exessive backspin on fairway wood shots

[Backspinalot]

Hi,

I am an 8 handicap, 120 lbs, 5'4, 15 yrs old blah blah blah.

So I have noticed lately my Titleist 904 17 degree fairway wood seems to balloon a lot on some of my shots. I never balloon it with my driver which is a 910 D2 9.5 stiff. The 904 has a regular flex shaft which might be the cuase a little. My driver carry is like 240-250 and CHS around 103 mph. I just got this driver so new fairway woods are out of the question. I am using a Pro V1 as well. I am losing a lot of distance with the extra backspin it gets. I don't know if it is because I lag my wrists which make me to kind of hit down on it or what but do you have an solutions? Oh and no I don't have a slice I swing with a natural draw. Ideally I would like to see a high trajectory with low backspin and a slight draw on my 17 degree club but like I said a new club is not possible ATM. I know you can't see my swing but any tips to reduce my backspin on it?

Thanks

[Zeph]

Does it start high or low? Sounds more like you're hitting the ball with too much loft at impact and sending it high. If you actually get too much spin, you might be getting too steep on the ball. Hips more forward to shallow out the swing and head stays centered. Head moving forward will steepen the swing. I would still look a bit at your impact position and possibly ball position.

[Backspinalot]

Ok, sometimes it doesn't really feel like I hit it solid and it starts low and balloons up like crazy. I will try playing the ball more on my front foot and stay behind it and see how that works.

But one more question, with my 910 D2, I didn't get it cut down because I need the slight extra distance but since I am not exactly tall could I adjust the lie .75 degrees flat so the club doesn't sit as much on the heel at address?

[schlebrock]

It's hard without seeing your swing but the issue could very well be the shaft. Remember, the shaft is the engine of the club and if it doesn't fit your swing, your performance will suffer.

I recently got on a launch monitor because I too thought my 3-wood was ballooning, especially with shots directly into the wind. I was right. The shaft I was using was creating too much spin. So, I switched my shaft and reduced my spin by approximatley 600 rpm's. I gained a full 8-12 yards and the problem was solved....no more ballooning. That may be your solution too.

Hope that helps and good luck.

-Schlebrock-

[Backspinalot]

well I don't balloon any other club in my bag except sometimes my old driver. I am very cheap so it will be a while till I can get a new shaft on it. I will try to change some small things when i hit my 4 wood though.

[ohiolefty]

This sounds like a shaft issue to me. With your SS and driver carry, you should probably be playing a stiff shaft. Too much flex in the shaft will throw the ball in the air. Do you also pull a lot of misses as well.

Could also be a technique issue, but I'd get with a pro or a clubfitter and double-check your specs.

[Backspinalot]

Yeah, I was playing yesterday and I hit it pretty good and it just soared up with tons of backspin and when it landed it took one hop back like 3 inches from its ball mark on a pretty dry fairway. It goes about 230 yards if I hit a solid high straight shot and it goes like 250 if I hit a low draw. I have it and a 22 degree which is the same shaft and head (904f). The 22 degree draws and hooks like crazy though. Im wondering if I should keep the 22 degree when I need to hit a high soft 190-220 yard shot, and then get a 15 degree stiff flex 3 wood? How much farther would a 15 degree modern 3 wood go over my 904f with a good stiff shaft? I am asking because I just got a new driver and an extra 20 yards from the fairway would mean more par 5's in two!