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How Do I Stop My Spinning Driver?

Published in Golf Driver Spin 3 mins read

To stop your driver from spinning excessively, you need to change your angle of attack to be less steep.

Excessive spin on your driver is often caused by hitting down into the ball, resulting in a steep angle of attack. According to the reference, "If your angle of attack gets too steep, you'll get too much spin on your driver." This is a common issue, especially for golfers who set up to hit a drive the same way they set up to hit an iron. Irons are typically struck with a descending blow, while drivers perform better with a more level or even slightly ascending angle of attack.

The Impact of Angle of Attack on Driver Spin

The angle of attack is the angle at which your clubhead approaches the ball at impact. For a driver, a steep, downward angle of attack imparts a lot of backspin on the ball. While some spin is necessary for lift, too much spin can cause the ball to balloon high in the air and lose significant distance. The reference states, "The angle of attack needs to be more shallow if you want to lower spin rates."

Consider the difference:

Angle of Attack Description Effect on Spin (Driver) Effect on Distance
Steep (Hitting Down) Clubhead travels downwards into the ball Increases Spin (Often too much) Reduces distance (ball balloons)
Shallow (Hitting More Level/Up) Clubhead travels more level or upwards into the ball Lowers Spin Maximizes distance (optimal flight)

How to Achieve a Shallower Angle of Attack

Adjusting your setup and swing to promote a shallower angle of attack is key to reducing driver spin. Here are some common adjustments:

  • Tee Height: Tee the ball higher. This encourages you to swing up through the ball rather than down onto it.
  • Ball Position: Move the ball slightly forward in your stance, typically off the heel of your lead foot. This allows the clubhead to reach the bottom of its arc (or just past it) before impact, promoting an upward strike.
  • Setup Posture: Ensure your lead shoulder is slightly higher than your trail shoulder at address. This tilt naturally promotes a more upward swing path into the ball.
  • Swing Thought: Focus on swinging up through the ball rather than down at it. Imagine sweeping the ball off the tee.
  • Weight Distribution: At address, favor slightly more weight on your back foot (perhaps 60/40) while maintaining balance. This can help promote a swing bottom behind the ball.

As the reference notes, "Some golfers set up to hit a drive the same way they set up to hit an iron." Recognizing and changing this setup difference is a crucial first step. While you want to hit down on irons for solid contact and control, the goal with a driver is to catch the ball on the up swing or a very shallow angle to reduce spin and maximize energy transfer for distance.

By focusing on reducing your angle of attack from steep to shallow, you can significantly decrease excessive spin on your driver, leading to longer, more penetrating drives.