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Golf Groove Sharpener and Wedge Groove Tool |
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How to Spin the Golf Ball Back on GreensBy: Byron Morris, Sr. ("Dr. Spin")Most tour players can easily put spin or "tour juice", as many call it, on wedges and short irons and back the ball up on the greens. This is important because most approach shots are high flying shots to elevated greens and target pins. The exception is approach shots on links style courses where many shots are run-up and/or playing in high wind.
Spinning a golf ball back on the green is an ultimate thrill for amateur players. Can the mortal 5-20 handicapper draw one back on a green consistently? The answer is "it depends". After performing research and surveys we have compiled this article on this valuable skill.
Clubs and Balls needed to Spin a Golf Ball Back
The proper golf club and ball choices will give the mid-handicapper the highest chance of successfully spinning the ball back. They include:
New Clean Grooves: Touring pro's change out their irons between 1 - 3 times per season. This is one of the biggest differences between pros and amateurs. Notice at pro tournaments and on TV that caddies always clean and dry every iron before every shot. This is to ensure maximum contact and spin.
Using 4 or even 5 wedges: In the Short Game Bible by Dave Pelz, he explains that over 60% of golf shot are made within 100 yards of the green. He recommends using 4 or even 5 wedges to lower scores. These could include the Pitching Wedge, Gap Wedge, Sand Wedge, Lob Wedge (60 degree) and even the X-Wedge (64-65 degree).
High-spin golf ball: Without a high spin ball, the mid-handicap amateur will not likely be able to spin it back. The spin rates of balls are advertised on ball packages, manufacturer's websites, and listed in the Precise Golfer's Golf Ball Comparison Table. Tests have determined that a high spin ball will spin at much as 2,000 RPM or more than a low spin ball when struck with a pitching wedge.
Skills to Spin a Golf Ball Back
With the right club and high spin balls, practice hitting from a practice area that slopes slightly into you (slight uphill lie) and into a green that is tilted towards you from back to front. Focus on the 'late release' that traps the ball between the clubface and the earth imparting maximum spin. The quicker your club-head speed at impact the more spin you will generate. It is important to work to generate the highest level of clubspeed at the bottom of your swing. Most amateurs actually begin to release the club too soon and lose clubhead speed at the critical moment of impact. One way to help is to practice trying to achieve maximum clubhead speed after impact.
"Hand Action" - Players that generate high club speed with short irons and wedges are typically using a lot of "hand speed and hand action" versus a "big body swing". To engrain the difference into your short game, try practicing both swing types with the same club to feel and see the different results. With the body swing, your are making a full shoulder and upper body swing back and through and the club and your hands are following the lead of your body's swing. With the "hand action" swing, you have somewhat more limited body turn, which is just fine for short shots, and using tremendous club lag with a quick forearm release through the strike area and follow through. For a good example, watch Sergio Garcia's golf swing. He uses a very late release and quick hand action to generate very high club head speed and ball spin.
Note that the wrist is staying cocked as long as possible through the downswing.
"Set up" - Set up with the ball back a few inches in your stance so the club descends onto the back of the ball at a steeper angle imparting more spin. A more upright posture will help impart the proper descending blow. If the ball is too far back, you will take all of the loft out of the club and hit a punch shot. Punch shots usually take one large hop and the stop. To test different ball positions, observe your divots. This pinching shot should produce a small to mid size divot, not a large dollar bill sized one.
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"I can't say enough good things about this golf club groove sharpener. It's given my old clubs new life and helped my short game tremendously at the same time."
- Mick Mathews, Vancouver, WA
"Love this golf groove sharpener and also great customer service. I will be recommending Wedge Doctor to friends."
- Bob Rutherford, Scottsdale, AZ
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USGA GROOVE RULE CHANGE
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