Backspin, How to get freaky!

[milesdowsett]

Back spin happens by good players due to good technique, i.e they hit down through the ball with good club head speed through the hitting area.

My favourite shot is a low pitch shot that grabs on the green after a couple of bounces. What I do is open my stance, put a lot of weight on my front foot and play the ball almost to the outside of my back foot. From here I naturally have my hands well ahead of the ball and take the club back steeply as a result of my set up. My hands stay pretty firm and the ball flies off low with a ton of spin on. To really make the ball grab I'll need a dry ball and club, clean grooves and obviously a solid strike! It's one of those show off shots that really impresses people when they see it. It requires a bit of practice but it's a great tool to have in your locker!

[teebuck911]

yep great shot to be able to play to get into tricky positions listen above.. but you should always try to hit it with out much spin and hit it close to maximise your chance of making birdie..

[Fourputt]

I played with a guy yesterday who got great spin on his short pitches... but you know what??? He didn't chip it any closer than I did with my conventional chip and run shot. And he had to change his whole plan when chipping from the rough, as then he had to play a different shot without the spin. My shot doesn't change much.... mostly the same shot will some power adjustment if there is heavy grass behind the ball.

[Titleism]

Hello. Just to throw a thought out there, I'm inclined to believe it is a combination of 1. the green sloping in a particular direction and 2. ball trajectory. A well struck wedge shot will have a good amount of spin already. Backspin is necessary for ball flight.

Visualize a ball just moments before it lands on the green. The closer the approaching angle is to 90 degrees (ie. the steeper the ball falls), the more effectiveness you'll have from ball spin. The shallower the angle, the more tendency to continue moving forward after it hits the green although the spin will slow it down. The 2nd bounce is really the key bounce as the first bounce absorbs most of the kinetic energy, the ball is still spinning and usually bites the hardest on the 2nd bounce because the ball is not coming down as hard.

Clearly the type of ball, green conditions, and u-grooves also play a factor. The pros play on ultra fast well manicured greens, combine that with a front sloping green, a controlled high trajectory wedge shot, maybe some wind in your face, and the ball will come back like a yoyo.

IMO, attempting to generate more spin by hitting the ball harder will probably do more harm than it's worth. Always remember the importance of balance and tempo. The pros on TV, including Kenny G, look calm and cool with nice and easy swings. I also really doubt he did it on purpose. Good ball striking & contact with a decending blow is key.




(w00t! post #1! )

[teebuck911]

not sure on your theory there thought.. some times on short chipps i can get lots more check when i hit them lower than higher...

tom

[Titleism]

i'm sure you do get all that spin, but on those short chips is the ball coming back more than 2-3 feet from where it lands? i'm not saying how to get more spin, i'm just throwing out an idea that is the reason as to how Kenny G was able to pull the ball back so far...which was the original question on this thread.

All shots, high or low, will have a lot of backspin. It's the reason there are dimples on the ball and the inevitable action that makes the ball fly the way it does.

cheers!

[kevntri]

Backspin comes from clubhead speed from the bottom. It really helps if your playing from nice tight lies. Try pushing a little more with the right hand (if your right handed) at the bottom, and pinch the turf hitting all ball first....

~Kevin