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Sobb: How to put more backspin on wedge shots

If you had the opportunity Monday to watch the PGA Tour playoff in the Zurich Classic, you saw Cameron Smith hit a sand wedge from 60 yards out on the fourth playoff hole to within 2 ½ feet of the hole.

The approach shot Cameron hit took two bounces and stopped on a dime.

A Daily Herald reader named Mike saw that shot and reached out to ask, "How do the tour professionals manage to put that much backspin on their wedge shots?"

Mike went on to ask what he could do to create more backspin on similar shots.

Two points of interest to focus on are ball position and angle of attack.

The average golfer positions the ball too far forward (toward the lead foot) in his or her stance on wedge shots.

When the ball is too far forward, your tendency at impact will to be to catch the ball on the upswing, creating very little - if any - backspin.

Conversely, professionals position the ball more toward the middle of their stance on wedge shots, allowing a steeper angle of attack.

With this steeper impact angle, backspin is created, enabling the shots to stop on the green quickly.

So, the next time you have an opportunity to practice, work on your wedge game. Simply position the ball more toward the middle of your stance.

Again, this will automatically create a steeper angle of attack and thus more backspin.

More backspin also gives you better distance control, which leads to shots closer to the hole and improves your chances to lower your scores.

Ask the Pro:

If you have a golf question, please submit it to golftips@ivanhoeclub.com for future consideration.

While I can't answer every question, I'll include ones of general interest in future columns.

• Jim Sobb is the PGA director of golf at Ivanhoe Club in Ivanhoe, IL. A member of the Illinois Golf Hall of Fame, Sobb is a three-time winner of the Illinois PGA Championship, with eight major championships in Illinois PGA events overall, and is a two-time Illinois PGA Golf Professional of the Year. For more on Jim and Ivanhoe Club, the home of the 2017 Rust-Oleum Championship (June 5-11), visit ivanhoeclub.com.

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