How Does Spin Affect a Golf Shot?

Why Spin a Golf Shot

Most golfers and fans of the sport have seen the top pros stand over an approach shot, execute it, watch it hit the green and bounce forward--and then spin backward. The resulting shot ends up on the green, leaving the top pro an excellent chance at making a birdie putt. The average golfer can also learn to put spin on the golf ball so that it will end up on the green and perhaps closer to the hole. While a pro may end up in position to make a birdie, a good amateur may have a better chance at making a par after spinning a shot. In any event, learning to put spin on a golf ball will help a golfer improve his score and enjoy the round more because of it.

Use the Proper Club and Keep it Clean

Technology has had a dramatic impact on golf. Instead of carrying a pitching wedge and a sand wedge, many golfers carry two or three types of wedges. One of them is called a lob wedge; it allows a golfer to hit the ball high and land it softly. The club face is at a 60-degree angle. Most golfers believe that the lob wedge is the best club to use when trying to spin a shot and draw it closer to the flag stick.

You will notice there are are rectangular grooves on the face of just about every club. These grooves are particularly pronounced on the lob wedge. It is important to check the face of your club every time you hit it. If your club head is going to impact the ball squarely and put spiin on it, you want to make sure the grooves do their work by ensuring that the club is clean. This is easy. Just take a towel and wipe the club head face. If any dirt has been embedded in the grooves, take one of your wooden tees and use the pointy end of the tee and run it along the dirty grooves. This will get all the dirt and debris out.

The Correct Swing

Play the golf ball close to your backfoot when hitting an approach shot with your lob wedge. With a normal fairway shot, it's fine to take a bit of divot prior to striking the ball but not when spinning a shot. Come down directly on the ball and then follow through. The direct impact with the ball will cause the ball to spin quickly, bounce when it hits the green and then back up after it lands.

The lob wedge should accomodate shots of 40 to 100 yards, depending on how hard you swing and how much distance you generate. If you normally hit your wedge about 100 yards, you can also use it on a 60-yards shot by slowing your swing down about 40 percent.