Instruction
The truth about spin: How to spin it like the pros
One of the things I’m asked most often by my students is “How to get my shots to back up like the pros?”
When this question was posed to Sam Snead, he asked the man how far he hit his 5 iron. The man responded, about 150 yards or so. Snead said:
“Well, then what the hell do you want it to back up for?”
Be that as it may, backspin remains the Holy Grail for many amateur players. I’m always quick to point out to them that as much as anything, backspin comes first and foremost from clean, crisp, well-struck shots hit under optimum conditions. A dirty golf ball struck from most public golf course lies, hit from grooves that have not been cleaned for a week has no chance of spinning.
So if you want to give yourself a chance to hit shots that spin, make sure your grooves are fresh and that you clean them before you hit your shots. If you want a more complete answer that covers the ballistics of spin, read on.
OK, so you use clean grooves and still can’t spin the ball. First, you need to know that spin on a ball is created by the following four factors: friction, dynamic loft, contact point (on the face) and speed.
- Friction is the force between two surfaces when rubbing together. Two smooth surfaces create little friction, while two rough surfaces create a lot of friction. That is why golf clubs have grooves and golf balls have dimples — the grooves provide the necessary friction that is created as the golf ball slides up the club face. Any matter (dirt, water, grass) that comes between the golf ball and club reduces friction and therefore spin. This is why you will seldom see a professional spin a ball out of tall grass.
- Dynamic Loft is the actual loft of the club at impact, which is much less than what is measured on a loft/lie machine. The reduction in loft is due to the fact that in order for a golfer to strike down on the ball, he or she must create some forward shaft lean at impact, which reduces loft. A typical 6 iron with around 30 degrees of loft will have as little as 20 degrees of dynamic loft when hit by an elite level player, but I have seen readings as high as 40 degrees from some amateurs with poor impact positions.
- Contact point on the face: Even though there is less loft at the bottom of a club face and more loft at the top, a principle called vertical gear effect causes shots hit low on the face to have more spin than shots hit higher on the face. It seems counterintuitive, but think about how much more roll you get on tee shots you hit high on the face compared to the ones you hit low on the face. Now do you believe me?
- Speed: All things being equal, faster club head speed creates more spin and slower club head speeds create less spin.
So those are the ballistics of spin. But there’s another important aspect — trajectory. Let’s examine in detail what causes the ball to launch at different angles, which is known as vertical launch angle.
Attack Angle: In order to get the golf ball airborne with their woods, hybrids, irons and wedges, golfers must hit down on the ball to some degree. That’s why the PGA Tour average attack angle for a 6 iron is a negative 4 degrees, or 4-degrees down.
As I mentioned earlier, the shaft of the club must be leaning forward (toward the target) with the hands ahead of the club head to hit down on the ball. This action de-lofts the club. So a downward hit will always be achieved with a slightly de-lofted club.
The opposite is true for a driver, where many Tour players create a positive angle of attack, hitting up on the ball to launch the ball higher so they can carry it farther. If they couple their positive angle of attack with a contact point that is high on the face, they can reduce spin, which can create the optimal high-launch, low-spin combo that Bubba Watson has exploited to be one of the leaders in driving distance on the PGA Tour.
Note, however, that an upward angle of attack will not decrease spin — it takes a high contact point on the face to do that.
Spin Loft. This is a bit tricky, but follow along. Because different clubs have different lofts, they meet the ball with a variety of face angles. Spin loft is a calculation of these angles and is found using this equation: dynamic loft (actual loft at impact) – angle of attack = spin loft.
Now here is where it can get confusing: Spin loft does not mean spin rate per se. The rotations per minute (RPM) of a golf ball are the actual spin rate. Spin loft is one of the factors that causes spin rate, but it is not the only factor. A higher spin loft, however, will always increase spin and slow down down ball speed, and vice versa. If you look at the chart below, the gap between the red and blue lines is the spin loft. It is measured in degrees, not RPMs.
So let’s say a shot struck with a 6 iron has a dynamic loft at impact of 20 degrees and an attack angle of negative 4. The spin loft of that shot, 20 minus negative 4 (remember your double negatives?), is 24 degrees.
This is a very important point to understand because spin loft is also a matter of compression, which is a measure of how directly a ball has been struck. When the spin loft is low, the compression is high — the hit is more direct. When spin loft is high, the compression is low — the ball spins more and the ball speed is reduced. It is compressed less.
