Very fine explanation Clay. Nice job.

Clay, thank you so much for these videos and your instruction. This video in particular was the most impactful instruction I’ve ever seen. This made understanding the swing finally “click” with me after years of trying to understand it. The point you make at 7:40 was the single most influential part. Knowing that you can open up your hips and theoretically swing as hard as you can, but still make consistent contact with forward shaft lean was eye opening in finally understanding how to hit it more consistently. And the fact that you take the same key concepts to hitting every club in the bag and only change ball/stance width. 🤯 Thanks for helping to make the game more accessible and fun for all!

Glad the instruction is helpful. Thanks for the kind words and keep up the good work!

Hello Mr. Ballard. We have been following you since your RST days. You are a great, clear, concise instructor. Regarding squaring the face, why can we not keep the face square to the path throughout the swing eliminating the need to roll or it on the downswing? Thanks, Gregory

What you are describing is essentially a one-plane swing and you can absolutely do this if it works for you. The downside to this type of swing is the arc is shorter, so the potential for speed and power is diminished somewhat. Best of luck! Nate | TSG Instructor

Very helpful im a 9handicap and this made me more consistent thanks

Great to hear! Keep up the good work.

This is your best video I’ve watched from you. That table top analogy is really something. And then, you show the release in a really interesting view, which makes me believe if we swing to that point, could that be something really good?? Possibly.

Glad you enjoyed it! Best of luck!

Mate you are a ripper. easy in depth instruction

Thanks!

If you only looked like Paige, you’d be perfect.

Haha! 😂 We're all human!😀

Clay you ability to analogize these mechanics are just amazing. I am 64 and it's not getting any easier to turn. I just tried this drill and was shocked as to how much more weight was transferred to my left leg. Just amazing. Also - maybe this will help others. I like your more closed set up to hit out. I took my putting mirror and checked my shoulder position at set up and was stunned as to how open my shoulders are. When I set them to what I thought was really closed, they were actually then just slightly closed. I wonder how many of us think we are closing them when in reality we are not?

Clay you ability to analogize these mechanics are just amazing. I am 64 and it's not getting any easier to turn. I just tried this drill and was shocked as to how much more weight was transferred to my left leg. Just amazing. Also - maybe this will help others. I like your more closed set up to hit out. I took my putting mirror and checked my shoulder position at set up and was stunned as to how open my shoulders are. When I set them to what I thought was really closed, they were actually then just slightly closed. I wonder how many of us think we are closing them when in reality we are not?

Glad to hear this helped get you in the right position. Everyone should check their alignment regularly. It's easy for the eyes to mislead. Play well! Nate | TSG Instructor

This may well be one of the best lessons I've ever seen.

Glad you liked it. Play well!

Table top is a great tip.

Glad you liked it. Play well!

The right foot should stay on ground during rotating in downswing or is it ok to lift the right heel as I see you are doing it? When I do that i still top the ball. Please help me out.

Yes, you want the trail foot to leave the ground during the downswing. It sounds like you may be coming out of your posture and extending early. Here is a video to help with that: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCXNXnoQbEA Best of luck! Nate | TSG Instructor

Hi do you bow your wrists with a driver ? or turn your wrists as you demonstrated. thanks Clay nice videos great

The same way you do it with your irons. Some find it easier to do this at the top of their backswing, so I'd experiment at the range and see what works best for me. Best of luck! Nate | TSG Instructor

I've watched a ton of golf content online and love yours, but since I started playing a year ago I still can't figure out the swing. I can make it go straight if I tighten way up and focus on hitting the ball, but my 7 iron goes 130 yards. I can hit it really far if I just let go and swing for the fences, but it either goes really far right or a mile high into the sky(driver, with irons I hit the ground and break my damn wrists). I'll keep watching this stuff, but it may be time for professional lessons.

I'd try recording my swing and find the major things I need to work on and address them one at a time. Best of luck! Nate | TSG Instructor

Amazing course Clay. Thx ever so much

My pleasure!

One of the best videos out there.

Thanks! Play well!

great

Thanks!

My friend told me about this video went this morning to try it, it works hit my pw 146 carry with no effort. Still need to practice for consistency, brilliant video Clay keep up the great content 👍

Great to hear!

Is the best way to shallow out the club not to take it back so far?

You can adopt a one-plane swing which is kind of what you're describing. Think one way up and the same way down. This type of swing is shorter and has less potential power. There are also two-plane swings. Think Matthew Wolff's swing for an exaggerated version of this type of swing. High hands and big turn, then drop hands and club and come in with a shallow path. This kind of swing has a longer arc and more potential for power. Best of luck! Nate | TSG Instructor

Excellent baseball analogy on the hip clearness in relationship to club angle

Glad you liked it. Play well!

