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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SH010. How to Hit a Flop Shot

In this video, you’ll learn how to hit a flop shot.

Hitting these shots is super fun if you hit them right…

And super scary for your buddies if you skull it head-high across the green!

Flop shots are only needed when you’re short sided on the green…

…meaning that you don’t have much green to work with.

Here are a few tips for hitting great flop shots…

  • Make sure you have a decent lie before you even attempt a flop shot
  • Open up your stance
  • Open up your club face about 45 degrees
  • Keep your weight on your front foot to ensure that you accelerate through the ball
  • Bend your knees a bit more than you normally would
  • Flip your shot; don’t compress the ball

And lastly, take an aggressive swing.

Watch now to hit high and soft flop shots!

C009. How to Stay Connected in Golf

In this video, you’ll learn how to stay connected in golf.

You’ve probably been told that you need a nice, connected swing.

Well, there’s one piece to that advice that you haven’t been told…

It’s that you only need to be connected as you contact the ball.

At the top of your swing, your right arm won’t be connected…

And in the follow through, your left arm won’t be connected.

So only focus on where it really matters to be connected – right when you’re hitting the golf ball!

Think of some of the big hitters on tour like Tiger Woods and Adam Scott.

Their right arms aren’t connected at the top of the swing.

They get their arms nice and high.

But a common drill among instructors is putting a club head cover underneath your arm so you stay connected.

Now, you can hit a ball well by staying connected…

But you’ll never get tons of speed in your swing by doing that.

That’s why I don’t recommend being connected at the top of your swing.

I want you to get more speed and distance with your shots!

What about your follow through?

The same idea applies with your follow through.

If your left arm is connected in your follow through, you’re holding back some of your power.

So focus on where it really does matter to be connected – impact.

Watch this video now to learn why you don’t want to be connected throughout the swing…

And also see exactly how to stay connected in golf just at impact (where it counts)!

D014. Golf Power Secret | The Power L

In this video, you’ll learn a great golf power secret…

…that I like to call “The Power L.”

We all want to drive the ball far.

But the only way to do that is to generate a ton of clubhead speed.

There’s just no way you’ll be able to reach those long par 4s in 2 if you’re not getting a lot of clubhead speed.

So how do you get more power and clubhead speed?

Well, let’s take a look at the “The Power L.”

This describes what your right arm does in the downswing to create more speed.

Your right elbow forms an L in the downswing…

And like a piston…

Your right arm releases fully past the ball.

Try this drill to get the correct feeling of releasing with your right arm…

Without your club, imagine you have a ball in your right hand and maintain the L position in your backswing.

Start your downswing and let your right arm fire through impact and into a straight line release.

Remember to open up your hips in the downswing…

And note that your right arm won’t be fully straight until you’re past impact.

Do about 100 reps to ingrain this feeling.

Next, try this same drill with your drive using only your right arm.

Put in around 30 reps.

So how much speed can you gain by maintaining this L position longer in your downswing?

Take a moment to think about what the opposite of the L position is.

Many golfers cast the club early and lose tons of speed in their swing.

By maintaining the L position with your right arm longer, you’ll be coming into the downswing with more lag.

In the video, you’ll see the FlightScope stats comparing a swing with tons of lag vs a swing where I cast the club way early.

The speed difference is huge!

When I swing with all my might but cast the club…

I barely break 102 mph for clubhead speed.

My normal swing came in at 115 mph with the L position in my right arm and with way more lag.

And I gained an additional 56 yards in distance (243 yards vs 299 yards)!

I hope this shows you how important it is to form the L position in your downswing…

And avoid casting the club.

Watch this video now to learn “The Power L” golf power secret.

You’ll be bombing your drives way past your buddies in no time!

SH008. Golf Putting Drill | Speed Control Tee Drill

In this video, you’ll learn a golf putting drill to improve your putting speed control.

This is one of the best putting speed drills you’ll find.

Not only will it help your speed…

It’ll also help you visualize your line better.

Here’s how to set up this drill…

Place one tee where you’ll be hitting from…

Place another tee just inside the area of where the ball will break.

And place a third tee out in front (this tee will be your target).

The goal is to learn how your putting speed affects your line.

So for slower putts that break more…

Hit your ball around the tee and have it break towards the third tee.

If you want your putt to break less…

Try hitting your ball a bit harder and have it travel inside the second tee towards the third tee.

Alternate slower and faster putts and you’ll develop great feel for your putting distance and directional control.

Here are a few additional putting tips…

  • keep your lower body soft and stable
  • use a soft grip with your hands
  • feel like you’re rolling the ball with topspin

So try out this great golf putting drill.

See if you can hit the third tee two times in row from about eight feet out – one traveling above the second tee and the other below the second tee.