Look at the chart below: The narrower the gap between the red and blue lines, the more the golf ball is compressed and the farther it will go. In the example, there is no change in the gap, so hitting down did not spin the ball more; it simply launched it lower.
A zero spin loft would be the most compression we could have, but it’s not posssible because the golf ball would not have enough spin to stay in the air.
The latest scientific evidence shows that there is not an increase in spin per se when golfers hit down more on the golf ball. Here’s the reason — in order to hit down more a golfer has to lower the dynamic loft of the club, which causes the ball to be launched lower. There is no increase in spin loft or in actual spin rate.
So what does all this mean to the average golfer? Well let’s say, you’d like to learn how to hit a low wedge shot that comes to stop on a dime by the hole. Since you understand the dynamics of spin and launch, let’s go through the conditions that allow the low-flying, high-spinning wedge shot to happen:
To hit a low wedge shot, golfers need to get a low launch factor, which means they have to de-loft their wedge by getting their hands in front of the clubfacee. But you know that reducing loft, the biggest factor of spin, actually decreases the amount of spin, so the low-flying wedge shot seems like an anomaly, espcially when you add the fact that you can’t increase the speed on short shots because that would make the ball go too far.
So the magic of the high-spinning, low-flying shot is a low spin loft — remember the gap?
In order to have low spin loft, the angle of attack and loft have to be closer together. To make the spin loft as narrow as possible with a wedge, that wedge has to be delofted and have a very shallow angle of attack.
Think about it — if a golfer hits down too much, the spin loft “gap” would become wider and the compression would get lower. In those conditions, the golf ball does not “grip” the face as well; friction is reduced and spin goes down.
However, studies show that a very shallow attack angle (which is slightly downward with a wedge) and a defofted face produce the optimum friction, or grip of golf ball and club. The ball flies low, spins a lot and checks after two, sometimes three bounces. In short, you will be the envy of your foursome.
Here’s something else to consider: You should always keep not only your grooves clean, but the surface area between the grooves rough, a perfectly legal thing to do, because it to optimizes friction.
Final checklist for spin
- Clean your grooves and keep the surface area between the grooves roughened.
- Play a premium golf ball; one that allows for spin to happen.
- Do not expect spin off any lie where contact with the golf ball first is impossible; example — shot from the rough, especially ones that are into the grain, as they limit friction with the ball.
- While hitting down does not cause more spin, it is an essential element when hitting any ball on the ground.
- Work on keeping your hands ahead coming into impact (flipping the club ahead of your hands adds loft), but keep a very shallow angle. This is the best way to get a low-flying, high-spinning pitch when close to the green.
Finally, remember this: Backspin looks great, but if it is beyond your skill set, you can always come in a little higher, softer and even allow for ye olde bump and run when there is enough green to work with.
As always, feel free to send a swing video to my Facebook page and I will do my best to give you my feedback.
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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Dan H
Jan 12, 2017 at 9:18 pm
Here’s a pretty cool video with a study on it comparing a new wedge to a one year old wedge using Trackman numbers: https://youtu.be/PeOboLZcUuY
Terry
Jan 1, 2015 at 3:03 pm
I of course know how to clean iron groves but I don’t know how to rough up the surface area between the groves in order to create friction. Can you recommend a legal way to do that with a forged iron? Thanks.
Mark
Jan 16, 2015 at 12:08 pm
Dennis, just caught this article, very cool information but I am also wondering how to “keep the surface area between the grooves roughened”
Thanks
Slim
Jun 10, 2014 at 5:32 pm
How do you keep the surface area between the grooves rough? I’m picturing taking a metal file and “roughing up” the face, but doesn’t that goes against the Rules of Golf 4-1 b (altering equipment)? Am I missing something?
Aaron
Mar 23, 2014 at 9:21 am
Hi Dennis,
Can you please address these comments from above as I would like a little more explaination as well. Seems to be some contradicting statements that have some confused. So lower spin loft decreases spin but lower spin loft increases friction which would cause more spin, doesn’t this cancel each other out? Thanks Dennis for explaining this.
“A higher spin loft, however, will always increase spin”
“So the magic of the high-spinning, low-flying shot is a low spin loft – remember the gap?
In order to have low spin loft, the angle of attack and loft have to be closer together.”
confused…why would you want low spin loft for a high-spinning shot if the first comment is true??
Read more at http://www.golfwrx.com/76915/the-truth-about-spin-it-might-be-different-than-what-you-think/#39Q8X1X7HJHt8E7V.99
Mike
Jun 3, 2014 at 12:19 pm
the same I asked me too … how is the answer?
