I CANT SPIN
 

This is driving me crazy. I was watching that reality show on the golf channel with all these crappy golfers and they hit pitching wedges to the green and the ball stops dead and spins back 3 feet

I cant do this. Even when i smoke a lob wedge in from 80 yds out, the ball hits and releases like 5 yards forwards. I can't tell if it's me or if the greens on the course up here. I hit down on the ball so nicely, take a little divot, and...nothing

i'm like a 12 handicap. this is a little part of my game that's annoying the [censored] out of me

i typically play with hx tour balls


advice? drills?

Re: I CANT SPIN
 

I play like that too, but I hit a low running draw, so I'm used to it.

Re: I CANT SPIN
 

You have to have a lot of things going for you to make the ball spin back. Soft, fast bent grass greens, good lie, good ball, clean grooves, green tilted towards you, little wind in your face. Bermuda greens are totally different because that first bounce is usually firm. If you're taking a good divot and hitting a HX tour solidly 80 yards with a lob wedge you arent doing anything wrong. Just allow for that first five yard bounce, check, and a couple yards of release. Cut spin stops a lot quicker than draw spin so if you're hitting a draw try hitting a cut.

Re: I CANT SPIN
 

If you hit the ball solid with the proper equipment (golf ball, decent grooves) then the ball will spin. If the conditions are correct (soft greens, slope, etc) then you will be able so see the effects of that spin more. It is rare for a good player to "try" to spin it, and is often more common for tour players to try to make the ball spin less.

Re: I CANT SPIN
 

I have a spin issue too. I get some spin on the shots you describe, my lob from 80 stops usually within one foot from where it lands. (which I am fine with, I'm no pro)

I get huge spin on par threes where i hit off a short tee (1/8 inch teed up) this can cause problems when the flag is back, cause if I hit a 7 or 8 iron to the pin, it will spin back 20 30 40 feet depending on slope of the green. If I hit off the tee box (no tee) the spin is much less, sometimes even get a release. This leads me to beleive that 10-18 h-caps like you and I just dont strike the ball quite a crisply as needed (off the ground) to generate the pro spin most of the time.

BTW my gear Pro V1X, C-Way Irons, 40 dollar clearance 60 degree LW (Dont think this really matters unless the grooves are packed with mud.)

Good luck.... but I think knowing what the ball will do when it lands is a big plus. The only issue I can see you having is clearing a hazard with the pin just beyond. (you would like it to stick or come back for you)

Re: I CANT SPIN
 

I would guess you've probably hit a few shots that felt "thin" and ended up spinning more than your usual shot?

Re: I CANT SPIN
 

^that's me.

Re: I CANT SPIN
 

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I would guess you've probably hit a few shots that felt "thin" and ended up spinning more than your usual shot?

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Thin to spin! One of my friends use to always hit those shots. He would basically skull them and they somehow end up taking one huge bounce and biting.

Re: I CANT SPIN
 

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I would guess you've probably hit a few shots that felt "thin" and ended up spinning more than your usual shot?

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Thin to spin! One of my friends use to always hit those shots. He would basically skull them and they somehow end up taking one huge bounce and biting.

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yea wtf is up with that? seems counter intuitive

from what people are saying it sounds like it isn't me. Just that the greens in NH aren't conducive to stopping anything. guess i'll report back if i ever play on sick nice greens

Re: I CANT SPIN
 

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I would guess you've probably hit a few shots that felt "thin" and ended up spinning more than your usual shot?

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I dont catch many thin...if anything I get a little "Oprah" on shots.... but those dont usually make it to the green, so spin doesnt matter.

Re: I CANT SPIN
 

Sir Moonshine,

People saying your ball isn't spinning because of the greens are 90% wrong/10% right. Some greens are more condusive to spin, but I assure you if Tiger Woods played your course, he'd be ripping it back like no other.

Try taking a more shallow divot. Sure you see guys on tour take fatty divots and still spin it back, but that's because their club doesn't hit the ground until it's ~1-1.5 inches past the ball while coming in at an optimal angle of attack.

For most hacks, the best way to get maximum spin is to shallow out your swing plane. You really do want it to feel like you hit the ball thin(ish). Your ballflight should be low, or at least lower than you're probably accustomed to. For some reason people seem to think they need to hit a super high towering wedge shot to have it spin back, which is almost the opposite for the average golfer.

It's not something that will just happen overnight. You may spin one back, then hit 100 shots with zero/minimal spin. The key is remembering what it feels like when you do spin it, and trying to re-create that feeling as much as possible. Eventually you will get to a point where you'll be able to count on your wedges spinning enough to where at least the ball won't release, if it doesn't come back a bit.

