, recreational golfers should, too. Here’s how to play smart when the mercury drops.
Understand What Cold Does to Your Game
Before you change anything, you need to know what you’re fighting against. Cold air is denser than warm air, which means your ball won’t fly as far. Period.
Hull noticed this immediately during practice rounds at Lake Nona. She mentioned hitting a gap wedge into the 18th hole during a previous win but needing a 4-iron during Tuesday’s practice round. That’s a difference of four or five clubs for the same shot.
Action item: Expect to lose 5-10 yards on every club in your bag when temperatures dip below 50 degrees. Plan accordingly and don’t be stubborn about club selection.
Layer Up Without Restricting Your Swing
Hull admitted she wore three pairs of pants during practice. While that might be extreme for most of us, staying warm is critical to playing well in cold conditions.
Your muscles need warmth to function properly. When you’re cold, your body tightens up and your swing gets shorter and faster. Neither of those things help you hit good golf shots.
Action item: Wear multiple thin layers instead of one bulky jacket. Look for golf-specific cold weather gear that stretches with your swing. Keep hand warmers in your pockets between shots. And don’t forget a good hat because you lose significant body heat through your head.
Take More Club Than You Think You Need
This is where ego gets in the way of good scores. When it’s cold, the ball doesn’t compress as well off the clubface. Combined with denser air, you’re looking at serious distance loss.
The pros at Lake Nona are dealing with a course that measures 6,642 yards but plays much longer this week. If they’re adjusting, you should too.
Action item: Take at least one extra club on every approach shot. In temperatures below 40 degrees, consider taking two extra clubs. It’s better to fly the ball to the back of the green than to come up short in a bunker.
Adjust Your Expectations on the Greens
Cold weather affects putting in ways most golfers don’t consider. The ball is harder and doesn’t roll as smoothly. Your hands are cold, making it harder to feel the putter. And if there’s any moisture on the greens, they’ll be slower than normal.
Ko mentioned that she still sometimes reads the greens wrong at Lake Nona despite being a member for years. Cold weather makes that challenge even tougher.
Action item: Hit putts more firmly than usual. The ball needs extra speed to hold its line on cold greens. Take a few extra practice strokes to get a feel for the speed before you putt.
Embrace the Mental Challenge
Hull said something interesting about cold weather golf: “I like the mental toughness of it.”
That’s the right attitude. Everyone on the course is dealing with the same conditions. The player who stays patient and doesn’t get frustrated by the extra difficulty will come out ahead.
Action item: Lower your expectations by a few strokes. If you normally shoot 85, accept that 90 might be a good score in 40-degree weather. Focus on solid contact and smart decisions rather than perfect shots.
Warm Up Longer and Smarter
This might be the most important tip of all. Cold muscles are tight muscles, and tight muscles get injured easily.
World No. 1 Jeeno Thitikul revealed she’s been protecting a wrist injury that bothered her late last season. Cold weather makes those kinds of injuries more likely if you don’t prepare properly.
Action item: Spend at least 20 minutes warming up before your round. Start with stretching, then hit easy wedge shots before working up to your driver. Keep moving between shots on the course to maintain body heat and flexibility.
The pros at Lake Nona this week will adapt and compete at the highest level despite the cold. You can do the same at your local course by following these tips and keeping a positive attitude.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “Playing Through” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
Brooks Koepka is back on the PGA Tour, and whether you love him or hate him, the guy knows how to win when it matters. After his LIV Golf stint, the five-time major champion returns this week at the Farmers Insurance Open.
What makes Koepka fascinating? He doesn’t fit the mold. His swing isn’t textbook. He doesn’t obsess over mechanics. Yet he’s won three PGA Championships and two U.S. Opens, regularly making it look easier than guys with prettier swings.
So, what can average golfers learn from someone who treats the game so differently? Quite a bit.
Stop Overthinking Every Shot
Koepka describes his approach as “reactionary” rather than mechanical. While most tour pros grind over swing thoughts, Brooks sees the target and hits it. No mental checklist.