Marc
Jul 16, 2014 at 2:34 pm
I wonder why he hasn’t addressed this contradiction??
James
Mar 13, 2014 at 12:57 pm
Diminishing Returns. Just Remember 45 degrees and you might figure out why shallow with hands in front is important
John S
Mar 9, 2014 at 10:56 pm
As a club fitter and one who has done it for about 5 years, I need to chime in. This kind of information is cool, but it’s too much. Way too much. My average client can’t break 100 on a good day, he or she doesn’t need to see this stuff. A better article for the golfing community would be “how to get the ball airborne, nearly all the time.”
John Frizzell
Mar 1, 2014 at 10:27 pm
“make sure your grooves are fresh”
What do you mean fresh?
Dennis Clark
Mar 2, 2014 at 6:00 am
Clean and deep. Not worn down
Steven McLean
Jan 20, 2014 at 5:35 pm
Interesting stuff but I do not agree with grooves making a rough surface. An iron with no grooves would spin more assuming there was no water etc. so in good conditions the grooves do not increases spin. However I concede that any groove dirt protruding out of the grooves would reduce surface area contact with the ball. A good analogy is soft tyres in f1 which have no grooves whereas rain tyres have grooves. The ball is dimpled to reduce spin in flight. Dimples reduce surface area contact with the ball and hence reduce friction and the resulting spin. A ball with no dimples spins more.
Dennis Clark
Mar 2, 2014 at 6:14 am
The grooves on the face of a golf club serve two purposes. First, they provide just a bit of “bite” for the golf ball as it’s sliding up the face, helping it to spin more rapidly. Next, if grass is trapped between the ball and club at impact, the water in the grass will be squeezed out by the nearly 3,000 pounds of force generated by the average swing. Like the tread on an automobile tire, the grooves on the club face give the water somewhere to go so that the ball doesn’t skid up the face without spinning.
Dennis Clark
Mar 2, 2014 at 6:25 am
If you want to get deeper into the aerodynamics, there are two types of flow around an object: laminar and turbulent. Laminar flow has less drag, but it is also prone to a phenomenon called “separation.” Once separation of a laminar boundary layer occurs, drag rises dramatically because of eddies that form in the gap. Turbulent flow has more drag initially but also better adhesion, and therefore is less prone to separation. Therefore, if the shape of an object is such that separation occurs easily, it is better to turbulate the boundary layer (at the slight cost of increased drag) in order to increase adhesion and reduce eddies (which means a significant reduction in drag). Dimples on golf balls turbulate the boundary layer.
Ben
Sep 4, 2014 at 9:04 am
Agreed! If a golf ball wasn’t dimpled, it would be a knuckle ball!
Rob
Dec 2, 2013 at 6:47 am
I believe it was actually the irritable Ben Hogan playing in a pro am with a overly complimentary amateur partner who said that when asked how to spin/stop his 7 iron.
Dennis Clark
Mar 2, 2014 at 6:18 am
I played with Snead in an senior event in Atlantic City in 1988. He told us the story.
Azman Long Hamid
Nov 11, 2013 at 12:35 am
Not sure all the jargon, but to have a low spinning into the green? Use a urethane ball, take one extra club hit it 3 quarter, with a faster swing speed. So far that is what I am doing to get the ball back.
Eric Nordal
Apr 1, 2013 at 9:22 pm
Backspin is so overrated. Yes it looks cool but unless you know how to use it to your advantage it is a hindrance for most amateurs. It all comes down to distance control and consistency with your irons to make it useful. Most amateurs aren’t consistent and even if they do hit the ball well enough to generate backspin they aren’t consistent enough with their club yardages to use it to their advantage. 99% of amateurs don’t take enough club in the first place when hitting approach shots. So even if they do strike it well, chances are it’s not enough club and the backspin is just going to make it a longer putt for them. Now a PGA pro on the other hand knows his yardages and knows how far he can hit each club. Let’s say he’s staring at a 140 yard shot to the pin. He knows he can hit his 9 iron 150 yards so he’ll take his 9 knowing he’ll probably land it past the hole and spin it back 5-8 yards to leave him a 3-5 footer.
I can generate backspin and for the most part I hate it. I’ve spun the ball off the front of greens, into water, sand traps, and other hazards. There have also been times where I’ve tried to play shots to land soft and release but check up because of spin leaving me with long putts. My advice, and this is just my 2 cents, worry about hitting it straight and hitting the green. If you can hit 14 out of 18 greens in regulation, then worry about generating backspin.
