Spinning a golf ball backward makes it twist as it moves through the air and pulls the ball back up after it hits the ground. This is an especially useful technique when you are hitting your ball on a putting green with its hole nested near and directly behind a sand trap.
Hitting a ball with a backspin allows you to land the ball past the hole. By turning it is then carried back towards the hole. That’s why learning how to spin a golf ball is essential.
In order to spin the ball correctly, you have to put a good amount of force on it. A great way to learn how to spin a golf ball is by practicing with a friend or a coach. Have them hold a club behind the golf ball and then hit it forward as hard as possible. The faster you hit it, the more backspin you generate.
To get your hang of this technique, try hitting twenty balls in a row without making any mistakes – if you can’t make contact within two feet or so from where you are aiming, try moving further away from the target until you land all twenty shots successfully. Afterward, if your goal is improving your swing speed for larger gains in distance and accuracy, read our article about training aids and try one or more of them (they’re all designed to improve different elements in your swing).
If you want to make sure that your ball will land on the green when you hit it with a backspin, position yourself about five feet behind the flagstick. That way the wind won’t affect your shot. Simply aim at the hole and hit it right over the pin using the proper technique for this type of shot. But don’t attempt any unnecessary risks – even if it looks like a simple shot, hitting a golf ball over 5 feet high requires experience and skill!
Most important factors for spinning the golf ball
Examine the grass
You want the grass you land your backspun ball on to be cut tightly. Long or irregularly manicured grass creates more resistance against your ball and hinders its spin. It also increases the chances of the grass getting caught between the ball and your racket face and decreases backspin. Learning how to spin a golf ball is impossible without the right grass condition.
Backspin is possible when you hit your stroke in longer grass, although it will likely be easiest for you to practice hitting strokes from tightly cut, manicured grass.
The harder you hit it
Backspin is also generated more when you hit the ball harder. The faster you hit the ball, the more backspin will be imparted on it. This is why professional golfers are able to put so much spin on the ball – because they can generate a lot of power in their swings. If you want to be able to spin the ball like a pro, then you need to start practicing with a powerful swing.
The loft of your racket
The loft of your racket also has a significant impact on how much backspin you can generate. A higher lofted racket will create more backspin than a lower lofted one when used in the same stroke. So if you want to learn how to spin a golf ball, make sure you use a club with a high loft.
Choose your golf ball
Most normal golf balls come in two types: softcore and hardcore. A softcore makes it easier for you to turn your ball back than one with a hardcore. Because of this, you may want to start learning how to spin a golf ball with softcore balls.
Hardcore balls are used to give more distance in a shot and often have a compression rate of 100. Softcore balls usually have more backspin when hit, which results in more control. When learning how to spin a golf ball, a compression ratio of 90 may be best.
Softer cover balls also hold your racket better and create a stronger backspin effect. For this reason, you may also want to choose golf balls with a soft cover and core.
If you only have hardcore balls available, practice the technique with them. Once you have softcore balls you can apply what you have been practicing and turn the ball back a lot.
Know your ball’s surface
The type of cover on your ball is another factor in how much backspin you can generate. For instance, balls that have a cut-proof coating are difficult to spin compared to balls that don’t. If you want to put more spin on it, avoid using these types of golf balls when spinning the ball. Instead, choose ones with no or little coating. Balls with an ionomeric, vinyl, or balata cover make it easier for you to control the effect.
Do not try too many things at once when learning how to spin a golf ball! Changing every parameter at once will complicate matters and make practicing even more difficult than it already is. Stick with one change at a time and make sure you understand what it does to your shot before making another change.
Determine the type of golf club you are using
You should prioritize loft clubs like irons, wedges, or lob wedges when learning how to spin a golf ball. Clubs with more loft are easiest to add backspin, especially the lob wedge. So, starting with one of these clubs will make this difficult stroke easier for you to master.
Loft clubs are preferred because there is a greater distance between the loft of the club and the angle of attack of the clubhead, which increases backspin. Since height is an important factor in choosing the type of club to use for your backspin shot, avoid clubs over a 7-iron (such as a 6, 5, 4, or 3-iron).
Inspect your club
Pieces of grass or turf can sometimes stick to the head of your racket and create an uneven surface. This can have a negative impact on your backspin game as grass or turf gets between the ball and the clubhead. To prevent this, check the clubface to see if it is worn or dirty when learning how to spin a golf ball.