This might be the most valuable lesson for weekend golfers who’ve watched too many YouTube swing videos.
How to actually do this:
On the range, hit five balls where you stare at the target for three seconds prior to addressing the ball. Don’t think about grip or stance. Just burn that target into your brain. You’ll be shocked at how pure you hit it when your brain focuses on where the ball is going instead of how you’re swinging.
Next time you play, give yourself a rule: Once you pull the club, you’ve got 15 seconds to hit. Koepka is one of the fastest players on tour because he doesn’t give his brain time to sabotage him.
If you feel tension in your hands at address, you’re trying to control too much. Koepka’s grip pressure is famously light. Loosen up until the club almost feels like it might slip, then add just enough pressure to hold on. That’s your swing thought: soft hands, see the target.
This approach works better under pressure. When you’re standing over that shot with water left and OB right, the last thing you need is a mental checklist. See it, feel it, hit it.
Play to Your Strengths (Even If They’re Not Pretty)
Koepka uses a strong grip that wouldn’t pass muster in some teaching circles. But he’s built his game around what works for him, elite driving distance and recovery skills. He doesn’t try to be someone he’s not.
Here’s how to build your game like Brooks:
Look at your last five rounds and figure out where you’re actually gaining strokes. Bombing it off the tee, but can’t hit greens? Lean into it. Play courses where distance matters more than precision. On tight holes, grip down on your 3-wood instead of trying to thread a driver through a keyhole you’ll miss seven times out of ten.
Koepka knows he can scramble, so he’s not afraid to miss greens. If you’re deadly from 50 to 75 yards, start leaving yourself those distances on the par 5’s instead of going for them in two every time.
Know when to take your medicine. Koepka in the trees at the PGA? He’s punching out to 100 yards, not trying to bend a 6-iron around three oaks. You’re in the rough with a flyer lie and water short? Hit your 8-iron to the middle and move on. That’s not playing scared, that’s playing smart.
Save Your Best for When It Counts
Here’s a wild stat: Koepka’s putting average in majors is often more than a full stroke better per round than in regular events. He elevates when pressure is highest.
How does an amateur tap into that gear? It’s not about trying harder, it’s about caring differently.
Here’s what actually works:
Decide which rounds matter to you. Club championship? Member-guest? That annual trip with college buddies? Circle those dates and treat them differently. Koepka doesn’t care much about regular tour events, but majors? That’s when he locks in.
Two weeks before your big round, change your practice. Stop beating balls mindlessly. Play nine holes in which every shot has consequences. Miss the fairway? Hit from the rough on the next hole too. Three-putt? Twenty push-ups. Koepka’s practice intensity ramps up before majors because he’s rehearsing pressure, not just swings.
Develop a between-shot routine that resets your brain. Koepka is famous for his blank expression after bad shots. Try this: After any shot, take three deep breaths while walking, then find something specific to notice, a tree, a cloud, someone’s shirt. That’s your reset button. By the time you reach your ball, the last shot is gone.
The Bottom Line
Brooks Koepka’s return reminds us there’s no single path to success in golf. His “substance over style” approach proves that results matter more than looking good.
You don’t need a perfect swing; you need a reliable one that holds up under pressure. You don’t need to hit every shot in the book; you need the shots you can count on. And you don’t need to play great every time; you need to play great when it matters.
Welcome back, Brooks. Thanks for the reminder that golf is ultimately about getting the ball in the hole, not winning style points.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “Playing Through” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
Blades Brown made a big impression last week in the California desert, and not just because he’s only 18. He put up numbers that would catch any weekend golfer’s attention. Most of us won’t hit 317-yard drives or find 86% of our greens in regulation, but there’s a lot to learn from how Brown managed his game at The American Express.
Here are three practical lessons from his performance that you can use on your own course this weekend.
