Spin rate impacts the overall distance a ball flies. Ideally, for most golfers when hitting the driver a spin rate between 2,000 and 3,000 RPMs will maximize carry distance, while maintaining control over the ball. When it comes to the irons, you can take the number of the iron and multiple it by 1,000 for the ideal spin rate in most cases.
We have all experienced at least one of these situations below!
We feel like we hit a solid drive off the tee, but the ball seems to balloon and not go very far.
Or we are in the light rough and we launch a 7 iron 20 yards further than our normal distance.
The best is when you hit a solid drive and it seems to just fly forever.
Did you know that all of these situations could be impacted by the spin rate on your golf shot?
Spin rate is one of the most misunderstood and under appreciated aspects of distance for most amateurs. If you talk to any PGA Tour player they can tell you the spin rate on just about every club and especially with their driver.
Most amateurs on the other hand, may not have even heard of spin rate and couldn’t tell if you a high spin rate or low spin rate is better.
So, we are here to help!
Why Is Spin Rate Important in Golf?
The bottom line is that spin rates impact distance. You want the max distance on your driver and you want accuracy in distance with your approach shots. Understanding your spin rate will make you a better golfer!
Spin rate will impact total distance as it impacts the height and total carry distance. Too much spin and the ball flies too high and not as far. Too low of spin rate and the ball will stay lower to the ground and you will lose control.
Below, we will dive into the following topics related to spin rate in golf:
- What is spin rate?
- What is a good spin rate for a driver?
- What is a good spin rate for wedges?
- How do I measure my spin rate?
- How can I adjust my spin rate?
What is spin rate in golf?
Spin rate, measured in RPMs, is the amount of spin right after impact. The spin rates will vary from club to club and there is an ideal spin rate on all shots depending on the conditions of the weather and the course that day.
What is a good spin rate for a driver?
For the majority of golfers, a quality spin rate with the driver is between 1700 and 3000 RPMs. Depending on your swing speed, the number will fall in this range. The slower the swing speed the closer to 3000 the optimum spin rate becomes. The faster the swing speed the closer to 1700 the optimum spin rate becomes.
The goal of most golfers is to maximize distance, while maintain some accuracy. The spin rate and launch angle can often be connected. I would place golfers into three different categories.
Very Fast Swings = 105 mph or higher
These swings will ideally launch at between 10-12 degrees with a spin rate between 1700-2300. This will help maximize distance. If the spin rate starts to push towards 3000, the golfer may lose 20-30 yards in total carry distance.
Fast Swings = 95-104 mph
These swings will ideally launch at between 12-16 degrees with a spin rate in the lower to mid 2000s. This will help maximize total carry distance and put the golfer in good position.
Average Swings = 85-94 mph
The launch angle will stay between that 12-16, but the ideal spin rate starts to push closer to th mid to upper 2000s.
Slower Swings = 84 and below
The launch angle will need to be more in the upper teens (14-19) with a spin rate closer to 3000.
The goal is to optimize your swing speed with the launch angle and the spin rate with your driver.
Why A High Spin Rate for Slower Swings?
Spin helps the ball rise into the air. That is part of the reason that shorter irons are hit higher. Not only do they have a higher launch angle, but a higher spin rate to hit the ball high enough to hold the greens and to reduce some distance.
If a golfer’s swing speed was only 80 mph with a launch angle fo 11 and a spin rate of 1700, the ball will fly shorter and not maximize the carry distance.
Conversely, if the swing speed was 113 mph with a launch angle of 19 and a spin rate of 3200, the golfer would lose significant distance.
What Is A Good Spin Rate for Wedges?
As golfers get into their pitches wedges through lob wedge, the ideal spin rate will range between 8,000 and 11,000 RPMs. The key here is consistency in the spin rate. If your spin rate varies too much, the golfer will struggle to control distances.
With wedge, a key component is having a similar carry distance with each swing. The total distance becomes less important and consistency with each swing becomes much more important.
If one time you hit your pitching wedge with a spin rate of 4000 and the next time at 9000, you will be inconsistent and one time come up short potentially in the water and the next time fly the green. The lower the spin rate the farther the ball will fly.
How To Measure Spin Rate in Golf?
The key is to know your spin rates with all of your golf clubs, but espeically your driver!
One of the great things about being a golfer in today’s era is that the instruction has come a long way and we now understand ball spin rates and how it impacts distance.
I would highly recommend golfers having a way to measure their spin rate. Fortunately, we now have access to this information through personal launch monitors.
