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putting spin on the drive.

• silkyuk9 429 Posts

  Thu, Jul 25 2013 1:41 AM

  When is the best time to put spin on the drive to get more distance? When should you not put spin on the ball off the tee?

• courteneyfish 15,796 Posts

  Thu, Jul 25 2013 2:16 AM

  I always use spin. Backspin lifts the ball higher and topspin keeps it low so depending on the hole, the trees and slope I use whichever suits. Also if you want distance then I use backspin with a tail wind and vice versa. 

• alosso 21,066 Posts

  Thu, Jul 25 2013 2:36 AM

  Depends on the club/ball combo as usual. Most of the time, I use no spin on the drive.

  I use backspin only when I want long carry and/or little roll, e.g. BPB #9 or MER #10.

  I use a fraction or more topspin in an uphill/tailwind situation. It looks like getting more length then, e.g. OLY #2 and BPB #7.

• PaulTon 10,731 Posts

  Thu, Jul 25 2013 4:54 AM

  alosso:

  I use a fraction or more topspin in an uphill/tailwind situation. It looks like getting more length then, e.g. OLY #2 and BPB #7.

  This interests me, as it is the reverse of my thinking, I would like to hear more.

  I would have thought -

  Uphill, put on backspin to get a higher trajectory so the ball doesn't slam in to the hill?

  Tailwind, put on backspin again for a higher trajectory so the wind has a bigger effect on the ball and carries it further?

• alosso 21,066 Posts

  Thu, Jul 25 2013 5:19 AM

  Tailwind may not be decisive, I look at it more to prevent any negative effects.

  Hitting into an upslope always stops the ball more than flat or downhill grounds because the hitting angle is steeper, "against the wall" in the extreme. Top spin uphill may result in a low flight and a flatter ground hit, reducing the stopping effect.

  I experienced it in real golf, too. There is a nice hill to run the ball up on a nearby course.

  In fact, I did it once on Cabo and found the result very pleasing. Now I use it on the two holes mentioned above.

  Here's a replay as an example, from BPB #7. The upslope is not that big there, but a little ts brings the ball to a nice position inside 215 yds (back pin) - not always as nice as this one I admit.

• YankeeJim 25,827 Posts

  Thu, Jul 25 2013 5:33 AM

  PaulTon:

  Uphill, put on backspin to get a higher trajectory so the ball doesn't slam in to the hill?

  Tailwind, put on backspin again for a higher trajectory so the wind has a bigger effect on the ball and carries it further?

  There's a trade off in play here. Backspin will get you carry but landing on an upslope stops the ball. Topspin shortens the carry but increases the roll after landing so you may "climb" that slope. OTOH, backspin landing on the backside of a slope will cause a trampoline effect and rocket the shot forward.

  This is what makes the R1 so nice-the flatter trajectory minimizes the wind influence to a degree but the accuracy is where it trumps. You can literally pick landing spots in the fairway and take advantage of them. The links courses really respond well to top spin off a drive, especially with a tailwind, if you pick the right spot to land on. The same applies to using backspin and picking the right spot to land on. 

• PaulTon 10,731 Posts

  Thu, Jul 25 2013 5:58 AM

  Thanks Alosso and Jim I see what you're meaning now, makes sense.Al's replay is with the same driver as mine so I could see exactly what you were getting at. Once again, thank you gents.

• FBudd 208 Posts

  Thu, Jul 25 2013 6:05 AM

  End average length of shot start to finish is about the same for both full bs and no bspin drives, fwdspin does remove length.

  So if you want to know nothing else it almost always makes sense to use bspin.

  For elevated landings i use full bspin, just off full bspin for DE-elevated seems to give you more roll than full bspin.

• DaddysKat 3,554 Posts

  Thu, Jul 25 2013 8:45 AM

  Thanks for sharing this information everyone.  Great advice!

• gr8flbob 592 Posts

  Mon, Jul 29 2013 6:16 PM

  Another major consideration for spin applied to drives: is there a cross-wind? Top-spin will minimize time aloft and trajectory; back-spin will increase time aloft and raise the trajectory.

  If exposed to significant (anything over 8-10mph) cross-winds, the deviation of actual ball flight from aiming arc will much greater for the shot with backspin, than for one with no spin, and even lesser deviation for topspin.

  If the shot is to a wide-open fairway, no big deal ... but if you're on a course with narrow fairways and/or significant landing region side-slope, suddenly you may wish to give up some of that 'big bomber' yardage for a lot more precision and control.

  Some or most of of that cross-wind impact can be nullified with off-ding shot-shaping, but that will cost yardage also.

  Point is, yardage ain't everything - course management in the conditions thrown at you is what's REALLY important.