Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A spin that tends to retard, arrest, or reverse the linear motion of an object, especially of a ball.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Spin applied to a ball in order to slow it, change its flight, or stop it when it lands.
  • verb transitive To spin (a ball) with this motion.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun spin (usually of a moving ball) that retards or reverses the forward motion

Etymologies

Sorry, no etymologies found.

Support

Help support Wordnik (and make this page ad-free) by adopting the word backspin.

Examples

  • McAfee had experimented with the rugby-style punt at which Graham excels, but his attempts to drop the football point down and impart the end-over-end "backspin" that tends to kill the ball on kicks near the goal line had produced mostly shanks.

    IndyStar.com Top Stories 2010

  • You can transition automatically between tracks, optionally adding pre-defined effects such as backspin and echo.

    Macworld 2009

  • You can transition automatically between tracks, optionally adding pre-defined effects such as backspin and echo.

    Macworld 2009

  • You can transition automatically between tracks, optionally adding pre-defined effects such as backspin and echo.

    Macworld 2009

  • Use the quick-play controls to curve around hills, "backspin" on greens and

    WMExperts 2008

  • Use the quick-play controls to curve around hills, 'backspin' on greens and 'roll' for extra distance on the fairways.

    PalmAddicts 2008

  • Unfortunately, if the ball has any backspin, that can actually reverse the ball's direction and cause it to retreat off the green.

    What Is It? Game 112 » E-Mail 2009

  • The AGA believes that technology could add 25% to the distance of an average golfer's drive and double the amount of backspin on wedge shots hit into greens.

    The Radical New Vision of Golf John Paul Newport 2011

  • There once was a time in the city when you couldn't do a backspin without hitting a future legend of hip-hop.

    ...And You Don't Stop John Jurgensen 2011

  • Unfortunately, if the ball has any backspin, that can actually reverse the ball's direction and cause it to retreat off the green.

    What Is It? Game 112 2009

Comments

Log in or sign up to get involved in the conversation. It's quick and easy.