Re: I CANT SPIN
 

The hardest act to back spinning a ball is to have enough confidence to chop down on the back of it. It feels a bit un-naturual and hence the difficulty in doing so. Somewhat similar to hitting a tennis ball very hard with plenty of topspin.

Re: I CANT SPIN
 

Sounds like you're hitting down on the ball with the face of the club which would mean your hands may be too far ahead and the club de-lofted too much, in order to spin the ball back.

You need to strike the ball with the leading edge up, and the weight of the club going down, which will run the ball up the face and produce the desired result.

This is what gives average players the thin feeling Butcho mentioned.

To practise hold your lob wedge in the impact position with about 65 degrees of loft. Scratch the leading edge of the club down the back of the ball burying the sole of the club into the ground with the clubs true loft showing. Don't shut the face and don't lower the loft.

Re: I CANT SPIN
 

^^this is good advice

He's explaining what I mean about coming in more shallow in a different and perhaps better way.

Re: I CANT SPIN
 

weeeeeeee
I just went outside and hit a few sand wedges
I'll have to try this out tomorrow on the course.

Re: I CANT SPIN
 

the shot that looks like a scull and stops dead is because the ball got hit first on the down swing, if you scull it on the upswing, its definetly not going to stop. Tight fairways and soft greens have a lot to do with how easy it is to spin the ball, Tiger would not be ripping it back on all type of greens/fairways. Spinning it is over rated, all you'll be doing is playing 5 feet of backspin instead of a 5 foot forward bounce, theres no difference.

Re: I CANT SPIN
 

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the shot that looks like a scull and stops dead is because the ball got hit first on the down swing, if you scull it on the upswing, its definetly not going to stop. Tight fairways and soft greens have a lot to do with how easy it is to spin the ball, Tiger would not be ripping it back on all type of greens/fairways. Spinning it is over rated, all you'll be doing is playing 5 feet of backspin instead of a 5 foot forward bounce, theres no difference.

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Well....yeah, but you'll look cool doing it. Priceless.

Re: I CANT SPIN
 

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the shot that looks like a scull and stops dead is because the ball got hit first on the down swing, if you scull it on the upswing, its definetly not going to stop. Tight fairways and soft greens have a lot to do with how easy it is to spin the ball, Tiger would not be ripping it back on all type of greens/fairways. Spinning it is over rated, all you'll be doing is playing 5 feet of backspin instead of a 5 foot forward bounce, theres no difference.

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Well....yeah, but you'll look cool doing it. Priceless.

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yea dude, i cant break 80 anyway so i may as well look cool while doing it

Re: I CANT SPIN
 

Hit a few out of the fairway bunker from 80-100 yards, you should see alot of spin with solid strikes, because it forces you to hit the ball 1st.

Like others have said you need to strike the ball 1st to spin it back. Also stopping the ball and ripping it back 10' is cool and all but it much easier to play if the ball just stops fairly quickly one way or another.

Re: I CANT SPIN
 

[ QUOTE ]
the shot that looks like a scull and stops dead is because the ball got hit first on the down swing, if you scull it on the upswing, its definetly not going to stop. Tight fairways and soft greens have a lot to do with how easy it is to spin the ball, Tiger would not be ripping it back on all type of greens/fairways. Spinning it is over rated, all you'll be doing is playing 5 feet of backspin instead of a 5 foot forward bounce, theres no difference.

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lol

Re: I CANT SPIN
 

1) good quality wedge with clean grooves

2) clean contact with a decending blow

3) good quality ball

4) using more wrist and being aggressive through the ball helps

5) you need a clean lie; tight lies are better then fluffy lies

hope this helps

btw, not to brag but I recently spun back a ball 21 feet on a level green from about 80 yards with a sand wedge.

Not too bad.

Re: I CANT SPIN
 

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the shot that looks like a scull and stops dead is because the ball got hit first on the down swing, if you scull it on the upswing, its definetly not going to stop. Tight fairways and soft greens have a lot to do with how easy it is to spin the ball, Tiger would not be ripping it back on all type of greens/fairways. Spinning it is over rated, all you'll be doing is playing 5 feet of backspin instead of a 5 foot forward bounce, theres no difference.

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lol

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Um, there is nothing wrong about this at all.

Re: I CANT SPIN
 

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the shot that looks like a scull and stops dead is because the ball got hit first on the down swing, if you scull it on the upswing, its definetly not going to stop. Tight fairways and soft greens have a lot to do with how easy it is to spin the ball, Tiger would not be ripping it back on all type of greens/fairways. Spinning it is over rated, all you'll be doing is playing 5 feet of backspin instead of a 5 foot forward bounce, theres no difference.

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lol

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Um, there is nothing wrong about this at all.

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Yea, I don't get it either.

Re: I CANT SPIN
 

the more loft on the iron, the more backspin you can produce.

mainly, though, you guys need to make sure you're using a nice, soft, workable ball. ProV1 or Nike Black or some similar "Tour" ball.

