How To Spin The Golf Ball

The Tour pros make it look easy, don't they? Being able to play aggressive shots into and around the greens, and stop it close to the pin, is a skill we'd all like to have.The question is: how do you spin the golf ball? 

Of course, the best golf wedges will help, as will the best premium golf balls - and you can't expect to get too much reaction if your grooves are worn or filled with dirt. Then, it's all about technique - or, as the pros will often tell you - "it's all about the strike". 

For the avoidance of doubt, we're talking here about creating spin when you chip around the green - the shot that grabs on its second bounce and rolls out satisfyingly to the hole. To do it, you need to make proper contact - here's how.

Ball Back, Lots Of Loft

Set the ball further back in your stance at address and lean the shaft forward, as you need to hit it on the way down early in your swing's arc. This will help you compress the ball and deliver a clean downward strike that uses the bottom grooves to pinch the ball and produce the maximum spin you can for the speed you're generating. You need a lot of loft in terms of the club you use, but the angle of attack is a little downward and taking the dynamic loft off as you swing. Getting the perfect ball position here will help you deliver a fairly low flight that's loaded with spin.

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'Cover' The Ball

As you swing back, the clubface should be a little closed. Then, you're trying to prevent the right hand from getting under the ball and letting the clubhead pass the hand. Try to keep everything quite shallow and 'cover' the ball with your sternum at impact, almost as though you're trying to smother the ball, for want of a better word. That little bit of shaft lean at address and more weight on your front foot will help. 

Assess The Conditions

Of course, even before playing the shot, you always need to assess the conditions. Sometimes spin will be very difficult to achieve, so be realistic. You need friction, so dirty grooves or any moisture between clubface and ball (as above) will make spin all but impossible. 

Wind, slope and ground conditions have a big bearing, too - uphill into the wind is great, but downhill on to a rock hard green will probably require a different shot so be realistic with your expectations and your planning. The spinny shot looks great and actually allows you to be quite aggressive with your speed which can help you commit to the shot, but it won't always be a wise option.