Justin Thomas's footwork: a “funky” swing he's proud of
His feet leave the ground on impact, and everyone notices it. Justin Thomas explains where this footwork comes from, why you shouldn't copy it, and the two simple checks he does before every session.
To be continued
What the lesson shows
Justin Thomas has always had a powerful swing because he was very small for his age in the junior division: He needed speed to avoid ending up 30 yards behind his opponents. That’s where the jump start comes from. Now that he’s gotten stronger, he’s kept that speed and maintains it in the gym, with physical therapists, so his body can hold up. But one thing is clear: He advises against copying “the foot thing.”. Together with his father, he tried to get rid of it in high school, but he couldn't hit the ball. So he kept it and learned to live with it.
The main lesson here is this: Don't change a swing that works just because it looks “weird”. Some of his best shots have come on days when he didn't feel comfortable over the ball and let go of his thoughts about his swing. The rest are the basics, which he says are easy to get wrong: as a fade player, he needs a a somewhat closed face, otherwise it's a big swing to the right. At the driving range, he hits a alignment stick Before you start playing, place the grip between the fingers of your left hand and check the alignment of the clubface before taking your stance at address.
The Exercise, Step by Step
- Before you play, place an alignment stick on the ground at the driving range.
- Hold the grip between the fingers of your left hand before placing your right hand down.
- Align the clubface with the target before taking your stance.
- Hit a few balls, making sure the clubface isn't open at impact.
- On the course, put your thoughts about your swing aside and play toward the target.
Key Takeaways
Mistakes to Avoid
- Copy Thomas's footwork to gain speed.
- Changing an effective swing just because it doesn't look good on video.
- Allowing alignment or grip to drift without regular checks.
- Hitting a fade with an open clubface: the ball will veer far to the right.
Driving Range Mode
Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.
- Alignment rod placed before each session
- Grip the ball between the fingers of your left hand, with the ball facing you, then assume your stance
- A few swings without thinking about the swing at all—just the target
Your Questions
Should we try to copy Justin Thomas's foot jump?
No, he's the one who advises against it. He started using it as a kid to swing hard; he tried to stop using it in high school with his dad, but he couldn't hit the ball well anymore, so he kept it.
Where does its speed come from, despite its size?
He explains that he always swung hard because he was very small as a junior, and then worked on maintaining that speed indoors with physical therapists so his body could handle it.
What checks does he do before playing?
Use an alignment rod at the driving range, hold the grip in the fingers of your left hand, and align the clubface before taking your stance.
Why does he talk about a closed face when he's playing fade shots?
Because when you slice the ball, an open clubface sends it far to the right. So he needs a clubface that’s slightly closed relative to his path.
Learn More
Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Justin Thomas). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons, without hosting them.