Explaining Golf Ball Spin Rate

Explaining Golf Ball Spin Rate

Golf is a game about spin. If you aren’t controlling the spin on your golf ball properly, you are going to be in trouble out on the course. Many new golfers quickly learn that spin is important, but they miss one important piece – understanding how the golf ball they use impacts the spin they produce. In this article, we’ll take a high-level view of golf ball spin rate and how it affects your game. 

Is Spin Good or Bad?

You might be confused about whether spin in golf is a good thing or a bad thing. Do you want more of it, or less of it? Well, the answer is yes – you both want less and more, depending on the situation. For example, lowering the spin rate on your driver shots may help you get more distance. However, you’ll want a higher spin rate on your short iron shots, so the ball will stop shortly after it lands. The trick isn’t to get more or less spin in all situations. Rather, the trick is to get more spin when you want it, and less when you don’t. 

A Matter of Control

It’s easy to think about spin rates just in terms of backspin, but there is sidespin to consider, as well. If a ball is designed to spin at a high rate, it’s going to do so in any direction – so if you cut across the ball at impact, you’ll end up with a lot of side spin and the ball will slice badly off target. Before using a higher spin ball, it’s important to make sure that you have the necessary skill to control that ball reasonably well. If you are dealing with a nasty slice or hook already, making the switch to a ball with more spin is only going to make things worse. 

A Cost Correlation

If you are looking for a quick and easy way to determine how much a golf ball is going to spin, just look at its price tag. As the price goes up, so too does the spin rate, in most cases. Budget golf balls tend to spin very little, while more expensive, tour-style balls will offer impressive spin rates. Lower-cost balls typically have a Surlyn cover which will provide the club with less ‘bite’ and lower spin will be produced, while higher-tier balls use a urethane cover that the club can grab onto more easily. 

Read more about Surlyn vs. Urethane Golf Balls

Pick the Right Ball to Get It Right

Finding a ball that offers the right spin rate for your game is crucial. Fortunately, we offer four golf ball models at Piper Golf, each with its own performance profile. So, you can select the right ball for your game and dial in your spin rate properly. Our offerings range from the two-piece Piper Green all the way up to the four-piece Piper Gold.

Take our Piper Golf Perfect Fit Quiz to find your balls today.