Forums

Top Spin

• kmarline21 442 Posts

  Sun, Nov 20 2011 8:26 PM

   does using top spin on you tee shot give you more distance...  can you use to much ?

  Any thoughts

• SOYEL1 698 Posts

  Sun, Nov 20 2011 8:48 PM

  Depends, I usually use it against the wind, provided there is enough space for it to roll cause the ball usually lands before and rolls more. With tailwind I usually use BS.. but that also should depend on what clubs you have...

   

• SweetiePie 4,925 Posts

  Sun, Nov 20 2011 8:52 PM

  An older rule was to use back-spin down wind and top-spin against the wind. However, I have no math on the rule.

• YankeeJim 25,827 Posts

  Sun, Nov 20 2011 9:39 PM

  kmarline21:

   does using top spin on you tee shot give you more distance.

  No. You get a little more roll but you lose the carry in the air. Use full back spin to keep the ball up longer and it goes farther.

• piztaker 5,743 Posts

  Sun, Nov 20 2011 11:29 PM

  I disagree with Jim. Topspin gives a lower trajectory so gains a couple of yards.

• Woodoworkery 3,498 Posts

  Sun, Nov 20 2011 11:43 PM

  I have to agree with piztaker, on some holes/

• YankeeJim 25,827 Posts

  Mon, Nov 21 2011 4:41 AM

  piztaker:

  Topspin gives a lower trajectory so gains a couple of yards.

  Try clearing the trap at BPB7 with top spin. Make sure you know how to get out of sand. Then try clearing the trap on 9 with top spin too. 

• piztaker 5,743 Posts

  Mon, Nov 21 2011 5:17 AM

  Do pay attention Jim. We're not talking about clearing things, we're talking about total distance travelled.

• YankeeJim 25,827 Posts

  Mon, Nov 21 2011 5:47 AM

  Do read my answer, it applies to the distance question. A ball in the air is not subjected to the coefficient of friction that rolling on ground induces. While the back spin drive doesn't roll as much, the carry trumps what you get by landing shorter and rolling more.

  FWIW, backspin landing on a downslope, such as you see at SA and RSG, has a trampoline effect and actually launches the ball forward for added distance.

  Top spin on drives is useful in some scenarios at SA and RSG where you have a favorable tailwind. Instead of the ball dying into the up side of one of those slopes, it rolls right over them. Top spin into a wind puts it the ball on  the ground sooner because of the flight you pointed out but the wind is still working against the roll.

• chrisironsbones 3,524 Posts

  Mon, Nov 21 2011 7:09 AM

  Jim is right in 1 retrospect, ball will stay in the air and clear bunkers better with back spin (R.St.G #2 is an example, try clearing that bunker in side wind with no b.spin), but on a non hazardous fairway, i will always use topspin, and i drive longer with standard callaways than all my legend palls with legend callaways.

  Another trick, on R.St.G #4, if i have strong headwind, i will use topspin, and hope to hit rough slope, and my drive will then be 290+ yards in 15+ mph headwind