I remember the first time I tried to add backspin to my golf shot.
Honestly, I didn’t even need to do it.
I could’ve gotten away with my stock 50-55-yard shot but I wanted to look cool in front of my friends.
So I was about 50 yards from the front of the green, 65 yards to the middle, and 75 from the back.
I’m pretty sure the pin was near the middle because I remember thinking that this was the perfect time to try to put a backspin to my golf shot.
There weren’t any noticeable hazards.
If I mishit left or right, I wasn’t punished with a short side chip.
These were the perfect conditions.
Again, I didn’t need to do it, I just wanted to look cool 🤡
Unfortunately, the “Kovi Backspin Golf Shot” didn’t go as planned.
In typical fashion, I thinned the shot and the ball traveled to the next fairway. Safe to say that I concluded with a triple-bogey.
“Welp, guess I’m not trying that anymore 😆” I said to myself.
Sadly that mindset didn’t long.
Within a few months I tried it again, but this time it worked – how?
It wasn’t easy at first, but this particular YouTube video changed all that.
Now armed with the proper knowledge coupled with deliberate practice, I was confident enough to pull it off.
So if you want to improve your golf game and learn how to put backspin on your golf ball, then this post is for you!
You’ll learn:
Let’s jump right in!
What Is Backspin on a Golf Shot Anyways?
Backspin allows the ball to rotate backward after impact with the clubface, resulting in spinning the ball counter-clockwise or in a backward rotation.
It’s a highly technical, high-quality shot that only seasoned golfers try to do.
If you’ve ever played pool/snooker, basketball, or anything with a ball, you might have a good understanding of how backspin works.
Understanding backspin can help in making precise shots as it impacts the ball’s trajectory and landing behavior.
Do you want the ball to roll forward after the ball lands on the green?
Do you want the ball to stop after a couple of bounces?
Or do you want it to roll back closer to your target area?
Three different landing behaviors all dictated by the amount of spin you can generate.
But, backspin requires mastery in multiple areas.
From your club selection, your golf swing mechanics, and your swing path, to where you make contact with the ball – all these factors determine how much backspin you can generate.
Also, note that this shot is mainly used around the green and is a handy trick to have in your short-game repertoire.
Why Do You Need To Put Backspin On A Golf Ball?
Aside from looking pretty damn cool in front of your buddies, there are a few reasons why you might need to add backspin in your shots.
Control and Precision On The Golf Course
Backspin on a golf ball provides maximum control around the greens and precision. This shot causes the ball to stop quickly on the green, preventing it from rolling too far.
Is the pin tucked in the back of the green?
As a mid-handicapper, I’d probably play it safe and land the ball safely in the middle of the green and hope for a two-putt.
A lower handicap golfer, or scratch, may want to attack directly at the pin with some backspin so it doesn’t roll off the green.
Being able to confidently hit the ball with enough force to generate spin, allows you to have more options during your approach shots – you’re not just forced to hit the center of the green.
Consistency In Your Golf Game
Backspin also helps with consistency in your shots, as it stabilizes the ball’s flight.
This consistency is crucial for maintaining accurate distances and ensuring the ball behaves predictably upon landing.
Is the pin a weird distance, like 43 yards? (anything 40-45 yards is a weird distance for me)
Depending on what you’re comfortable and consistent with, you can hit your 40-yard shot with minimal runoff, or hit your 45 shot with some backspin.
Adopting this shot creates a significant advantage on the golf course.
You not only gain better control over your ball, you become more consistent with your game, and that translates to confidence on the golf course.
8 Tips To Hit “PGA-Level” Backspin Golf Shot
Here’s a cumulative list of how I was able to produce backspin on a golf ball.
Please note, that I’m not a professional golfer.
These tips are just a mental checklist I go through if I want to achieve this shot.
1. Check The Grass and Lie
With every shot, I always check the grass and lie and you should too.
Before every shot you take, always check the grass and lie because it’ll determine your next shot.
Shorter grass is preferred since longer grass can reduce backspin by interfering with clean contact.
You need to ensure the ball sits on a clear patch for optimal interaction with the clubface.
Also, consider the terrain’s slope. A downhill lie makes it harder to generate backspin. Aim to position your ball on a flat or slightly uphill lie, if possible, to help better control.
2. Use the Right Equipment
Choosing the appropriate golf club matters.
