How to: Control the Spin?

[No Mulligans]

I hear the TV announcers of the PGA tour refer to controlling the spin.  I'm thinking a more lofted club = more spin.  And, more club head speed = more spin.  So for more spin take a full swing with more loft.  For less spin take a shorter swing with less loft.

Do I have this right?  Is there more to it?

[mdl]

To my understanding, the only other variable that has a significant impact the amount of spin on a clean strike is angle of attack (AoA).  If you hit the ball with the same club head speed and same dynamic loft – this is actual loft at impact – with a 60˚ and  56˚ from the same club head model, same shaft, etc, then barring some very hard to pull off swing, you're going to take a much bigger divot with the 60˚ and because you've got a steeper AoA.  You're going to have more spin on the 60˚ shot even though you've got the same club head speed and same dynamic loft.

That's why the ball back in the stance low spinner pitch for a hop and bite works.  

[DaveP043]

1 hour ago, No Mulligans said:

I hear the TV announcers of the PGA tour refer to controlling the spin.  I'm thinking a more lofted club = more spin.  And, more club head speed = more spin.  So for more spin take a full swing with more loft.  For less spin take a shorter swing with less loft.

Do I have this right?  Is there more to it?

I'd say you have it exactly right.  So if a player really wants to reduce the spin, he may take a club longer (less loft) and swing easier (less speed) to carry the ball about the same distance, but with less spin.  That approach can also be effective when playing into the wind.  If its a one-club wind, simply taking one club less and hitting the ball hard can cause the ball to balloon with the spin.  So take two or even three clubs more, and swing easy, launch it lower, with less chance to balloon because it has less spin.

[saevel25]

1 hour ago, No Mulligans said:

I hear the TV announcers of the PGA tour refer to controlling the spin.  I'm thinking a more lofted club = more spin.  

To a certain point. I believe after 45 degrees of dynamic loft the spin rate will decrease because the strike becomes to glancing.

1 hour ago, No Mulligans said:

And, more club head speed = more spin.

True

1 hour ago, No Mulligans said:

 So for more spin take a full swing with more loft.  For less spin take a shorter swing with less loft.

Also strike on the face matters. A slightly thinned shot will have more spin than a well struck shot because of gear effect. I've hit a few ones really clean that take one big hop and spin to a stop while a normal strike will take a hop and roll out a small bit. 

It's tough to say, try to control spin, because you still need to produce a shot that will get the ball to the green. So a certain amount of club head speed is required. I think trajectory, and understanding the green is more important. 

 

[Jack Watson]

https://blog.trackmangolf.com/spin-loft/

 

[Vinsk]

Generally speaking, the amount of spin generated is directly proportional to the distance one is short of the pin. 

[dennyjones]

8 hours ago, Vinsk said:

Generally speaking, the amount of spin generated is directly proportional to the distance one is short of the pin. 

I must be a spin master!   (jk).  

[Buckeyebowman]

If you want less spin, take a longer club and hit it easier. If you want more spin, take the shorter club and hit it hard!

By the same token, if you want less spin, play a cheap ball. If you want more spin, play an expensive ball.

[iacas]

On 6/12/2017 at 4:56 PM, No Mulligans said:

Do I have this right?  Is there more to it?

Yeah, you can alter the strike (AoA into the ball), where you contact the ball on the clubface, etc.

But generally speaking that's correct.