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Any effect giving topspin

• dieter59 34 Posts

  Tue, Jun 25 2013 5:33 AM

  Hi,

   

  is there any effect in driving length if I'm giving topspin to the ball?

   

   

• HWei 534 Posts

  Tue, Jun 25 2013 11:49 AM

  Answer 2 ur ? . It would vary what clubs u r using base on the distance to the pin + also varies on wind speed & direction will somewhat give u extra yards / ft . Topspin will have some advantages or not. So IMHO use your discretion . 

• YankeeJim 25,827 Posts

  Tue, Jun 25 2013 12:13 PM

  Top spin robs carry and replaces it with roll, usually coming out shorter. The ball gets down on the ground quicker. If your driving is accurate enough you can find places on RSG and SA where it will make the ball act like it hit a trampoline off a down-sloped landing and really get moving. SA #17 is a good example.

• VirtualGareth 94 Posts

  Thu, Jun 27 2013 4:19 AM

  I managed to hit the footpath on the 18th in St. Andrews (would love to say that I was aiming for it, but it was pure luck!).

  Ball bounced like it had just been hit again! Got my longest ever drive from that shot!

• Tightrope 1,072 Posts

  Thu, Jun 27 2013 4:31 AM

  dieter59:

  is there any effect in driving length if I'm giving topspin to the ball?

  I often use "top spin" (it's not really top spin, just less back spin) at St Andrews since there are fairways there where the ball roll forever. It's true, I hit a drive there in the beginning of April and it is still rolling. It depends on your driver though so you simply have to test it out. As a general rule though - if it's uphill you get a longer drive with a higher trajectory, so use more back spin there.

• Wheels65 744 Posts

  Thu, Jun 27 2013 6:02 AM

  I have found that with the R1 L48 Driver and Callaway 33/37 balls - no wind (this month's 9 hole tournaments) or headwinds,  full top spin will make the ball 'carry'  farther - as opposed to no-spin or full back spin. 

  For tail winds, full back spin appears to 'carry' the ball farther.

  Applying spin in intermediate positions, up or down, does not improve the 'carry'.

  This club is rates at 275 yds, but I am getting 285-300+ yards using this practice.

  Because of the forgiveness, missed 'dings' do not appear to affect the distance greatly, however deviations appear greater when using FBS as opposed to FTS.

   

   

   

• YankeeJim 25,827 Posts

  Thu, Jun 27 2013 8:11 AM

  Wheels65:

  I have found that with the R1 L48 Driver and Callaway 33/37 balls - no wind (this month's 9 hole tournaments) or headwinds,  full top spin will make the ball 'carry'  farther - as opposed to no-spin or full back spin. 

  For tail winds, full back spin appears to 'carry' the ball farther

  Are you sure this is what you meant to say? Top spin increases carry and back spin increases carry?

  Carry is that number you see when you hear the thump on landing and without a doubt, top spin knocks this number down with the R1-upwards of 20 yards difference in carry with the Callaway spinner. It sounds like you may be talking about overall distance.

• Wheels65 744 Posts

  Thu, Jun 27 2013 10:09 AM

  Yes Jim, you are absolutely correct & I should have said 'distance'.

  Also, I am only discussing the driver/woods as I think  that this is what the OP is  asking. My R1 with Cally 33's preforms as stated:

  - No-wind or Headwind - FTS makes the ball go a greater distance

  - Tailwind - FBS makes the ball go a greater distance.

   

   

• KittyWumpus 345 Posts

  Thu, Jun 27 2013 12:45 PM

  I have the L48 R1, and when I used it (from the day it was released), it always preferred back spin. Maybe on say, CCC hole 18, heavy headwind, it might get more on that with top spin (downhill putt with nearly zero fairway roll to face plant into).

  But 100% of the time, absolutely no exceptions, L48 R1 with fbs equals greater carry than any amount of top spin. I have demonstrated this to several other L48 R1 owners, and all have agreed after testing it.

  The only reason I am using the L81 G20 driver now is because of the LACK of carry with the L48 R1. On STA hole 17 for instance, I had a 19mph headwind yesterday, and due to a flicker in the wind to the right, I barely made it to the fairway. With the L48 R1, I would have had to drive further left, leaving a 270+yd approach! Under non-(pure)headwind conditions, the L48 R1 can almost match the L81 G20. With a great tailwind, I am still only gaining about 5-10yds over the L48 R1, and that by sacrificing forgiveness. That L94 R11s driver is a long way off, and that L93 Black R1 will be long gone by the time I reach L93. So tempted to find another distraction for my evenings... (but, they already have the bulk of my cash, eh?)

• KittyWumpus 345 Posts

  Thu, Jun 27 2013 12:50 PM

  Wheels65:

  Yes Jim, you are absolutely correct & I should have said 'distance'.

  Also, I am only discussing the driver/woods as I think  that this is what the OP is  asking. My R1 with Cally 33's preforms as stated:

  - No-wind or Headwind - FTS makes the ball go a greater distance

  - Tailwind - FBS makes the ball go a greater distance.

  I will test this on the no wind RSG tournament tonight. IME, total distance was nearly always greater with 1/2 to full backspin. Heavy headwinds had mixed results for me. On a bumpy fairway, a *lucky* shot catching the back face of a hill can propel the ball, sure; but, faceplant and it is over. With 20+yds greater carry by using backspin, the R1 always produced a better result in all but the heaviest of headwinds.