Matsuyama Gained 6 Strokes From Tee To Green In His Mind-Blowing Final Round At The Genesis Invitational... This Simple Ball-Striking Drill Will Help You Flush It Like Hideki

The newly-crowned Genesis Invitational winner was sensational from tee to green at Riviera. Below, Golf Monthly Top 50 Coach Andrew Reynolds reveals a simple drill to help improve your ball-striking

Genesis Invitational Winner Hideki Matsuyama demonstrating excellent ball striking
Want to flush it like Hideki? This simple drill could set you on the right path...
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Andrew Reynolds
By ,
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Hideki Matsuyama stormed to victory at the 2024 Genesis Invitational, and it's easy to see why when you drill down into the stats. The nine-time PGA Tour winner gained over 6 strokes on the field from tee to green in a final round 62, and hit over 66 percent of greens in regulation over the week.

In what will surely be one of the rounds of the year, Matsuyama gained a staggering 8.47 strokes on the field, more than doubling the combined strokes gained score of both runner-up finishers Zalatoris (1.47) and List (2.47) in the final round.

After watching his tee to green masterclass, you might be thinking... how can I improve my ball-striking? Well, wonder no more, as we asked Golf Monthly Top 50 Coach Andrew Reynolds to share a simple ball-striking tip that can help you flush it like Hideki...

Better Ball-Striking Drill

"Often, the difference between a good swing and a bad one is nothing more technical than your rhythm. Finding the right tempo will help the sequencing of your swing as a whole, and this drill will give you a great feel for what the right speed is for you," says Reynolds.

Hideki Matsuyama hitting a tee shot

Hideki Matsuyama's unique swing tempo, with that trademark pause, allowed him to hit consistently precise tee shots at Riviera Country Club

(Image credit: Getty Images)

"Take nine balls and split them into three piles. For the first three shots, hit the balls as hard as you can and keep a rough note of where they go. For the next three shots, swing the club as smoothly as you can. Finally, hit the last three balls taking ten percent off your smooth swing."

Hideki Matsuyama after hitting an iron shot

Matsuyama put on a ball-striking masterclass as he stormed to victory at the 2024 Genesis Invitational

(Image credit: Getty Images)

"You will notice some trends in terms of the ball flight. It might be that your flat-out swing hits the ball a bit to the right (you might well be able to use that knowledge to your advantage on the course). Of course, what you will also notice is which swing speed delivers the straightest flight, and that’s the one you need to stick to on the course."

Andrew's Ball Striking Drill Checklist

1) Focus on tempo to improve your sequencing

2) Split the drill into three sections, using three sets of three balls, varying your swing speed in each

3) Make a note of the ball flight for each swing speed

4) Decide which swing speed delivers the straightest flight and use that on the course

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Andrew Reynolds
Andrew Reynolds
Top 50 Coach

Location: Royal Cinque Ports

Andrew was appointed Head Professional at Royal Cinque Ports in 1978, aged just 23. He is only the sixth professional in the club's 125-year history. From 2010 to 2013, he was lead coach for the Mens England “A” squad and helped work with many established European Tour players. Andrew also enjoyed success on the European Senior Tour, most notably his top-20 finish in the Senior Open Championship at Turnberry.

Teaching philosophy:

Different golfers have different aims, so players' hopes must be discovered before a ball is struck. The player is buying our experience to take them on a journey which will, hopefully, exceed their expectations. I try to keep the learning experience fairly light to keep the player relaxed and make the time together enjoyable for us both. We generally need to ‘de-clutter’ players' golfing brains and put a filter system in place to help people understand the important factors. 

Most significant influences:

Ernest Jones’s book, ‘Swing the Clubhead’, who stressed that if your set up was neutral, balanced and correct, all body actions were responsive to the club swinging. Peter Thomson, too. He chatted to Henry Longhurst, whom he allowed to explain his simple thinking - set up squarely, point the club at the target, take it away from the ball on the same path that the club attacks the ball on, then from the top of the backswing just bring it back to the ball. Both Jones and Thomson understood the difference between cause and effect. Modern technology allows us to analyse the golf swing in a very technical manner, which has now proved that both were ahead of their time in making a golf swing a simple exercise. We must remember that it’s the clubhead that we are swinging.

Advice for practice:

A structured and disciplined practice session is the only way to develop your golfing skills to the maximum. Always make sure that your setup is perfect before any swing begins - it’s pointless to work on a swing change with an inconsistent and changeable setup. A different setup means a different swing. 

 

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