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Any effect giving topspin

• lee22sharon 1,419 Posts

  Thu, Jun 27 2013 1:10 PM

  My nickle, everything I have tried since being here, even with the nothing company ball, is simply this:  top spin for roll, back spin for extended flight time.

  A great many variations of how much, when, with what, but, to get specific my driver R11 (rated at 282) using the nike 2101 rzb?  with neutral spin good for 294 - 300.  In head wind conditions with a level or down hill fairway I use neutral, or just a small amount of top spin, under any other conditions I use 3/4 backspin, even on side winds, thats if I want to extend my distance for a shot beyond the clubs rated distance as shown by the caddy.

  Hope this helps.  my nickle.

   

• Wheels65 744 Posts

  Thu, Jun 27 2013 1:16 PM

  Kitty, look forward to your results! 

  I have 2 brothers, both using the 48 R1 - we play each other on weekends. As soon as we all had the club, I told them what I had found. Being brothers (naturally - LOL) they didn't believe me (either), tested the R1 and reached the same conclusion as I had.

  By playing the KIA tournament this month, I had multiple  opportunities to try  5 different spin combos from the same T's (#1 is best).  I found no significant differences in distance between 1/2 TS, No-Spin and 1/2 BS.  I saw BIB do the1/2-3/4 TS thing  in one of his vids and tried it - but found  that FTS still went a little farther.

• YankeeJim 25,827 Posts

  Thu, Jun 27 2013 2:24 PM

  KittyWumpus:

  With 20+yds greater carry by using backspin, the R1 always produced a better result in all but the heaviest of headwinds.

  You're effectively turning that R1 into an R11s with backspin. The real beauty of the R1 is the forgiveness that puts you in the fairway but that accuracy really comes in handy, especially on the links courses. Full top spin, even with a helping wind, played to the right spot will sent the ball on its merry way with a nice long roll over hill, over dale. LOL

  I'm assuming you are referring to the lower level R1, I'm talking about the 98 version.

  @Wheels-I get about 279 carry with the same ball and fts, about 299 with fbs. The rollout is where the drives wind up evening out in distance with that fbs being a few yards longer. It depends on the landing plane. 

• Wheels65 744 Posts

  Thu, Jun 27 2013 6:16 PM

  Jim,  I went back to  Kia#1 just now and hit the L 48 R1 again (only recording ding shots - took a few hits to get 'em LOL) : my FBS carried 279 & rolled an extra 19 (total 298) - FTS carried 262 & rolled 41 more (total 303). So again, you are correct - and so am I. While it was only a few yards, in a no wing condition, the FTS went farther.

• KittyWumpus 345 Posts

  Fri, Jun 28 2013 2:29 AM

  I did not experience that, but the only no wind I have right now is RSG. On hole 14, par 5, the fairway is pretty flat (for RSG). I am using a L71 Nike ball. FTS vs FBS was not drastic, but FBS won by a few yards for me. 

  In actual play, I generally prefer using 1/2bs -> fbs. How much I tend toward fbs will depend upon several factors. Primarily, I prefer to use greater carry so as to place the ball more precisely for my next shot. Take a course like RSG, with its rolling, and wacky at times, fairways; to send a ball flailing down most of those fairways with fts and allow the fairway to play out like a pachinko game with my ball is not something I would desire. With a stronger headwind, I might acquiesce and try to get under it a bit with a L48 R1. But, though only listed as a med-high club, it still gets up in the wind IME. Plus, catching the face of a bit of rolling fairway can end the resulting roll portion of travel in a hurry; with bs, I can be (reasonably) assured of at least Xyds due to the carry. And with any good bit of tailwind... Weeeeeeeeeee!!! 

  You are correct: with fts vs fbs, the distance achieved on a (primarily) flat fairway with no wind will typically be nearly identical. This did not used to be the case, as the L48 R1 has... changed... over time. The first week it was out was one of the most riotous I and several of my friends have experienced playing WGT. We regularly got 300yd+ drives by utilizing 2/3 -> fbs; using no spin or, gasp, top spin, was unheard of. Even into a 21mph headwind on STA or RSG; those would simply mean backing off the bs a little, because to top it would result in a crap shoot, and a shorter result. A few weeks later though, "the change" began. 