Mateo
Mar 31, 2013 at 2:39 am
This article is so pointless………… if you want to spin it like a pro…………… BE A PRO.
Which means practice, practice, practice.
Because you have figured out a way to afford to practice and play ALL the time without a full time job or any job at all whether it’s through a sponsor or mommy and daddy picking up the tab (which is how a majority of them do it).
All of these pros use different methods to put spin on the ball.
Whether it’s steep or shallow, inside or outside, hands in front or behind, clean or off the toe, it doesn’t matter. They figure out how to do it because they are pros and have had time to do it.
If you are an am who wants to spin it like the pros…………. stop reading this stuff and go to the nearest chipping green and figure out how YOU can spin it the most with your technique and ability with the time you have (without losing your job).
If you want to spin it like the pros….. ignore this article and go practice. And before you practice, make sure you have the correct loft, lie, and bounce on your wedges.
“How to spin it like the pros”. What a joke.
Pablo
May 30, 2013 at 12:19 am
When pros go out and practice tons and tons as you mentioned, what do you think they practice exactly? They practice proper technique and optimizing their games. Each pro might have a unique swing and technique, but they work on making the launch numbers better for their games so they can spin the ball as much as they need to. Pros also have the luxury of not just practicing alone but with their coaches and company reps who are their to analyze the numbers and help them hit their ideal launch conditions. For amateurs who can’t practice nearly as much but try to make time for it (tough to do when you have an actual job that’s not pro golf), the key is practicing the right technique. Instruction like this from magazines, TV, or online helps many players, but the best thing is getting a lesson from a PGA teaching pro to work on a golfer’s unique drills to improve their performance.
In short, an amateur blindly hitting balls on a range or a chipping green like you seem to be suggesting won’t help most amateurs. While practice is important, the best way is to get lessons from an instructor. If not that, teaching tips from magazines, websites like this, or Golf Channel are the next best thing.
SBoss
Mar 3, 2014 at 11:21 pm
Actually, Mateo, your comment is useless. Many people here are interested in improving their golf and we’re willing to fit practice in around our schedules. Anything that I can read (like this piece) that adds information to my knowledge base is welcome.
You don’t have to be a “pro” to appreciate the sport and want to get better…and you don’t need the time investment like a professional to be a really good golfer.
There are times that you might not enjoy an article because it doesn’t interest you…there are other people that might enjoy it a lot. I’d also ask you to ponder the fact that some people don’t work the same hours or schedule as yourself…or, maybe their retired and have all the time in the world. I know it’s crazy…but there are other people and circumstances outside of your own. Try stepping out of your “personal box” and appreciate the time that it took to write the piece…and that other people might actually enjoy it.
Jack
Mar 5, 2014 at 1:12 am
LOL. I think he just might be one of those guys who practice all the time and don’t know why he’s not getting better. He just doesn’t have the time to practice even more. Either that or he’s a genius who just knows what to do. The rest of us mortals need some help to understand things.
Geno
May 19, 2014 at 10:17 pm
totally agree with sboss his hate comment is so ignorant it kills me.
cwdlaw223
Mar 29, 2013 at 6:22 pm
Dennis –
Thanks. Here’s a tough one for you (at least for me), how about a low launch – low spin shot with a PW, 9 or 8 iron around the green? I want my bump and run shots to run and hate it when there is a little check. Easy to do with a putter because the dynamic loft would be so low and not cause the noticeable “check” (I presume increased spin) when I try a bump and run with a PW, 9 or 8 iron there’s inevitably a check. Maybe the check is unavoidable because at a certain point there has to be some dynamic loft to get the ball on the green and rolling. Sometimes the bump and run shot can’t be hit with a 7-4 iron because there isn’t enough room for the ball to run out.
alexis
Mar 30, 2013 at 3:44 am
try hitting it on the toe. that would reduce the risk of your bump and runs checking up as you are purposely hitting it outside the sweet spot. remember Clark mentioned the importance of a clean and crisp strike of the ball.
