Wyndham Clark has always been capable of producing ridiculous golf shots. But in 2026, his ball striking has become a much bigger part of the story. The two-time U.S. Open champion has paired his elite power with a more repeatable swing and a clearer understanding of how to control the clubface—work that has come under new PGA swing coach Pat Coyner.
Clark’s recent results make the case pretty convincingly. He won the 2026 U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills and then followed it with a dominant performance at the BMW Championship, shooting 64-64-65 to build a five-shot lead before closing with a 70 and a three-shot victory at 17-under. That makes three wins in 2026 against the best fields in golf.
So what makes his ball striking elite? It’s not simply that he hits the ball a mile.
1. He creates ridiculous speed without losing control
Clark generates enormous clubhead speed, but his real advantage is what happens to the ball afterward. He can launch drives high and far if he wants, while still controlling trajectory and direction.
That combination—speed plus predictability—is what separates elite power from simply being a long hitter.
2. His iron play is built around controlling the clubface
Clark’s swing can look unconventional, but the key is the delivery: he consistently returns the clubface to a position that lets him start the ball where he intends.
His work with Coyner has focused heavily on improving that relationship between the clubface, path and body motion. The result is a swing that may look a little wild to the casual observer but produces extremely playable shots.
3. He can manufacture shots
This might be the most underrated part of Clark’s game.
He isn’t a one-shot golfer. He can hit high, low, left-to-right and right-to-left shots depending on what the hole demands. At a place like Shinnecock Hills, where wind and firm conditions punish players who can’t control trajectory, that versatility becomes enormously valuable.
4. His long-iron and long-club game is a weapon
Clark’s combination of speed and strike quality means he can attack holes that many players are simply trying to survive.
Long approaches become scoring opportunities rather than defensive shots. And when you can hit a 4-iron or long iron with enough speed to hold greens, you’re effectively turning difficult par 4s into birdie holes.
5. He repeats his motion under pressure
Here’s the biggest compliment you can give a ball striker: the swing holds up when the tournament gets serious.
Clark’s 2026 season provides plenty of evidence. He opened the U.S. Open with a 64 and followed it with a 69 to maintain the lead. Then, at the BMW Championship, he produced three consecutive low rounds of 64-64-65 before closing out the victory.
That’s not just hot putting. That’s a player repeatedly delivering the club and ball where he wants them.
The Bottom Line
Clark’s ball striking isn’t elite because his swing looks pretty. It’s elite because it works. He combines speed, face control, trajectory management, shot-making and repeatability—and his work with Pat Coyner appears to have made that package even more effective. The BMW Championship was simply the latest reminder that when Clark is swinging it well, there aren’t many players on Tour who can hit the golf ball better.