Understanding Spin in Golf

Until recently, spin in golf was an often misunderstood concept amongst the general golfing public. With the advent and improvement of launch monitor technology and the subsequent distance and control gains seen by golfers with new low spin drivers, it is starting to be on more people’s minds when looking at the proper equipment for their games.  

It was in the early beginnings of golf that players began to realize that their new smooth golf balls didn’t fly as far or as true as their used balls that had been nicked and scuffed through their use. It wasn’t long until golf balls were then intentionally beaten up to improve their performance. This was the early beginnings of what later became the dimples on the golf ball.

Dimples are important because they rely on the same aerodynamic principles that allow planes to take flight. The principles of lift and drag, and a physics phenomena called the Magnus Effect which, without trying to get too technical, is the result of a spinning object in a liquid or gas (called the medium) that has the object pull the medium (air) in one direction and has the medium (air, again) push the object in the other. This creates both high pressure and low-pressure environments around that same object. In the case of a golf ball or airplane wing, it creates high pressure below and low pressure on top which produces lift. Too much spin, therefore, equates to too much lift and soars the golf ball too high in the air and significantly decreases the distance.

Managing spin rates is a key fundamental in modern club fitting and is a sure way to increase both accuracy and distance.

Come visit our pro shop and we’ll be happy to discuss which set of balls might work best for your shot.