Benefits of backspin

If you managed to see any of the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island last weekend, you will have clearly seen the importance of the players avoiding the rough, particularly on their approach shots, writes Matt Chalmers.

When the players were pitching from the fairway, it was incredible to see how much backspin they could get, even from only a few yards off the green. The ability to spin the ball affords the players far more shot options than they would have had, had they found themselves in the rough. Let’s discuss one way that you can get your ball to stop quicker when you pitch onto the green.

When you are playing a standard pitch shot, you should make sure that your hips and shoulders are parallel to the ball to target line. This allows you to swing up and down said line with a square club face, sending the ball towards the target. If you’d like to get your ball to stop a little quicker, have a go at the following shot.

Choose your most lofted wedge and set up as you would for a normal pitch shot. Pre-set your club face into an open position so that it is pointing to the right of the target (for a right-handed player). Next, open up your stance, hips and shoulders so that they are pointing to the left of your target.

The idea now is that you swing the club along the line of your feet and feel as if you are sliding the club across the ball. It will probably feel similar to a tennis drop shot. If you execute this shot correctly, you should see the ball fly a little higher and with a slightly left to right flight. When it lands, the ball should spin towards the target and stop quickly.

This is a shot that requires significant practice and confidence to pull off successfully. However, if you have it in your locker, it expands your short game arsenal and gives you a better chance of getting up and down from tough positions. Good luck!