Top Speed Golf

The Only 5 Golf Swing Pieces That Really Matter

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Welcome to Clay Ballard's Top Speed Golf Instruction

I founded Top Speed Golf in 2015.

Here's what it's all about...

When you analyze the swings of any top player in the world -- whether it's Jim Furyk, Adam Scott, or anyone else -- there are 5 aspects they all have roughly in common:

1. Stable & Fluid Spine

2. Power Turn

3. Top Speed Lag

4. Compression Line

5. Straight-Line Release

I've found that these 5 pieces will give you 95% of your results.

My Top Speed Golf system teaches you those 5 aspects in a step-by-step, course-based fashion.

"Does it work?" you may be wondering...

Click here to get started with the 5 components of the Top Speed Golf System!

Or check out all my latest content below...

clay 11111 smallerSome of My Highlights...
Handicap: -4
Top Swing Speed: 126.8
Lowest Round: 61
Given Over 6000 Golf Lessons
Instructed Many Professional Golfers
Played Division 1 College Golf and Mini Tours
Most Consecutive Birdies: 6
Certified FlightScope Professional
Swing Catalyst Certified
T.P.I. Certified
Named by Golf Digest as a top instructor in Florida
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BR003. Golf Lesson | How to Swing with Balance

In this video, you’ll discover how to swing with balance.

You’ll get some great drills to…

Keep your balance throughout the swing…

Get the correct weight shift…

And feel like you’re in control of your swing!

These drills are great for getting rid of the herky jerky action that many golfers have.

As you improve your balance and weight shift…

Your consistency will go through the roof…

So let’s get started!

Drill #1

Stand on your left foot only…

And practice chipping the ball 40 to 50 yards with a nice, fluid swing.

Also, make sure you hold your finish until the ball hits the ground.

Drill #2

Now, switch to your right foot only…

And chip the ball 40 to 50 yards.

This drill will help you improve your balance in the backswing.

Drill #3

Now you’ll put it all together.

With both feet on the ground…

Make a full power turn and feel the weight on your backfoot.

Pause for a short period at the top of your swing…

Then transition into your downswing, sending your weight to your left foot.

Important tip: Make sure you keep your spine stable throughout your weight shift.

You should now have better balance from the reps you put in drills 1 and 2.

Hit some balls with a really slow swing and exaggerate the moves discussed in the drills.

The goal here is to get the feeling of the correct moves…

Then once you hit some regular shots, these moves will become second nature.

Watch this video now to find out how to swing with balance…

And boost your shot consistency!

G029. Golf Follow Through | The Left Hand Fold

In this video, you’ll discover how to improve your golf follow through.

You’ll learn, in great detail, how your left hand fold is crucial for dead solid, consistent contact.

First, realize how important your left wrist is in the downswing.

You don’t want to flip the club early and lose all of your lag.

What you do want is to have plenty of shaft lean…

…with your left wrist straight or even bowed through impact.

Forward shaft lean at impact delofts your club and will help you compress the ball.

Quick tip…

Make sure your hips open up.

This will give you plenty of room to hit with forward shaft lean.

Because if you don’t open up your hips in the downswing…

…it’s easy to get jammed up and flip the club early.

Next, here’s how you should release the club…

As you make contact with the ball, make sure you allow your wrists to release.

Otherwise you’ll block your shots.

Since you’re hitting with forward shaft lean…

…your hands and club should fully release about 45 degrees ahead of the impact area.

In the TSG system, I call this the “Straight-line Release”.

Here’s a quick drill to practice the key follow through positions…

Position #1…

In the downswing, come in with plenty of lag and bow your left wrist.

Also, make sure your hips are opening up.

Position #2…

Swing your club through to a full Straight-line Release…

…while your hips are completely open.

Position #3…

Finally, let your left wrist fold up at the top of your follow through.

Do about 100 reps, pausing at each position.

Then practice full swings, eventually hitting balls.

Watch this video now to learn why your left wrist is so crucial in the golf follow through…

And get a great drill to ingrain these moves to make consistent, dead solid contact!

G028. How to Break 80 in Golf

In this video, you’ll learn how to break 80 in golf.

You see the pros on TV…

…and they make it look so easy.

It almost seems like every hole is a chance for them to make birdie.

Well, for most of us that aren’t on the PGA Tour…

Shooting in the 70’s can be a real struggle.

If that’s you, then you’re in the right place.

This video has some great tips for breaking the 80 barrier.

Now, in my breaking 90 video…

The primary goal was to stop coming over the top and start hitting a consistent draw.

To break 80, you’ll need to be able to control your ball flight even more.

