The way the ball is spinning once it separates from the clubface “programs” ball flight without bias, creating its height, starting line and/or curvature, simultaneously; a nice “three-for-one.”  

If a golf ball (or any other object which starts on the ground for that matter) spins “in reverse” with no axis tilt, it will become airborne and fly straight, no mystery, no guessing.  The ball (baseball, tennis ball, golf ball, soda can, etc.) simply travels in compliance with its spin!

BASEBALL example – Most professional pitchers throw 2 or more difference kinds of pitches (curve balls, sinkers, sliders, fastballs, etc.), but the “behavior” of each is universally controlled by how the ball is spinning.

Specifically, for golf, there are three physical requirements needed to create backspin and therefore height and “holding its line” of accuracy: 

1) The center of gravity of the clubhead must be lower than the center of gravity of the ball

2) The clubhead’s downward approach angle into impact.  Descending clubhead = higher shots.  Ground level clubhead = low or “picked-the-ball-clean” shots.  Upward angle = “grounders.”

3) Speed or pace; the greater the pace, the greater the amount of backspin or height (if points 1 and 2 requirements were met).

Next time you practice, consider viewing each ball flight as acceptable or unacceptable based on your new understanding of backspin, (even though it’s too fast for humans to physically see the spin itself.)  If you see a pattern of unacceptable ball flight height, starting line or curvature, you know that backspin was not properly applied/programmed during impact and one or more of the three requirements listed above were not met.  If unsure, it’s time to make that appointment with your PGA Professional for greater clarity.   

This article is not designed to go through the details to reach this ultimate goal but to inspire the “learning curiosity” of the golfer/reader to realize this COMMON DENOMINATOR, this requirement at the moment of impact.  Please acknowledge that EVERYTHING you, me and Rory, etc. have EVER attempted to do in the development of our airborne shot setups, backswings, and downswings-to-and-through impact were (consciously or subconsciously) geared towards this singular goal – TO PRODUCE THE PROPER BALL SPIN WITH THE PROPER DEGREE OF ENERGY FOR EACH AIRBORNE-REQUIRED SHOT AT HAND. 

How you get there is your individual “leeway” (it’s why even the top golf champions have some different looking swings), but during their training NONE lost sight of the ultimate impact goal…BACKSPIN.  How about you?