Watch this video now to get better speed control with your putts!

HTI01. 3 Reasons You May Not Be Improving at Golf

In this video, you’ll discover 3 reasons you may not be improving at golf.

This is a very different video than what I normally put out.

Usually, you’ll see drills to build your technique for a better swing.

However, in this video, you’ll learn about the mindset that it takes to really improve your game.

So, if you’re working your tail off day in and day out…

But you’re not getting the results you want…

Then you’ll learn tons in this video including the main 3 reasons you may not be improving at golf…

#1 The missing link

Maybe a long time ago you hit a perfect shot…

And you think to yourself…

“Man, if I hit every shot like that, I’d be shooting in the 60s.”

Well, what happens is that you’ll always be changing things up and searching for that perfect swing that you once had.

One day, you’ll be changing up your stance…

The next day you’ll be altering your takeaway…

On and on.

The problem with that is you’re not focusing on the important fundamentals that’ll actually make you a better golfer.

Stop searching for the missing link!

#2 “I’m going to have a perfect swing, then…”

This is the opposite of searching for the missing link.

This happens when you obsess over every minute detail like practicing 1000s of reps trying to get the perfect takeaway.

Let me tell you…

You don’t need a takeaway that looks exactly like Adam Scott’s or Tiger Woods’ takeaway.

Heck, pros don’t all have the same swing so stop obsessing over the moves that don’t matter.

If you’re spending all your time building what you think the perfect swing looks like…

…then you’re spending less time on the important moves.

Instead of laboring over the perfect takeaway…

Spend your time practicing draw and fade shots.

That makes more sense than spending all your time trying to look good.

#3 One tool in the toolbox

This is when you rely on one shot.

Let’s say you can draw the ball really well, but you stink at hitting fades.

Don’t just sit back and accept that all you can do is hit a draw.

It’s nice to have one great shot you can rely on…

But you need to start working on your other shots to take your game to the next level.

Work on your fade shots…

Work on hitting the ball high and low…

Work on a more powerful turn so you can get more distance.

Don’t rely on just one shot.

Put more tools in your toolbox!

Watch this video now to…

find out the 3 reasons you may not be improving at golf!

D013. How to Hit Up on the Driver

In this video, you’ll learn how to hit up on the driver.

I know you want to boom your drives…

But what does it take?

Well, here are a few things you need to do…

  1. launch the ball high with tons of carry distance, and
  2. put less backspin on the ball so it penetrates through the wind.

The opposite of this is hitting it low and putting too much spin on the ball.

I see this often with golfers that aren’t getting the distance they want.

The ball launches low, then it rises quickly with tons of backspin.

That just kills your distance. So you need to learn exactly how to hit up on the driver.

Let’s first start off by addressing what’s causing your poor distance.

Coming in too steep with your launch angle puts way too much backspin on the ball.

Even if you have great club head speed, you won’t get much distance due to the amount of backspin.

As you’ll see in the video, I demonstrate what not to do… but I still put up 118 mph club head speed.

Normally, that much club head speed should equal a long drive.

But because I put so much backspin on the ball (4168 rpm)…

The ball started low but rose sharply due to the backspin.

So, with an impressive 118 mph club head speed…

…the distance was only 263 yards!

Next, let’s find out how to hit a solid, super long drive.

3 tips to hit your drives farther…

  1. Aim for the top of the club face. The club face rounds a bit so hitting higher on the face means a higher launch. Also, the gear effect adds more loft and reduces backspin.
  2. Play the ball a bit forward in your stance and widen your stance. Both these moves will allow you to hit the ball at a higher angle of attack.
  3. Bow your wrist in the downswing.  This will help flatten your club and reduce the loft of the driver. You’ll get less backspin, so combining the move of bowing your wrist with the previous tips, you’ll almost feel like you’re hitting up on the ball.

Putting these tips together will produce a higher angle of attack with less overall backspin.

Now let’s compare the key stats of my good swing (higher launch, less backspin) vs my bad swing (lower launch, more backspin)…

  • Bad swing: 118 mph club head speed, launch 7.8, spin = 4168 rpm, total distance = 263 yards
  • Good swing: 113 mph club head speed, launch 10.3, spin = 2679 rpm, total distance = 296 yards

See how important the tips are in this video?

A great swing with lower club head speed equaled more distance!

Watch this video now so you know exactly how to hit up on the driver…

Hit with less backspin…

And get tons more distance!

G032. How to Break 70 in Golf

In this video, you’ll discover the keys on how to break 70 in golf.

Wouldn’t it be nice to tear up the course and shoot in the 60s?

Heck yeah it would…

But what does it take?

