“Where Focus Meets Fun” A Top Golf Spec Ad
I decided to call this a Top Golf Spec Ad mainly because once I slapped the logo at the end, it really felt like one. It’s the kind of ad that could showcase the fun, beginner-friendly vibe of Top Golf while still nodding to the calm but challenging nature of actual golf.
What’s funny is this whole thing started with zero planning. No tripod—I propped the camera on the table and the ground. No external monitor—so yes, I missed focus. No shot list, no script. Just creative angles, color grading, sound design, and a whole lot of attempts at decent golf hits. (It took me about 30 minutes just to figure out how to swing without embarrassing myself.)
I pieced together the sequence while reviewing the footage, threw the logo on the end, and suddenly it looked like a spec ad. And honestly? Considering the circumstances, it turned out pretty solid. But if I had more time, I would’ve tightened up a few things:
Manual focus on the opening shot so the clubs stay sharp as I walk in.
Nailing focus on the golf ball in shot 4—a bigger monitor or more micro-adjustments with the flip screen would’ve helped.
Adjusting the ND filter so part of the sky isn’t polarized in shot 3.
My golf swing. Enough said.
What I love most about this project is how naturally it happened. I didn’t wake up planning to make a Top Golf spec ad. I was just spending time with my family for my sister’s birthday, and the idea showed up along the way.
This isn’t meant to be a showcase of my best work. If anything, it shows how much better things can get with more planning and intention. But I’m sharing it because sometimes the best way to grow creatively is to pick up your camera—even without a plan—and just make something.
This is a small reminder that creativity doesn’t need permission—just a moment, an idea, and a camera.
