How To Put Backspin On The Golf Ball – Is It Difficult, Pros And Cons, Guide

How To Put Backspin On The Golf Ball – Is It Difficult, Pros And Cons, Guide

Professional golfers have perfected their technique over many years to ensure they control the amount of backspin generated when they strike the ball.

The more you practice the shot and bring perfection to it, the more chances you have to make the ball land perfectly at your target and be able to control the ball. Backspin is very useful around the greens and if I can perfect this sill maybe I too can improve my golf. I could even challenge the top PGA professionals for the next major.

However, how do I put backspin on the golf ball, and is it difficult? If you keep reading I will aim to tell you everything you need to know.

What does putting backspin on the golf balls mean?

Every time the golf ball makes contact with the golf club backspin is produced. This is due to the grooves on the clubface and the dimples on the golf ball working together to produce lift and spin. Just because it’s called backspin doesn’t mean it is going a shorter distance, on the contrary – more spin means more distance.

Backspin is commonly spoken about when discussing the short game, and the speed with which the ball spins back towards the hole when it makes contact with the putting green. This can sometimes be a real benefit when the ball spins back towards the hole. However, it can also be a problem, too much spin can also cause the ball to spin off the green or further away from the hole.

What is Backspin

Backspin is generated when the golf club hits the golf ball. It is important in golf as it helps the golf ball travel further and also helps skilled golfers control the ball around the green.

It is commonly used by professionals and low handicap golfers as it offers good control over the shot. The ball will most likely land on the desired spot and stop, instead of bouncing and running over the back of the green.

Backspin is also described in Wikipedia as the shot which rotates backward once it has been hit.

How Do You Put Backspin On A Golf Ball

Let’s break it down and make it easier. Firstly, make sure you have the correct lofted golf club. A higher loft will produce more spin and a lower loft will generate lesser spin.

Just hit the ball with a good pace before you touch the turf. The contact between the ball and the clubhead is very important. Hitting it harder with the right speed will add more backspin to your shot. Higher trajectory golf shots always have more backspin because of the higher loft of the club.

What are The Science And Mechanics?

When a downward force is applied to the ball with the clubhead, it results in the generation of frictional force between the ball and the clubhead. The backspin occurs as a result of the impact of this frictional force.

How Difficult Is It To Put Backspin On A Golf Ball?

With enough practice, and maybe some more practice you will begin to get the feel of the shot. The technique of hitting the ball with backspin can take some time to perfect.

It is a matter of getting control of the angle and the speed with which you are hitting the ball. Once you have mastered that, putting a backspin on a golf ball will be easier.

Make sure that the ball condition is dry, and the iron grooves are clean. Dirty iron grooves and scuffs and marks on the ball will result in little to no spin.

Is It Just For Pros And Mid Handicappers?

Backspin is often used by pros and mid handicappers mainly because they have been playing longer, and have spent more time practicing.

However, even a beginner can master the shot with just the right amount of practice and knowledge of the shot. I would recommend getting a lesson from a golf professional and taking some time out to perfect your technique.

Can High & Mid Handicappers Try To Do It?

High and mid-handicappers can learn to put backspin on the ball but it will take some time to perfect.

As well as technique, you will need to make sure the correct club is used, that the golf balls are in good condition, and that weather conditions are good and not too wet.

However, for high and mid handicappers, the priority should be to have control over their ball flight. Irrespective of the handicap, golf always has something to teach players.

Topspin vs. Backspin golf – What are the key differences?

The main difference between topspin and backspin is that with backspin, the ball usually slows down while landing and it rolls backward. On the other hand, with topspin, the ball lands and rolls forward a bit further than normal. It increases the distance coverage.

What Are The Benefits of Backspin and Topspin?

What are the Benefits of Topspin?

Using topspin in your shot will help you to add extra distance coverage to the carry and roll of the golf ball. Sometimes, even when you take a shot with a good pace, it will fall short but with a good topspin, chances are that you will have a smooth landing even when you hit with a light pace.

What are the Benefits of Backspin?

A good shot with backspin can result in a very favorable outcome. It helps the golfer to hit a perfectly accurate shot just with the right measurement of speed and strength. Professional golfers often use backspin around the greens to help with control, especially on fast greens which are difficult to stop the ball on.

Does backspin make a ball go further?

The combination of backspin and the dimples on the golf ball combine to generate lift, making the golf ball have a higher trajectory through the air. Therefore, backspin can make the golf ball go further.

