The Koepka Principle: Why Your “Unorthodox” Game Might Be Your Greatest Asset
Every week in my studio, I work with golfers who apologize for their swings. They’ve watched YouTube breakdowns of tour players’ mechanics. They’ve heard their buddies critique their grip. They’re convinced that if they could just swing “the right way,” everything would click.
Then I tell them about Brooks Koepka, and something shifts.
Here’s what fascinates me about Koepka’s return to the PGA Tour: he’s built a Hall of Fame career on a swing that doesn’t match the textbook. His grip is strong where most instructors would soften it. His approach is what he calls “reactionary”—and yet, this five-time major champion regularly outperforms golfers with technically prettier swings.
The lesson isn’t that mechanics don’t matter. They do. But the lesson for you is far more liberating: the “right” swing is the one that works for *you*, especially when the pressure is on.
Stop Trying to Become Someone Else
In my 15 years of teaching, I’ve seen more improvement happen when students stopped fighting their natural tendencies and started building around them. This is the Koepka principle in action.
Think about your own game for a moment. Are you a long hitter who struggles with precision? A methodical player who feels rushed? Someone who excels from 50 yards in but hasn’t found consistent rhythm off the tee? These aren’t flaws to hide—they’re the foundation of your game.
“He doesn’t fit the mold. His swing isn’t textbook. He doesn’t obsess over mechanics. Yet he’s won three PGA Championships and two U.S. Opens, regularly making it look easier than guys with prettier swings.”
When I analyze a student’s rounds, I’m not looking for what’s wrong—I’m looking for where you’re already winning. Maybe you’re consistently gaining strokes from 100 yards and in. Maybe your short game is exceptional. Maybe you drive it straighter than far, but you’re trying to bomb it like someone else.
Here’s a drill that will help you identify your real strengths:
The Five-Round Audit: Pull up your last five scorecards (18-hole rounds, not casual play). For each round, mark down: Did I gain strokes off the tee? Did I hit greens in regulation? Did I get up and down from tough positions? Did my putting cost me or save me? You’ll notice patterns. Maybe you’re gaining strokes through scrambling ability. Maybe you’re losing them because you’re trying to hit every fairway instead of playing your length. Once you see the pattern, you can build a strategy around it instead of fighting it.
The Target-First Approach to Better Shotmaking
One of the most destructive habits I see in amateur golfers is what I call “mechanics paralysis.” You address the ball, and your mind immediately runs through a checklist: grip pressure, shoulder alignment, hip turn, swing plane. By the time you’re ready to swing, your brain has sabotaged you with overthinking.
Koepka approaches this completely differently. He sees the target, and he hits it—without the mental checklist running in the background.
“See the target and hit it. No mental checklist.”
You can train your brain to work this way. It takes practice, but the payoff is enormous—especially under pressure, when mechanical thoughts completely abandon you anyway.
Try this drill on the range: Hit five balls where you do nothing but stare at your target for three full seconds before stepping up to the ball. Don’t think about your grip. Don’t adjust your stance. Just burn that target into your brain. Then address the ball and hit within 15 seconds. You’ll notice something immediately: the shots feel cleaner. The ball contact feels more solid. Your body knows what to do when your brain stops interfering.
This is also why Koepka’s grip pressure is famously light. Tension in your hands signals that your conscious mind is trying to control the swing. I tell my students: loosen until the club almost feels like it might slip, then add just enough pressure to hold on. Light grip, clear target, simple process.
Playing Your Best When It Actually Matters
Here’s a statistic that should change how you practice: Koepka’s putting average in major championships is regularly a full stroke better per round than in regular PGA Tour events. He doesn’t suddenly become a better putter in majors. He becomes *more focused*—and more willing to separate what matters from what doesn’t.
Most amateur golfers practice with the opposite mentality. They grind equally hard on every round, then wonder why they don’t elevate when the stakes are real.
“Decide which rounds matter to you. Club championship? Member-guest? That annual trip with college buddies? Circle those dates and treat them differently.”
The two weeks leading into your important rounds should look different. Stop hitting aimless balls at the range. Instead, play pressure situations where missed shots have consequences. If you miss the fairway, you hit your next practice shot from the rough. If you three-putt, you do push-ups. This isn’t punishment—it’s rehearsal. You’re teaching your nervous system what pressure feels like so your body doesn’t freeze when it matters.
I also recommend developing a reset ritual between shots. Koepka’s famous blank expression after bad shots isn’t indifference—it’s recovery. After any shot, walk three paces while taking three deep breaths. Notice something specific: a tree, a cloud, a landmark. This gives your brain permission to release the last shot. By the time you reach your ball, you’re truly starting fresh.
Your game doesn’t need to look like anyone else’s game. It needs to be reliable when it counts. Build on your actual strengths, trust your target, and save your best focus for the moments that matter to you. That’s the Koepka principle, and it works.