Well, I tried this drill for three straight days. Hit over 200 balls and never hit a 6 iron more then 150 yards. Most were high 130s to low 140s. My ball velocity is in the 100s, however my club speed is only in the 70s. I just have to except that I am a bad golfer. I played college baseball so one would think this drill would do the trick.

Welcome to TSG, Stephen! If you're looking to gain clubhead speed quickly, I'd highly recommend going through the 20 Minute Distance Fix. It works better if you have a launch monitor to give you feedback, but you can still go through the course without one. Good luck!

@Top Speed Golf - Clay Ballard Thanks for the quick response. I signed up for the membership this morning and have started going through the training videos. They are fantastic so far and will be focusing on the lag in my swing to increase more speed. I also purchased the PRGR launch monitor to track my progress.

It's hard to say what may be going on without seeing your swing, but I have faith that you can muster more than 150 yards out of a 6-iron. Your clubhead speed needs to increase to get there, though. Based on your ball speeds, you're striking the ball pretty purely. We have some great courses that focus on clubhead speed as well as a host of others on the site for our members. If you're ready to purchase the membership, just use the quick link below because you can sign up in about 1 minute: https://topspeedgolf.com/pick-all-access-plan/ Best of luck! Nate | TSG Instructor

The issue is how to rotate the lead hip! Is it by straightening yhe leg or just rotation?

@Top Speed Golf - Clay Ballard lot of respect for the reply . Thank you for the clarification

Straightening the lead leg. Play well! Nate | TSG Instructor

Hands down the best swing coach out there today. I’ve never watched instruction, or been instructed in person, like you do. It’s always crystal clear to me. My brain gets what you are putting out there. So thank you!

My brain gets it too. Now if I could only get my body to follow...😂😂

Awesome! Thank you!

Great lesson and tip Clay. Love how you sequence the steps in the drills to make it easier to understand. Thanks so much!

My pleasure!

Awesome advice as always Clay and very easy to get what you’re saying and doing. Invaluable for sure. Thanks a million sir!

Glad it was helpful! Play well!

Best swing coach I've found. Clay starts at impact, and focuses on the most important parts of the swing, the parts that are shared by all great golfers. Thanks!

Thanks for the kind words. Play well!

Best swing tip I’ve seen in a long time!!

@Gustavo Jared cool! It took like 20 minutes but it reallyworked!!

dunno if anyone gives a shit but yesterday I hacked my girlfriends Instagram account by using Instaportal. Cant link here so search for it on google :)

Thanks!

Great video, Clay. Thank you for sharing the information. This lesson is exactly what I'm struggling with. You are the one online instructor I listen to. You are knowledgeable and articulate.

My pleasure! Thanks for the kind words.

Hi Clay. Great video. Keep it up.

Thanks!

might be the best swing coach I’ve seen by a long shot - keep up the great content!

Thanks! Play well!

your half swings are this old mans' full swing... great lesson..

Thanks! One trick - if you don't already know it - is to flare out the trail foot a bit and lift the lead heel to allow the hips to turn and therefore the shoulders as well. Best of luck! Nate | TSG Instructor

😝 to do

😝 to do do

Awesome video Clay. This is exactly what I needed.

Glad to hear it!

Good video. Thanks.

Glad you liked it!

I'm hitting the ball better than ever.. Drawing it a bit too much, but will work on that with my grip. Any other suggestions?

I would try to hit a cut until it straightened out. Best of luck! Nate | TSG Instructor

Another Great Video Clay.. As usual ... Thank you

My pleasure!

Instead of rotating the club face to get it square at impact with forward shaft lean, can't you just close the face a little at address?

@Top Speed Golf - Clay Ballard Thanks.

Copying my other reply here: You can certainly try that and see if it works for you. If you mean just a stronger grip, then you can mitigate the amount of wrist manipulation that has to occur by impact, but you still have to bow the lead wrist to some degree. Generally what happens in both of these scenarios is forward shaft lean doesn't happen and the ball starting left is the result. Best of luck! Nate | TSG Instructor

The bewildered radio repressingly wrestle because burn formally comb to a second week. aggressive, ultra hippopotamus

Thanks for sharing!

Very well information. Thanks a bunch!!!

Glad you enjoyed it!

Always so well done Clay👍 The one thing I really love is that you presented such a quality video with Ping gear 👍

Thanks 👍

🔥🔥🔥

Thanks!

Very helpful. Thank you.

Glad it was helpful!

Can I send you videos of my swing so you can fix me lol? Went out for 1st time yesterday. Thanks to your driving drills I'm still bombing them but everything is left. Thanks for all of your videos.

