How do I put back spin on the golf ball?

June 19th, 2006 • Related • Filed Under

Golf Nut, can you tell me specific steps (a step by step golf tip) on how to put back spin on the golf ball. I know that you should hit down with the golf club, but can you give more specific information for us amateur golfers?





Well, first I must say that I am reminded of the story attributed to Ben Hogan when an amateur golfer asked him the same question. Ben, in his very direct manner, was purported to ask the amateur golfer “Do you hit the ball onto the green and past the flag stick on most of your approach shots?” The golfer answered that “No, he typically didn’t”. And then Ben is supposed to have answered “Well then why do you need to how to spin the golf ball.” Or something like that.
I always thought that was a funny golf story…. well, I’m sorry, I have wandered here. Here is how you can do this, should you find the need.
First, play the golf ball farther back in your stance than normal. And put your feet a little closer together.
Then, use a very lofted golf club, preferably a sand wedge or a lob wedge if you have one.
Swing the golf club on a steep swing plane, in other words very upright and hitting down on the golf ball.
Try to hit on the back of the golf ball. Keep you eye even on a specific dimple on the back of the ball if you can. Strike the golf ball first before you make contact with the ground.
Don’t take a deep divot. Make it shallow. And don’t break your wrists in the follow through. Depending on the length of the golf shot, you may need to allow for a little fade on the shot.
It also helps to play a golf ball with a softer cover and to keep the grooves on your wedges cleaned.
For us amateur golfers, putting back spin on the golf ball is fun. But your focus should be more on improving your overall short game, like I discuss in this golf tips.




There Are 13 Responses So Far. »

  1. Comment by Annette on 20 June 2006:

    Thank you for this tip about putting a spin on things. I’ll be sure to pass in along to my husband, a bonafied golf “nut”. I was shopping online for information about color printing for some catalogs I am creating when I was distracted by your article!

  2. Comment by Brett Henry on 13 September 2006:

    im 13 and ive been playing for 4 years i can only shoot 80 on the nose but cant break 80 how do i do it??

  3. Comment by John Connaughton on 29 January 2007:

    I use a mid size driver, and though I have pretty good accuracy, I do not generate much distance. On average, I hit around 230 yards. Is it possible for me to get to 260 yards?

  4. Comment by The Golf Nut on 30 January 2007:

    John,
    Thank you for visiting The Golf Nut. I sent you an email on this as well.
    Please post your golf related question in the section called “Ask the Golf Nut”. You can see the link at the top right hand side of this page.
    Thank you,
    The Golf Nut

  5. Comment by Matt on 19 March 2007:

    I am having serious trouble spinning the ball. I am 18 and on my high school golf team. I generally shoot in the mid to high 70’s and my short game is my cause in not shooting under par. I really would just like to check the ball up if not spin it back. Any suggestions?

  6. Comment by Evan on 17 June 2007:

    I am having serious trouble spinning the ball. I am 18 and on my high school golf team. I generally shoot in the mid to high 70’s and my short game is my cause in not shooting under par. I really would just like to check the ball up if not spin it back. Any suggestions? I have the same problem as this guy

  7. Comment by null on 11 September 2007:

    its easy im 13 and i can do it , but trust me when u start doing it , it can become a nuiciance espically when uve got a sand wedge going right on line and bam! before you know it the ball has spin 20 ft back towards you minimizing your chance at a birdie !

  8. Comment by mike on 6 February 2008:

    The reason why these golfers want to get spin or stop the ball dead is not because they land past the pin but rather that when they hit the green infront of the pin the ball hits and rolls or bounces right over the entire green.
    So when Ben hogan said why would you want to learn this shot, this is the reasoning

  9. Comment by luke on 14 April 2008:

    after reading an email from golf nut newcastle i now have gone from hitting slices to hitting 250 +,straight and from that now to securing a drive distance of 280, 300 nearly every drive, and i have had an average round a my local club of 85 to 90 not 100 + this goes for the back spin as well just the other day i got the ball to back spin and made it go back into the hole of the tee for a hole in one par 3 thanks heaps.

  10. Comment by Glendon on 29 June 2008:

    Hi,
    I am a 16 year old golfer who’s been playing for 3 years and am a 6 handicap. I am on the Ramona High School Varsity golf team (who won Valley League 2 years in a row). I have a ton of trouble with my consistency with my driver and irons off the tee… I can’t make the same ball flight, left right left right, millitary golf. This is leading me to no fairways which means no greens because my golf course has many trees, boulders, lakes, etc. My short game normally saves me. I fade my long irons but hook my short irons… it’s driving me nuts!!!! On good drives I average around 290 yards, with the occasional 300+,but I don’t think that is very long for my swing speed of 115 MPH. How do I hit it straighter and more pure off of the clubface? And rid the iron problem?

  11. Comment by colum o grady on 23 August 2008:

    im 13 years old and I’ve been playing golf for 1 year now but i find it hard to hit my long irons!

  12. Comment by Jay on 4 June 2009:

    I hit my drives 250+ but some go straight some go right. How do I fix this?

  13. Comment by logan on 21 July 2009:

    I am 14 and I have trouble with my drives. I have a bad slice and hit the ball 230 at the max and all my friends say I could hit the ball 250 or more if I hit it straight. How do I fix my slice?

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