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Draw or FadeIrons: Compress the BallRange Practice Irons Expert ⏱ 9 min 🇬🇧 Video in English, summarized

Justin Thomas's Iron Cut Drill: The Two Balls

Justin Thomas likes to cut the ball, but he tends to swing from the inside on the downswing. On the driving range with No Laying Up, he demonstrates a simple drill that helps him get back to his fade: two balls placed where the club shouldn't go.

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Justin Thomas
Justin Thomas · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

To be continued

7 minSame problemMatthieu Pavon's Controlled Draw: Clubface Toward the GroundMatthieu Pavon · Expert19 minSame problemPause at the Top of the Backswing: Matsuyama ExplainsHideki Matsuyama · Expert2 minFrom the same proJustin Thomas's Wedge: How He Prepares for the ShotJustin Thomas · Intermediate

What the lesson shows

Justin Thomas's favorite shot with the irons is a small, mild, tight fade. His problem: his natural tendency is to get off from the inside, “a good way to avoid hitting the ball thin.” Rather than thinking about “swinging to the left,” he uses an object because it responds well to obstacles. He places two balls inside his flight path and has only one rule: avoid them. No matter how he does it, if he misses them, it means he’s swinging too far to the left. He does the same thing with a tee when putting if he brings the putter in too far. If you slice, the exercise is reversed: you place the balls on the other side to learn how to come from the inside and hit a draw.

For a really big slice (to recover from a bad drive or to get around a tree), he opens his feet and the clubface wide, then swing along the line of the feet, to the left. He looks at the starting point and the ending point, but his My final glance always goes to the starting line. The first few minutes of the video look back at his 8-iron shot from the 18th at Southern Hills during the PGA Championship, and he also explains why he uses a T100 as his 4-iron: a higher trajectory to reach firm greens.

The Exercise, Step by Step

  1. Take a medium-sized iron and choose a clear target.
  2. Place two balls inside your target line, on the inside of your body, behind the ball you're about to hit.
  3. Swing with just one rule: don't hit both balls.
  4. Watch the flight path: a slight left start and a slight fade indicate a good trajectory.
  5. If, on the other hand, you're aiming for a draw, place the balls outside the line.
  6. For a big slice, spread your feet and turn your upper body, and swing along the line of your feet.
  7. Before each shot, finish by glancing at the tee line.

Key Takeaways

Thomas's flaw: moving inward when he's trying to block the ball.
Two balls placed inside the downswing line serve as obstacles to be avoided.
Reacting to an object is easier than thinking about “swinging to the left.”.
To correct a slice, place the balls on the other side.
Severe slice: feet and clubface open; swing along the line of your feet.
The last glance before striking is toward the starting line.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Try to make a fade while coming from the inside.
  • Think about the club's path instead of reacting to the obstacle.
  • Keep the clubface closed on an intentional slice: it closes, and the ball curves to the left.
  • Look at the finish line last, instead of the starting line.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

  1. A series of fades where you have to avoid both balls
  2. The same set of reverse shots to get a feel for the draw
  3. A big slice around the first flag toward the second one
  4. One last glance at the starting line before each shot

Your Questions

Where should I place the two balls to practice the fade?

Inside the downline, where the club passes as Thomas comes in too far from the inside. If he avoids them, his path shifts far enough to the left to produce his fade.

Does this exercise work for a slicer, too?

Yes, the other way around. Thomas explains that if you’re hitting a big slice, you should place the balls on the other side to work on a draw.

Should you aim for the start or the finish on a very precise shot?

Both, but his final glance before hitting the ball is always directed toward where the ball started.

How does he hit a very pronounced, deliberate slice?

Feet spread wide apart, feet facing outward so they don't close in, and a swing that follows the line of the feet to the left.

Learn More

All “Draw Effect or Fade Effect” videos →Find the lesson that's right for youAll “Irons - Compressing the Ball” videos →Find the lesson that's right for youAll “Practice” videos →Find the lesson that's right for you Adam Scott's Swing: Simple Rhythm, Fade, and DrawAdam Scott checks everything before taking his swing, focuses on a single rhythm, and produces a fade or a draw either by intention or simply by shifting his body. Choosing the Right Shot with the Iron: Nelly Korda and Rickie FowlerThree pins between 179 and 193 yards, with a left-to-right wind: Korda sticks with her draw, while Fowler picks his club, start line and intermediate target. Practicing Golf at Home Without a Simulator: 3 ExercisesA mat, a net, and some tape: three exercises from DeChambeau to work on ball contact, alignment, and start line at home. Justin ThomasAll of his lessons

Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Justin Thomas). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons, without hosting them.

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