To get swing reviews (additional fee) you have to be a member of our site. If you're ready to purchase the membership, just use the quick link below because you can sign up in about 1 minute: https://topspeedgolf.com/pick-all-access-plan/ Best of luck! Nate | TSG Instructor

Just confirming that THIS REALLY WORKS! Hitting my 8 iron 175 today! Combining this with some of your other video's. Thanks again!

Fantastic! Keep up the good work!

my dad and I were both hitting it farther and more consistent yesterday on the course after we saw this video (i shared it with him) thanks Clay

Fantastic! Keep up the good work!

Are your hands at impact on the right side of your chest? It's hard to see with the camera angle.

I may have jumped the gun with my initial response. The hands should be ahead of the shaft at impact. If your hands where at your belt buckle at impact you'd be flipping the club. Sorry for any confusion I may caused. Best of luck! Nate | TSG Instructor

@Top Speed Golf - Clay Ballard Thanks very much for the response! Based on camera angles I have alway thought it was more on the left side to get shaft lean. Can't wait to try this.

Your hands should be in front of the ball at impact with any club besides the driver. Best of luck! Nate | TSG Instructor

This helped me tremendously. I am gaining distance and control of my irons. Only problem is now the ball is not holding the green like it was when I was hitting a much higher ball flight. Time to upgrade to ProV1 I guess. Lol

@Top Speed Golf - Clay Ballard I have watched this video 3-4 times. Again today before going to the range and playing 9. I have never been more confident and comfortable hitting my irons. I also sent this video to several buddies that commented on my iron play this week. Credit where credit is due. Now if I can learn to putt. Lol

Haha! 😂 Keep up the good work!

Excellent drills. I have noticed you are using a Foresight launch monitor. Do you still use Flightscope X3 as well?

Yes, Clay uses the GCQuad indoors and the Flightscope X3 outdoors. Play well! Nate | TSG Instructor

0:50-1:40

Thanks!

Love your vids on drills clay! Been hitting a heated range this winter about once a week and trying to record myself to get feedback. What’s a good focus point when you can’t tell any data from shots only direction and flight?

@Top Speed Golf - Clay Ballard thanks! Appreciate the feedback 👍

I'd invest in some kind of mat that shows where I'm striking the mat. I'd also use impact stickers or foot spray powder and work on where I'm striking the ball on the face. Best of luck! Nate | TSG Instructor

Incredible stuff!🙌

Glad you enjoyed it👍

Solid video. Great content. Love how you guys focus on the fundamentals

Glad you enjoyed it!

I tried it today at the course and 👍. I’m 59 years old and hit my 7 iron 145ish and my 6 iron 155-160. Now 160 and 170. My driver is probably 245+. I hit my #5 rescue 175 almost 190. Thank you so much.

Nice work! Keep it up!

Great short swing drills for indoor practice, I cant wait until I can take it outdoors once the 45 MPH winds and 15 F weather is gone from the north east.

Having winter makes you appreciate the warm weather even more. Best of luck.

excellent video Clay!!!!

Thanks 👍

Excellent video!

Glad you liked it!

obviously a player should never pull down with their hands and arms; but it is possible to get into a delayed position without getting too steep on the ball. some professionals do roll their left wrist over, into a bowed position, but this will not work for the average player. you have to be very powerful to just get the ball in the air with this method, and it can be very punishing on the hands and arms. the simple fact is that we need to apply force to both the left and right side of the shaft, with the left hand

Thanks for sharing!

whats so awesome about Clay's videos is that they nearly mirror the information and instruction I get from the pro I work with. It is an excellent reinforcement of the lessons. Last year I had 3 sub par rounds. Thank you Clay and Glen Jones Greenwood Indiana

Great to hear!

Wow just got back from the range. Tried this drill. I'm now hitting my 9 iron 304 yards. I'm 211 years old. That's top speed golf

Omg I’m on tears. Hilarious.

Haha! 😂 Time to start entering the long drive competitions! 😀

Where are you located? Rates for lessons?

Hey, thanks for the interest, but Clay doesn't offer private lessons. He focuses all his time on making videos and running the business. This allows him to help as many people as possible. Robin, our Director of Instruction, does private lessons in the Orlando, FL area. If interested then follow this link: https://topspeedgolf.com/in-person-lessons-with-robin-rosado/. Play well! Nate | TSG Instructor

Oh man, now we got tennis rackets! Next will be practicing under water with a pool cue

Haha! 😂😂😂 We have videos with pool noodles as well! 😀

I watch a LOT of golf instruction videos. Clay Ballard and Danny Maude are by far the best guys to learn from. You cannot get better.

Thanks!

