Lesson 4: The Physics of Putting Spin
Even putting has spin. When a putt rolls truly — smoothly toward the hole — it has topspin. When struck slightly above center, the ball immediately begins rolling forward with topspin. This is the most stable and predictable roll.
A putt struck below center gets backspin first — the ball skips and slides before starting to roll. This makes the early part of the putt unpredictable and harder to aim accurately.
The best putters in the world strike the ball with a slightly upward blow at impact, imparting immediate topspin. The ball rolls smoothly from the very first inch.
Physics applies to every club in the bag, right down to the putter.
Topspin in putting = ball rolls smoothly and predictably from the start.
Backspin in putting = ball skips and slides before rolling — less predictable.
Great putters deliver a slightly upward strike to create immediate topspin.
Putting spin experiment: putt three balls in the same direction with the same force but try hitting each one in a different spot: (1) center of ball, (2) slightly above center for topspin, (3) slightly below center for backspin. Do they roll differently in the first few inches? Which rolls most smoothly? Write your observations.
Try this on a smooth hardwood floor first where the ball-floor contact is more visible. Put a small mark on the ball with a marker so you can watch it rotate and see the spin direction clearly.