golfrewind.com

I've noticed that nowadays on all my approach shots which hit the green, the ball will catch the green and then bounce back. It's a little annoying since my iron play is a little short and I've been having to add an extra club to compensate. Is this primarily a winter thing (greens being softer than usual)?

Correct me people if im wrong but i think(shrug) the ball spins more when the green is firmer and NOT soft.
The way to spin a ball is hitting down on it; i think. i dont spin any iron shots except for my 52,55,58. My Pw comes in to hot for spin and rolls a little. but this is just me and to be honest im not any good really...
If i was you i would play the spin as a benifit and maybe use 2 irons up, aim for the backside of the green and spin it towards the hole! That sure would be fun to watch and perfect with time and practice.

Since you asked....I'll be the first to correct you. The ball spins much much more on soft greens than it does on firm ones. :nodsmiley There's no question about that.

if it's backing up to much, maybe you should try a different ball. but you are doing something right if you're getting that much spin on the ball.

Yeah about the ball spinning back...you could think of it like this. If you hit your ball on concreate it should spin back a bunch because its even harder than the green...but that's wrong. Like league said the softer the better.

Now you might be thinking that harder is better for spinning because the green the pros play are so fast right? Well they are super fast, but doesn't mean they are hard, they are just well taken care of where they are cut really low and are somewhat soft.

Softer, SMOOTH greens allow the ball to spin more.

If your ball is spinning back that much, you should change your ball to a slightly harder cover (at least for now) when the greens go back to firm, switch back. The other option is to take more club and swing easier. Easier swing = less spin.

It sounds as if you are making a crisp contact on the ball, which is to be envied. Don't worry too much about it so long as you are consistant. Then you can make allowances for it. Good luck.

My 5 iron is my most used approach club (from about 150-155 yards out). If I add another club then I'd have to hit a 4 iron. I'm a lot less consistent with my 3 (about 170-180) and 4 iron (160-170) although I hit both of those high and with a lot of spin (no roll or bounce back). My balls tend to shoot up (almost exponentially), especially when I "pinch" the ball.

Noobie,

I dont know how long you've played this game. But Welcome to the club...hehehe. Most Golfers (Touring Pro's included) who get spin on the greens DO NOT WANT IT. It's the hardest thing to manage in our Cra-Z game. It sounds to me as if you have a good knowledge of pinching the ball (as you say), might I suggest a shot that may benefit you?

Try playing that same shot just off your left big toe? you may need to play with the exact ball location, but you will find that the balls trajectory goes noticably higher, with a 5 - 10 yd loss of yardage and should and will land much softer.... w/much less spin, if any at all!!!!

Also playing this shot of the toe of the Iron also adds to a softer landing w/ a bit of a fade(right)....

Happy Experimenting... enjoy your journey

Do NOT, I repeat, Do NOT change your swing. If you are happy with the trajectory, change the ball. Sometimes it IS the equipment, NOT the player.

jc, if one can pinch the ball really well as it should be and it balloons, maybe the angle of attack is a little to steep. would a little flatter angle correct some of the balloon effect? or would that be to much of a swing change? just wondering.

Changing the angle of attack could be as simple as sliding the ball forward in the stance slightly. THAT is not too extreme of a swing change. If the angle is very steep then I WOULD try that first but if the angle is good and you are happy with your swing but the ball still spins too much, THEN change the ball. I am not sure how many follow this close but Tiger has both of the NIKE One balls (and any other ball he desires) but switches between the two depending on the conditions.

Thnx for the tip. I'll try that next time. Currently I play my irons off the inside of my left shoulder.

I know I have a steep angle of attack. I'm gonna video tape myself today at the range. Perhaps, you guys can comment about my angle when I post it later on.

Cooperhack,

What you may have heard is that you get more backspin making a shop off of a tight lie (thin lie with firm ground as an example).

Noobie,

I agree with Jc, "not to make a swing change but to take an easyer swing" and I would add a more sweeping swing.

also too, I find that when I swing faster, that speed puts more spin on the ball, and up it goes... if I need a lower traj, I'll take more club, swing slower and more smooth and the ball will fly lower and hit, bounce and roll more...