Nothing feels better than a perfectly struck wedge shot that lands softly on the green, takes one short hop, and stops right next to the pin. This shot, often called a check up, separates good players from average a lot of the time but is something any golfer can learn to do. This guide will walk you through the essential equipment, ball choices, and technique needed to add more spin to your short game and get your golf ball to check up on command.
Before we get into the technique, let's be clear about what we’re trying to achieve. When a golf ball “checks up,” it means it has been struck with enough backspin to counteract its forward momentum after landing. It isn't just about ripping the ball backwards like you see on a professional tour highlight reel - that requires incredible club head speed and perfect conditions. For most amateur golfers, a successful "check up" shot is one that hits the green, bounces once, perhaps rolls forward a few feet, and then stops dead. This gives you predictability and control, allowing you to attack pins instead of just hoping your ball stops somewhere on the putting surface.
This stopping power comes from one place: spin. Spin is generated by the friction between the clubface and the ball cover at the moment of impact. The more friction you can create, the more spin you can generate. The good news is that friction isn't just about swing speed, it's a combination of your equipment, your golf ball, and most importantly, your technique.
Think of generating spin as a three-part recipe. If you’re missing one of the main ingredients, the final result just won’t be the same. Let’s look at the club, the ball, and the swing that make it all happen.
You can’t create great spin with old, worn-out tools. Your wedges are your primary spin-generating clubs, and their condition is of the utmost importance.
Higher lofted wedges, like your sand wedge (typically 54°-56°) or lob wedge (58°-60°), are designed to produce a high launch and high spin. But the real secret lies in the grooves. Those little lines on the face of your wedge are meant to do one thing: channel away grass, debris, and moisture so the clubface can make clean contact with the ball. More importantly, the sharp edges of the grooves "bite" into the soft cover of the golf ball, which is what creates friction and generates a high spin rate.
Not all golf balls are created equal. Trying to spin a hard, two-piece distance ball is like trying to spin a rock - it’s just not designed for it. The type of ball you play has a massive impact on your ability to make it check up.
This is where it all comes together. With the right wedge and ball, you now need to deliver the club in a way that maximizes compression and friction. A "glancing" blow or a "scooping" motion will not work. You need to create a downward and accelerating strike.
Your setup pre-sets your ability to hit down on the ball. If you get this right, you’re already halfway there.
Many golfers make the mistake of trying to "help" the ball into the air. They get timid, decelerate into impact, and scoop at the ball. To generate spin, you must do the opposite. You must trust the loft on your wedge and commit to hitting down on the golf ball with acceleration.
The feeling is simple but can be scary at first: hit the little ball (the golf ball) before you hit the big ball (the earth).
Understanding the theory is great, but you need to feel it. Here are two drills you can do at the range to start mastering this shot.
This is a an all-time great drill for improving contact. Place a towel on the ground about a foot behind your golf ball. The goal is to set up to the ball and make a swing without your club touching the towel on the way back or, more importantly, on the way down. If you have a scooping motion, your swing will be too shallow and you will hit the towel before the ball. This drill forces you to create a steeper angle of attack and helps ingrained the feeling of hitting down on the ball.
Get a can of foot spray powder and spray a line on the ground perpendicular to your target line. Place a ball directly on that line. Your goal is to make swings where your divot starts on the line or, ideally, just in front of it (towards the target). Many amateurs will make divots that start behind the line, meaning they are hitting the ground before the ball. Practicing this will train your body to shift weight forward correctly and deliver that crisp, ball-first contact needed for spin.
Mastering how to make a golf ball check up boils down to three things: using a clean wedge with sharp grooves, playing a ball with a soft urethane cover, and consistently delivering the club downward with acceleration. Focus on hitting the ball first and trusting the loft to get the ball airborne - don’t try to scoop it.
Perfecting this shot takes practice. If you find yourself on the course faced with a tricky little shot and are not sure if you should try to spin it or play a simple bump-and-run, our app can provide instant guidance. By analyzing the distance, lie, and green conditions, Caddie AI offers simple, smart strategy to help you make the right play, giving you the confidence to execute your best shot.
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