Step 1: Give Priority to Accuracy Over Distance Off The Tee
Brown’s driving stats are impressive. He averaged almost 318 yards off the tee, ranking 12th in the field. More importantly, he hit 76.79% of his fairways, tying for fourth place in the tournament.
Think about that ratio for a second. Brown could have swung harder, chased more distance and tried to overpower the course. Instead, he played smart golf and kept his ball in play.
Your Action Item: Next time you’re on the tee box, ask yourself a simple question before pulling the driver. Do you need maximum distance here, or do you need to be in the fairway? If there’s trouble lurking or the hole doesn’t demand every yard you can muster, take something off your swing. Grip down an inch. Make a three-quarter swing. Do whatever it takes to find the short grass. Brown’s approach illustrates that fairways lead to greens, and greens lead to birdies. He made 22 of them last week, along with an eagle.
The math is simple. When you’re hitting three out of every four fairways like Brown did, you’re giving yourself legitimate looks at the green with your approach shots. That’s when scoring happens.
Step 2: Commit To Hitting More Greens
This is where Brown really separated himself. He hit 62 of 72 greens in regulation, an 86.11% clip that tied for first in the entire field. Read that again. An 18-year-old kid tied for the lead in one of the most important ball-striking statistics in professional golf.
How did he do it? By keeping his ball in the fairway (see Step 1) and giving himself clean looks with mid-irons and wedges.
Your Action Item: Start tracking your greens in regulation. You don’t need a fancy app or a statistics degree. Just mark down whether you hit the green in the regulation number of strokes. Par 3s in one shot. Par 4s in two shots. Par 5s in three shots.
Once you know your baseline, set a goal to improve it by 10%. If you’re currently hitting five greens per round, aim for six. The beauty of this approach is that it forces you to think strategically about club selection and shot shape. Brown’s strokes gained approach number was positive (0.179), meaning he was better than the field average. You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be on the dance floor more often.
When you hit more greens, you eliminate the need for heroic short game shots. Brown only had to scramble 10 times all week, and he got up and down 70% of the time. That’s solid, but the real story is that he rarely put himself in scrambling situations to begin with.
Step 3: Minimize Mistakes And Stay Patient
Here’s the stat that jumps off the page: Brown made only three bogeys all week. Three. In four rounds of professional golf against the best players in the world.
He also made just one double bogey. That kind of clean card doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when you play within yourself, avoid the big miss and trust that pars are never bad scores.
Your Action Item: Before your next round, decide that you’re going to play boring golf. No hero shots over water. No driver on tight holes just because you can. No aggressive pins when there’s a safe side of the green.
Brown’s performance shows us that consistency beats flash every single time. He didn’t lead the field in any single strokes gained category, but he was solid across the board. That’s how you post numbers and cash checks.
Give these three steps a try. Your scorecard will thank you.
PGA Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer. You can check out his writing work and learn more about him by visiting BEAGOLFER.golf and OneMoreRollGolf.com. Also, check out “The Starter” now on R.org, RG.org’s partner site, each Monday.
Editor’s note: Brendon shares his nearly 30 years of experience in the game with GolfWRX readers through his ongoing tip series. He looks forward to providing valuable insights and advice to help golfers improve their game. Stay tuned for more tips!
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Keep it Simple
Sep 30, 2019 at 12:49 am
Seriously ? I thought this article was a joke at first,,,,
You “Need” $40 golf balls and “new” wedges every year !!! 7 year old Cleveland and original 4 piece K-Sigs, spinning them back 2 to 3 feet ,,,, or hit and stop with chip shots
Impossible to spin back with PING EYE 2 square grooves and Titleist DT’s,,,,
Tailor
Mar 11, 2019 at 11:26 am
I own a One Length 60° Wedge and hit it once in an indoor trackman. The spin loft was 60,5° and the spin rate was about 13090 while the spin axis was -2,5°. This must result in a lot of backspin. But never experienced my ball rolling back on the course.