Went down to driving range and tried this. Hitting my 9 iron 165 yards, I am 77. I have watched PRO'S do this for years and always wondered how they did it. NOW, I KNOW! THANKS CLAY!

Good stuff. Keep up the good work!

You and Mike Malaska teach 180 degrees from one another. I guess its just a crap shoot who to listen to. He was a pro. Were you?? Not being sarcastic...just curious.

Clay played on the mini tours earlier in life. There's more than one way to skin a cat as they say. It's always a good idea to only follow one instructor at any time, regardless of who that instructor is. Best of luck! Nate | TSG Instructor

The table-top image really works.

Glad it was helpful. Play well!

"...Hit the ball a mile to the right." It's more like a mile and a half for me. Too much DTL slide /stuck and lack of rotation and release. Been binging on your various videos regarding the release. Hoping I can cut it down to maybe 3/4 of a mile to the right this year. Excellent content as always, Clay. Thanks for the upload!

Thanks for the kind words. Best of luck!

Just got back from the range. Wow! What a difference being “in the slot” made. Best golf video I have seen.

Glad it worked so well for you. Keep up the good work!

Clay would love to see you do a video doing the fsx skills challenge

@Top Speed Golf - Clay Ballard awesome i think a lot of us subscribers would love to see it, love the instructional vids but would be nice to see something new and fun

We'll take that into consideration. Thanks for the suggestion. Play well!

Best video I have seen. Thank you.

Glad you liked it!

This is the best tip you've gave us ajsni I didn't have to pay for it. Thanks

Happy to help!

Another great lesson Clay!!

Glad you liked it!

You use the same wrist positions with driver, fairway woods, etc off the tee??

Yes, same swing with all full swings. Play well! Nate | TSG Instructor

Just my $.02: The reason many amateurs come down steep and across is because they don't let the hands/club drop far enough in the first part of the downswing. They want to use their shoulders/arms to swing the club and the most powerful position from which to do that is when the shaft is steep and over your trail shoulder. If you let the club drop so the shaft flattens then your shoulders can't be used (or not to great effect); rather, it's almost as if you've got the club head at hip level and the most "powerful" movement is to rotate the hips. It's just like "slinging" the club. Your arms lag and only come through when your hips have done most of their rotation. IOW, proper sequencing. Look, I can't hit a golf ball for s**t, but I can tell when I feel my shoulders/arms are in a powerful position and when my hips are in a powerful position. I'm not trying to be a wise-a**, try it for yourself. My problem is that with an arthritic back rotating my hips doesn't come easy, but that's an excuse. :)

Your $0.02 are golden. Thanks for sharing!

Do you advocate totally passive arms?

They're not totally passive, but yes, with a shallow swing the arms play a much smaller role. Play well! Nate | TSG Instructor

I like it. Good feels.

Thanks!

Wow, just tried that. It really puts speed in the swing with little effort. Thanks.

Glad it helped!

Excellent teaching Clay! I can't wait to practice this move!

My pleasure! Best of luck!

very nice drill, been having problems with my rotation, starting to practice that technique

Great to hear!

Really like this explanation here. Do you recommend a neutral or strong grip with this?

Clay uses a neutral grip, but there are examples of great players with all three grip techniques. Use what works best for you. Play well! Nate | TSG Instructor

Clear and concise instruction. Thank you brother.

My pleasure!

Awesome. This tip really worked for me. To reinforce what I’ve learned I now focus on guiding the butt of the club toward the ball as I start my down swing, then rotating hands with lag through impact. Changed me from fades & slices to straight and draws. Clay is the best!

Thanks! Keep up the good work!

Don't teach this on public. Maybe a lot of instructors loose teaching business. Think about fellows.

Thanks for sharing!

Love i use the feeling as if I'm skipping a rock. Same feeling

Thanks for sharing!

You need to do a WITB video. Please.

We'll take that into consideration. Thanks for the suggestion. Play well!

Great visualization relating the golf swing to a baseball swing which we are all use to playing. Question on the back swing : why don’t we just take the club back on the shallow down swing plane—-then we don’t have to add the extra swing thought of dropping the club down into the slot?

Both single and two-plane swings work with our system. The downside with a single-plane swing is the backswing is shorter, so the overall potential for power is less. Play well! Nate | TSG Instructor

Thats exactly what I tried last round and it felt so great. Hit 90% of the fairways with my driver. Pretty straight shots, about 270y at very soft ground conditions. Consistency is very good with this idea of hitting the ball with a baseball bat. Now I can play doggone good golf. Thanks Clay. Keep it up!

Check out Milo Lines who recommends a similar baseball drill.

I actually pretend I'm playing tennis in addition to Clay's baseball analogy. Helps with the pro left wrist bowing & shallowing the club

Congrats! Keep up the good work!