Justin Thomas is a freak of nature. I mean that in the best way possible. Standing about 5'10" and weighing maybe 160 pounds soaking wet, he consistently pumps out drives over 300 yards. It doesn't make sense on paper. If you watch a Justin Thomas slow motion swing, you start to see the physics of how a "small" guy outdrives the gym rats. But honestly? It's a violent, beautiful mess of mechanics that would probably put most amateur golfers in the hospital.
Most people look at JT and see the high hands or the "helicopter" finish. Those are just the symptoms. The real magic—the stuff that actually creates that 118 mph clubhead speed—is happening in the dirt. It’s all about ground force.
The Justin Thomas Slow Motion Swing Explained
When you slow down JT’s driver swing, the first thing that jumps out is the air time. Seriously. At impact, he’s basically hovering. Both heels are off the ground. He’s pushing off the turf so hard that his body has no choice but to launch upward. This isn't just "falling into the ball." It's a deliberate, explosive jump.
His father and long-time coach, Mike Thomas, has always preached high hands at the top. In slow motion, you can see why. That extra vertical height gives the club more runway. More runway equals more time to accelerate. If you've ever tried to win a drag race in a 50-foot parking lot, you know the problem. JT gives himself a three-mile straightaway by reaching for the sky.
But here’s the kicker. While his hands are still going up, his lower body is already moving down. That "X-Factor" stretch is massive. In a 2025 analysis of his RBC Heritage win, experts noted that his ground reaction forces actually finish earlier than most pros. He loads and explodes in a tiny window of time. It’s a snap-release that most human backs just can’t handle.
Why he almost quit (and then won again)
It hasn't all been trophies and 61s lately. You might remember the news from late 2025 about JT undergoing a microdiscectomy. Yeah, back surgery. That’s the "Tiger Woods special." When you use the ground as a springboard for a decade, the bill eventually comes due.
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People were worried. I was worried. But then he shows up at the Heritage and drops a record-tying 61 in the first round. How? By refining the sequence. He didn't lose the speed; he just got more efficient with the "rock and twist" phase of his footwork. If you watch his 2026 footage compared to 2022, the lead foot is a bit more stable. He’s not jumping quite as high, but he’s rotating his hips with more lateral precision.
The Secret in the Feet
If you want to understand the Justin Thomas slow motion swing, stop looking at his head. Look at his shoes. Specifically, look at the trail foot.
Most instructors tell you to keep that right heel (for righties) down as long as possible. JT says "nah." His right heel starts to peel off the turf before he even finishes the backswing. It’s wild. By the time the club is halfway down, he’s already on his toes. This allows him to fire his right hip toward the target with zero restriction.
- The Takeaway: It’s slightly outside. He keeps the face shut longer than most.
- The Transition: This is the "jump." He squats slightly then pushes vertically.
- The Impact: Spine angle tilts back. He’s creating "axis tilt" to launch the ball high with low spin.
- The Finish: That iconic "recoil." He swings so hard he often has to take a step to balance himself.
What Most People Get Wrong About JT's Power
There's a massive misconception that JT is just "swinging out of his shoes." He’s not. It’s controlled chaos. If you watch his iron play in slow motion, it’s a completely different animal.
With a 7-iron, the feet stay much quieter. The "jump" is replaced by a crisp, downward strike. He ranks consistently in the top 10 for Strokes Gained: Tee to Green because he knows when to use the "long drive" mechanics and when to use the "surgical" ones.
The Gear Supporting the Swing
You can't swing that fast with a wet noodle of a shaft. As of early 2026, JT is still loyal to his setup, though he’s moved into the Titleist GT2 driver. He plays a Mitsubishi Diamana Whiteboard 63 TX. That "TX" stands for Tour Extra Stiff. It’s basically a steel pipe.
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He also carries a 5-wood from 2014—the Titleist 915Fd. Think about that. A guy with access to every new club on earth is using a 12-year-old fairway wood. Why? Because the launch window matches his high-speed delivery perfectly. He trusts the "pop" he gets from that specific head when he’s swinging at 110% speed.
Can You Actually Copy Him?
Honestly? Probably not. JT has been doing this since he was five years old. His nervous system is wired for this specific timing. If a 40-year-old amateur tries to jump off the ground at impact, they’re going to hit a shank or blow out a disc.
However, there is one thing you can take away: the high hands. Most amateurs get "stuck" because they pull the club too far behind their bodies. By lifting your hands higher at the top—like you're trying to touch the brim of a tall hat—you create space. Space is your friend. It gives you room to drop the club into the "slot" without having to manipulate your wrists at the last second.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Range Session
If you’re obsessed with the Justin Thomas slow motion swing and want to find some of that speed, don't try to jump yet. Start here:
- Check your Lead Foot: At impact, try to feel your weight move into your lead heel, not your toes. JT’s "jump" works because his lead leg straightens like a piston.
- The "High Hands" Drill: Film yourself from the side. Is your lead arm pinning against your chest? If so, try to get more vertical. Feel like your hands are staying "in front" of your sternum.
- Sequence, not Strength: Speed comes from the legs, then the hips, then the shoulders, then the arms. If you lead with the arms, you’ve already lost.
- Experiment with Ball Position: JT plays his driver way up off the left toe. This allows him to hit "up" on the ball while his body is moving "up."
The Justin Thomas swing is a testament to what happens when you don't fight your natural tendencies. He was a small kid who wanted to hit it far, so he learned to use the ground. He never "fixed" it to look like a textbook. He just made it faster.
For the rest of us, it’s a masterclass in physics and a warning that power has a price. Watch the replays, admire the footwork, but maybe keep your feet on the ground for now.
Next Step for You: Go to the range and try five swings where you focus solely on getting your hands as high as possible at the top. Don't worry about where the ball goes—just feel the extra "time" you have on the way down. Then, compare your feel to a side-by-side video of JT to see if you're actually creating more space or just reaching.