Paul
Jun 17, 2017 at 12:48 pm
Tom, Excellent article, but I’m afraid the theory of spin generation you have described is not entirely correct. The Dplane theory of impact you have alluded to, provides the basis of many impact models utilized by Launch Monitor Manufacturers. Unfortunately, as a geometric construct, it is not able to explain, or account for in any way, the dynamics of the strike or reveal what is happening to the ball and the clubface during the short period of impact.
On short wedge shots, because of the lower clubhead speed and low compression of the ball, the amount of spin that can be generated per degree of so-called ‘spin loft’ is significantly less than you would expect to see for a full wedge shot. Hence, changing the delivered loft or attack angle, or attempting to ‘optimize’ the spin-loft to increase spin, will have a negligible effect on increasing the spin rate. Assuming we are using a premium quality ball and a clean clubface; in a high spinning wedge shot, spin is maximized by the degree of wrist torque and the nature and the quality of the strike, not by the spin-loft.
In simple terms, the strike-induced spin on a high-spinning wedge shot is a direct consequence of the magnitude of the strike and the downward movement of the flat surface of the clubface relative to the ball during the short period of impact.
In a premium quality ball, the outer layers of the ball have a high moment of inertia and are momentarily held in place on the clubface by the high frictional contact force as the clubface descends at a tangent to the ball. The strain energy produced is stored in the core of the deformed ball. During the latter stages of impact as the ball leaves the clubface, the strain energy is recovered and converted into rotational kinetic energy which adds to the spin rate already generated by the effective loft on the clubface (spin loft).
The magnitude of the strike, the angle of descent of the clubhead, as well as the angle at which the clubface is presented to the ball, and the friction between the ball and the clubface, will all have a major influence on the amount of ‘traction’ that can be generated, and the degree of elastic energy that can be produced.
Generally only skilled players possessing strong and flexible wrists are able to generate enough wrist torque to produce this shot. The skill can of course be acquired over time by the serious golfer. Those players learning their skills on a links course will have an advantage, as the very hard turf is also a factor in increasing traction on the ball.
Trust this helps the discussion and opens minds to true and tested scientific theories rather than dwelling on those that are not. I enjoy reading your articles Tom which i’m sure are of great help to golfers of all standards, so please don’t misconstrue my intent with these comments.
Dan H
Jan 12, 2017 at 9:15 pm
Here’s a video with a study on it comparing a new wedge to a one year old wedge using Trackman numbers: https://youtu.be/PeOboLZcUuY
ETW
Sep 15, 2015 at 1:21 pm
Well lets not go back the 20 years like you say, Tom, because lets remember that there were SQUARE grooves before 2010 that helped with the zippy spin back balls
KCCO
Sep 13, 2015 at 9:55 am
I get lucky from time to time, can make my ball stop on various greens, which tends to make me believe has a lot to the greens….ie. hardness, length, time of day, and angle of decent (not that angle of decent its even a golf related term), but believe it has an affect on ball just putting brakes on, or having some english and coming back to you after first bounce. And just a personal opinion, I get more backspin (type causing ball to come back) is from a little further out, with a 51.5 or 56 in my case. Where you would think getting under the ball with a 60 and putting back spin will give you that affect, IMO, your so close and the amount of spin generated (when using 60* on a 25 yard or in shot is no where near enough head speed to generate spin to get ball to come back to you (unless ur on the tour) This is just my opinion, I am no kind of pro, just always been fascinated by the same spin a lot of people try to acheive, and in my case, 9 outta 10 times its a situation where I wish it would have just put brakes on with the spin, being at right length, then spin comes into play and I’m 6 to 10 feet from the hole because I was 80 yards out and swing speed put more spin on ball, and didn’t come down softly as a short flop with a more lofted wedge would, so in turn ball spins back.
* I do believe a softer cover, and fresh wedges do help in the scenario as well. Again, I’m no instructor, and may have just typed a useless post, it’s just based on my personal experience and observations. I’ve also just experimented on practice chipping green, and so many different variables can acheive spin to stop the ball or make it come back.
