What you can copy from PGA Tour superstar Justin Thomas.
Justin Thomas, a former world No.1 and FedEx Cup champion, is known for his powerful ball-striking, precision and competitive mindset. Thomas turned professional in 2013 and quickly established himself among the sport’s elite. He claimed his first major title at the 2017 PGA Championship and has since gone on to win multiple titles on the PGA Tour, including a second PGA Championship, in 2022.
1: Thomas stands tall with his upper body aligned, hips over his ankles and his weight on the balls of his feet. His arms are extended and angled away from his torso to create room for his arms on the downswing.
2: Low one-piece takeaway, maintaining the triangle formed between his hands, arms and chest. The upper body begins to coil against a stable lower body.
3: Clubhead is in line with the hands when the shaft is parallel to the ground. The right elbow points towards the right hip, allowing the right arm to fold and keep the club on plane.
4: Hands and arms create great extension, staying in front of the upper body as the club continues to swing in and up along the plane.
5: Great mid-backswing position with hands over the right pec when the left arm is parallel to the ground. Thomas’s upper-body rotation begins to create right-hip turn.
6: Hands elevate over the right shoulder, with the right elbow moving away from the body. The elbows maintain the width needed to support the club.
7: Powerful upright backswing, with the left-arm plane higher than the shoulder plane. The left arm is extended, and the right arm forms a clean triangle with the upper arm parallel to the ground.
8: His knee flex increases as the arms lower, and the left wrist increases in flexion (bowing), helping to shallow the club.
9: Right toe pushes up early in the downswing, while the bent right elbow drops towards the right hip. The angle between the left arm and shaft is maintained to deliver power through impact.
10: Hips clear as the right knee drives up towards the ball. The right elbow points to the right hip, creating a window between the arms. The right forearm is lined up perfectly on the plane so it can extend towards the ball.
11: Hips fire and the right arm is extended, creating a powerful sequenced release. The right shoulder stays down and behind the strike as both heels lift off the ground.
12: Vertical and rotational forces rotate the left foot towards the target. The spine angle is maintained, with the head down and eyes tracking the ball from a vertical perspective.
13: The left elbow folds the club on plane, with the right arm matching the shoulder plane. A flat right wrist and bent left wrist keep the clubface square to the plane.
14: Thomas maintains his spine angle well into the follow-through, a fundamental trait of great ball-strikers. His head stays over the spine as he watches the ball in flight.
15: The left foot is parallel to the target line, knees touching and both elbows fold into a relaxed, balanced finish.
Todd Anderson is the director of instruction at the PGA Tour Performance Center at TPC Sawgrass, home of the Players Championship. The 2010 PGA of America Teacher of the Year has seen his students amass more than 50 victories across the PGA Tour and Korn Ferry Tour, including two FedEx Cup titles. He is currently rated by Golf Digest as one of the top 20 golf instructors in the United States.
Images: jared c. tilton/getty images
