- Conditions must be fairly dry
- You must be on the fairway
- Greens have to be in good shape

I use backspin when I need to hit a pitch-and-stop shot. This type of shot is best used from about 25 to 30 yards away when you have an obstacle? bunker, water, rough, rocks? between you and the green.

Obviously, you can't hit the golf ball on the ground or on a line, like a line drive in basegolf ball. You need to hit a high shot over the obstacle. If you put enough backspin on the golf ball, it takes a bounce or two and stops.

Ideally, you'd like to hit the green about 10 to 15 feet from the pin and stop the golf ball a few feet from the hole, leaving you a short putt. Of course, if it goes in, that's even better. If you fail to put enough backspin on the golf ball, however, it probably will roll off the green, especially if it is slanted or hard-baked.

I recommend using a 9 iron or, better yet, a pitching wedge in my golf tips.

The wedge has a high loft, is heavy, and a large flange, which prevents it from digging into the turf. The divot need not be big or deep. Remember to keep your head down until your right arm pushes it up a fundamental all good golf instruction emphasizes.

I use a high spin/soft cover golf ball for pitch-and-stop shots and I recommend it to anyone who wants to learn the shot. A brief golf lesson on golf balls explains why.

Golf golf balls are available with three types of spin. The low spinning golf golf ball helps eliminate sidespin, which in turn helps reduce the big slice or hook. It doesn't carry as far as the other types, but it makes up for it with roll. This golf ball is appropriate for players with high golf handicaps.

The mid-spinning golf ball fills in the gap between low and high spin golf balls.

It provides more feel than the low spin golf ball, but doesn't roll as far, although it travels fairly far. The mid-spin golf ball also varies depending on the manufacturer. It is better suited for golfers with mid-range golf handicaps.

The high spinning golf ball gets more carry than the other types of golf balls, but it won't roll far when it hits the ground. This golf ball offers more feel and control, however, than a mid-spin golf ball, a big advantage around the greens. It's the added spin that provides the increased control for the player. It's the type of golf ball players with low golf handicaps often use.

My golf instruction teaches students to use the golf ball that's right for them.

If they're beginners, for example, I recommend a golf ball with low spin. I also teach students how to put backspin on the golf ball in my golf lessons, but I emphasize that the conditions on the course must be right for them to try it. Nevertheless, it's a potent weapon.

Practice improves your ability to put backspin on a golf golf ball, but keep in mind that the shot is one of the hardest to master in golf so don't spend the majority of your practice time trying to master this shot.