All of that being said, in reality, if you have the distance, why do you want the ball to come back? Fun too watch, but if my distance is on, last thing I want is a ball to roll 2 more yards away from pin. Hope this made 2% of sense. Ha
The Drop
Sep 12, 2015 at 11:20 am
How about an open face and cutting a sliding shot with an exaggerated out-to-in under the ball a beat more, not all the way a flop shot but like a tennis drop shot, of course you can flop it too for maximum
birly-shirly
Sep 12, 2015 at 4:33 am
Interesting, and somewhat contrary, view here – http://shortgamesecrets.tv/blogs/news/14320709-can-you-buy-that-elusive-30-launch-angle-with-a-sand-wedge
Suggests that the low launch angle is the result of fresh clubface, quality ball and clean lie and NOT 20* of shaft lean.
If that’s correct, then that suggests that the Dynamic Loft measurement on Trackman is being “fooled”. It would then follow that the explanation of Spin Loft here is flawed, or at least incomplete.
Tom Stickney II
Sep 12, 2015 at 5:34 pm
B– increasing landing angle works as well and better for most players. However this article covered the “science” of spin not what was the easiest option.
Sc
Sep 12, 2015 at 7:16 pm
No, the title says “adding” spin to shots.
birly-shirly
Sep 13, 2015 at 8:01 am
Not sure if you followed the link, Tom. Friction is science too, no? The question is whether the 30* launch is the result of you leaning the hosel > 20*, or high friction between ball and face. In that link, JR appears to achieve a 30* launch irrespective of how much dynamic loft he presents. Have you verified that 34* dynamic loft figure on something that directly measures it?
Wrong again
Sep 12, 2015 at 2:55 am
Of course there are some courses that are the opposite…hard and firm and don’t spin at all. It’s challenging in a different way, and while the PGA tour certainly plays at places like this, they certainly don’t all the time. When they go out to the greenbrier or john deer or these tournaments when guys are going out and shooting -20 or better, I can promise you those greens are spinning a lot. Thats what they mean when they refer to “scoring conditions”. When you can just throw the ball to the hole on almost any shot because its going to check once and stop takes all of the feel out of having to play bump and runs all day because the balls aren’t spinning as much. Thats what “scoring conditions” means. Easy to get the ball close to the hole.
Steve
Sep 11, 2015 at 10:13 pm
Mellonhead,
Do you think it is better to make it more complicated? Or make it more simple. This is the reason the game is shrinking. It is explained in a over complicated way, by teachers that want you to believe they are educated. Golf will never grow with teachers like Mellonhead, they over complicate a simple game
Tom Stickney II
Sep 12, 2015 at 5:38 pm
I’m hopeful you are not referring to me sir as I’m only here trying to help you understand how things work. Knowledge is power if you can apply it…
Joe Golfer
Sep 13, 2015 at 12:39 am
Tom,
Keep doing what you are doing. Ignore people like “Steve” who call names and such. There are some extremely immature people out there who simply must insult people to somehow feel superior about themselves.
I gave your article both a Like and a Legit. Good job.
Jer
Sep 13, 2015 at 8:36 am
I would hope he isn’t speaking of you as you have went above and beyond to personally explain certain points thoroughly, and made it quite easy to understand. Thank you Tom
Dennis Corley
Sep 11, 2015 at 6:42 pm
Tom
Looking at the Trackman screen at the bottom it says 56 degree. Did you deloft at 56 degree wedge down to 34.5? Is that alot? How much shaft lean is that?
Thanks
Dennis
JeffL
Sep 11, 2015 at 4:52 pm
Probably the main reason is that the pros catch their shots much cleaner. Even a decent shot from most mid- to high-handicappers is a little fat. That and clubhead speed.
Bob Jones
Sep 11, 2015 at 4:34 pm
As far as the golf ball goes, I buy Bridgestone e5s, which you can spin the heck out of, for $25 a dozen.
