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putting spin on the ball question, pls help

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Thu, Dec 8 2011 11:11 AM (3 replies)
  • PhilAndrews
    6 Posts
    Thu, Dec 8 2011 10:20 AM

    When i lower the aim on the ball and put back spin on the ball, will this decrease shot distance ?

    also does putting top spin on your drive put more range on your hit so much to improve your play?

    Any replies will be kindly received

  • LeonDelBosque
    1,551 Posts
    Thu, Dec 8 2011 11:06 AM

    Yes, it will decrease the distance... I won't give you a rule, but as a rule... (just kidding)... in general it's several yards or more, depending on a whole bunch of factors -- primarily wind. Putting backspin on the ball makes it fly higher (topspin does the opposite), so the ball will be more affected by it. Thus, putting backspin on a downwind drive, for example, will actually make it go farther (and stop more quickly).

    On a flat surface, with no wind, my 60 degree wedge goes about 86 with no spin, 81 with full backspin. But add in all those other factors, including green speed, lie and the slope of the green, and it will change. You're going to have to experiment.

    Topspin can be helpful at times. I use it mostly at St. Andrews, where the ball will roll forever, especially into the wind. Play practice rounds and mess around with both spins, and degrees of spin, with all kinds of clubs and shots (your score won't count). 

    EDIT: It's true that you need the right clubs and balls to get spin. However, moving the aim dot up or down the ball will still change the trajectory of the ball flight, so a starter 7 iron with a starter ball and full "backspin" will go higher and roll less than the same setup with no spin; and topspin will make it go lower and run relatively more.

  • KittyFanshaw
    620 Posts
    Thu, Dec 8 2011 11:08 AM

    Ummm...well...here goes...I think the answer to your questions is probably yes... but not always... lol

    I'ts been a while since I have used your clubs but generally speaking backspin will give you more loft and hence a shorter distance.

    Top spin will add forward spin momentum to your ball and hopefully it will travel further when it hits the ground.

    BUT....lol

    it ain't all that simple

    to get spin to work you need balls that will take spin and clubs which can impart spin and again...I suspect currently you are using neither. Also wind and fairway/green will have their effect on your shots.

    Hope all that is as clear as mud...lol....best I can do :))

  • YankeeJim
    25,827 Posts
    Thu, Dec 8 2011 11:11 AM

    Before you get too excited about spin you need to know the answers you're going to get will be coming from players that have clubs and balls that have spin attributes-those little dots in the specs. You have clubs that don't have any so don't be disappointed when what you learn here doesn't work for you.

    That being said your first answer would depend on some things like wind direction, loft of the club and landing surface. If you look at no wind on a flat fairway landing on a flat green, backspin off an iron will generally shorten the shot-it doesn't roll at the end. Add wind in your face and it definitely decreases distance but going with the wind you get extra carry so you might see longer distances.

    With your drive it's oddly backwards. Backspin will keep your drive up in the air longer for longer carry but the ball doesn't roll much at the end. With top spin the ball will roll more at the end but won't be in the air as long. Again, this is hitting from flat ground to flat ground. Hope this helps.  :-)

     

    *Edit--Ninja'd nicely by Kitty and Leon  ;-)

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