Brooks Koepka's Fairway Finder: The Safe Fade
Brooks Koepka says he doesn't think about anything during his swing. On the driving range at Valderrama, he demonstrates what really matters to him when hitting the driver: alignment, ball position, and a safety shot he uses when the fairway is narrow or the pressure is high.
To be continued
What the lesson shows
Koepka's setup is based on three reference points. For a target 250 yards away, he places feet slightly to the left, parallel at the line of play, the ball just inside his left foot (a little further back than most players, he says), then checks to make sure that the shoulders follow the feet. Then it’s “turn and burn”: his feet push off the ground and his body rotates completely. His natural shot is a slight fade. If his shoulders lag on the downswing, the ball curves into a draw; for an intentional draw, he aims his feet about fifteen yards to the right of the target, facing the target, and swings a little more slowly.
Sound “Fairway Finder” goes against the grain: instead of striking as he moves upward, he strikes down. Place the ball farther back (about 15 cm inside the left heel), use a slightly lower tee, stand with your feet very wide apart, keep your clubface roughly square, and focus on just one thing: strike the ball as you would with an iron. The ball will fly low and piercing, and it will roll. Strategy-wise, he advises amateurs to stand in the middle of the green and look at the hole upside down to figure out where to start. And when his game falls apart, he goes back to the basics: stance, feet, alignment.
The Exercise, Step by Step
- Choose a specific target on the fairway.
- Place your feet slightly to the left of this target, parallel to the line.
- Place the ball just inside your left foot and align your shoulders with your feet.
- Turn all the way, feeling your feet push against the ground.
- For a safety shot, move the ball back about 15 cm, lower the tee slightly, and stand with your feet wide apart, facing roughly square.
- Hit the ball downwards for a low, rolling trajectory.
Key Takeaways
Mistakes to Avoid
- Thinking about too many things during the swing instead of checking your alignment.
- Shoulders that don't align with the line of the feet at address.
- Let your shoulders drop as you go downhill when you're aiming for a fade.
- Try to strike while moving up on the safety shot.
- Relying on the numbers without watching the ball in flight.
Driving Range Mode
Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.
- Check your feet, shoulders, and ball position before each drive
- A series of “turn and burn” fades toward a stationary target
- Fairway Finder Series: Back-up the ball, lower the tee, swing down
- Compare the height and trajectory of the two shots
Your Questions
Where does Brooks Koepka place the ball when he hits a drive?
Just inside his left foot, a little further back than most players, according to him. For his safety shot, he moves it back another 15 cm or so.
How does the “fairway finder” work?
Feet spread wide, stance roughly square, tee set a little lower, and he hits the ball downwards as if with an iron. The ball flies low and rolls: a shot that doesn't cause him any trouble, even if it stays straight.
How does he hit a draw when his natural shot is a fade?
He aims his feet about fifteen yards to the right of the target, keeps his body facing the target, and swings a little more slowly so that his shoulders stay closed longer.
What strategic advice does he give to amateurs?
Go to the middle of the green and look at the hole from the tee: you can clearly see where to place the ball, and all you have to do is hit your drive there.
Learn More
Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Brooks Koepka). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.