To play in the 60s, you must…

  • hit solid, compressed shots,
  • have complete control of your pitch shots, and
  • must be able to drain mid-range putts

Sounds easy, right?

Well, maybe it’s not so easy…

But the drills in this video will get you closer to this elite level of play.

Drill #1

This drill covers how to hit solid, compressed shots.

Start by shallowing out your club in the downswing.

Also, allow your left wrist to bow a bit and open up your hips.

Practice with pump drills.

Pump 3 to 5 times then swing on through the ball quickly.

Be aggressive through contact.

To shoot in the 60s, you’ll need to be explosive.

Drill #2

Now, let’s work on your pitch shot consistency.

Focus on compressing the pitch and prevent the club face from turning over.

With your full shots, you’ll release on through and the club face will turn over.

However, for your pitches, keep your club face stable for more consistency.

Drill #3

Now, let’s drain some birdie putts.

8- to 12-foot birdie attempts need to start going in if you want to shoot in the 60s.

Put some pressure on yourself by recreating the feeling you’d have in a round.

Keep your lower body stable…

And keep your hands soft and hold the follow through.

Set up 3 balls in a row at 8, 10, and 12 feet.

Knock each ball in one after the other.

If you miss one, start over with the 8 footer.

Summary

Watch this video now to work on compressing the ball…

Controlling your pitch shots…

And draining those crucial 8- to 12-foot putts!

Now you know exactly how to break 70 in golf!

BR004. Learn Proper Golf Footwork

In this video, you’ll learn proper golf footwork.

Playing consistent golf day in and day out…

…has a lot to do with your balance.

So you’ll get 4 really good balance drills.

Some of the drills are challenging…

But if you stick with them, you’ll be a better, more consistent ball striker.

Drill #1

Put your feet together and make a super slow backswing.

You’ll slowly feel your weight shift to your back foot.

In your downswing, you’ll feel your weight shift to your front foot.

The slower you practice this drill, the better you’ll get a feel for your weight transfer.

Do about 5 slow swings without the ball, then practice some swings a little faster.

Then hit around 20 to 30 balls with your 6 iron.

Try to go slow enough to hit the ball about 50 yards.

The goal here isn’t to smoke the ball.

The goal is to feel your weight shift and work on your balance.

Drill #2

Do the same as in Drill #1, but only stand on your left leg and swing with just your left arm.

Go really slowly because this drill is challenging.

Do around 15 reps really slowly, then speed it up and hit a few balls.

Drill #3

Repeat Drill #2, but switch to your right side.

Stand on just your right leg and use only your right arm.

Drill #4

Finally, put everything together and add a step to the drill.

Put your feet close together…

And in your downswing, step your left leg forward as you hit the ball.

Try to do this drill as slowly as you can.

The slower you go, the better you’ll improve your balance.

Remember, don’t try to crush the ball.

So, if you normally hit your 7 iron 150, plan on hitting it 125 or so.

Watch this video to learn proper golf footwork…

And improve your consistency!

G031. 2 Keys to Start Your Downswing

In this video, you’ll discover the 2 keys to start your downswing.

I’m often asked…

“How should you start your downswing?”

This is a really important question because if you don’t start your downswing correctly…

…it’s easy to fall into some bad habits like casting your club or coming in over the top.

Let’s get started…

Key #1

Start your downswing by opening up your hips.

Try this…

Put a golf ball in your left pocket…

And focus on pointing the ball out to your target.

Opening your hips is crucial since it allows your arms to freely swing through.

Key #2

As your hips are opening up…

You need to focus on pushing into the ground with your left leg.

This will help you rotate through your shot…

And it’ll help you stay in your posture.

Watch this video now to start your downswing the right way…

And get a smoother, more powerful swing!

SS005. Golf Tip | How to Hit a Ball Above Your Feet

In this video, you’ll learn how to hit a ball above your feet.

These shots can be tricky as they naturally shoot off to the left…

And it can be really difficult to make solid contact with this awkward ball position.

So, how do you stay balanced and make clean contact with the ball when it’s above your feet?

First, you need to stop the ball from shooting way left.

Get in a solid stance and allow your weight to center near your heels.

This is natural for a stable, uphill stance.

Choke up on your club since the ball is closer to you.

Also, realize that you need a longer club to make up for the loss of distance caused by the flatter swing path.

The right to left ball flight will also give you a bit more roll…

So factor that in.

Stand up a little more than you normally would.

Imagine the extreme case where the ball is waist high.

To make reasonable contact with that ball, you’d need to be standing very vertically.

And finally…

Aim right of your target.

If you hit the ball well from an uphill position…

The ball will shoot off to the left.

Watch this video now to learn how to hit a ball above your feet.