Wondering how to put a backspin on a golf ball? Read on for tips, drills, and our recommendations on the best golf balls for backspin, and you’ll be a backspin pro in no time.
How to Put a Backspin on a Golf Ball
What is Backspin on a Golf Ball? How Will it Help Your Game?
Backspin is the backwards rotation (towards the player) of a golf ball as it moves through the air. Putting backspin on a ball creates more lift, which means your ball can travel further. Backspin also helps to control where a ball goes once it hits the ground and helps it roll forward less, keeping the ball on the green when it lands there.
To put a backspin on a ball, there are a few things you need to focus on.
First, the steeper the angle of your club as it makes contact with your ball, the better backspin you’re going to get. The face angle of your club is also important–you want to hit your ball with a square face for the best backspin. You should also make sure that the grooves on your club face are clean before you swing. This ensures that your ball will come into contact with the most surface area of the club face.
Golf Ball Topspin vs. Backspin
It is important not to confuse topspin with backspin. Topspin is the rotation of a golf ball away from the player, while backspin is the rotation of a ball toward the player. Topspin is generally beneficial for putting because it helps the ball move in a straight line toward the hole. Backspin, on the other hand, is used to increase loft and help control the ball when it lands.
Golf Backspin Drills
A good way to get comfortable with backspin is to practice these two simple drills regularly. These drills will help you produce consistent, controlled backspin when you want it.
Impact Bag Drill
For this drill, practice taking swings into an impact bag (just hit the bag with your club, don’t use a ball). Pay attention to the angle of your club and keep hitting the impact bag until you can consistently hit it with a square face. This drill will help you get confident in your ability to square up your club when you want to, which will give your ball backspin.
Weighted Club Drill
Upping your swing speed increases your backspin. So how do you increase your swing speed? It’s all about strength. The easiest way to increase strength in your golf-swing muscles is with the weighted club drill. You can purchase a ring-shaped weight (check golf pro shops) to slide onto your club, giving it extra heft. Practice swinging your club with the weight on it. This will help build up the muscles that you use when you swing and make it easier to get a faster swing speed–and more backspin.
Best Golf Balls for Backspin
Another thing that you can do to improve your backspin is to make sure that you’re using the right ball for the job. Choose a ball with a large inner core, soft feel, and a cover designed to increase backspin. Here are the three best golf balls for backspin, in our opinion.
Titleist Pro V1
The Titleist Pro V1 is a favorite of many golfers because it is such a playable ball for golfers of all skill levels. It boasts a great spin rate, which means it is a great ball for backspin as well. The Pro V1 also features a reformulated 2.0 ZG process core, soft feel, and is known for long distance, consistent flight, and short-game control.
Srixon Z STAR
The high-performance Srixon Z-STAR is popular for its soft feel, distance, and good control. In addition, it has a soft elastic Spin Skin cover, which makes for easier backspin. The Z-STAR is designed to elevate every aspect of your game.
Callaway Chrome Soft
The Callaway Chrome Soft ball offers very high spin and very soft feel, making it a great choice for golfers working on their backspin. The Chrome Soft features a SoftFast core, Tour urethane cover and three-piece construction
Titleist Pro V1
The Titleist Pro V1 is a favorite of many golfers because it is such a playable ball for golfers of all skill levels. It boasts a great spin rate, which means it is a great ball for backspin as well. The Pro V1 also features a reformulated 2.0 ZG process core, soft feel, and is known for long distance, consistent flight, and short-game control.
Srixon Z STAR
The high-performance Srixon Z-STAR is popular for its soft feel, distance, and good control. In addition, it has a soft elastic Spin Skin cover, which makes for easier backspin. The Z-STAR is designed to elevate every aspect of your game.
Callaway Chrome Soft
The Callaway Chrome Soft ball offers very high spin and very soft feel, making it a great choice for golfers working on their backspin. The Chrome Soft features a SoftFast core, Tour urethane cover and three-piece construction
