How to Add More Backspin

Creating more backspin on a golf ball is a matter of clean ball contact, club speed, ball lie and the putting surface's susceptibility.

To start, in order to put more backspin on a golf ball, the ball must be in a nearly perfect lie.

A ball in a fairway that is cut short represents a perfect lie. This is important because no grass must come in between the ball and the clubface during impact. During impact, the grooves of a golf club grip the ball and cause the ball to roll up the face, which creates maximum backspin. If grass impedes the impact process, the grooves are less effective and less visual backspin is created upon landing.

Second, the ball must be perfectly struck with the club hitting the ball first and then compressing the ball into the ground which again causes the ball to roll up the clubface.

Third, the club must approach the ball with adequate club head speed. A lot of club head speed is necessary to impart maximum backspin.

Lastly, external factors such as wind, green firmness and the slope of the green play a major factor in how well a golf ball spins back.

Expect more backspin when hitting into the wind as wind enhances height and the backspinning action on the ball through flight. The green itself must be in a firm state. The green must not be too soft or too hard. Softer greens will absorb ball impact and negate the spin action. Harder greens will tend make the ball bounce forward without the ball being able to bite into the surface. The slope of the green also helps. When hitting into a green that is sloping downwards, the downhill will promote the ball coming back.

Create backspin in the swing by hitting down on the ball with a steeper swing. Fully hinge the wrists in the backswing and aggressively uncock the wrists at impact. The unhinging of the wrists creates enormous speed. Make sure to hit the ball first and take a divot after the ball. To promote hitting the ball first, play the ball slightly back from center and place the shaft just ahead of the ball during set up.

When all of the factors and swing keys fall into place, expect to see a lot of backspin action when the ball lands on the putting surface.

Spin Control