Getting spin with chip/pitch shots

[The Real Deal]

I'm playing with a guy who is able to get his shots from let's say 15-30 metres to land near the hole and stop with lots of spin, even from poorer lies; I don't seem to be able to do this. I have some queries with this-

(1) he uses a softer ball i.e Pro V whereas I use a normal Titleist NXT Tour (harder ball). Is the type of ball critical?

(2) is the best way to play this by placing the ball back in your stance and keeping your hands ahead of the ball?

(3) do you need a really good sw/lw to able to spin the ball or is it more to do with technique and constantly cleaning the grooves?

Any help would be much appreciated.

[GregJWillis]

Re: Getting spin with chip/pitch shots

1) yes
2) yes, and soft hands
3) yes

[BrianW]

Re: Getting spin with chip/pitch shots

I agree yes to all. One more thing: There are two ways to stop a ball up quickly from this distance: 1) Spin. 2) Trajectory.

With spin you need to strike down crisply into the ball then turf, a soft strike will not work.

For trajectory you need to use club loft, you may need to open the club face to get enough.

[GolfJunkieSr]

Re: Getting spin with chip/pitch shots

Here's an interesting tid bit. I was at swap/flea market a while back I picked up a game of "golf pool" where the player uses golf balls with regular pool ball marking on them. I needed to replace the 14 balls I use to practice with, and these balls were in new condition. I figured for $5 what the heck. Once on the chipping, pitching practice greens I noticed that these "pool" balls would land on the green with more spin than my actual game balls. They would land on the green, and check up very quickly. I do not know what brand of ball these were. The only thing I could figure out was the paint designed applied to the ball to give them the "pool" ball appearance gave them extra bite when the club face impacted them.

Please note, I am always looking for different balls to create more back spin with. I have yet to find a ball with superior back spin when my swing, and impact collide with it. Then again my swing speed is not that high to begin with

Another issue was that since these balls checked up much better than my game balls, I had to quit practicing with them. To get them to stop as close to the hole as my game balls, I had to hit them harder. If I hit my game balls that hard, they would finish quite a ways past the hole.

Just messing around, I decided to play a round golf with one of these pool balls. They are probably not conforming, but never the less they did play well. What they lacked in distance, being about about 1 club shorter, they more than made up with back spin.

Like I said, I have to believe what ever the material used to give these ball a "pool ball" look had to be what gave the extra spin. As for scuffing up, or missing paint, I did not see it so what ever the colored designed finish was made out of, it was pretty tough stuff........GJS

[Slavera]

Re: Getting spin with chip/pitch shots

Here's an interesting tid bit. I was at swap/flea market a while back I picked up a game of "golf pool" where the player uses golf balls with regular pool ball marking on them. I needed to replace the 14 balls I use to practice with, and these balls were in new condition. I figured for $5 what the heck. Once on the chipping, pitching practice greens I noticed that these "pool" balls would land on the green with more spin than my actual game balls. They would land on the green, and check up very quickly. I do not know what brand of ball these were. The only thing I could figure out was the paint designed applied to the ball to give them the "pool" ball appearance gave them extra bite when the club face impacted them.

Please note, I am always looking for different balls to create more back spin with. I have yet to find a ball with superior back spin when my swing, and impact collide with it. Then again my swing speed is not that high to begin with

Another issue was that since these balls checked up much better than my game balls, I had to quit practicing with them. To get them to stop as close to the hole as my game balls, I had to hit them harder. If I hit my game balls that hard, they would finish quite a ways past the hole.

Just messing around, I decided to play a round golf with one of these pool balls. They are probably not conforming, but never the less they did play well. What they lacked in distance, being about about 1 club shorter, they more than made up with back spin.

Like I said, I have to believe what ever the material used to give these ball a "pool ball" look had to be what gave the extra spin. As for scuffing up, or missing paint, I did not see it so what ever the colored designed finish was made out of, it was pretty tough stuff........GJS

You need to apply plenty of CHALK to the club-face fella............

[GolfJunkieSr]

Re: Getting spin with chip/pitch shots

That, or some polyurethane to the golf ball.

You need to apply plenty of CHALK to the club-face fella............

[golfshooter]

Re: Getting spin with chip/pitch shots

Interesting things golf balls,I have been experimenting a bit of late. I normally use an nxt and can pretty much get it to drop and stop. I tried using nike and found it to be similar, the a srixon ad333, about the same result. And by drop and stop I mean maybe 3 short bounces inside 3ft. I was in our local department store and thought what the hell I will try a box of maxfli distance at about $1.50 a ball. Well they were like hitting a rock off the tee but certainly went the distance, the real surprise came at the green where they stopped with 1 bounce spot on target, half the time even that bounce was negligible. They where very predictable, easy to use and finished the game scuff free. So screw the others this is a very competitive ball at a very reasonable cost.
Regards, Peter.

[Golf_Densetsu]

Re: Getting spin with chip/pitch shots

I have found 2 golf balls that have backspin with MY swing. now, yes i have tried many different ones. I started with Nike One Tour didnt get the results i wanted. then i tried Pro V1 and 1x. same thing with those. (the ball did not check up, it would bounce once and then release) then i just decided to go to a cheap ball. (wasting too much to find a good result) i purchased Top Flight Gamer V2. it's a three piece ball great feel off the tee, good distance. and then i came to the green and played it to release like everything else. but instead it checked up and left me with a long put. i thought it was a fluke but next hole i hit it close and same thing. i was able to put a lot of spin on this ball. but that's only chipping not hitting a shot ON the green. i had to get a lot of loft with the V2 to get it to stick but even then it was difficult. then i was recommended the Srixon Z Star by a friend of mine. I tell you now i will never play a different ball. just as a precaution i've purchased 5 dozen of these just in case they stop selling. this ball has GREAT distance, GREAT feel, and also GREAT spin with my swing. i can check the ball on chips, back it up with my iron shots (only 7-SW though) i recommend trying different ones, just try them out. you dont really need to change your swing to find the results. sometimes it with what ball you play.

Good Luck.

[KrudlerAce]

Spot On

Yes I agree with Brian W's response.

I would probably only add to have a little more weight on your left side (right hander). This encourages the necessary downward strike on the golf ball to create the crisp contact.

I personally use the Titleist Pro V1x and can get the ball to stop pretty quickly. I would imagine you would be able to do the same thing with other balls. Technique is first and foremost though.

[hoform22xu]

Re: Getting spin with chip/pitch shots

I agree yes to all.