Grass, dirt, or other debris can, in most cases, be wiped off with a cloth dampened with water. For more intense cleaning, you should follow your club's care instructions.
If you notice signs of wear and tear such as scuff marks, scratches, or other imperfections that could affect the performance of the club, consider a different iron, wedge, or rag wedge.
Damaged clubs can often be taken to a professional golf club repairer to have the clubface re-grooved when worn.
How to add backspin to your golf ball
Learning how to spin a golf ball as the pros do isn't difficult to do, but it can only be done under the right conditions. A backspin is created when the golfer hits the ball straight down. But the green itself must be solid for any significant visual spin to occur.
A softly falling ball and quality combine with enlarged grooves also play a significant part in the shot. The most important thing when learning how to spin a golf ball is to hit the ball at the right time.
Instructions:
- Slightly kick the ball back into your stance. Your feet should be closer together than normal.
- Open the clubface slightly. The goal is to get the body a little to the left of the intended goal.
- Place the majority of your weight on the front foot.
- During the backswing, tap the wrist to create a steep swing. Focus on a seat in the back of the ball and swing, so hit the ball first and not the ground. When you meet, contact, uncock the wrist.
- Maintain a straight left wrist by impact. The harder you press down on the ball, the higher the ball will travel and the more backspin it will have.
Tips & Warnings
- To add extra backspin to the golf ball, you need to hit the ball down steeply.
- Don't try to add extra backspin to a ball that sits down or lies buried in rough. The grass behind the ball will negate the grooves. The shot becomes difficult to control and could go much further than you need to.
Reasons your ball is spinning to the right
Sometimes you may notice your ball spins to the right. There are some reasons for this:
1. Clubface
When reaching out, the clubface opens. So that it comes back to the ball closed, it is important that you break up the angles that you have set. Let the racket work for you. Carry out an active strike movement!
2. Swing path
The ball flies particularly far to the right if you try to use your body too hard with the full swing. Start your swing with a movement of your arms. It should feel like your racket swings around your body. You can practice this well by visualizing the inside swing path with a few balls. How to do that, I'll show you in the video.
Important: when learning how to spin a golf ball, start with slow movements. Then gradually increase the speed.
3. Force
If you tend to use too much force while swinging, it can happen that your body spins too much. If you tip backward after the blow, that is a strong indication of this! Try to slow down a little. As you practice, focus on hitting the ball first and then turning your body. This will help you play the balls straighter.
4. Stance
If you're too close to the ball, it is more difficult to swing correctly. Try to have enough space between your feet and the golf ball that they are shoulder-width apart.
5. Grip pressure
You do not need too much force with your grip when learning how to spin a golf ball. You should definitely feel how the racket works on its own. It may happen that you use too much power here as well, which makes it both go right and end up in the rough at the same time! Keep this in check with some tee tests without hitting balls or with short swings if necessary. That will help you perform better and go straighter.
6. Wobbling
If you experience a wobble in your swing, this can also cause the ball to fly right or end up in the rough again. Training for balance and coordination is thus important! This can be achieved with long and short swings and by visualizing swinging inside during practice balls. You can then gradually give it out into practice rounds.
When it comes to adding a backspin to a golf ball, the most important thing is to hit the ball at the right time. If you don't hit the ball correctly, you won't be able to add a backspin no matter how hard you try. There are several things that you can do to make sure that you hit the ball at the right time:
- Open the clubface slightly. This will help ensure that the clubface is square when it makes contact with the ball.
- During the backswing, tap the wrist to create a steep swing. This will help ensure that you make contact with the ball before you make contact with the ground.
- Maintain a straight left wrist by impact.
- Maintain a slightly open left hip at the top of your backswing to ensure that you hit the ball first and then turn around through impact.
- Have a target line that is aimed down at the ground and follow through in this direction as well. This will help ensure that you make contact with the bottom half of the ball and not too high up on it. If you hit too high on the ball, it will be much harder to add a backspin because gravity will already be pulling it down by this point.
- Use your legs more than your arms when learning how to spin a golf ball. The legs are much larger and stronger than your arms so they can generate more force which helps to ensure better results.
- Keep your head down and your eyes focused on the ball until after you have made contact with it. This will help you keep your balance and stay focused throughout the entire swing.