Do Low Spin Drivers Help A Slice – Are They Harder To Hit?

Do Low Spin Drivers Help A Slice – Are They Harder To Hit?

We’ve never had so many choices as golfers. It used to be that one company brought out one driver every now and then but these days we have a myriad of heads from forgiving, draw bias to low spin and many more. You can now have a driver head match your game like never before.

The slice is the scourge of many a golfer’s game from the tee. Watching your ball helplessly veer further right due to spin is a hopeless feeling. In this article we want to see if a low spinning driver could help you straighten out your bombs and become a fairway finding machine.

My Experience Of Low Spin Drivers

I hit the ball really high and I often play Links Golf so I’ve frequently sought minimal spin from the big stick. At one point I played a 7.5 degree Titleist 917 with a low spin and low launch Oban shaft! Anyway, I went for a fitting after a while and was told my quest to kill spin hadn’t helped me.

The pro set me up with a new driver, 10.5 degrees this time, and I had reduced spin through better launch conditions. The ball flew lower and stronger into the wind and all of a sudden I was hitting more fairways than ever. So what was happening here?

Overview

A slice is caused by sidespin being imparted on the ball at impact. When we talk about driver spin we are talking about backspin, which is different. It is possible that imparting more backspin can help negate the sidespin of a slice. So maybe a low spinner isn’t optimal.

What Exactly Is A Low Spin Driver?

Driver spin refers to the backspin imparted on the ball at strike. This spin has a great benefit to your drives by giving stability to the ball in the air as it rotates on its axis. There is, of course, an optimal window of how much spin you want your driver to create.

The more speed you have the less spin you want but you always want a decent amount of spin, something around 2000rpm is lovely. Too much and your ball will stall in the air, too little and it won’t be stable. Both of these scenarios will kill distance and, less but so notably accuracy.

How Do They Work?

There are many ways manufacturers reduce driver spin. Some use specific materials or patterns in the face, think TaylorMade or Cobra. All companies use placement of the centre of gravity (COG) of the club. They can get there through smaller 445cc heads rather than 460cc.

This COG move involves taking the point upward and forward rather than lower and backward. You see this technique deployed in all tour preferred driver heads to great effect. Some companies, like Titleist, create a deeper face in order to lose even more spin.

Does It Help To Fix A Slice?

Low spinning driver heads probably aren’t going to help you solve your slicing woes. A slice comes from an out to in swing path and/or an open face at impact. Neither of these things will be fixed by having a lower spin model driver, it really is as simple as that.

Are They Harder To Hit Than A Standard Spin?

Yes, they require more clubhead speed to launch the ball efficiently and they are far less forgiving. It is definitely worth noting here that standard spin drivers are phenomenal nowadays and many tour pros opt for these themselves.

The forgiveness thing is a big factor here as even the world’s best don’t hit it perfectly every time. Spin rates, with the right loft and shaft combination, can be optimised in standard spin models and so the need for low spin is diminished with the benefit of added margin for error.

How Do You Hit A Low Spin Driver?

Hard and out of the middle. This is really your only option for these advanced clubs. When you catch them you can gain a good bit extra distance but misses are punished a lot, especially by modern standards so it seems like a risk that just isn’t really worth takin for most golfers.

Can A Driver Be Too Low Spin?

Without any spin, or when you get below 1000rpm you will notice the ball starts to act in bizarre ways through the air. Stability is lost and it sort of staggers about like a Cristiano Ronaldo free kick. Too low spin will kill your distance as the ball is unable to fly efficiently and will land early.

What About High Spin Drivers – What Are They?

If you struggle to launch the ball due to slower clubhead speeds, for example then a high spin driver can really help you. These heads are designed to help impart extra backspin on the ball and so give you a more efficient flight with the speed that you are able to create.

Most of the major manufacturers are now offering low-, medium- and high-spin models in their line-ups so that there is something for everyone. For example, Titleist offer the TSR1 driver which has been an absolute hit on the LPGA tour.

Low Spin Vs High Spin Driver

These two options are suited to two entirely different golfers. You would really never be choosing between low or high spin, more low versus mid or mid versus high spin. Remember also that you can alter spin rates fairly significantly through the shaft you put in your driver.

For this reason you see a lot of golfers go for a mid-spin model driver head but pair it with a low or high spinning driver shaft to create specific launch conditions. This way you essentially end up with more options as the shaft market is just massive.

Pros Of A Low Spin Driver

Distance

If you are able to get the most out of it then a low spinning driver should deliver you more distance. You will create a ball flight that is strong through the air and can fight wind fairly easily.

Ego

This one is maybe a bit high on the list but there is no doubt that people like to play low spinning heads so they can tell people they are playing low spinning heads. There is an ego boost element to this which, for better or worse, some will find as a benefit.

Shape

In my opinion, low spin driver heads have a more appealing shape. They have a deeper face and are more compact as the CoG is higher up the face. This tour-preferred head profile looks brilliant behind the ball and is something I find particularity appealing.

Cons Of A Low Spin Driver

Less Control

Playing a low spinning driver is like playing a blade, you need to hit the ball pretty much right out of the middle in order to get performance. Misses will be punished by more wayward shots which can be detrimental.

Less Forgiveness

Much in the same vain as above, the low spin head means that forgiveness is minimal which can make consistency more challenging. Your margin for error is significantly reduced in these drivers so you need to be a proper ball striker to even consider one.

How Much Does The Shaft Affect It?

As I’ve mentioned a couple of times, the shaft is a vital piece of the puzzle. Shaft selection can increase or decrease spin fairly significantly but more in a sort of fine-tuning way high spin shaft isn’t going to make a low spin head more playable, for example. It can help a little though.

Who Should Use A Low Spin Driver?

Highly skilled golfers who hit the ball with high clubhead speeds are best suited to low spinners. Many of the worlds best players use them, which should be no surprise.

Who Should Use A High Spin Driver?

Golfers who need a bit of help getting the ball in the air and who want maximum control with the driver. They tend not to be used by many pros but a mid-spin driver would not be uncommon on tour.

The Best Low Spin Drivers On The Market

Titleist TSR4

This is a low spin beast and frankly my favourite driver on the market right now, although I play a Titleist TSI3. It has a beautiful shape and, in the right hands is an absolute rocket launcher.

Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond

The driver of Jon Rahm, among others, this is a phenomenal driver. Many say this one defies belief in terms of how far it launches the ball. It has a harder feel off the face than the Titleist which some will love. It also has a unique blue colour to it which I love.

Cobra AeroJet LS

With only 7.5 degrees of loft, this one is somewhat of your las hope in keeping the ball down. It is super-low spin so only a small proportion of golfers will be able to get the best from this club.

Conclusion

The only way to ensure that you are playing the best club for you is to get a fitting.

There are so many options out there that you need professional help to choose the correct club. If you re struggling with a slice then a low spin driver is definitely not going to solve your issues.

In this case you want to get some time with a pro to get to the root of your problems. After this you can start working on drills and practice to solve the issue. Some hard work can sort this and then you can treat yourself to a new driver for all of your hard work, easy.