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club distance(topspin vs. backspin)

• jcs89 172 Posts

  Sat, Apr 30 2011 6:26 PM

  Just did a little testing with conditions as follows:

  Hole and conditions:  Bethpage #10(fairway only hitting back and forth) with minimal 2 mph crosswind, practice round

  Club used: G-10 PW (115 yd)

  Ball:  Calloway z(non legend)

  Purpose: to determine distance of carry- full topspin vs full backspin

  Results: 

  full topspin: swing 1:  118 yds carry(dinged)     

                     swing 2    115 yds carry(med. ding miss)

                     swing 3    115 yds carry(dinged)

                    swing 4     115 yds carry(dinged)

  full backspin  swing 1  110 yds carry(dinged)

                        swing 2   111 yds carry (dinged)

                        swing 3    108 yds carry (med. ding miss)

                       swing 4     110 yds carry (med. ding miss)

  Findings:  Balls hit with full topspin(dot top) carried further(not counting roll) on every attempt than balls hit with full backspin(dot bottom).  These results were achieved with virtually no changes in elevation.  This is the opposite as i would expect as I almost always play full backspin to achieve maximum carry(over traps, water, rough..etc).  I only tried this using the PW. Any thoughts or remarks would be appreciated.

  Thanks,

  jcs89

• bladelad 147 Posts

  Sat, Apr 30 2011 7:02 PM

  I did a similar test myself using Ping G10 8.0 Driver, and found topspin always carried further in my opinion with a headwind or tailwind.

• piztaker 5,743 Posts

  Sat, Apr 30 2011 9:41 PM

  When you say CARRY, do you mean where the ball landed or where it finished?

• jcs89 172 Posts

  Sat, Apr 30 2011 10:29 PM

  I mean where the ball landed, actual carry......backspin shots stopped almost where they landed and topspin roll on a little more.  Topspin shots still had more carry than backspin shots.

• YankeeJim 25,827 Posts

  Sat, Apr 30 2011 11:42 PM

  Given the high loft of the G10s, the spin has always been a  way to control the distance. Back spin always shortened the club while top always added distance. This is using the Tour-SD ball and your research backs this up.

  Oftentimes, dropping a club and hitting it full with topspin works better than a higher club choked or spun.

• TheAceFactor 2,147 Posts

  Sun, May 1 2011 10:01 AM

  I agree with all (except)  Blade's headwind / tailwind theory. 3/4 to full BS in a tailwind works better for me , where topspin tends to take a dive. Everyone has their own style. "Links"  or  "Darts"  ...       Take your pick.  I like a little of both.

                                                                                                                       Ace

• jcs89 172 Posts

  Sun, May 1 2011 11:22 AM

  I haven't checked, but I'm almost positive my driver carries further using backspin than with topspin.  I usually use 3/4 bs on drives w small headwinds, crosswinds, or tailwinds.  I use full bs on drives when i think i need extra carry, and i use some topspin on drives into a significant headwind.  Still not sure if this is the best method...

• YankeeJim 25,827 Posts

  Sun, May 1 2011 12:22 PM

  jcs89:

  I haven't checked, but I'm almost positive my driver carries further using backspin than with topspin.

  It does. Off the tee is opposite of anywhere else. Figure that!  :-)

• golfentwilly 158 Posts

  Sun, May 1 2011 12:33 PM

  All I know is,When I'm on the course,If I hit a backspin high shot with a desent tail wind,I get 20 + yrds of carry ,about 45+ overall disstance.

  but thats me

• mastershred 25 Posts

  Mon, May 2 2011 12:15 AM

  with only a 2 to 3 yd difference, i would think the important topic would be how to hit them straight....just a thought :)