You’ll need to hit draws and fades on command.

For draws…

You need to let your club flatten in the backswing…

And swing through with a slight in-to-out path.

For fades…

Open up your stance a bit with the ball position slightly more forward than usual.

Now, feel like you’re still flattening your club in the backswing…

But you’ll swing slightly left through contact.

Here’s a great drill for you…

Alternate hitting a draw and a fade for about 20 shots.

What’s great about this drill is that as you get more feel for draws and fades…

The next time you’re on the course and your flight is off a bit…

You’ll know exactly how to correct your ball flight to straighten it out.

Next tip to break 80…

Work on your wedge shot height control.

To hit your wedge shots lower…

Move the ball back a bit and narrow your stance.

To hit your wedge shots higher…

Put the ball up in your stance a bit and widen your stance.

Now let’s take it to the green…

Set up 3 balls in different spots about 4 feet from the hole.

Put some pressure on yourself by visualizing that the putt really matters.

Take it seriously while practicing so that you’re prepared to drain the putt on the course.

Once you can consistently drain 3 putts in a row, move the balls back a foot to make it tougher.

Repeat this drill and you’ll start draining longer and longer putts almost like it’s automatic.

Watch this video now to discover exactly how to break 80 in golf.

Work hard and drop your scores!

SS004. Golf Tip | How to Hit from an Uphill Lie

In this video, you’ll learn how to hit from an uphill lie.

It’s a lie that can be tricky and frustrating.

It’s easy to lean back and hit a moon shot that doesn’t go very far.

Today, you’ll get some great tips to hit nice, clean shots that land in the center of the green.

The main issue you’ll need to address is that as you lean back…

…the loft of your club tilts back as well.

Naturally, you’ll hit a shot that’s super high compared to hitting from a flat lie.

Another issue is that it’s common for golfers to chop down into the hill.

Here’s how to hit clean shots from uphill lies…

First, start with your stance.

Since it’s an awkward stance, I recommend widening your stance a bit compared to your normal shots.

Also, tilt your shoulders to match the angle of the hill.

You’ll likely put a bit more weight on your back foot.

That’s fine and natural.

So, now that your body is matching the slope of the hill…

…how do you prevent hitting the ball super high?

Since you’re leaning back and adding more loft to your club…

Expect the ball to launch way higher and that you’ll get less distance.

I recommend grabbing a longer club and take your normal swing.

Due to the lower loft on your club, your launch will be lower.

If you’re far from the green…

Let’s say over 200 yards…

Focus on laying up to avoid any bunkers or water that may be surrounding the green.

If you lay up well, you’ll still have a good chance to get up and down to save par.

One extra tip (but only if the slope is slightly uphill)…

I find it easier to have the ball slightly up in your stance from your typical ball placement.

Yes, your ball will launch even higher…

But your club will be able to make cleaner contact.

However, keep your ball placement at its normal spot if the hill slope is very severe.

Summary of how to hit from an uphill lie…

  • Wider stance with more weight on your back foot
  • Match the angle of your shoulders with the slope of the hill
  • Hit with a longer club to make up for the loss of distance caused by the high launch due to the hill slope

Also, be prepared to fall back a bit after you hit.

That’s normal; just be prepared!

Watch this video now to for the key tips for how to hit from an uphill lie!

SS003. How to Hit into the Wind

In this video, you’ll learn how to hit into the wind.

Imagine you step up to the tee box…

And the wind is gusting straight into your face.

What do you do?

Do you hit your shot as you would normally and hope the wind doesn’t beat it down?

Or, do you bunt your 4 iron and hope that you can salvage a bogey?

Well, there’s a better way…

Today you’ll discover how to hit shots that penetrate through the wind…

…to make sure you get to the green every time.

Your goal should be to hit it low and with less backspin.

The higher you launch the golf ball, the more the wind will catch it.

And the more backspin you put on the ball, the more friction the ball has as it travels.

So, keep it low and with little spin!

How to hit the ball with a lower trajectory…

First, grab a longer club.

This will help you hit it lower due to the lower loft.

However, depending on how strong the wind is, this club may be too much.

If that’s the case, then take off a little distance by choking down on the club.

Second, take an easy swing.

It’s tempting to tighten up your grip and swing as hard as you can.

Avoid this as your mechanics will likely break down and create more problems.

Third, hit the ball a little higher up the clubface.

This introduces the gear effect, which puts less backspin on the ball.

Summary of how to hit penetrating shots…

  • grab a longer club (choke down if neccessary)
  • swing nice and easy
  • hit the ball a little higher up the clubface

Watch this video now to find out how to hit into the wind…

And never come up short ever again!