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So Im on the golf team and getting to play a whole lot more which is cool. I am learning some new things from my friend and basically junior golf pro, Todd. He is a really good player and has been able to help me improve my game and lower my scores.

There is something that he has that I want really badly though. Backspin.

On the practice green at our home course he can send a pitch up, drop it down and spin it back quite a distance. I have asked him for advice on the subject, and he has tried to show me, but I cannot seem to grasp the concept.

As far as I know from him and other threads on the board, the goal is to sort of "cut" across the ball without leaving much of a divot.

I believe one problem I have with doing this is that I have somewhat of a sweeping swing. I have tried to attack the ball from a more upright position but the ball either just lobs up, plops and rolls a bit with no noticable spin at all, or I catch it thin and it runs across the green.

I understand this is a very difficult thing to do but I am really interesting in learning it. Probably the best thing for me to do is continue to seek one-on-one instruction for it, but I was hoping maybe someone on the board could clarify a bit.

Thanks.

Im that good at creating backspin either but what I do know is, dont try to make it spin out of the rough only the fairway. And to create backspin I heard you have to hit more down on the ball, if you have a sweeping swing liek you say thats more than likly a huge factor. Also I think swing speed dictates how much backspin it has to. Thats about all I know...

Having clean grooves plays a lot in putting backspin on the ball. Also you have to hit the ball before you take a divot. Normally when putting backspin on the ball, it is normally further back in your stance, so you can hit down on it some more. The highest club I can spin back is a 9 iron.

And also make sure your not trying to backspin one of those titanium super distance whatever golf balls. Before I became more "enlightend" I use to try to get backspin with them and I was alwase like "WTF why isnt this working???"

Hitting down on the ball, clubhead speed, type of grooves & type of ball are all factors. You don't want to hit accross the ball and you do want to take a divot if you want the ball to have backspin. But the more important question is why do you want backspin ? As long as you're getting enough spin to get the ball to check up, why do you want it coming back at you. I like the ball to stop pretty much where it lands. I know it looks cool on TV and all, but you're going to be too far away to appreciate the effect and as often as not backing up a ball will take it further from the hole rather than closer.

All cutting across the ball will get you is a bad slice or a dreaded Sh**k. Cuttin across will only create side spin, not back spin. While backspin looks cool and impresses your buddies, it's very hard to control and pointless unless you're flying all your approach shots past the pin. If you can stop the ball consistantly, you're way ahead of the game.

I don't know how many times too much backspin has caused me problems. Countless times I've had shots spin off greens that if they would have just hit and stopped I'd been in a much better situation...But I have to admit spinning a ball backwards does look super cool

Backspin is achieved by solid contact to the "Little" ball, before you hit the "Big" ball. Don't worry so much about this, but this little drill will help your ballstriking tremendously:

To improve your ballstriking, hit full shots (-6 or -7 iron) out of a FAIRWAY BUNKER. This is GUARANTEED to improve your ballstriking, since it's impossible to hit the ball cleanly unless you're hitting the ball before you hit the sand.

If your practice area doesn't have a fairway bunker, just look for a large divot area, and hit balls from there (not from the grass). Hit several full shots, and I GUARANTEE you that your ballstriking will improve.

A tip that works for me is to add more wrist action... I guess it's a little more cock in the wrists, in my mind. That sends the ball very high with loads of spin. Or else there's the punch shot that spins like crazy but flies lower... for both, I am sure to strike with a pretty well descending blow.

I stopped spinning the ball for a reason. The last time I did it I had just pounded a monster drive about 340, cutting a dogleg over a pond. I had about 70 yards left and I pulled out my trusty 55* stinger wedge. Hit a nice smooth 3/4 shot with loads of backspin. Spun it from 3 feet to the pin back off the green into a bunker. End result. Bad bunker shot and 2 putts for bogey. If I would have just stuck it instead of being fancy I would have birdied the ******* hole. Course management is a big factor in shooting better scores.

**** Wish i could drive it 370 man i'm lucky to get 270. lol

guys, he is talking about a short game shot not full irons or wedges. Taytay, like others have said ball type, hitting ball first, and clean grooves are important. Another key thing is to ACCELLERATE THROUGH the ball. the fastest part of the chip/pitch should be after the ball has left the club face. One way to do this is to take a backswing that you think is too short and think of accleraring as fast as you can so you get the ball to the hole with the short backswing

I was showed this technique by a guy once to do what you're asking. Its really pretty worthless IMO unless you're trying to impress someone by having a ball spin back. Its to hard to judge distances and how much the ball will spin by doing it, therefore its not really a safe shot.

Anyway, stand with your club face (probably a LW) aiming at your target. Place the ball back slightly in your stance (if you're right handed the ball will be played more off your right foot). Open your feet to aim left of the target. Now just swing along your feet line. By swinging on your feet line you'll have that "cut" swing producing alot of spin.

I agree with you wazman, I tried practicing it one time and it was kinda hard to master.....
I'd rather just play it from where it lands too