Updated on March 14th, 2023 at 03:28 pm

Many golf shots turn heads, but using backspin to land the ball on the green and then backing it up is a favorite for both new and seasoned golfers alike. The pros use backspin to carry the ball over an obstacle like a sand trap and then spin the ball back towards the hole. Today we want to share with you the best ways to add spin to your golf shots.

How To Put Backspin on Your Golf Ball

To get backspin on a golf ball, you will need to position the ball closer to your back foot, swing the golf club with a steep angle of attack, hitting the golf ball first, compressing it into the turf. You will need to maintain a high swing speed throughout the swing.

While this is the way to add backspin to your golf shots, there are a few more steps that you should take into consideration when trying to hit this shot:

  • Use a golf ball that is designed to spin more around the green
  • Use a higher lofted club such as a wedge
  • The club should have clean grooves
  • Position the ball closer to your back foot
  • Weight should be slightly on your front foot
  • Allow your hands to hang in the neutral position
  • Have a steep angle of attack at impact, compressing the golf ball
  • Hit the ball first, turf second
  • High swing speed throughout the golf shot
  • Keep a strong grip through contact
  • Practice

Most golfers have hit a golf ball at some point that landed on the green and then either checked up or spun back. You can hit this shot every time you play, but it does require you to put in a little time at the range. Here we will break down the steps above so the next time you play, you can spin the ball like Phil Mickelson. (Ok, maybe Phil’s distant cousin)

The Golf Ball Impacts the Amount of Spin

The golf ball that you play will determine how much spin you get on the putting green. A two-piece construction golf ball is harder with a larger core, which maximizes distance and minimizes movement and spin. A multi-layer golf ball has a thinner cover and smaller core, which increases spin around the green.

A harder golf ball will spend less when it lands on the putting green than a softer golf ball. The pros play golf balls that are softer to spin the ball more on the green and have more control.

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Higher Lofted Clubs are Easier to Spin

It will be much easier for you to hit a wedge or a 9-iron with some spin compared to a 5-iron. The higher the trajectory, the better your chances of having your ball land on the putting green and spinning backward.

A lower lofted iron has to travel farther in the air with a much lower ball flight compared to one of your wedges. The club face of a five iron is going to produce less spin loft and less back spin compared to the golfer hitting wedge shots.

Keep Your Crevices Clean

A clean golf club with fresh grooves will have a much higher spin rate and will have considerably more spin than a dirty club with debris in the grooves. There is a reason you see the pros and their caddies always cleaning their golf ball and the clubface. When dirt and grass get between your golf ball and the golf club, you lose some control and cannot create backspin .

Ball Position Needs Towards Your Back Foot

When hitting a golf shot with backspin, you want to have the ball closer to your back foot. This is because you want to make contact with the golf ball and a descending blow. You can play with ball position to determine how much spin you want on each one of your clubs.

You will frequently see the pros trying to take some spin-off of their wedges, and in this case, they position the ball closer to the center of their stance.

Your Weight Should Be Split Roughly 60/40 on Front Foot

You want to have your weight slightly on your front foot to facilitate a downward blow.

Hands Should Hang in Neutral Position

Your hands should hang at a neutral position at the address and be slightly forward at impact. Don’t be tempted to push your hands forward at address.

Compress the Golf Ball Into the Turf and Take a Divot

When hitting the ball with backspin, you want to hit the ball first, compressing it into the ground, and then taking a divot. Many amateur and high-handicap golfers tend to pick the ball clean from the turf. In this case, it isn’t easy to have any backspin because you are scooping the ball instead of compressing it.

Hit the ball first, and don’t be afraid to move a little Earth.

You Must Have Speed In That Swing

When hitting a wedge and trying to add backspin, frequently amateur golfers will decelerate their swing speed. To put backspin on the ball, you must hit the ball with a higher swing speed. A faster swing speed at impact is going to provide more spin and zip when landing on the Green.

Don’t Be Weak

Keep your grip strong throughout the entire shot. A weak grip encourages a more open club face at impact and will decrease the amount of spin on the ball. With a higher spin rate on the golf ball, you can expect more backspin on a golf ball and more consistency with your chip shots, lob wedge, bump and runs and sand shots.

Practice Putting Backspin At The Range

To consistently put backspin on your golf shots throughout your round, you are going to need to practice. Learning to put backspin on a golf ball will also help you hit the ball more consistently in the center of the club face. When your club head starts traveling on a more consistent plain during practice, you will start to see more consistent shots during your next round.

Spinning a ball is not as hard as you may think, and with a little work and possibly a lesson from your local PGA golf professional, you will be able to add this shot to your arsenal in a short period.

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How Do Pros Get So Much Backspin?

Professional golfers can spin the ball with ease because they compress the golf ball into the ground with a descending blow at a high swing speed. Also, they are using softer golf balls, which allow for more spin and the finest golf clubs available on the market.

We hope you have enjoyed this article and invite you to check back often to AEC Info.  We will be adding tips, product reviews and much more over the next few weeks.