Getting that perfect backspin on your chip shots is a skill that many golfers aspire to master. Derek Deminsky, known for his impressive spin around the greens on Instagram, shares his expertise to help golfers enhance their backspin in our latest YouTube video!
This technique will allow you to get on the green more consistently, and as a special bonus, you’ll impress your teammates with your remarkable backspin and chip shots.
Understanding the Basics of Backspin
So why do you want a backspin on your chip shots? The answer is simple – you don’t want your ball rolling past the hole once it hits the green. Once your lofted chip shot hits its mark, we don’t want it bouncing around. Backspin allows your ball to get more loft and end where you want it, setting you up for the perfect putt.
Before diving into the technique, it’s essential to understand the components that contribute to backspin, like equipment, lies and more.
“Spin it more than send it.” – Derek Deminsky, the “Spin Doctor”
Essential Equipment and Setup
Achieving the greatest amount of spin possible goes beyond just technique – the quality of your tools is also essential.
Using a premium golf ball and a well-maintained wedge with clean grooves is non-negotiable. You should do your research and choose a wedge that offers design capabilities optimal for chip shots and spin.
We recommend always bringing a towel with you to clean off your club between shots. Having a clean wedge that’s free of debris is crucial to create a high-friction environment, which is what you want for a clean chip shot.
The Cut Spinner Technique
The cut spinner as taught by Derek in the video, is a foundational shot for generating backspin. This shot is similar to a fade shot, and will spin and check more than a “draw” chip shot, in comparison.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to mastering it:
- Teed-Up Practice: Begin by practicing with the ball teed up. This ensures no grass interferes between the clubface and the ball, providing maximum friction.
- Setup Adjustments: Position the ball slightly forward in your stance, and stand closer to it than usual. This setup allows you to swing across the ball, which is essential for the cut spinner.
- Swing Technique: Aim slightly left, keep the clubface slightly open, and swing with an out-to-in path. This creates a slicing motion that imparts the desired backspin.ALT TEXT: Image featuring Performance Golf coach Derek Deminsky teed up to a ball, with text describing the “cut spin technique” and how to spin your chip shots.
Practical Tips for Consistent Backspin
- Aim for Correct Ball Position: Avoid positioning the ball too far back in your stance, as this can lead to digging and low trajectory shots. A slightly forward ball position promotes a higher launch and maximum grip.
- Practice Speed and Control: Apply speed while maintaining control. A good balance between these factors is crucial for generating backspin.
- Increased Wrist Hinge: Incorporate more wrist hinge in the backswing for a slicing action that enhances spin.
It’s also important to understand that course conditions can vary. Practice on different lies and surfaces to adapt your technique accordingly. Chip shots are very reliant on lies, grass textures, and course conditions; so don’t get discouraged! Be flexible, take your time reading your lies and focus on spinning, more than “sending it.”
Stealth Spin Secrets
Throughout the video, you’ll notice Derek mention both traditional tennis and table tennis as examples of sports that heavily rely on backspin. You can see some of these comparisons in Performance Golf’s “Stealth Spin Secrets” program, which will help you master your chip shots and maximize your spin on any lie!
Looking to master your pitching shots next? We’ve got a YouTube video for that too: just click here. Be sure to check it out, and subscribe to the Performance Golf channel so you never miss our newest free golf tips video.
