putting spin on the ball

[MrW00t10]

He has to, because if he posts only his good scores, ignorant people (ie. you) would wonder why he is a 4.

You're a moron.

[Guest]

I'm no expert on golf. I picked up the game late, in my thirties, and have taken two years to get to the low 90s. But as far as where you finish with the club and how it affects your trajectory, I just watched a Tee it up with Tiger and Tiger explained how his dad would drill him on all his different shots and one of the things that they worked on was finishing at the waist, 3/4s and over the head and how that changes the trajectory of each shot. Tiger even stated that when he starts thinking too much he will sometimes just keeps it simple and will just revert to those early lessons from his dad and decide what do I want to do, well then how do I want to finish waist, 3/4s or over the head and he'll just go with it. Being that the greatest golfer of our generation uses this as a teaching point, I would assume it is important. But that is just me.

Edited to add: I was feeling some pressure on my first post. So I hope it adds up the expectations around here.

[JCDot33]

I'm no expert on golf. I picked up the game late, in my thirties, and have taken two years to get to the low 90s. But as far as where you finish with the club and how it affects your trajectory, I just watched a Tee it up with Tiger and Tiger explained how his dad would drill him on all his different shots and one of the things that they worked on was finishing at the waist, 3/4s and over the head and how that changes the trajectory of each shot. Tiger even stated that when he starts thinking too much he will sometimes just keeps it simple and will just revert to those early lessons from his dad and decide what do I want to do, well then how do I want to finish waist, 3/4s or over the head and he'll just go with it. Being that the greatest golfer of our generation uses this as a teaching point, I would assume it is important. But that is just me.

+1 because I saw that exact same episode and I was going to say the exact same thing ... the follow through DOES impact the over all flight of the ball, and if these lessons are good enough for Tiger than they are good enough for me!

[wrx_junki]

Doesn't seem like he's been looking at the thread but you guys continue going OT...

Anyways, need to know what club your using from 50 yard in. Maybe practice on landing it short of the green and let it roll to the hole if your shot is going low. I don't put huge spin on the ball but I get enough height with my wedges that they don't roll much. With 50 yards I usually play an open stance SW or a bump run GW. I don't really try to spin the ball but usually try to have it land soft and sit.

[HSip]

Doesn't seem like he's been looking at the thread but you guys continue going OT...

Completely agree - most mid to high hcp's would be better off learning to use trajectory as opposed to trying to generate spin. But whatever floats your boat. Cheers

[saltman]

Completely agree - most mid to high hcp's would be better off learning to use trajectory as opposed to trying to generate spin. But whatever floats your boat. Cheers

high hcp's are better off focusing on ball striking period, not trajectory or spin....just solid smooth contact coming from a repeatable swing. People don't need to learn how to "hit shots" as 20+ handicappers, even 10+handicappers. Its like runners doing speedwork before they have an aerobic base. Its the icing on the cake, you need to bake the cake first.

[JetFan1983]

I respectfully disagree with the above advice that high handicappers shouldn't try to work on gaining backspin. We all learn the game at our own pace, and you certainly should not attempt to do anything in this game without having done extensive research on the subject before hand.

That said, getting backspin on a 50 yard approach shot with a 56 degree wedge is actually fairly easy, IMO. Besides, as my full swing develops (which is perhaps the slowest developing part of my golf game), I have all the time in the world to improve my short game, which involves generating tons of backspin and pin hunting from within 70 yards or so. When my full swing finally takes effect in the coming months (and I am confident that it will), I will have the short game to match it.

Just my humble opinion, but putting one hop and stop back spin on a golf ball is extremely easy to do, it encourages a downward blow and clean contact on the ball, and improves your overall ballstriking. It is a complete myth that getting backspin is only for a low handicapper. Now, I broke 90 for the first time only 7-8 months after discovering golf (playing only once or twice a week), and from what I hear, that's relatively quick improvement, so my practice style and personal goals/outlook might not be for everyone.

Two-thirds of achieving backspin is simply an equipment requirement anyway. Get a sick $100 sand wedge and an expensive 3 piece ball. Most high handicappers have a steep angle of approach to the golf ball anyway, so backspin should be relatively easy to acquire as long as you have a little confidence and some spare time.

[Leftygolfer]

A new wedge, good contact. I can spin my 64 from 20 yards. That wedge has changed my game from 65 yards and in. When it was new it was unreal, now it doesn't check as hard (I bought it in August).

[saltman]

Well, to each their own I guess. Imparting spin is very easy to do escpecially with square grooves and it comes from proper ball striking....ergo work on ball striking not imparting spin. The spin will come as a byproduct.

In my experience working on my own game off and on for 25 years. T rying[/I ] to impart backspin is fool's gold. The mid-high handicap player a) doesn't have club selection totally dialed in. What good is backspin if you don't land the ball where you want to? b) begins to focus on trying to use backspin everywhere until he/she develops a bad case of the fatsies or slices.

[MrW00t10]

A new wedge, good contact. I can spin my 64 from 20 yards. That wedge has changed my game from 65 yards and in. When it was new it was unreal, now it doesn't check as hard (I bought it in August).

I have the same exact 64 wedge (but I bent mine to 62). It has saved me many a time. and It puts incredible bite on the ball. SO maybe a good wedge will help a higher handicap player.