Golf is a weird, fickle game. One minute you’re the king of the world, hoisting the Wanamaker Trophy at Southern Hills, and the next, you’re hitting "chunk-hooks" into the water at the Los Angeles Country Club while the cameras catch every ounce of your soul leaving your body.
For a while there, it looked like Justin Thomas was in a real-deal tailspin.
People love to talk about the "slump." They see a guy who was ranked No. 1 in the world and has 16 PGA Tour wins suddenly missing cuts at majors and they assume he's "lost it." But honestly? That’s rarely how it works at this level. If you’ve been watching him closely through the 2025 season and into early 2026, you've probably noticed that JT didn't lose his talent. He just had to find a way to stop fighting his own DNA.
The Reality of the Justin Thomas "Dip"
Let's look at the numbers because they tell a story that the "he's washed" crowd usually ignores. By the end of 2024, JT had slipped to around 20th in the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR). For most humans, 20th in the world is a dream. For a guy who has spent over 300 weeks in the top 10, it felt like an identity crisis.
The 2025 season changed the vibe completely.
He didn't just play better; he looked like himself again. He grabbed a massive win at the RBC Heritage, carding a tournament-record 61 in the second round. You don't shoot a 61 on a tight, "position-golf" track like Harbour Town unless your ball-striking is elite. By the time we hit the start of 2026, he’s back inside the world top 10 (currently sitting at 9th) and he’s earned over $10 million in a single season for the first time in years.
It’s easy to forget that JT is only 32.
We treat him like a veteran because he’s been out here forever, but he’s basically in his physical prime. He’s already got two PGA Championships (2017, 2022) and a Players Championship (2021). The only thing missing from the resume is that elusive Green Jacket or a Claret Jug, but the way he’s rolling the rock lately, those don't feel like "if" anymore—they feel like "when."
Why His Swing Is Actually "Anti-Instructional"
If you go to a local pro and try to swing like Justin Thomas, they’ll probably tell you to stop before you break your back. Seriously.
JT does stuff that would get a junior golfer a stern lecture. At impact, he’s almost completely airborne. His feet are dancing. He’s on his tiptoes. It’s a high-speed, high-tension move that requires a level of hand-eye coordination that most of us can't even fathom.
His dad, Mike Thomas, has been his only coach his entire life. That’s a rare thing in a sport where players swap swing gurus as often as they swap caddies. Mike knows Justin's "feels."
- The "Feel vs. Real" Gap: JT often talks about how what he feels he's doing at the top of the swing is totally different from what the camera shows.
- The "Long and Across" Trap: When he struggles, it’s usually because his swing gets too long and the club points across the line at the top. This leads to the "underneath" move that causes those scary left misses.
- The Width Fix: Lately, he’s been obsessed with "width" in his hands. By keeping the hands further from his head, he creates the space he needs to drop the club into the slot without getting stuck.
It’s a violent swing, but it’s a controlled violence. He averages over 300 yards off the tee despite being 5'10" and 160 pounds. That’s pure physics and timing.
The Ryder Cup Factor and the "Villain" Arc
There was a moment in late 2023 where Justin Thomas became the most polarizing man in golf. Zach Johnson picked him for the Ryder Cup team despite JT being in the middle of his worst statistical stretch. People were furious. They said it was a "boys club" move.
But JT went out there and, frankly, was one of the few Americans who looked like they actually wanted to be there.
He’s a "vibe" player. He feeds off the crowd, the yelling, and even the heckling. He has this grit that makes him a nightmare in match play. It’s that Louisville toughness. He grew up in a golf family—his grandfather Paul was a pro who played in the U.S. Open and PGA Championship—so he’s been around the "toughness" of the game since he was 18 months old.
He isn't trying to be the most liked guy on the course. He’s trying to beat you. If he has to let out a "Power-Fist" or a loud "Come on!" after a 30-foot putt, he's going to do it.
What’s Actually in the Bag for 2026?
JT is a Titleist lifer. He’s one of the few guys who doesn't tinker much with brands because he trusts the equipment he’s used since he was a kid.
As of early 2026, he’s moved into the newer Titleist GT2 driver. It's a bit of a shift because he’s historically liked the smaller, "faster" looking heads, but the added stability has helped his Strokes Gained: Off-the-Tee stats, which were a major weakness in his 2023/2024 slump. He’s still using the Pro V1x ball, which gives him that high-spin "spinner" shot around the greens that he’s famous for.
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His wedge play is honestly where the magic happens. He ranks in the top 10 for Strokes Gained: Approach almost every year. When he’s on, he isn't just hitting greens; he's hitting pins.
The "Quiet" Life in Jupiter
Off the course, things have settled down too. He married Jillian Wisniewski in 2022, and they’ve since started a family. Living in the Jupiter, Florida hub means he's constantly practicing with guys like Tiger Woods and Rickie Fowler.
Tiger has actually been a huge mentor for JT during his comeback. You’ll often see them paired together in practice rounds at the Masters. JT has admitted that he picks Tiger's brain constantly about course management. It seems to be working—his "blow-up" holes (the double bogeys that used to ruin his rounds) have dropped significantly in the last 18 months.
How to Apply the JT Mindset to Your Game
You can't jump like JT. You probably shouldn't try to swing as fast as him either. But there are three things he does that every amateur golfer can actually use:
- Short Game over Range Time: Mike Thomas always preached that short game practice was more important than "whacking balls." JT spends hours on the chipping green for every hour on the range.
- Commit to the Shot: One thing you'll notice about JT is that he never "quits" on a swing. Even if he hates the feel halfway through, he follows through. Indecision is the biggest killer of amateur scores.
- Manage Your "Miss": JT knows his bad shot is a hook. He plans for it. He doesn't aim down the middle; he aims for where his miss will still be in play.
The "New JT" we’re seeing in 2026 is more patient. He’s not chasing every pin. He’s playing the long game. And in a sport where careers can last until you're 50, that’s a scary thought for the rest of the PGA Tour.
If you want to keep up with his progress, keep a close eye on his Strokes Gained: Putting stats during the Florida swing. When JT is putting well, he doesn't just win—he dominates.
Next Steps for Your Golf Knowledge:
- Watch a slow-motion replay of his 2025 RBC Heritage 61 to see his hand-path width.
- Check the current FedEx Cup standings to see how he’s tracking toward the 2026 playoffs.
- Focus on your own "width" in your next range session to see if it helps your ball-striking.