Re: I CANT SPIN
 

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
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the shot that looks like a scull and stops dead is because the ball got hit first on the down swing, if you scull it on the upswing, its definetly not going to stop. Tight fairways and soft greens have a lot to do with how easy it is to spin the ball, Tiger would not be ripping it back on all type of greens/fairways. Spinning it is over rated, all you'll be doing is playing 5 feet of backspin instead of a 5 foot forward bounce, theres no difference.

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lol

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Um, there is nothing wrong about this at all.

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Yea, I don't get it either.

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Okay...when you say Tiger wouldn't be spinning it back on all types of fairways/greens, what percentage are you talking about? He can easily spin the ball out of the first cut of rough on tour, which is the same as a crappy fairway at some muni course. What are you really saying with that statement?

So....LOL at you making it sound like the only reason Tiger can spin it back is because he plays on tight fairways and perfect greens.

Also, LOL at there "not being a difference" between being able to spin it or not. How about a pin tucked 3 paces beyond a greenside bunker? Pretty nice to be able to spin back it in that situation IMO.

Re: I CANT SPIN
 

i am a 4 handicapper... how can i help...
make sure your grooves are clean.. you strike the ball well.. have the correct irons.. if you have very fat iron heads then it is unlikely you will get spin... spin comes out of striking the ball well..

Re: I CANT SPIN
 

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spin comes out of striking the ball well.

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That really should be end of thread there.

Re: I CANT SPIN
 

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spin comes out of striking the ball well.

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That's obvious and doesn't help the OP .

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fyp

Re: I CANT SPIN
 

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the shot that looks like a scull and stops dead is because the ball got hit first on the down swing, if you scull it on the upswing, its definetly not going to stop. Tight fairways and soft greens have a lot to do with how easy it is to spin the ball, Tiger would not be ripping it back on all type of greens/fairways. Spinning it is over rated, all you'll be doing is playing 5 feet of backspin instead of a 5 foot forward bounce, theres no difference.

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lol

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Um, there is nothing wrong about this at all.

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Yea, I don't get it either.

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Okay...when you say Tiger wouldn't be spinning it back on all types of fairways/greens, what percentage are you talking about? He can easily spin the ball out of the first cut of rough on tour, which is the same as a crappy fairway at some muni course. What are you really saying with that statement?

So....LOL at you making it sound like the only reason Tiger can spin it back is because he plays on tight fairways and perfect greens.

Also, LOL at there "not being a difference" between being able to spin it or not. How about a pin tucked 3 paces beyond a greenside bunker? Pretty nice to be able to spin back it in that situation IMO.

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I don't know about a percentage, but bring Tiger to a non-overseeded course here in Dallas in the winter. He'll be able to stop the ball just like he can all time, but it will bounce 3 or 4 times and stop, it won't spin back. Tiger can spin back a 6iron if the conditions are right. I'm just saying that you have to have quite a few things going for you to make a ball spin back past where it landed. Most people don't have the skill, speed, or play on a course with good enough conditions to do this.

Re: I CANT SPIN
 

Didn't read everything...the reason thin shots spin SO much is because contact is made below the equator, but not low enough to get correct loft. So, the ball has a tonne of spin (like a cue ball), but a lower than normal trajectory...just simple physics. "thin to win" is a popular motto as that's the mistake good players make. 1, because their swing errors will tend to be on the thin, rather than fat side; and 2, because thin shots often travel close to the same distance as good shots, so the misses are less bad than fat shots.

Re: I CANT SPIN
 

http://www.golfsmith.com/products/8287

Be careful, if you get too carried away your ball will not only spin back 15 ft +, you'll also go through a lot more balls than normal..

Andrew

Re: I CANT SPIN
 

I got a little extra spin, you want some?

But seriously, I know very few people that don't need a spin milled wedge (or the cleveland equivalent) and a ProV1/HX tour/Nike Platinum to make the ball back up. I can make the ball stick with any wedge and any ball, but for any back up you need a good wedge and a good ball.

You're probably not doing anything wrong. I didn't learn how to do it until I was a 3 index.

Re: I CANT SPIN
 

When someone ask me how to get more spin during a lesson I always tell them to count the times during a round that they hit a wedge past the hole. Then come back and ask me if you want to spin the ball. Most golfers can't get the ball to the hole in the first place so spinning the ball sure as hell won't help.

I bought the new Callaway wedges with the Mack Daddy grooves and spin the [censored] out of the ball. So one of my members that I play with weekly goes out to buy one too. The poor old man hasn't landed a ball on the green in 30 years. Now his ball stops on the fringe instead of bouncing on the green.

He would rather see it spin than hit it close I guess.