What Are The Downsides of Backspin and Topspin?

What is the Downside of Topspin?

The downside of using topspin in golf is that it can sometimes make the ball go further than needed. If you are trying to stop the ball on a fast green topspin will not help. So, make sure you have complete control over the shot by utilizing backspin on the golf ball.

What is the Downside of Backspin?

The downside of using backspin, if not practiced well, the golf ball can be difficult to control. This was one of the points raised by Patrick Corley at Tell Me More Golf.

This is because the ball will stop at a shorter length from the hole, or it can roll more than needed which will result in additional strokes and make those eagle and birdie attempts harder to hole out.

What Are Tips For Putting Backspin on the Golf Ball?

Maybe you have practiced the shot a few times, but you have not quite mastered it yet. Here are tips for putting backspin on the golf ball:

• Make sure you have the right selection of ball and club.
• Hit down on the ball before hitting the turf or ground surface.
• Hit with an increased speed. The faster the clubhead, the higher the backspin is likely to be.

Ultimate Drills For Putting Backspin On The Ball

The ultimate drill for putting a backspin is to tee up the ball half-inch. When a downward force is applied to the ball with the clubhead, it results in the generation of frictional force between the ball and the clubhead.

The backspin occurs as a result of the impact of this frictional force. Keep practicing this shot by hitting from the tee peg. When you master the shot, you will not require any tees.

YouTube superstar and golf professional Rick Shiels gives some excellent tips for generating backspin in his video:

Do I Need More Or Less Spin On The Ball?

It depends on the style and preference of your golf game. There are some shots and lies that require higher spin, and vice versa. So if you are trying to stop the golf ball on a very fast, raised green then you might want to utilize more backspin to help stop the ball.

However, don’t use too much as the ball might simply spin off from the green. If you are a beginner, go for a lesser spin but with practice, you can aim to go for a higher amount of spin.

How do I Putt Backspin With An Iron

Backspin with a long iron can be a bit challenging to generate backspin but with practice, you can master the art of this shot.

Practice using a 6-iron or a 7-iron to start with and hit down on the ball to generate more ball speed and higher trajectory. In time, with practice, you will find that the lofted irons and wedges can easily generate backspin without much effort.

How do I get more backspin on my irons?

To get more backspin on your irons there are a few mechanics involved in generating this shot. You will need the correct setup and stance; this is always important.

Also, you will need to place the ball correctly in your stance and try hitting from a lower angle than a higher one to get more backspin and transfer your weight more on the leading leg during swing curvature. Backspin results in the generation of frictional force between the ball and the clubhead.

How to Put Backspin on a shot with A Wedge

If you are putting a backspin on a shot with a wedge, then you don’t necessarily have to be a pro golfer. All it takes is practice and you can have a maximum spin on your wedge shot.

Choose a higher lofted wedge, and swing through the ball with speed, ensuring a clean connection with the ground before making contact t=with the ball. If you follow this technique you can easily generate backspin without much effort.

Can You Put Backspin on a shot with A Chipper?

You can put backspin on a shot with a chipper club, but the club should have a high loft. If you trying to chip with a long iron, chances are that there would be no backspin.

Wedges should ideally be used for chipping so that they can create optimum contact with the ball at impact and generate a backspin.

Does a putter generate backspin?

It is highly unlikely that you would want to put a backspin on your shot with a putter. However, if you are putting badly National Club Golfer says that this could be due to the amount of backspin your puttier is generating.

The loft and lie angle of your putter is critical in determining whether your shot produces backspin. It is well worth having your putter checked by a qualified club fitter.

Does The Type Of Golf Ball Matter?

If you want to generate backspin then the type of golf ball you choose makes a notable difference! A softball usually spins better than a hard one.

The compression rating of the golf ball is also important to determine the type of spin. Usually, a low compression ball gives a relatively higher spin. In a study, Sports Rec found that Titleist Pro V1 was one of the top-performing golf balls for producing backspin.

Also, the Srixon Z-Star golf balls are specially designed with spin-skin technology to generate a smoother spin.

Conclusion

I hope you have enjoyed reading about backspin in golf and how you can use this to further improve your game. You will have seen that even though it is used to perfection by PGA professionals each week, it is still a skill that any level of golfer can master.

If you do take the time to practice the drills and put in the effort you too could be stunning your golfing partners with your short game skills.

If you are looking to further your golf game why not have a read of our other articles such as which style of putting grip to use, conventional or left-hand low.