• YankeeJim 25,827 Posts

  Fri, Jun 28 2013 5:27 AM

  KittyWumpus:

  I am using a L71 Nike ball. FTS vs FBS was not drastic, but FBS won by a few yards for me. 

  Something curious I discovered with the balls. I use the 71 Nike but only at Merion. Everywhere else I use the Callaway spinner. While the Nike has extra dots in spin and distance, the Callaway performs better (rolls longer) with the top spin drive. I'm not sure why but maybe having the extra dot of spin on the Nike does something there to inhibit the hit.

  Whichever way you go, the R1 is a fun driver to mess around with.  :-)

• gr8flbob 592 Posts

  Fri, Jun 28 2013 8:50 AM

  YankeeJim:

  Whichever way you go, the R1 is a fun driver to mess around with.  :-)

  +1 for this and your other commentary, YJ

  As is its companion, the 3W. In your continuing education, don't forget to evaluate Punch shots with those two babies! This is especially true if you play UEL (UnEven Lie) games.

  Driver & 3W punches stay down, and as with most punch shots, they're wind-tamers. Yes, you give up some distance (10% - 20%, depending ...) but wind effect on ball flight is nearly halved. 

  Full shot distance is great, in the right conditions. Chuck in tough terrain and high winds ('moderate' at SA or RSG, lol) and mastery of the punched wood shot is a great addition to that 'bag o' tricks' stashed somewhere in the bowels of your golf bag. As with the full shot, you'll need to evaluate the impact of spin on results for carry and roll for final distance. 

• borntobesting 9,695 Posts

  Fri, Jun 28 2013 11:13 AM

  YankeeJim:

  KittyWumpus:

  I am using a L71 Nike ball. FTS vs FBS was not drastic, but FBS won by a few yards for me. 

  Something curious I discovered with the balls. I use the 71 Nike but only at Merion. Everywhere else I use the Callaway spinner. While the Nike has extra dots in spin and distance, the Callaway performs better (rolls longer) with the top spin drive. I'm not sure why but maybe having the extra dot of spin on the Nike does something there to inhibit the hit.

  Whichever way you go, the R1 is a fun driver to mess around with.  :-)

  Think what big topspin in tennis does to the ball. Could the extra spin of the Nikes with full T/S be doing the same sort of thing?Making them land  so much shorter than the balls with less spin that the extra roll is negated to a certain extent.

• YankeeJim 25,827 Posts

  Fri, Jun 28 2013 11:36 AM

  Makes total sense, Sting. Probably something less than full on the Nikes would get better results. Trying that next time.  :-)

• KittyWumpus 345 Posts

  Fri, Jun 28 2013 1:31 PM

  I do have some Callaway L43/Legend balls I was trying out. I did not load them up to try with the L48 R1, but spent several rounds of play with them and my L81 G20 driver. Since I will typically top my G20 into heavier headwinds, I did find the Callaways would runa little longer now and then, but they "felt lighter" to me, and seemed to have more... chaotic bounce to them, but only very slightly. I feel I have more control when using the L71 Nike.

  BTW- with the L81 G20, I find I get the greatest distance yield with about 2/3bs-2/3ts. The no wind RSG tournament has been my testing ground for this; certain fairways seemed to benefit from top, while others would be a gamble to use ts, so I would opt for back just to be assured of placement. One hole gets fbs every time, as placement sets up beautifully for a spot-on Cleveland shot, and a (typically) ~1yd putt. 

  Also, missed ding shots with all clubs seemed to have greater deviance with the Callaways. Might be my imagination. Variance with a dinged shot seemed similar. The no wind tournament I have been playing has been VERY enlightening. Expensive as they are, I am preferring my L71 Nike. The Callaways I save for the more dangerous exploits (fun matches played with friends), and the starter balls are always good for a hysterical, ridiculous round. Oh- and I miss using my L48 R1 and L41 R11s; give me 10yds more on each, and I would be VERY happy until reaching L95 and L98 for their big brothers/sisters. Not fond of the L81 G20 pair.