Bob Castelline
Sep 11, 2015 at 3:16 pm
This is a wonderful article about what happens to produce the most spin. Unfortunately, it doesn’t help me much. There’s a big difference between knowing WHAT has to happen and HOW I make that happen. If someone could write an article describing how to create the appropriate angle of attack and shaft lean for producing the most spin loft, that would be exceedingly helpful.
Tom Stickney II
Sep 11, 2015 at 4:58 pm
Understanding is the first step. See my earlier article on the how to
cmyktaylor
Sep 11, 2015 at 1:35 pm
Another way to ask my question is this: Should I use the 54 without much shaft lean or downward AA from 90 yards out, or should I really contort my 60 from that distance if I’m wanting a lot of spin?
Chris
Sep 11, 2015 at 1:14 pm
Thanks for this article Tom.
Question..You mentioned that better players want to combine a shallower Angle of Attack with a lower launch angle to get the best spin loft.
I assume their spin loft tends to be too high then, correct?
Now what about for the average player? Does there spin loft tend to be too low. Should they be trying to increase AoA while keeping the dynamic loft the same for example?
cmyktaylor
Sep 11, 2015 at 12:59 pm
I’d like to see this how this plays out with specific wedges. I have a good 54 that I could pull the string on without any effort the first year I got it. I don’t play too much, so It’s surprising to me that I can’t create any meaningful backspin for the life of me now, just two years and less than 50 rounds later.
Does a 54 require a lot of forward shaft lean to hit that magic spin loft number? Or can I just dial back the AA and the shaft lean and get the same results?
birlyshirly
Sep 11, 2015 at 12:51 pm
Tom – you got those figures with a 56 degree wedge, delofted over 20 degrees. Can you get the same spin numbers hitting an 8 or 9 iron, same spin loft but less shaft lean?
Ballspeed
Sep 11, 2015 at 1:49 pm
Hypothetically you could get the same numbers but the ball speed and landing angles would be different creating the illusion that the ball isn’t spinning as much. A lot of people don’t realize that ball speed has a lot to do with the illusion of backspin….the lower the ballspeed the less forward momentum the spin has to stop….I.E. say two shots that are spinning at say 6500 rpm’s but one has a ballspeed of 90 and the other has a ball speed of 120. It’ll look as if the latter didn’t spin for you, when in reality it was the difference in ball speed that eliminated the desired check. This is one of the most important factors to hard GREENside spinners (3-10 yard chips). Presenting the loft softens up the ballspeed and is going to spin it a little due to the spin loft as explained in this article. Go green side and look at the difference in ball speed when you hit a 5 yard chip with a sand wedge vs. a 9 iron.
birly-shirly
Sep 11, 2015 at 2:03 pm
If spin loft is the same in both scenarios, why would ballspeed be different?
Wrong again
Sep 12, 2015 at 2:49 am
Hypothetically you’re correct, but it would be impossible to get the same dynamic loft with a 9 iron that you have with a sand wedge while keeping the angle of attack the same. That is the difference. I.E.
54* wedge at say (hypothetical) 4 degrees down = 32* of dynamic loft at impact.
To get a 42* 9 iron to be at 32* of loft you’d have to only hit down (again hypothetical) only 2 degrees. If you hit down with the 4 degrees it would be lower then the 32* on the sand wedge. Again all of these numbers are purely hypothetical for sake of example. Make sense?
birly-shirly
Sep 12, 2015 at 4:48 am
I’m trying to make sense of the large amount of shaft lean that Tom’s TM figures imply. His SW is supposedly delofted >20*. Surely it would not be difficult to achieve mid-30* dynamic loft and a 5* AoA with a much less lofted club coupled with much less shaft lean. You’d achieve the same Spin Loft measurement – the question is, would the spin rate be the same?
Andrew
Sep 11, 2015 at 12:16 pm
Is it simplifying it too much to look at Dynamic Loft as the static club loft +- Shaft Lean at impact? I use a SkyPro Swing analyzer and both angle of attack and shaft lean at impact are reported. I obviously don’t have a trackman at home (like 99.9999999% of everyone else) and I’m just curious how I could compare my numbers or estimate spin loft.