If you visit any PGA Tour stop you will see the majority of professionals use a launch monitor at some point throughout the week . Many are monitoring their clubface, swing path relationship as well as swing speed. Spin rate is another key piece of information they are relying on and monitoring.
These are important numbers to monitor to make sure you are keeping your swing within a certain range.
While many won’t have $16,000 to spend on a Trackman, there are some great affordable options that can be used at your local driving range, on the golf course or in your garage or house as part of a practice area of golf simulator setup.
Here are my top 3 recommend affordable golf launch monitors:
Some of the key information that you will be able to received immediately after every swing includes:
- Ball Speed
- Club Speed
- Launch Angle
- Spin Rate
- Spin Axis
Over time, knowing where your numbers are when you are making quality swings will help you groove a swing and become more consistent. When you are struggling, you can use your launch monitor to see where your numbers are at.
Maybe you have lost distance because you are spinning your driver in the 3000 range? Many golfers will chase distance through swing speed when something that may be holding them back is spin rate.
Where Can I Use A Golf Launch Monitor?
How Can I Adjust My Spin Rate?
If your spin rate is too high the first area to check is the shaft in your driver. The proper weighted shaft as well as the proper stiffness plays a significant role in the spin rate. Also, be careful that you aren’t hitting down on the ball with the driver, resulting in a higher spin rate.
I would highly recommend monitoring this information through a personal launch monitor and tracking the total distance with different spin rates as you hit the ball.
When I purchased my SkyTrak this was my first real revelation in the importance of spin rate and how much of an impact that it has on total distance with the driver.
Even to this day, when I am golfing in my golf simulator, if I hit a driver at 106 miles per hour with a 2100 spin rate vs a 3100 spin rate, there is a 20-30 yard distance with the launch angle also playing a role.
Golfers spend many hours hitting at the range with no real feedback other than the flight of the ball. Use the technology that is available to take your game to the next level.
A quality recipe is training for speed (see below) and making sure you are maximizing your spin rate. These two combined, can help you add 30 yards without a great deal of strength gained or having to hit the gym like Bryson DeChambeau. Use the technology we have and start to play better today!
Looking to gain more Speed and Distance in your swing. Two Options:
Closing Thoughts: My Secret To Golf Improvement
Let’s face it, in order to get really good at golf, we must practice frequently. About three years ago, I made the leap and invested in a golf simulator build for my garage.
If you are going to add a launch monitor, you might also consider going all the way and building a golf simulator. There are some impressive financing deals and package deals at Rain or Shine Golf!
I went with a SkyTrak Launch Monitor and the TGC software and can now play over 100,000 courses including Augusta, Pebble Beach, Bethpage Black, Whistling Straits. St. Andrews and many other of the top 100 courses in the world.
This golf simulator setup, which is more affordable that you might imagine, has been a game changer. I can now play golf everyday of the year regardless of rain, snow, cold weather or time of day. I can practice or play rounds of golf. I can stand in the 11th fairway at Augusta and with the auto-rewind feature I am able to practice my approach shots from various differences.
It is worth checking out through Rain or Shine Golf as they offer some incredible packages along with financing offers that are difficult to beat.
Some direct links to Rain or Shine Golf for pricing and financing:
Take Action – What You Can Do Today to Get Better
What does this mean for you? I believe in the following recipe to get better:
1 – Improve your motion in the golf swing by identifying a golf instructor. Here are some options:
Here is a list of golf instructors that we have reviewed:
2 – Train to swing faster and improve your swing speed. Here are some options:
Looking to gain more Speed and Distance in your swing. Two Options:
3 – Understand course strategy and work to break through your next barrier. Here is a series on breaking through:
We have provided guides on how to break 100, 90, 80 and 70. Check out more below, if interested.
4 – Practice Frequently
Did you know that I build a golf simulator in my garage and have played over 500 rounds of golf on my SkyTrak system? It has been a game changer and one worth checking out. Here are some of my other posts on golf simulators frequently asked questions:
- Is a Golf Simulator Worth It?
- How to Build a Golf Simulator?
- What is the Best Golf Simulator?
- Golf Simulator Accessories?
- How to Build a Golf Simulator for under $7000
- Top 11 Reasons to Buy a SkyTrak
- How to Build a Golf Simulator for Under $1000
- Why Build A Golf Simulator?
- What Space is Needed?
- Can A Golf Simulator Improve My Game?
- How Much Does A Golf Simulator Cost?
- Don’t Forget to Check out our 15 best golf swings of all time.