How to Put Backspin on a Golf Ball for Control

Backspin is one of the trickiest skills to master in golf, but with the proper mechanics, it’s something that will happen effortlessly. When you learn to put a backspin on a golf ball, it can really improve your game as it will open up many options, especially around the greens.

So, learning how to create a spin on the ball can undoubtedly take your game to the next level while lowering your handicap.

We won’t sugarcoat it. Yes, it can take a while to learn how to get backspin on the golf ball, but if you practice making the proper contact with the ball, you will be able to add or remove spin just by making small adjustments in your setup and swing.

Using just a bit of spin enables you to be so much more accurate with your shots, especially the shots like chips and pitches.

Beware though, this isn’t something you’ll master in one round or practice session, it takes lots of practice. Like every good thing in life, of course.

Put Backspin on Your Shots:  A Beginners Guide

Step 1: The Lie

Although from some lies you won’t be able to get much, if any, backspin, you will have to allow room for the ball to roll out after it lands.

While you can get some backspin with a grassy lie, you would have to hit it perfectly and have room for the club to slide under the ball.

Unless you’re a low-handicap player, from a lie, you would be better off letting the ball land and run instead of continuously trying to spin it.

Don’t try to get backspin when the ball is in the semi-rough.

Make sure you make a clean strike on the ball without having a lot of grass in the way.

The best place to practice these shots is on the fairway, the fringe of the green, or in a practice bunker where you will be forced to make good contact.

Step 2: The Ball

The softer the ball’s cover, the more spin you’ll get. That’s because it generates more friction between the club and the ball during the shot. I

If spin is your main objective, I would recommend you to play with a soft ball as practicing at the range with range balls you’ll get less backspin than you do with the ball you play on the course. So we would even recommend buying some used golf balls of the same brand you play with and using them just for practice.

It’s important to know how the ball you play on the course reacts, and different balls will have different results to avoid any kind of dissatisfaction in the course.

Step 3: The Correct Stance

Here’s a little guideline when it comes to the stance:

• Play the ball perfectly in the middle of your stance.

• Put 60-70% of your weight on your back foot to create a steeper angle of attack, with a downward strike, which is absolutely imperative for good contact and maximum spin.
•  Keep the stance open, aim slightly left of your target, and open your club face gradually.

Step 4: Striking The Ball

The final piece of the puzzle is the actual swing. Once you have the ball positioned correctly in your stance, keep your weight on your left side, and then strike down and through the shot. This will make the ball slide up the club face.

As a result, the grooves of your wedge will grab the ball and produce the backspin you desire.

Make sure you try to strike the back of the ball cleanly without taking a divot.

Key Things to Remember

1. The slope of the green can greatly affect the amount of spin on the ball. It is important to note that it is more challenging to make the ball bite on a downslope that is moving away from you.

2. So, Keep practicing! For me, this wasn’t something I got right until I worked with it for a while. It takes some time to master and you may have to adjust your stance, swing, and approach to the ball for optimal results. Also, don’t forget to experiment a little.

3. The more you open the face at the address, the more spin you are likely to get. My top tip is to open the face more when you are closer to the green.

4. What I used to do is, let’s say, if I’m in a green-side bunker, I’ll have the face already open. This step used to get me some real bite on the ball.

How to Get More Backspin on Wedge Shots

This is a great opportunity to generate backspin on your shots. Use your pitching wedge, loft wedge, or sand wedge near the green. Using a wedge, and making proper contact will give you more opportunity to spin the ball.

When you are closer to the hole, it’s important to open the face of your wedge to add loft, which will help you get the spin you desire.

However, keep in mind that the wedge already has plenty of loft, so avoid the temptation to scoop the ball. Instead, aim to pinch it off the turf with a slightly descending blow and try to fly it onto the green. This will help you achieve the desired spin and control the ball better.