Mastering the Technique: How to Put Backspin on a Golf Ball

The pin is positioned just behind the front of the green, guarded by a very deep bunker. Phil Mickelson pulls his wedge and measures off his 120-yard second shot.

It flies over the bunker, beyond the flag, and lands at the back of the green.

More gasps from the gallery await the ball to fly over the green. But hold on, it bites and spins back, stopping within inches of the flag.

Sighs transform into oohs and ahhs, applause and high fives, whispers of – what did he just do?

The correct answer is that he knows how to put a backspin on a golf ball. If you do, want to build on this method for your game? Read on.

What Is Backspin?

In golf, backspin is when you hit a shot and the ball spins back in the air.

Learning how to put a backspin on a golf ball to keep the green is a very important lesson. This will make the ball stop faster on the green, you just need to comprehend the dynamics of it.

How To Put Backspin on a Golf Ball

Three considerations when learning how to create backspin on a golf ball:

• Speed
• Spin loft
• Friction

Speed

This has to do with the velocity of the clubface as it makes contact with the ball. The more speed you hit the ball with, the bigger the backspin on the golf ball will be.

That is why you won’t be after the spin on a chip shot from only 20 yards from the green since you will not have enough speed.

A convenient distance should be such that you can hit a whole wedge shot up to, for example, a 7-iron. Preferably, you should see the clubhead accelerate or be consistent in the stroke.

If you slow down on the shot, the ball rises on the clubface and has no bite, no spin outcomes.

Read On: How To Hit A Fade

Spin Loft

Another important aspect of applying backspin to a golf ball is to hit down on the ball – you don’t want to sweep it effortlessly and cleanly off the fairway.

Secondly, just move the ball slightly back in your stance, hit into the ball before it gets to the ground, and finish through, taking a divot if you can.

The steeper angle of attack together with the club’s angle will define the spin loft. When the ball is hit down and speed is maintained or increased, the ball gets compressed, thereby, generating spin.

Friction

Friction is the third criterion in learning how to pick up what is backspin on a golf ball. This seems easy, but how do we guarantee the correct answer?

This is what the grooves on the clubface are for, but grooves alone will not do it. You require a strong correct hit, or the outcome will be disappointing.

Nevertheless, other critical factors must be taken into consideration to achieve proper friction. The grooves need to be “sharp”; hence, if your clubs are old, or your wedge is a bit worn, and the grooves are not as sharp as they should be, you will not get the best result. The clubface must be free of dirt or grass, and it should be dry.

The ball itself has significance. Hard-core and soft or wound-core balls are two fundamental types of golf balls. The softer, high-end balls are more suited for displaying a good spin effect.

The ball and the clubface should touch with no moisture or grass. Therefore, it should not be anticipated that spin will be obtained when playing in the rough or under wet or rainy weather.

Now you can get a backspin on a golf ball. It’s drill time…

Also Read This: The Most Expensive Golf Equipment

Drills To Practice How To Get Backspin on the Golf Ball

• Stick guides: Practice touching the grass just before the sticks without the ball. Later, fetch the ball and touch the ground after striking the ball. The given considerations above should help you in learning how to spin a golf ball back.
• Place your tee properly: Another option is to put a tee half an inch up to an inch ahead of the ball at ground level. Focus on the ball hit and then the tee.
• Lean on your front leg: You should keep most of your weight on your lead foot to make a downward strike of the ball.
• Train on varied types of greens: This will allow seeing how the conditions influence how to put a backspin on the golf ball, and to remember it for the next time.

Read more: How To Drive Your Golf Ball Further

Other Considerations When Putting Backspin on a Golf Ball

In golf balls, the hard-core type has a compression rating of 100, which is the least favorable for the backspin. An 18 compression rating suits well to the advantage of a backspin on a golf ball.

This is when you obtain golf balls that have softer covers. They usually hold on to the clubface grooves more, therefore producing more spin. Nonetheless, they will also tend to get more cuts and scratches.

Club selection matters – a three-iron delivers the backspin that is not wanted from drivers. The 7 iron is more likely the longest club in this situation because anything from the 6 iron upward would not produce the needed spin loft.

In learning how to make backspin on a golf ball, you should think of height but not length. The loft of the golf club serves a purpose where with a higher loft, it will be easier to spin the ball.

The backswing needs to be altered to achieve the spin factor. Carry the club back to an upright position to make sure you grow the angle where the club head contacts the ball.

You shall also contact the ball before hitting the grass. This results in the ball being squashed and you should take a divot while executing a short follow through.

This video demonstrating how to backspin a golf ball illustrates these concepts quite nicely.

Things Not To Do When Learning How To Hit Backspin in Golf

• Do not try to execute a backspin in golf if you are playing with the wind. It will not be successful and you will hit the green.
• For this shot, you must play it into a headwind and that will help you with the height and elevation.
• Do not try this if the green is downhill from you. The result will embarrass you again. The safer option is to select a green with a slope towards you.
• The green too should preferably be soft to enable the ball to grip and then spin if the greens are too hard, but if the ball might not bite.

Check This Article: How To Teach Golf To A Beginner?

How To Put Backspin on Chip Shots

Keeping in mind to spin back a golf ball during chipping, it should be remembered that the ball should be slightly more forward in the stance, and you use the bounce of the club more.

FAQs

Q1. How to put a backspin to a flop shot?

Ans: Use the wedge that has the most loft, open the face, and have your weight a little bit more forward. Instead, strike the ball downwards and utilize the bounce. This also helps in the generation of backspin and height as opposed to the shot remaining low which in turn will let a backspin being put on a flop shot.

Q2. Does Backspin Increase Range?

Ans: No, backspin does not add extra range to the golf shot. The distance is usually influenced more by club head speed, the angle of attack of the shot, the type of club used, and other factors.

Q3. How Do I Create More Backspin in My Chip Shots?

Ans: The secret of getting more backspin on chip shots is determining the speed of your shot, the spin loft, and the friction. Try out this technique by using sticks to hit the turf after hitting the ball. Other factors, including which golf ball and club to use, can also improve your chips.

Final Thoughts

If you ever asked yourself how to put backspin on a golf ball, now you know and can spin like Phil. Well, something like that.

Do not forget to hold the speed, spin loft, and friction of your shot. And bear in mind that your ball, club, and swing are also crucial.

Pass on the shot if you are playing with the wind and if the green is running away from you, dismiss it. After all the above tricks, drills, and tips, you should know how to cut a backspin on a golf ball.

Repetition, repetition, and more repetition, like anything else in golf. You have fun when you manage to do it.