As a lead golf coach at Tell Me More Golf, I am here today to bring some clarity to the spin rates that golfers at various levels should have with their drivers. 

Spin rate refers to the amount of backspin that a driver creates when it is hit. High backspin keeps the golf ball in the air longer, which can be good for those who swing slower because it keeps the ball in the air longer.

For those with fast swings, high backspin causes a loss of distance because the ball will balloon into the air and will not roll out when it lands. For slow swingers, a lower backspin rate will make the ball fly too low and limit their carry distance and overall distance.

Average Driver Spin Rates for the Best Distance

The goal is to find a driver spin rate that provides maximum carry distance and roll out upon landing. Backspin numbers have become increasingly important as technology continues to evolve. We can now measure virtually every aspect of how a golf ball reacts to the club face, which means that we can identify ideal driver launch conditions for a golfer. 

The overall average spin rate of golfers leading to increased distance is challenging to determine. When considering the spin rate that you are looking for, there are three main factors to consider:

• Swing Speed
  • Slow: Less than 90 MPH
  • Average 90-100 MPH
  • Fast: Greater than 100 MPH
• Angle Of Attack
• Skill Level

For tour players and scratch golfers, the range for the ideal spin rate is between 2500-2900 revolutions per minute or RPMs. This also assumes that, at this skill level, the golfer is hitting up on the ball or creating a positive angle of attack.

Because PGA Tour players hit up on the ball and minimize their spin, they can achieve maximum distance.

The lower the golfer’s swing speed, the more spin they will need to keep the ball airborne longer. For example, at 90 MPH swing speed, with a positive angle of attack, the ideal spin is going to be just below 3,000 RPM.

Driver Angle Of Attack

This topic is so important to address for any golfer that is trying to become a better driver of the ball. Creating a positive angle of attack, or hitting up on the ball, is linked to greater consistency and less dispersion. I often tell higher handicaps that the fastest way to become a better driver is to learn to hit up on the ball.

A negative angle of attack is not necessarily a bad thing, however, it can lead to a lower launch angle with increased spin.

In addition, it can make it difficult to create a consistent ball flight because hitting down on the ball can have more effect on the side spin of the ball.

Too much spin to one side is what makes the golf ball slice or hook.

Fast Swings – Recommended Backspin Numbers

Low spin numbers are likely ideal for golfers that can generate higher clubhead and ball speeds. A club head moving fast through the ball with a lower spin will create optimal conditions for the shot for both distance and dispersion. This is assuming that the golfer is hitting up on the ball. Golfers that hit up on the ball tend to have better fundamentals and therefore are likely better players.

For fast swings, with a positive angle of attack, 2,400 – 2,700 RPMs is going to be ideal.

This is the idea behind the high launch and low spin theory that these two conditions optimize trajectory on your tee shots. High club head speed with too much spin means that the ball will balloon too much and distance will be lost. If you swing over 100 MPH, you should focus on getting max carry distance while keeping the spin rate down.

Average Swings – Recommended Backspin Numbers

The ideal driver spin rate for average golf swing speeds depends on the factors I have listed above; skill level, swing speed, and angle of attack. Generally, for players with a swing speed of around 90-100 miles per hour, a spin rate between 2,800-3000 revolutions per minute (rpm) is considered optimal for maximizing distance and accuracy off the tee. Lower spin rates can lead to more distance, but may also result in less control over the ball flight.

Higher spin rates, on the other hand, can lead to more accuracy but may result in less distance.

Average golfers need to work with a coach or club fitter to find the optimal driver spin rate for their specific swing and playing style.

Slow Swings – Recommended Backspin Numbers

For golfers with slow swing speeds, typically around 70-90 miles per hour, the ideal driver spin rate will be different than those with faster swing speeds.

The ideal spin rate for slow swing speeds is higher RPM than it is for faster swing speeds, ranging from 3,000-3,500 revolutions per minute (rpm).

This higher spin rate helps generate greater carry distance and more total distance. Additionally, higher spin rates can also help players maintain greater accuracy and control over the ball flight as long as they are not creating a lot of high spin to the right or left.

However, it’s important to note that the optimal spin rate for each golfer may vary depending on factors such as their launch angle, ball speed, and playing conditions. Working with a coach or equipment specialist can help slow-swinging golfers find the ideal driver spin rate for their game. I always recommend that, when available, golfers get their TrackMan numbers on the driver tested so they have an idea if their drives are being optimized with less spin or more spin depending on the need.

Ladies Swings – Recommended Backspin Numbers

Club speed tends to be on the lower side for ladies but that does not mean there are different sets of rules to follow. Ladies’ swings can vary greatly in club speed but typically in the 60-95 MPH range. The LPGA Tour players are those that are closer to 95 MPH. Based on Trackman data, the average on the LPGA Tour is 94 MPH.

The average ladies’ driver swing, for those not on tour, is going to be in the 65-85 MPH range. This provides plenty of speed to get distance out of the driver but requires different launch conditions. Ladies do tend to have a positive angle of attack but often lower spin numbers.

Best Trackman Numbers To Hit Your Driver Far

Trackman numbers that are relevant to hit your golf driver farther are launch angle and spin. Launch angle is the degrees of loft on your driver plus the angle of attack. For example, a 10-degree hit with a positive angle of attack of 3 degrees equates to a 13-degree launch angle.

Here are the ideal numbers specific to each level of swing speed:

• Fast Swing Speed
  • Launch angle of 12-16 degrees
  • Spin rate: 2,500 RPMs
• Average Swing Speed
  • Launch of 13-16 degrees
  • Spin rate: 2,700 RPMs
• Slow Swing Speed
  • Launch angle of 14-19 degrees
  • Spin rate: 2,900 RPMs
• Ladies Swing Speed
  • Launch angle of 14-19 degrees
  • Spin rate: 2,900-3,000 RPMs
    

These numbers are based on data from TrackMan compiled over time from golfers with various skill levels, swing speeds, and launch angles. Nowadays the data is such a good starting point if you are looking to max out distance and consistency.

TellMeMoreGolf.com – Frequently Asked Questions

What is a good backspin for a driver?

As we focused on in this article, there are a variety of metrics that can be measured to determine what backspin numbers a golfer should look for. Swing speed and launch angle are key, but most golfers will see results if their spin is between 2,500 and 2,900 RPMs.

How do I reduce backspin with a driver?

To reduce backspin with a driver, the quickest way is to create a positive angle of attack. In addition, club companies like Ping, Titleist, and Callaway have drivers that can be made to help reduce backspin.

Should you increase backspin on a driver?

There are times when you should increase backspin on your driver. If you have a very low launch consistently, you should look for ways to increase backspin. For some golfers increasing backspin can provide more accuracy, so if you are looking to hit it straighter, you may want to increase backspin.

Should you put backspin on a driver?

You are going to put backspin on a driver regardless of your swing. Sometimes that backspin will be too low and you can put backspin on your driver to increase carry distance. I would recommend working on a higher launch before adding backspin.

Conclusion:

Growing up playing in junior and collegiate tournaments showed me that there are a lot of different ways to hit a driver. But, there were always some of us that were a little more consistently longer with a reliable ball flight. Now, with technology like TrackMan, we know why.

Without really knowing it, we were creating optimal launch conditions. Now, we can truly measure what that means to the average golfer and we can build clubs and make swing adjustments to improve our distance and consistency. If you have access to a golf pro, club fitter, or golf store that has a launch monitor, I suggest getting tested to better understand where you are now, and to see if there are tweaks in your equipment or swing that could improve your success with the driver. At TellMeMoreGolf, we research and compile this data to bring you a simpler view of how to help your tee shots improve.