You'reNotAsGoodAsYouThink
Sep 11, 2015 at 12:01 pm
“And since this is GolfWRX, I also know that a lot of you are already spinning the ball like Tour players with your wedges.”
Heh. Made me chuckle.
Have never been on a forum with as many “experts” as there are here…
Double Mocha Man
Sep 11, 2015 at 12:20 pm
… even though the average handicap is about 13.
Ballspeed
Sep 11, 2015 at 2:04 pm
Pretty sure he didn’t post this as a jab at “forum experts.” Spinning a golf ball is something that happens literally everytime you hit you. Just because (assuming?) You and the people you know may not be the best golfers in the world, you should know that there are THOUSANDS upon THOUSANDS of guys that play this game at some professional level, let alone all the stratch golfers that play for fun. Not to mention that again, spinning the ball is something people do on literally every shot. Just because it doesn’t spin BACKWARDS, doesn’t mean its not spinning. Like the author stated, 90% of the time the ball not moving backwards is because of the conditions of the shot. Guys on TV are spinning the ball more because of the perfection of their fairways, the way their greens are cut (most people think you need slow greens to spin the ball but faster greens are way more receptive to spin), and (something you can’t SEE) they are smart enough to only try to play this shots when they have slopes that they know are there to work in their favor. So yes…i’m positive the majority of guys, professional or not, have seen a ball spin backwards in their time playing golf. But now you’re creating a new stereotype…theres the “forum pros”…and now the “forum pro haters”.
cmyktaylor
Sep 11, 2015 at 2:58 pm
Ballspeed – this actually makes more sense for me. I only really saw a lot of action when I was playing a very well kept course with a very tightly cropped fairway and fast greens that were soft and gently slopped back to front.
Yep!
Sep 12, 2015 at 2:58 am
Correct. While greens that are rolled and well cut ROLL faster, they receive the spin better, creating the illusion that they are spinning more. Also different types of green spin more then others.
Matto
Sep 11, 2015 at 11:20 pm
“Faster greens are more receptive to spin”
Tell that to anyone playing Royal Melbourne in Summer.
I watched Phil Mick in person at The Presidents Cup. Not even he could stop one!
Wrong again
Sep 12, 2015 at 2:46 am
There is a big difference between fast greens and firm greens, friend. Greens can be firm and slow and can be soft and fast. Two every different things.
Wrong again
Sep 12, 2015 at 2:53 am
I play golf on the golden state tour and one of the things that the courses do to make it tougher other then stimping the greens to roll really fast is make them CRAZY receptive to spin. This makes it so you can’t just hit stock numbers inside 150 yards. Say you hit your PW 140 yards stock. You cannot hit that club at 140 yards because it will spin off the green, so they make it harder on the players by forcing us to club up to say a 9 or 8 irons and bunt it (something a lot of guys are not comfortable with) to control the spin so the balls don’t spin off the greens. So again….if you don’t know what you’re talking about and don’t have experience with these things it’d be best that you don’t comment.
Matto
Sep 12, 2015 at 7:23 pm
You didn’t mention firm and fast, friend.
DS
Oct 3, 2019 at 1:57 pm
I think Tom’s too nice to be taking a jab at the ‘forum pros’ but I also laughed at his comment. You were specific in your note (thank you) but he specifically said ‘a lot of you are already spinning it like Tour players’. Not just getting the ball to spin – “like Tour players”.
As for me, I like it when the columnists shoot back at the basket of miserables that seems to infest this site. Disagree if you want, and if you have a counter argument, please DO disagree, but you don’t have to be so disagreeable when you do it. That last part is lost on many of the forum pros, and I guess that makes me a forum pro hater, or at least a ‘miserable forum pro’ hater.
other paul
Sep 11, 2015 at 2:29 pm
But we are all experts… ????