Getting your wedge shots to take one hop and stop dead on the green isn't some unobtainable pro-level skill. It comes down to one thing: controlling spin. Whether you want to zip a wedge back, run a chip shot up to the pin, or gently shape a shot around a dogleg, understanding how to manipulate spin is foundational to better golf. This guide will walk you through exactly what creates spin and how you can manage it to hit the shots you see in your mind.
Before we can control spin, we need a basic grasp of what causes it. On every shot, the golf ball is compressed against the clubface at impact. For a split second, the grooves on the clubface "grab" the cover of the ball. As the club continues to move upward and forward through impact, this grabbing action imparts rotation on the ball. This is primarily what we call backspin.
But what really determines *how much* spin you get? It’s a concept called spin loft. This is simply the difference between two things:
A larger difference between your dynamic loft and your angle of attack creates more spin. Think about a wedge shot: you hit down on the ball (a negative angle of attack) with a lot of loft on the clubface. This massive difference is what generates that thrilling, high-spinning shot. The steeper you hit down and the more loft you present at impact, the more grip the grooves create, leading to higher spin rates.
Three other factors also play a major role:
For those approach shots where you need the ball to land softly and stop quickly, generating a high amount of backspin is the goal. This is the shot that gives you pin-hunting confidence from 100 yards and in.
You can't create check-spin without the right tools. Your best bet is a wedge with 56 degrees of loft or higher (a sand wedge or lob wedge). Equally important is the golf ball. You need a premium ball with a soft urethane cover. Trying to spin a hard, two-piece 'distance' ball is an uphill battle, its firm cover is designed to reduce spin for straighter drives, which works against you around the greens.
To promote the downward strike required for high spin, you need to make a few small adjustments at address.
Hitting a high-spin wedge isn't about wildly chopping down on the ball. It’s a controlled, aggressive motion where you focus on quality of strike. The feeling is one of squeezing or pinching the ball between the clubface and the turf.
In the backswing, feel a bit more wrist hinge than you might on a normal shot. Then, on the way down, focus on maintaining your speed and accelerating through the ball. Many amateur golfers slow down into impact, afraid of hitting it too far. This is a spin-killer. Trust the loft of the club to control the distance and commit to accelerating through the turf after you make contact. Think "ball first, then turf." That crisp sound and clean, shallow divot in front of where the ball was is the sign you've done it correctly.
Sometimes, high spin is your enemy. When you need a chip shot to land on the green and run out towards the hole, or you're playing into a stiff wind, reducing spin is the play. The classic bump-and-run is the perfect example.
Ditch the lob wedge. To reduce spin, you want less loft. For a basic chip, try using a pitching wedge or even a 9-iron. For a longer bump-and-run from off the green, an 8-iron or 7-iron can be a fantastic choice. The lower loft gets the ball rolling sooner, just like a putt.
Your setup for a low-spin shot is essentially the opposite of the high-spin setup.
The swing for a low-releasing chip has almost no wrist action at all. It’s much more like a putting stroke. Use your shoulders and arms to create a simple, one-piece motion back and through. Keep your lower body quiet. The goal is not to "hit" the ball, but to simply make contact as your weight stays forward. The feeling is one of just bumping the ball off the face and letting it start tumbling forward toward the hole as soon as possible.
Draws and fades are just backspin tilted on an axis. Controlling this sidespin is all about the relationship between your club path (the direction the club is swinging) and your clubface angle at impact. It’s much simpler than it sounds.
To hit a draw, you need your club path to be moving from "in-to-out" relative to your target line, with the clubface slightly closed to that path (but still open to the final target).
A fade is the mirror image. You need your club path to be "out-to-in" relative to the target line, with your clubface open to that path.
Controlling spin is about adjusting your technique to meet the demands of the shot. By understanding the principles of loft, angle of attack, friction, and path, you can move beyond simply hitting the ball and start playing the game with intention, creativity, and much more control.
While learning these concepts is a huge step, executing them in tricky situations on the course is the real challenge. When you're standing over a ball buried in the rough or facing a slippery downhill chip, figuring out the right spin to apply can be tough. It's in those moments our app, Caddie AI, can serve as a trusted guide. You can snap a photo of your lie, and our AI analyzes the situation and immediately provides a straightforward plan, telling you the best shot to play - whether that's a high-spin flop or running a low-spin chip to safety.
Thinking about hosting a golf tournament fundraiser is the first swing, executing it successfully is what gets the ball in the hole. This guide will walk you through the entire process, step-by-step, from laying the initial groundwork months in advance to watching your happy golfers tee off. We’ll cover everything from securing sponsors and setting your budget to planning the on-course fun that makes an event unforgettable.
A golf handicap does more than just give you bragging rights (or a reason to demand strokes from your friends) - it’s the game’s great equalizer and the single best way to track your improvement. This guide breaks down what a handicap is, how the supportive math behind a handicap index a is, and exactly how you can get one for yourself. We’ll look at everything from Course Rating to Adjusted Gross Score, helping you feel confident both on the course and in the clubhouse.
The compression of a Pinnacle Rush golf ball is one of its most defining features, engineered specifically to help a huge swath of golfers get more distance and enjoyment from their game. We'll break down exactly what its low compression means, who it's for, and how you can use that knowledge to shoot lower scores.
Figuring out which spikes go into your new (or old) pair of Puma golf shoes can feel like a puzzle, but it’s much simpler than you think. The key isn't the brand of the shoe, but the type of receptacle system they use. This guide will walk you through exactly how to identify your Puma's spike system, choose the perfect replacements for your game, and change them out like a pro.
The Golf Genius app is one of the best tools for managing and participating in competitive golf events, but figuring it out for the first time can feel like reading a new set of greens. This guide cuts through the confusion and shows you exactly how to use the app as a player. We’ll cover everything from logging into your tournament and entering scores to checking the live leaderboard so you can enjoy the competition without any tech headaches.
Walking onto the first tee with sweaty palms, worried you’ll be a good partner to paly wtih...or even asked back again ...We’ve all been there - trust me! The real trick of feeling confortable... is about how you handle you’re ready to plsy. THIS guide explains the simple rules of the rode to show you hnow t play golf while staying calm relaxed and focused... an having much morse fun while you,',re aat it? You'll also play with confidence a dn make fiendsa while you're at i
Just ask a question or share a photo and Caddie gives personalized guidance for every shot - anytime, anywhere.
