Si Woo Kim leads the PGA Tour in a good shot 71.75 percent. The tournament average is slightly below 60.
He’s not one of the tallest players on Tour – on average 297.8 meters compared approx 302 meters– but it still ranks 14 in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee. This combination tells you that his approach off the tee is doing something that most players don’t.
Here are three things that stand out and what you can get from them.
Here’s a PGA Tour video of Si Woo Kim walking through his tee strategy.
1. He doesn’t hit a driver shot
Si Woo Kim is not relying on a stock fluctuation.
In the PGA Tour video above, he walks through different tee shots and how they differ depending on the hole. Some require height, some require shape and others simply require the ball to stay in play.
He’s not trying to hit the same shot every time. In fact, when you watch him talk about his approach from the box, he looks like he’s trying to hit the fairway. He adjusts based on the situation in front of him, which gives him more ways to keep the ball in the fairway.
2. It prioritizes the starting line
IN 71.75 percent of fairways hitit’s not just about avoiding big mistakes.
It’s about starting the ball on the target line and controlling what happens from there. Most amateur players never consider the starting line. They think about the end result of their effort.
The biggest issue for Kim is where the ball starts. If the starting line is off, the shooter is usually in trouble right away.
Kim’s approach is simple: Pick a starting line, commit to it, and let the form work.
3. He knows when to get less than full speed
Kim averages 297.8 yards off the tee, just below the Tour average of about 302 yards, but still ranks 14th in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee.
When control is more important than distance, it relies on a more controlled swing with the driver. Less speed, less variability, more predictable results.
If you treat every machine as a maximum effort movement, this can be a lesson to learn from.
What driver does Si Woo Kim play?
While you’ll need a consistent and efficient swing to hit 70 percent of your fairways, the driver still plays into it. Kim’s current setup includes:
- Head: Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond Driver (8.5°)
- Axis: Fujikura Ventus Black 6X
The Callaway Quantum Triple Diamond driver did well in our high swing speed testing, earning a top 10 finish. It was stronger in accuracy and forgiveness than distance.
Final thoughts
Si Woo Kim is not the tallest driver on Tour, but he is one of the most efficient.
He is doing it by:
- Choosing the right shot for the hole
- Control where the ball starts
- Downshifting when necessary
- And relying on a repeatable swing
It’s a simple approach, but imitating it might just help you reach a few more avenues.
Main photo caption: Si Woo Kim hits the driver during the RBC Legacy. (GETTY IMAGES/Andrew Redington)
