rolling up to pin VS back spinning to pin

**mc0388** · November 12, 2009

On approach shots between 40 and 135yds out: Do you play play at the pin and back-spin to stop or make the ball back-up OR do you play the ball 8-15yds short and let it roll up to the pin?

The reason I am asking is:

Last weekend I played on Hilton Head Isl. with my father in-law. Besides having a bag of clubs that range from 5-25 years old, he is a solid golfer (shoots 77-85 consistently). Any way, on all of his approach shots from 135yds in, he uses his 7i, hits a low shot that starts bouncing and rolling towards the green, it is AMAZING how close he gets to the pin with un-canny regularity. So is the spinning of the ball backwards a 'FAD' -or- is it simply a better way to approach the green?

**sean_miller** · November 12, 2009

Pretty hard to back the ball up to the pin consistenly with today's balls - unless you hit consistently really crisp and hard - it's easier to aim for a few yards of run (like 5 to 10ish). PS. the number of options in your post doesn't mesh with the poll.

**mc0388** · November 12, 2009

Pretty hard to back the ball up to the pin consistenly with today's balls - unless you hit consistently really crisp and hard - it's easier to aim for a few yards of run (like 5 to 10ish). PS. the number of options in your post doesn't mesh with the poll.

I consider hitting to check up as the same as back spin (your using the spin of the ball to decelerate the ball). Its a general question seeking general answers, NOT the usual perfecting chatter that is par for this forum

**GolferNewb** · November 12, 2009

I think it really depends on the distance. The back spin is relevant to the way a player handles his club but a roll up can really be inconsistent due to green drop offs and obstacles.

**GaijinGolfer** · November 12, 2009

I typically play inexpensive balls which dont spin enough to back up, so for me I go for a roll up shot.
I wouldnt say that spinning the ball back is a fad, but the way today's golf courses in the US are designed, they typically have greens that are guarded by bunkers, water or rough, so rolling the ball up and onto the green isnt always an option.
You almost need to hit a shot where the ball goes high, takes 1 or 2 hops and stops dead in its tracks.

**sean_miller** · November 12, 2009

I consider hitting to check up as the same as back spin (your using the spin of the ball to decelerate the ball). Its a general question seeking general answers, NOT the usual perfecting chatter that is par for this forum

I haven't played balata in years, so I don't hit past the pin and spin it back. I typically aim at the pin (or a couple yards short) and hope the ball checks up pretty much where it landed. I didn't see that option so I voted "rolling up to the pin". The first time I spun a ball past the cup into a front pot bunker was the last time I played balata.

**Fourputt** · November 12, 2009

I consider hitting to check up as the same as back spin (your using the spin of the ball to decelerate the ball). Its a general question seeking general answers, NOT the usual perfecting chatter that is par for this forum

I didn't read it that way. I usually play to stop dead pin high. I usually succeed in the stop dead part, but pin high is less certain. But it still will usually hop forward or roll slightly after hitting the green (anywhere from no roll to 5 or 6 feet depending on what iron I played), so I chose the roll up as opposed to spin back. I don't play a ball to land short of the green and then roll all the way to the hole unless I'm playing a FW wood, or playing in a strong tailwind.

**NM Golf** · November 12, 2009

This is not something you can answer that simply. It depends on a lot of factors; lie, pin position, wind, green receptiveness, and green elevation and break to name a few.

If you cannot both run a ball up to and spin the ball to the pin you are missing a big weapon in your golf arsenal. I do both depending on the factors I named earlier. I am better at spinning the ball if that answers the question.

**Jay-Bird** · November 12, 2009

I will say that lately I've been hitting a 47 degree pitching wedge from 100 instead of a 56 degree. I can spin the hell out of a full swing 56˚, but the control of the pw is much, much more accurate.

**James_Black** · November 12, 2009

This is not something you can answer that simply. It depends on a lot of factors; lie, pin position, wind, green receptiveness, and green elevation and break to name a few.

True.

I normally hit high flying shots at the pin.

**DriverTees** · November 12, 2009

Being good at pitching takes a lot of practice. If you practice pitches that run 30 yards, you won't be able to use them most of the time. I think you should roll the ball as much as possible, though. My pitches from 40-90 yards roll about 5-10 feet. However, sometimes I'll feel like rolling the ball is the best option.

**mc0388** · November 12, 2009

I will say that lately I've been hitting a 47 degree pitching wedge from 100 instead of a 56 degree. I can spin the hell out of a full swing 56˚, but the control of the pw is much, much more accurate.

I am doing something similar, I just bought a 51* GW and I really like it from 100yds. My PW is 47*, I like chipping around the green with it and also from 110-120yds. I used to use my56* from 100yds, but I would have to swing hard. Im trying to play all of my irons at 75% swing, and so far my game is better but I still have some kinks to work out.

