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Backspin on high level Cleveland Wedges (L76+)

• 8802 4,268 Posts

  Tue, Feb 12 2013 2:57 PM

  I've poked around looking for info on this and have not found anything in depth.  If such a thread exists, please provide a link.

  I bag the 56, 60 and 64.  Great wedges but to get the most out of them, I need to learn the effects of spin.  Around the greens (chip, pitch, flop), full BS will stop them on a dime.

  On full shots, the results are far less predictable.  I have had dinged shots with full BS stop just about where they land and others with only a slight amount of BS applied will spin spin back 20 feet.

  On the threads I have found, it is suggested to not even use BS on full shots, but I don't see how this would maximize the potential of these clubs.

  So what factors do I need to consider when determining how much (or little) spin to apply?

  Wind? Elevation?  Slope? Full power vs. 85-90%?  A couple of scenarios of when and when not to use spin with these bad boys would be appreciated.

• bubbadork 984 Posts

  Tue, Feb 12 2013 3:29 PM

  For fairway lie those clubs will stop with the dot centered. From rough and sand you just have to experiment. For me, personally, the Clevelands have TOO much spin (hard to say that, I know). I moved to the L86+ ATVs and find them much more consistent.

• 783 Posts

  Tue, Feb 12 2013 3:30 PM

  there great wedges very hard to master but worth it in long run. u will rairly need full bs on them maybe flops,pitches chips. for instance 2nd hole on bethpage black is elevaited and u only need a little bs on.  some shots u can have 108 to pin full top spin will get u there and still stop ball very quick. just practice with them u will love them once u master them.  hope this helps.

• gedi83 277 Posts

  Thu, Feb 14 2013 7:12 AM

  For standard fairway shots with Nike highest level ball (distance 5 dots, spin 4) Cleveland wedge distances with NO spin are roughly 60, 82, 104 yds and they pretty much stop where they land. Full forward spin will bring roughly +5 yds, at least for the shorter wedges. Backspin is fierce - for the 56 wedge half backspin is roughly equal to full backspin of RocketBladez PW, i.e. around 4 yds below the nominal distance, so if you need the nominal distance (100 yds) use 1/4 backspin. For the 60 and 64 wedges in full swing mode I rarely use backspin, and only up to 1/2 if there is a strong tailwind, otherwise better to just aim for the exact distance using fractional swing. However in the punch mode (50/68 yds) I use full backspin under strong tailwind and no backspin with no tailwind - that pretty much gives the aimed distance. For sand, rough shots, also if you use a different ball, you need to experiment... (but as a rule of thumb sand and rough decrease spin so you can aim for more backspin if you want to stop without much roll)

• chrisironsbones 3,524 Posts

  Thu, Feb 14 2013 7:37 AM

  Yes, similar to what Jedi Said, the only time I use full spin on the wedges is out of sand, otherwise i never touch spin (apart from topspin If i need to stretch my yardages a bit)  Sometimes i will move the dot down a fraction using the 100 yard wedge.  I will maybe use 3/4 to full spin with punch shots but all depending on yardage to pin.  if i was 86 yards to pin then i would use the 84 yard punch shot with no spin.

  As for pitch shots I will use full spin all the time UNLESS I have 19 yards to pin then i would use say 3/4 spin to carry my 17 yard pitch over the distance.  On my profile page I have yardage distances for pitch, chip & flop with spin, no spin and top spin.

  Many a time I've tried to be clever and given my 60 yard wedge full spin trying to do a trick shot where i land way past the hole and spin back 8 yards but it ALWAYS back fires and I either spin so far back its laughable or ball just stops DEAD.  I've learnt my lesson to NEVER touch spin with 60 yard wedge (only topspin)

• 8802 4,268 Posts

  Thu, Feb 14 2013 8:00 AM

  Thanks for the replies.  I have used full backspin with consistent results on flops around the greens, no matter which degree.  I'll use it with chips most of the time.  I am still learning the pitch and don't use it much.  I am fortunate that I hit alot of greens, so I don't get in much scrambling practice.

  I'll experiment with vary amounts on the 60, 80 and 100 yardages and see if I stumble upon what factors influence stopping dead or spinning 30 feet back off the green.

  Cheers!

• gedi83 277 Posts

  Thu, Feb 14 2013 8:45 AM

  Just for the record, unlike IRL where flop is a much harder shot than pitch (at least for amateurs), in this game I never ever use pitch. And as you can see I'm doing not too badly :) Flop for 13-30 yds, chip below that, and 64 wedge punch above.

  Regarding backspin, it's also important to consider the green, e.g. I'd be very reluctant to use backspin on 64 and 60 wedges when aiming some nasty Oakmont or Whistler greens.

• bhoese 679 Posts

  Thu, Feb 14 2013 9:21 AM

  For players who aren't familiar with using spin:  It's best to think of the spin range from top to bottom as minimum to maximum backspin.  The dot in the middle is regular spin (not no spin).  

• WakeIsland 213 Posts

  Thu, Feb 14 2013 9:32 AM

  I have the high level Clevelands and love them.  I only use BS when by ball is burried (20-25, 30-40, sand and mostly pitches etc you need to experiment) or when the wind is at your back to stop the ball mostly with my punch shots.  It will still spin back on a full swing.  If the wind is at your back it helps stop the ball, if it is in your face it rolls off the green.  You also need to know your greens (slope).  Even a little backspin on a green that slopes downhill your ball will BS all the way off.   GL

  - Wake