Dennis Clark
Mar 30, 2013 at 12:25 pm
Here’s a shot to try….when you hit a chip that has to release try a little hook rollover release at the bottom. This shot was taught to me by a great player who was the head pro at Winged Foot for many years. It works really well when u get used to it!
jason
Jun 28, 2014 at 11:25 pm
Everyone who can spin the ball back (who I have talked to), actually don’t like it. All of them just want the ball to land and sit, so they dont have to worry about it spinning back off the green. If these players can’t control how much they spin the ball, I would assume that we shouldnt be able to either. If you’re going for a bump and run, with minimal spin, I would assume your best bet would be to take a lower lofted club and hitting a chip. Also I don’t really think you should be hitting a bump and run with a 7-4 iron, I would consider those shots more like small punch shots. And punch shots will always role out. Hopefully that makes sense.
cwdlaw223
Mar 29, 2013 at 12:29 pm
Dennis –
Doesn’t the picture of the “spin loft answer” have the low launch, high spin shot occur with the golfer hitting down (instead of a more shallow impact position)? That picture is causing some confusion for me. I agree with you, but the information in the spin loft answers indicates that hitting down will have a lower launch and the article was about a low launch, high spin shot.
Dennis Clark
Mar 29, 2013 at 3:42 pm
Yes I agree. That pic does illustrate a steeper angle than I am suggesting one play the low spinner with. Good point. I may remove that to avoid confusion.
Gürhan Kaya
Mar 28, 2013 at 12:14 pm
Soon everybody will understand the secrets of how to hit the ball properly, :/
Steve Pratt
Mar 28, 2013 at 2:11 am
Hi Dennis,
Respectfully, I don’t believe it is possible to have a shallow angle of attack and deloft. One would deloft the club by leaning the shaft forward at impact, that necessarily steepens the angle of attack. Sure you can have a shallow divot with a steep angle of attack if you bottom out at turf level.
A shallow AoA, say -2 on a SW would always result in a relatively high shot, not low.
Some of your statements confuse me…low spin loft for high spin? What is a narrow D plane? Could you clarify further?
Of course Bob, above, is incorrect, that all clubs have vertical gear effect. I’ll be happily corrected if I’m wrong here.
Finally, spin loft has absolutely nothing to do with AoA. Fredrik Tuxen has written that spin loft is more or less constant in any individual club. Dynamic loft changes with AoA, not spin loft.
Dennis Clark
Mar 28, 2013 at 8:51 pm
Steve: Also respectfully, you can deloft the club and shallow the angle. Try putting your hands well in front of the golf ball, and swing UP at it. That move is very doable and what may elite level players work on. Andrew Rice has done some very extensive studies on this and even has a drill on his site you can work on. Spin loft is defined and arrived at by the formula, Dynamic loft MINUS the attack angle. Yes steeper AA will lower dynamic loft, but you will get a different spin loft reading when the AA changes. Dynamic loft 20, AA -5. spin loft 25. Dynamic loft 20, AA +5 Spin loft: 15 My top players get their driver in the 10-11 range on Trackman spin loft. Thx as always for your comments an interest. DC
Lee
Mar 27, 2013 at 9:53 pm
Thanks. I’ll give it a shot!
Dennis Clark
Mar 27, 2013 at 10:32 am
Low spin lift is greater compression, more narrow D plane and higher friction when played midsole de-lofted and shallow. A FRICTION spinner is a thing of beauty.
Lee
Mar 27, 2013 at 8:49 am
“A higher spin loft, however, will always increase spin”
“So the magic of the high-spinning, low-flying shot is a low spin loft – remember the gap?
In order to have low spin loft, the angle of attack and loft have to be closer together.”
confused…why would you want low spin loft for a high-spinning shot if the first comment is true??
Bob Frost
Mar 27, 2013 at 8:37 am
Hi Guys,
What a load of codswallop or BS you guys over the pond like to say, it just goes to show how missleading even well respected pros know about golf clubs and how they work. Three things only for backspin, loft, swingspeed and angle of attack, just some of the above remarks which are wrong, firstly the golf ball does not run up the clubface, irons do not have vertical gear effect the last time I measured my irons they had the same loft at the bottom of the face as the top! It is impossible to have your hands in front of the ball unless your trying to break your wrists see your own picture! The reason there was a groove change in the law was to stop pros getting backspin from the rough, there still getting it!. The above article is nothing more than if you do not know baffle em with BS. For the correct info on how back spin works and can be applied read Tom Wishon, a proper expert in club design.
Bob F
Clubmaker
Zak Kozuchowski
Mar 27, 2013 at 9:42 am
Bob,
My experience, which includes in-depth conversations with top club fitters and OEM engineers (including Tom Wishon) tells me that you’re very, very wrong.
You’re also being extremely rude to one of our most respected writers, who provided me with the list of his sources for this story before publication so I could check everything out.
You think it’s impossible to have your hands in front of the ball at impact? That’s a picture of PGA Tour winner Kevin Streelman, who has very healthy wrists.