Wedges, especially those with higher lofts (52, 56, 60 degrees), enhance your ability to get under the ball and generate spin.
Personally, I use a 52 or 56-degree wedge because it has the ideal loft to produce backspin for approach shots effectively.
Use clubs with milled clubfaces. Milled faces offer better grip on the ball, increasing friction and, so, backspin.
Clubs designed specifically for spin control yield better results.
3. Clean and Dry Grooves
Ensure grooves are clean and dry.
Do you ever notice the Tour caddies wiping the club face before and after every shot? It’s not so it looks “shiny”.
It’s because dirt and moisture reduce friction, decreasing backspin. Between shots, wipe your clubface with a towel.
Inspect the grooves on the clubface regularly.
Use a groove cleaner to remove any debris. Sharp, well-defined grooves engage the ball more efficiently, aiding in backspin creation.
4. Pick the Right Golf Ball To Create More Backspin
Did you know that certain golf balls can generate more/less backspin?
Balls with urethane covers, like the Titleist Pro V1, provide better spin rates. These covers grip the clubface more effectively.
Test different balls to see which ones react best to your playing style.
Premium balls designed for spin maximize backspin on your approach shots.
5. Make Solid Contact
Ensure solid contact with the ball and aim to hit the ball first, then the ground.
Clean and precise contact allows the clubface to get maximum coverage with the grooves and grip the ball effectively, generating maximum backspin.
Practice striking down on the ball with a descending blow. This technique compresses the ball more efficiently, enhancing spin.
6. Increase Your Clubhead Speed
It’s pretty straightforward but faster swing speeds result in higher clubhead speed, which increases backspin.
During your swing, focus on accelerating right through the impact of the ball.
The increased speed boosts the friction between the clubface and the ball’s surface.
This will be scary at first because you’ll be thinking “If I don’t make solid contact with this speed, this ball will be flying past the green”.
Practice, practice, practice.
Practice making solid contact with increased speed is the only way to get past this hurdle.
7. Open Clubface at Address
As you probably guessed, opening the club face at address adds loft to your shot and can help with backspin generation, and it does!
One of the main drills I did was to practice hitting the ball with an open club face, just so I could gain confidence in doing it.
I would purposely try to hit under the golf ball to ensure the grooves slide under during impact.
Now if you’re new to opening the club face, it’ll probably look weird at first.
When you open the face you immediately think you’ll hit it far right (if you’re a right-handed golfer) or far left (if you’re a left-handed golfer). And what most people will do, to counter the angle of the open face, is to adjust their stance the opposite way.
Instead of adjusting your foot alignment, just lower the club shaft. This will allow the ball to go straight instead of veering left or right.
8. More Weight on Lead Leg For Steep Angle of Attack
If you’ve been watching YouTube videos on pitch shots and chip shots, you’ll probably hear the instructor recommending putting more weight into your lead leg (left leg if you’re right-handed, right leg if you’re left-handed) as it helps with compression.
And it’s true.
When you position your weight forward and place the ball further back in your stance, it helps compress the ball. This compression helps to get more backspin to your golf ball.
You might feel a little off-balanced at first but this stance promotes a steeper angle of attack, essential for generating backspin.
Common Mistakes When Trying To Get Backspin On The Golf Ball
Even though you’re fully armed and aware on how to create backspin on your ball, there are still common mistakes and pitfalls people make.
1. Using A Lower Lofted Club
Choosing a lower lofted club can drastically reduce your ability to achieve backspin.
Remember my second tip? Use the right gear and the right gear is a high lofted club!
Clubs with lower lofts like 3-irons or 4-irons aren’t designed to give you the optimal spin needed for stopping the ball quickly on the green.
Higher lofted clubs, such as wedges, naturally create more spin due to their design.
2. Not Cleaning Or Maintaining The Grooves
Always make sure you check your club and ensure you wipe off any dirt, grass, or even water, before your shot.
Additionally, use a groove sharpener to maintain the grooves of your wedge because it ensures the grooves grip the ball during impact.
Worn-out grooves will significantly affect the amount of backspin you can generate, making clean contact more challenging.
You can do all the right things to achieve backspin; the stance, the setup, the steep angle of attack, but if you don’t have a clean clubface with sharp grooves, that ball will just glide off.
3. Bad Lie
Carefully assess the lie before executing your shot.
