Help me with Backspin......

[ironlock]

I need help.

I have absolutely ZERO success in getting my golf ball to bite, with back spin. Direction, distance are all fine....I simply cannot control the spin of the ball....

I know a good number of you guys have to be golfers...so help a fellow out.

Also, how do you generate backspin? What technically happens on contact to generate it?

Thanks guys...

IRon...

 

[THUNDER]

pray

 

[Gatorbait]

......I dunno

 

[dawgball]

Find greens that are sloped towards you!

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Sic 'em
dawgball

 

[yak merchant]

Not a golf expert by any means but when I worked at a golf course one summer, for about a month all I did was try to figure out how to make a golf ball back up. Pretty much comes down to being able to modify your swing just a little so that a downward blow on golf ball causes it to hit the ground first then as the club comes through, it rolls off the club face. Not real easy to explain technically. It's easy to impart backspin on a ball, the hard part is keeping the trajectory of the ball the same as it was before. To practice it I'd go to the range and get out an 8 or 9 iron (clean the grooves). Put the ball a little back in your stance and practice trying to take different size divots. The divot should start in front (downrange) of the ball. If your divot starts behind the ball it won't work. If you hit the ball solid and take a divot in front of the ball you will be creating backspin. The trick is keeping your standard trajectory and distance. But once you get the hang of it, your distance might actually increase. Anyway, once you get the hang of it, buy some Balata balls and your off. Also if you really want some backspin, go buy some old Ping Eye 2's with the square grooves.

 

[Neemer]

I'm no expert or anything, but I do have the answer to your question. It entails in actually changing your swing somewhat. Making the golfball spin backwards is accomplished by cutting down on the back portion of the ball. This cutting action makes the ball spin backwards in flight thus when it lands, it rolls backwards due to the backward english you put on the ball.

I can't tell you how many times I've tried this little maneuver. It's hard as hell and I've only been able to do it a couple of times. They make it look so easy, but to me, it's probably the hardest shot in golf...

 

[ozball]

iron, ya gotta have soft balls

Get a few titelist balata cover balls, and practice a descending crisp blow with a divot on longer shots. On shorter L-wedge shots hit from outside to in with a wide open face, with your balata balls.

Hope this helps

 

[Bonovox]

Ah, the most common question asked by weekend hackers - How do I spin the ball?

The problem is, spin is highly overrated. You don't necessarily need or should want spin, you want your ball to land softly.

If you don't know how to do it you're going to get yourself in trouble. The WORST thing you can do is open up your face and try to spin it with a fade or a slice swing. Though this will give you immediate results, you will kill your game in the long run.

The best way to stop your approach shots is to open up the face, play the ball back in your swing and abbreviate your finish. A slight, emphasis on slight, fade is also a very easy way to control your ball flight and land soft.

But back to the question - how does one spin a ball? First of all, you have to use a really soft ball. I've been playing the Titleist Pro V1, but any balata, wound, or surlyn ball will do just fine. Play the ball back in your stance. Now, here's the part that separates the pros from mere mortals. You have to hit the ball absolutely pure. You don't hit the ground first, you don't need to change your swing -- you need to clip the ball with a downward blow and clip it perfectly. That is why even pros can't spin the ball from in close or in the rough - you can't put the spin velocity on the ball necessary to bite.

What technically happens is that the club strikes the ball with a normal downward blow so cleanly that the friction spins the ball with tremendous velocity. You will see a large divot because the player strikes down completely through the ball, not scooping like most players do.

I personally hate more than 5 inches of spin and used to work hard to eliminate it from my game. I will overclub and swing slower to eliminate it if I'm in position. In the past 10 years, the only course I TRIED to spin the ball significantly was Pinehurst #2 because the crown on those greens was insane.

To be frank, you're not going to be able to spin the ball like you see on tv and you will only harm your game trying. Work on playing the ball further back in your stance, opening up your toe and taking your normal swing with an abbreviated follow-throuh. Take the ball in high and soft and you will love the results.

I'll be happy to share my golf knowledge with anyone if they have questions -- at least I can provide something to this board

 

[yyz]

90% of the chops out there think you need to hit "up" on the ball....scoop it, so to speak.

The guys with the answers are correct in stating that you need to hit the ball on the downward swing.

But here is the truth that most have failed to tell you.....Don't worry about it!

If you want to improve your game, work on hitting the greens in regulation and two putting.

If you switch to a soft ball to try and garner some spin, you had better be able to hit every shot perfectly! A soft ball has very little forgiveness on a mishit shot, and it will make you cry when your game falls apart.

Keep hitting the distance balls, and learn to leave the ball short and run it up to the pin when you can.

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May your bookies children go hungry!

 

[tchism]

Well....the answer is easy....but making it happen is not. The most common wording for all the above answers is "you must pinch the ball."

Hit down on the ball! Sounds easy....but is not. I agree with Bonovox. Back spin is overrated. I have found that over the years....simply being able to stop the ball after a few feet is just as good as spinning the ball back 4-5 feet.

I found a trick about 10 years ago......buy a set of the "Square grooved Ping EYE 2" and play with a softer ball. The combo almost gives you no other choice but to spin the ball.

Just my 2 cents.

tc

 

[djv]

My 2 cents. Break 80 every day. Now worry about working on spin. To many other things to the game. Dont screw up what you have.

 

[ironlock]

Thanks for all the great responses guys, thats just what I was looking for.

I should have clarified, I wasnt looking to "spin the ball backward", I just need to create backspin in flight, so that my ball doesnt release evertime and roll over the back.......4-6 feet is enough, I dont need any backward action.

Truth is, I think my problem is solved. I have the swing. the downward pinch (big divots), rather than the scoop. I need to clean my clubs first of all, and stop using those shitty cheap as bucket balls. That will probably sove it, sounds like.

Thanks,

iron.