It’s fine to disagree, but you’ve crossed the line into rudeness. And you’re needlessly confusing readers who actually want to learn how they can improve their games.
– Zak
Steve
Mar 27, 2013 at 5:30 pm
Agree with Zak. “Cannot have hands ahead of ball”?? Gimme a break – I’m just an amateur 10 even I know better than that.
Listen, THANKS!! to Dennis for the insight and great presentation! It has helped me clear up some mysteries and find my swing again after a log winter of struggling with my approaches! Keep up the great work!
John Frizzell
Mar 1, 2014 at 10:49 pm
Tom Wishon certainly know his stuff, what is he the only “proper expert.
Hardly. Every OEM has guys just as qualified at club design, now do I believe the OEM advertisment hogwash, certainly not.
Adrian
Mar 31, 2014 at 10:06 am
The club face lays back when struck high on the face and rolls downward when struck low on the face so that will either add or take away dynamic loft of the club at impact. Your irons don’t have bulge and roll on them like your driver does but they still experience gear effect.
geohogan
Jul 8, 2020 at 8:39 pm
So called gear effect is a result of using shafts with too soft tip.
If the tip is stiff (steel or graphite) there is no so called, gear effect.
Ken
Mar 22, 2022 at 8:52 pm
Bob. Do everyone a favor and and go play in traffic
Dennis Clark
Mar 27, 2013 at 7:59 am
Guys, thx for the comments and feedback. A couple thing: Shallow is an attack angle decription; de-lofted is a loft description. You can absolutely have a wide, shallow angle with the hand ahead of the golf ball. It’s why many great wedge players “pick” the ball clean, take very shallow divits when hitting their spinners. Andrew Rice, fine teaching professional, has written extensively and researched this topic, read his take on it too. Its also why I said this shot is one known to very few but is clearly what they do. Secondly, spin loft is does control spin but it is a function of the differential of attack angle and dynamic loft. It IS the D plane and the measure of compression on the golf ball. Hitting down more increases attach angle but also lowers vertical lauch angle. No increase in spin. Remember the friction part, high friction spin is that third hop one we see among the elite players.
derek
Mar 27, 2013 at 4:04 am
So what does all this mean to the average golfer?
play a prov 1 and sooner or later you’ll have to play it 4 yards further
Jerry Crowell, PGA
Mar 27, 2013 at 12:00 am
De-lofted club with a shallow angle of attack? Don’t follow that one. Where you put dynamic loft, you shoulda put spin loft (in your bullet points).
Steve Pratt
Mar 26, 2013 at 11:44 pm
Dennis, I’m having a hard time understanding this.
Dynamic loft doesn’t control spin – spin loft does, according to F. Tuxen. Along with speed, of course. Is this what you were saying?
And please explain how you can get a delofted club with a shallow angle of attack? Leaning the shaft forward gives you a steeper AoA, as I understand it.
So if I wanted a low skipper, I would open the face for more spin loft, swing more down and left for the low launch angle and correct D plane, and because I have more spin loft, I need more speed to get to the target, increasing the spin more.
Is this a different technique than the way you explained it above?
Ahaze
Mar 26, 2013 at 9:51 pm
Controlling the spin just becomes how hard you hit the shot.
Ahaze
Mar 26, 2013 at 9:45 pm
You have to compress the ball into the turf. If you want to stop a 6 iron on the green you need club head speed and the proper angle of attack. Simple, nothing else.
Desmond
Apr 6, 2013 at 7:45 pm
The ball does not go into the turf.
John Frizzell
Mar 1, 2014 at 10:29 pm
yep it sure doesn’t
Matt Newby, PGA
Mar 26, 2013 at 8:44 pm
Dennis,
I have a question for you on this just to make sure I am understanding your terminology correctly. Can you please e-mail me at mnewby@golftec.com when you get a chance?
Thanks,
Matt Newby PGA
yo!
Mar 26, 2013 at 6:09 pm
When I was learning to play golf, I always wanted to spin the ball back on my approach shots. When I started doing it, it became frustrating because it was unpredictable and sometimes rolled off of the green. I would rather have a shot that stops or move very little, forward or backward, after it hits the green.
t
Mar 26, 2013 at 5:14 pm
back spin is largely overrated. i would rather my ball (as should other amateurs) hit, bounce and roll a couple feet.
John Frizzell
Mar 1, 2014 at 10:28 pm
All irons shots have backspin, some more than others.
Jason Burge
Mar 5, 2014 at 5:43 pm
I’m with you. Two feet in either direction is perfect.