A poor lie, whether the ball sits in thick grass or a bunker, can interfere with backspin production.
When golf balls rest in tricky positions, it’s harder to make solid contact and impart spin. Even in an angled position can make the shot more difficult than it needs to be.
Avoid areas with excessive grass or hard soil as they limit your effectiveness in putting backspin on a golf ball.
Additionally, ensure your practice sessions include various lies to build competence around different conditions.
4. Not Enough Speed
Not producing enough clubhead speed is another barrier to creating backspin.
If you’re trying to stop the ball after one or two hops, or if you’re trying to have the ball roll back, slow swings will not be able to generate enough spin to make that happen.
Practice increasing your backswing length and maintaining acceleration during your downswing and through impact.
Also, ensure your grip is not too tense.
A relaxed grip allows for smoother, faster swings, which translates to better backspin. Tight grips often result in jerky motions, reducing your swing speed and overall spin efficiency.
Drills to Help You Create More Backspin on the Golf Ball
If you recall at the beginning of the post the first time I tried to add backspin to a golf ball, it didn’t work out and the ball soared over to another fairway.
I also mentioned that through deliberate practice I was able to successfully pull this shot off.
To help you understand and master backspin, here are some of the drills I used during my practice sessions.
Tee Drill (Without Ball)
Set up a tee at a low height, just above the ground (similar height if you tee up on a par 3).
The goal of the height is to mimic a good lie.
Now using a wedge, focus on your grip, setup, alignment, and practice striking the top part of the tee.
If full swings are difficult, start with slow half swings.
This drill will help you make with the foundational setup, but also achieve crisp, clean contact with the ball.
Impact Bag Drill
Please note, that I did this drill at home with a foam ball and a meditation cushion.
Place an impact bag about one foot in front of your ball position.
If you don’t have an impact bag, try a cushion, a bag of rice, or something that resembles those items.
Use a wedge, and practice striking the ball while ensuring your clubhead drives into the bag post-impact.
Maintain a controlled swing, ensuring your wrists don’t break down through impact.
This drill emphasizes the importance of a downward strike.
Weighted Club Drill
Grab a weighted club to build up strength and control.
Practice full and half swings with the weighted club to develop a more powerful and controlled swing.
The extra weight aids in increasing your clubhead speed.
Focus on applying a downward angle of attack.
This allows you to fine-tune your muscle memory for regular play.
FAQs
Does Wind Make a Difference to Backspin in Golf?
Yes, wind impacts backspin. A headwind increases the lift force on the ball, enhancing backspin effects. In contrast, a tailwind reduces the lift force, diminishing backspin effectiveness.
Wind direction matters. Side winds can alter the ball’s trajectory, making it harder to predict where the ball will land.
Pay attention to wind speed: Strong gusts amplify the effects, both positive and negative. Adapting to varying conditions helps maintain control.
How Do You Control Backspin?
Use a clean, lofted club. Clean grooves on wedges or short irons help create backspin. Keep equipment in top condition.
Focus on impact position: Hit down on the ball, ensuring crisp contact. A descending blow maximizes the spin rate.
Practice precise drills. Drills like the Tee Drill or Half Swing Drill enhance consistency and control. Consistent practice refines your technique, improving your ability to add backspin to your golf ball.
What Factors Impact the Amount of Backspin You Can Generate?
Club choice critical: Wedges or high-lofted clubs create more spin due to their design. Choose equipment wisely.
Clean grooves essential: Dirt or debris reduces friction, hindering spin. Regularly clean your clubs.
Swing technique matters: A steeper angle of attack and fast swing speed increase spin rates. Practice these elements to boost performance.
Ball type influences spin: Softer balls generally spin more. Consider this when selecting golf balls for backspin.
Is It Difficult to Generate Backspin on a Golf Ball?
Applying backspin requires practice. Proper technique is essential, making it challenging for beginners. Focus on drills like the Impact Bag Drill for better results.
Equipment quality impacts ease: High-quality golf clubs that are well-maintained, make spin generation easier. Invest in good gear for better performance.
Course conditions play a role: Soft greens enhance backspin due to increased friction. Firm greens make control harder, demanding more skill.
Consistent effort leads to improvement: Regular practice ensures your contact with the golf ball and will help you master backspin over time. Remain committed to the best results.
