Ball spin rate and your thoughts

[Texas Wedge]

So what do you know about ball spin rates?

I went to Golf Galaxy and hit a couple new drivers and my ball spin rate was around 4000 pretty consistently. Some were under 4000 (lowest was around 3300) and a couple were as high as 5000, but the average was around 4000. I tried different lofts (9.5 and 10.5) and it didn't seem to change anything. I switched clubs from TaylorMade to Callaway to Nike and they were all pretty similar.

So what SHOULD the spin rate be and how do I get it down?

Thanks for your input!

[John]

Everybody is different in that what works well for one person may be too much or too little for another. That said, the average driver spin rate on the PGA Tour is around 2700 rpm. Also, the average clubhead speed is around 112 mph, Launch angle is around 13 degrees, ball speed is around 165 mph and carry distance is around 284 yds.
But there are some players who average spin rates in the low 3000's while others are in the high teens to around 2000 rpm. so the differences are wide ranging.

Hope this helps!

[Bigvivec]

Nikeguy had a chart up here awhile ago...Launch monitor, what do these numbers mean?

[Sinsation]

this is also a great article about spin rates, launch angles, etc...
Design Notes - Golf Physics p2

[OnePutt]

For most golfers, the idea is to get the spin rate down closer to 2000. One way to do that is to learn to hit UP at the ball, instead of DOWN on it. As you know, hitting down on the ball with your irons is a great way to increase backspin. With a driver, you want to hit up at the ball to launch the ball higher with less backspin for more carry and more roll. Try teeing the ball higher and swing UP at it and let me know if this helps to lower your spin rates.