Fairway Finder with the Driver: Min Woo Lee's Three Drives
Min Woo Lee has three drives: a basic fade, a longer draw that he saves for wide fairways, and a low “fairway finder” to hit the fairway. He explains what he adjusts for each one and how it feels on the downhill shot.
To be continued
What the lesson shows
His basic move is a slight fade. He used to hit a draw as an amateur, but on the tour he needed a more reliable shot, and it took him his first three pro seasons to develop a natural fade. For a more pronounced fade, he aims the club at the tee line (the left side of the fairway) and lets the ball curve back. He plays the draw That’s fine, but he doesn’t trust it as much: he saves it for wide fairways. He then stands in a more closed stance (right foot back, feet positioned to the right of the tee line) with the clubface slightly closed at impact. According to him, his draw goes about 15 yards farther, but the priority remains hitting the fairway; for shorter players, the draw is a real asset.
The third time's the “Fairway Finder”: The ball is teed up a little lower (the lower you hit it, the less likely the ball is to go off course), and he aims for the left side of the fairway, shortens the grip a little and hits a shot with more “punch” using a similar backswing, resulting in a low fade. Finally, he describes his feel for the shot: on a fade, the club comes down in front of him; on a draw, the swing is longer and “lagger,” the club is further behind him and comes in more from the inside, sweeping the ball from right to left.
The Exercise, Step by Step
- Choose your basic shot based on the width of the fairway and your confidence level.
- For a fade: aim the club toward the left side of the fairway and feel the club come down in front of you.
- For the draw: Move your right foot back so that both feet are aligned to the right of the starting line.
- On the draw, aim for a slightly closed clubface at impact and a club that comes from the inside.
- For the fairway finder: Tee off a little lower and aim for the left side of the fairway.
- Shorten your grip slightly and hit the ball with more power, using a similar backswing.
- At the driving range, alternate between the three shots aimed at the same target.
Key Takeaways
Mistakes to Avoid
- Playing a draw on a narrow fairway when you don't trust the shot.
- Prioritizing distance over the fairway.
- Keep the tee high for a safety shot.
- Change your entire swing to use the fairway finder instead of shortening your grip and finish.
- For a draw, let the clubhead move downward in front of you, as you would on a fade.
Driving Range Mode
Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.
- Two markers on the driving range to mark the boundaries of a fairway
- A series of fade shots from the left side of the fairway“
- Series of draws, right foot back
- Fairway Finder: Lower tee, shorter grip, short finish
Your Questions
What is Min Woo Lee's “fairway finder”?
A safety drive: tee the ball a little lower, shorten the grip slightly, and hit a more powerful shot with a similar backswing. He aims for the left side of the fairway for a low fade.
When does he play the draw?
On wider fairways. He hits it well but has less confidence in it on the course; according to him, it goes about 15 yards farther than his fade.
How does he stand in the draw?
Closer stance: right foot back, feet aligned to the right of the starting line, and a slightly closed clubface at impact. He feels a longer swing, with the club farther behind him, coming from the inside.
Why did he switch from a draw to a fade?
He used to hit a draw as an amateur, but on the tour he needed to hit the ball straighter. He says it took him his first three seasons as a pro to develop a natural fade.
Learn More
Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Min Woo Lee). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons, without hosting them.