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When Should I Use Topspin?

• Buggyyy 1,963 Posts

  Mon, Aug 6 2012 11:53 AM

  I've felt that I have been missing an important aspect to my game. That is deciding between two clubs. I'm afraid to use topspin with my irons because of a massive roll out. 

  I came here to get some help on some different situations where you would use topspin. 

  I'm pretty familiar with spin on my wedges, so I am fine with that.

  Any help would definitely be appreciated.

• MBaggese 15,367 Posts

  Mon, Aug 6 2012 12:51 PM

  I use it a lot when I am not dinging it, seems to keep the line better.

  There's many holes on CCC I use it as well, with the back to front sloping greens if they are playing down wind, easier to roll the ball up the hill (DW) than stick it many times.

  You're no going to get "massive" roll, rather it just allows the ball to release in most cases.

  Recently, I've been working on punching as well to some of those holes...more controllable 

• MainzMan 9,591 Posts

  Mon, Aug 6 2012 12:56 PM

  I also only use top spin on my wedges at the moment.  If an approach shot is, for instance, 3 yards longer then my 7 iron will hit I would go to my 6 and hit under full power.  It could well be I'm losing out on holed approaches by doing this, I play 99% of approaches with lots of b/s, but it's the only method I feel comfortable with. 

  I'll happily put t/s on my 64° wedge to get it to hit 64 yards instead of 60 though, same with the other wedges.  The only other time I'll always use top spin is the tee shot on RSG #4 with a headwind.  No matter how strong the wind is a full t/s drive will get you 300 yards every time with the right gear.

• YankeeJim 25,827 Posts

  Mon, Aug 6 2012 2:21 PM

  MBaggese:

  You're no going to get "massive" roll, rather it just allows the ball to release in most cases.

  And depending on how much you put on you can control the rollout. I use top spin more than back spin and a lot has to do with the wind. If you're faced with putting back spin on and choking to get a specific distance, you know what happens when you miss. However, dropping a club and using top spin allows you to take a full swing and pretty much minimize the hurt if you miss as you will be effectively maxing out a shorter club PLUS you'll be going forward. How many of those choked bs shots come up way short or fly the green on a missed hit? 

  Top spin has always lessened the impact of the wind and in some cases, top spin into a headwind will get you decent yardage, especially at RSG and SA.

• Choppography 2,166 Posts

  Mon, Aug 6 2012 4:34 PM

  ^ Good point, Jim.  

  One thing to take note of is both the expected carry AND the amount of green to work with.

  If you have a little wind in your face and can tell it's going to catch a full bs shot short, you can go no spin or topspin and get that club there....provided you aren't carrying a bunker or one of St. Andy's famous false fronts.

• pUGfANmn 436 Posts

  Fri, Aug 10 2012 11:52 AM

  I just started experimenting with top spin on the driver for fairways below my feet and little help from the wind - it does seem I'm getting less carry, but more roll out of the shots, as it's not stopping hard when it hits the fairway.  It's early, so I'm still in observation mode.

  I have regularly used top spin with my wedges, especially on punch shots - My 56 wedge is rated at 70yds on the punch, but depending on the slope of the green and wind, if I'm 73-76 out, I'll put some top on that bad boy and treat it a bit like a pitch to let the ball release and follow the slope of the green.

• YankeeJim 25,827 Posts

  Fri, Aug 10 2012 12:26 PM

  pUGfANmn:

  I just started experimenting with top spin on the driver for fairways below my feet and little help from the wind - it does seem I'm getting less carry, but more roll out of the shots,

  Look for landing spots that are on the backside of a slope-the ball acts like it hit a trampoline. SA #2 is a good one to land on the downslope to the left. SA17 is another where landing just over the sidewalk with top spin will propel you forward for good distance (Legend tees.)