**DavidFehertysBike** · November 12, 2009

Given the choice, id rather release the ball to a pin than to spin it back. You can plan out your attack better that way, IMO. As impressive as it can look, spinning the ball backwards on the green usally hurts you more often that it helps.

**Blades4me** · November 12, 2009

On approach shots between 40 and 135yds out: Do you play play at the pin and back-spin to stop or make the ball back-up OR do you play the ball 8-15yds short and let it roll up to the pin?

It takes a very good amount of club head speed and loft to get the ball to spin back, and a 7i isn't a club for that. I'm guess'n he probably hits a trap shot with the 7i which will put a good amount of spin on the ball, but instead of backing up, the ball will "check". This in turns gets the ball to sit down after some forward progress.

It is much easier to plan for roll out than to try and control spinning the ball back, not to mention that the vast majority of we amatuers just don't have that kind of club head speed. It sounds like your father in law knows that shot well and of course the more you do it the better you get. I've read that many pro's don't like the spin back they get with their wedges and high irons, but that comes with that amount of club head speed they generate. On shots from 135 to 110 yds in, it depends on where the pin is. From 100 and in I'll usually go pin hunting and plan for a little roll out. My 8 & 9 iron don't usually roll out more than 4 feet. I have a set of 78 Wilson Staff Tour blades I still play and it seems I can get better checking ability with them than my Mizzies. But that is what the old irons were built for and they are mid weighted. This means they will spin the ball better, better out of the rough, better around the greens and better at trajectory control, however this comes with a price, which is they aren't at all forgiving. Post 1980 club makers started to put the weight down on the sole and started to moved the sweet spot more towards the toe of the club. The lower the weight the more forgiving the club will become, the higher, like the old muscle backs of pre 1980, the less forgiving, but workability and the above will start to shine. They weren't call "Tour blades" just for a cool tag though, I gotta hit em good.

**goblue107501** · November 12, 2009

I went with the spin back option. For that range, the closer the shot the more likely a ball will bounce forward, but anything over 50 yards and I expect the ball the hit and stop within a foot in any direction. If the opportunity is there to spin it back I might do that too. I hit a very high ball so I haven't seen a wedge roll forward in a number of years. So I usually play to stop where it hits or spin back a little.

**ks8829** · November 12, 2009

I think that hitting a low shot and rolling near the pin is a harder shot at first to master but once you are familar with how far the ball will travel and roll, the condition of the grass in front of the green and the reaction to the way the ball will roll up to the green in my opinon could be a higher percentage shot then to fly it up to the green and stop or spin back. In fact Tiger hit this shot in Australia on the 18 hole when he hit a low runner up to the green missed his putt to save par but still shot 6 under in the first round.

Hitting a partial shot, making solid contact, knowing the distance and roll out and finally having control of the direction of the ball takes skill and practice.

The condition have to be right for this roll up shot and you need to practice the partial shot and to know how far you need to take the club back for each distance.

I would ask the gentleman you played with why he decided to play this shot and how long it took him to master the shot and start trying it yourself. You might not play it all the time but when the conditions get windy it sound very helpful and miss hit will fall closer to the hole.

I would like to try this shot myself but the rough in front of the greens I play are not cut back as much as other course. Having said that I have putted onto the green from just off the green and in the rough, so I will try this shot today and see what happens. Its a shot in your bag that you might need to play someday and will come in handy.

Thanks for sharing this shot with us.

**zrlaegel** · November 12, 2009

it depends on pin location weather i try and spin it back, roll it up, or try to make it stop dead

**RS22** · November 12, 2009

It really depends on the circumstances for what kind of shot you play. My typical ball flight is high with a lot of spin so my wedge game will hit and spin back a tad or just drop and stop immediately. But, I do play a set of punch shots w/ my gap wedge, pw, 9i, 8i, and even 7i where I put the ball back in my stance, choke up an inch or 2 and take a half swing. Depending on the club the shot will go 80-125 yards will hit short of the flag take a hop or 2 and then stop.

If the flag is in the front of the green or there is a hazard/bunker/rough to carry to get to the flag you won't want to play a 'run up' shot. You will want to hit the shot to stop where it lands. If the flag is in the back of the green, you don't want to have to land it past the hole to spin it back to the flag because you might land in the rough behind the green and not spin back. So for that situation a run up shot is more likely.

Sign In

rolling up to pin VS back spinning to pin

0

1. Do you: Spin back -or- roll up to the pin on approach shots?

Recommended Posts

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Link to comment

Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

Create an account

Sign in

Topics Being Discussed Right Now on The Sand Trap

TST Partners

Posts

Important Information