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Warm-up and MobilityRange Practice All clubs Expert / Intermediate ⏱ 32 min 🇬🇧 Video in English, summarized

Brooks Koepka's Warm-Up: His Pre-Shot Routine

What does a five-time major champion do before teeing off? For GOLF.com, Brooks Koepka walks us through his Sunday major warm-up, club by club. His rule: warm up, don’t overthink it, and focus only on alignment.

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Brooks Koepka
Brooks Koepka · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

To be continued

17 minSame problemMin Woo Lee's Warm-Up at the Driving Range, Step by StepMin Woo Lee · Intermediate / Expert8 minSame problemCéline Boutier's Warm-up Before a TournamentCéline Boutier · Intermediate12 minFrom the same proBrooks Koepka's Distance Tracking: The Grid ChallengeBrooks Koepka · Expert

What the lesson shows

Koepka is about 1 hour and 30 minutes before departure: a little physical therapy, then the putting green, and 45 to 50 minutes on the driving range beforehand. He always starts at the 56° wedge, without thinking about it, using perceived distances (short, medium, three-quarters, full); for a slightly shorter shot, he opens the clubface slightly while maintaining the same swing. He then follows through only the odd-numbered irons (9, 7, 5, then 3), with the ball positioned slightly further forward for the 3-iron, focusing on just one thing: alignment, which is checked by his coach or caddie standing behind him. Stance, grip, alignment: the fundamentals his first coach taught him.

After the driver (not shown in the video), he goes straight back down to iron 7 and begins to slow down his swing: three-quarter swing, low shots, backspin. For him, a three-quarter swing produces a draw, and a full swing produces a fade—without changing his address. He finishes with a short wedge shot, a few chips, then some putts of about one meter to watch the ball go in. Throughout the session, he advocates a simple idea: to make golf a reaction sport, like tossing a crumpled piece of paper into a trash can without thinking about the consequences.

The Exercise, Step by Step

  1. Arrive early: do a little warm-up, then head to the putting green first.
  2. At the driving range, start with a few shots with a wedge, playing by feel (short, medium, three-quarters, full).
  3. Play in two-club increments (9, 7, 5, then a wood or long iron), moving the ball forward a little with the long clubs.
  4. Have your alignment checked, or place a stick on the ground.
  5. Hit a few drives, then go straight back to the 7-iron.
  6. Work your way back down by playing three-quarter shots, low shots, and the opposite spin.
  7. Finish with a short wedge shot, a few chips, and some one-meter putts.

Key Takeaways

A warm-up is meant to warm you up: a poor driving range session doesn't necessarily mean a poor round.
He always starts with the 56° wedge, judging distances by feel.
He only hits the odd-numbered irons, both in practice and during warm-ups.
His only technical check: the alignment of his feet and shoulders.
After the driver shot, he switches back to the 7-iron and takes some speed off the shot.
He finishes with short putts to get the ball in the hole.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Judge your day by the quality of your warm-up.
  • Arrive at the starting line with your technique in mind.
  • Neglecting alignment: According to Koepka, even pros tend to drift off course.
  • Keep taking full swings without ever losing speed.
  • Teeing off without having seen a ball go in on the putting green.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

  1. Wedge feel: small, medium, three-quarters, full
  2. Uneven rungs on the way up, alignment bar on the ground
  3. Back to the 7-iron: three-quarters swing, low shots, backspin
  4. End of the session: chips, followed by one-meter putts

Your Questions

How long before his tee time does Brooks Koepka arrive at the driving range?

He arrives at the golf course about 1 hour and 30 minutes early, does some physical therapy, heads to the putting green first, and then goes to the driving range 45 to 50 minutes before his tee time.

Why does he only hit the odd-numbered irons?

He explains that he practices only with his odd-numbered irons—both at home and during warm-ups—so he always uses the same clubs. He only uses the others during tournaments.

What does he check during the warm-up?

It's all about alignment: his coach or caddie stands behind him. If his feet and shoulders are properly aligned, the rest falls into place.

What does he do when his warm-up doesn't go well?

Nothing special. He mentions his worst warm-up in a long time, during a weekend when he actually played well: the driving range is for getting warmed up, not for judging yourself.

Learn More

All “Warm-up and Mobility” videos →Find the lesson that's right for youAll “Practice” videos →Find the lesson that's right for you Min Woo Lee's Warm-Up at the Driving Range, Step by StepUse elastic bands to support your left leg and keep your right shoulder raised, then lift the bag three times, using controlled movements without ever overdoing it. Rickie Fowler's Green Reading, Step by StepRickie Fowler reads the putt from the low side, starting from the point where the ball enters the hole, checks his setup in the mirror, and strikes the ball with a centered contact. Matsuyama's one-handed drill: his key to the wedgeMatsuyama begins his practice sessions with one-handed approaches—first with his left hand, then with his right—to “guide” the ball onto the clubface and connect his short game with his long game. Brooks KoepkaAll of his lessons

Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Brooks Koepka). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.

* Amateur competitions with guidance from the pros