Fred Couples Golf Swing Analysis by Craig Hanson Golf

www.worldclassgolf.com
I teach golf trainers and tour pros and Club golfers and have given over 25,000 + lessons internationally. I teach people online from all over the world. With my advanced software and microphone system "Online Lessons" are a fantastic way for the public to reach a more advanced trainer at great prices. Please visit my website for your online lesson example and information.
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[@vharrald]

I use to try and swing like Freddie back when i was younger. Now that I'm working on refinding my swing, i am now practicing his swing again... it's working.

[@thomasfraser9072]

Thank you for the video. Ben Hogan in his 5 lessons writes about letting go the thumb and first finger on the trail hand on the downswing to prevents any false steering of the club head to the ball. I guess Fredy read that page and kept the advice of Hogan throughout his career. Also with Freddy's flying trail elbow, the palm of his trail hand must be pointing down to the grown at the top of his swing, unlike most professional played who plays their trail elbow pointing down to the ground with the trail hand/palm up at the top of their swing. At 72 I recently discovered that Fred Couple swing is not only smooth and delightful to watch; but easy to do as well. Cheers

[@CraigHansonGolf]

Thomas Fraser Thanks for posting a very interesting post as well. I’m glad you enjoyed the video it seems to have grown more popular over time. 👍👍

[@CraigHansonGolf]

@@Dentalcoverage4u 78% of modern tour players have a slightly cupped lead wrist. We have to remember that

[@richyclubsport5155]

What a brilliant description and footage off Freddy's swing in slowmo, i followed him a couple of time's when he played here in England, man he was long, and even when he hit a bad one no temper tantrums, just smiled and got on with it, unlike a few other's, not many play without a glove on their left hand, wonder if he does it for feel? Absolutely a joy to watch him 😊

[@CraigHansonGolf]

Thanks .. nice of you post 👍

[@mrpalomo123]

Thanks Craig for posting the best video, and description I've ever seen of Fred's swing. He's always been someone I've tried to copy in the swing. A strong grip producing a power fade is what I love.

[@CraigHansonGolf]

Thanks Roy 👍

[@A1Adaydreaming]

Very Interesting video. Freddie is so fluid and effortless in real time, and when you break down all that is going on with this swing it's unbelievable. I think an amateur might look at Fred's swing and say "I want a swing just like this". But this swing, in reality, is very difficult to reproduce for the average human and is probably not where I would start in trying to teach a golf swing. What I do think that everybody can take away from looking at Fred swing the club which will actually help their own game regardless of their talent level is Fred's tempo. Regardless of how you hold it, or what moves you make from the top back to impact and how you release your hands...etc...if you can duplicate the Fred Couples tempo, you will probably become a better ball striker through that alone.

[@jazzyjayhog]

Best detailed analysis of the swing. Will check out all his other vids. Wow

[@CraigHansonGolf]

Thank

[@petermartinaitis8166]

It's amazing what can be seen at slow motion.

[@CraigHansonGolf]

Thanks for posting Peter. Yes i agree

[@jeffrichardson4941]

Love your swing analysis videos and would love to see more of them on more tour players and also average joes and what you are doing to help them. I also enjoyed the drill videos and found the lining up left and hitting straight plus the pre set drills very helpful. Do you have anymore good drills?

[@CraigHansonGolf]

Jeff Richardson Hi Jeff thanks ... I have a platform with 700 videos.. It’s called worldclassgolf.com It’s got everything... and growing practice programs swing analysis You tube is to create a interest to reach people to get to hundreds of videos

[@max-andrewmcmillan4235]

goodness thanks, loved it. funny my left hand sometimes freezes, and you know where that ball is going. But if i keep soft hands, i can hit them.

[@Spudroe]

+Max-Andrew McMillan Soft hands yes and also soft arms. There is no hit in Freddy's swing until right at impact. The key, I think, is to keep as relaxed as possible. Go ahead and let the left heel come off the ground on the backswing. Notice how Freddy's weight transfers back to the left foot even before he's completed the backswing. If you look at all the great ball strikers (Trevino, Nicholas, for ex.), their swing sequence is the same. The lag is created when the weight shifts back to the left foot before the end of the backswing. Then it's a matter of just letting the arms drop (soft arms) and just turning toward the target. Notice how Freddy's body (torso) stays ahead of the clubhead until well after impact. So when the clubhead makes contact with the ball, the mass of his whole body is imparted on the ball. It's that "heavy hit" and sounds so different from the golfer who just throws his hands at the ball using just the shoulders and arms for power instead of using the mass of the whole body. I love Freddy!

[@dougiemontana4815]

The reason he gets his right elbow down so early in the downswing is because he’s so narrow, he lifts his arm up rather than turn the shoulders during backswing which in turn keeps the right elbow very bent.

[@kenlines6866]

Reminds me of someone throwing the ball inbounds during a soccer game.

[@davidarbelaez4395]

I watch Fred for his tempo. That is all I can really grasp. Haha

[@Godisnotjesus1967]

Fred Couples seems to stand almost straight legs at address. Little knee flex. I immitate that and most of the time im hitting it smooth and having comfortable finish. Surprisingly close to what Fred looks like through his swing.

[@CraigHansonGolf]

MJ Young That sounds great! Yes it’s a very natural way to stand Thanks for posting

[@VG32123]

I read somewhere that Freddie was asked about his right hand grip and he said he wasn't aware of it coming off and it always felt like it was on at all times.

[@CraigHansonGolf]

vince guest yeah what a legend!

[@rogerwhite7719]

Vijay Singh lets go of the club in a very similar manner in some video clips.

[@CraigHansonGolf]

Roger White That exactly right Roger!

[@nescafeshorts1900]

Fred and Jack both tended to hit the fade, but Freddy's hands are bigger than Jack's; hence the strong grip. They both hit the ball further than most pga players. Jack uses a neutral to weak grip.

[@CraigHansonGolf]

Nescafe Shorts it sure is interesting looking at the greats of the game and reading what people think. Thanks for posting.

[@ericwilliams398]

Not the same swing plane, but I see similarities to Goosen. The way they both seem so carefree at the top, then just swat the ball

[@CraigHansonGolf]

eric williams Yeah I know what you mean Eric I was a big fan of Goosen

[@CraigHansonGolf]

Eric check this platform out www.worldclassgolf.com

[@TheNYgolfer]

Here is where Freddy got the idea to let go of the club with the forefinger and thumb. Thank you Ben Hogan kzbin.info/www/bejne/oaSzgJmsqraKkKM It's to prevent those fingers from taking a death grip and thereby hindering the natural release of the club.

[@johnclark3697]

he doesn't let go of grip with every shot.youve just stumbled on a rare one.V.J, DOES the same thing, OCCASIONALLY.great analysis though.thanks for posting.

[@Robert-ts2ef]

The best swing ever to show what appears to be effortless power as opposed to powerless effort. His length is obtained by the snap action of releasing his lag through the ball. What confuses me in today’s instruction is that a lot of instructors such as Dan Whittaker are pushing the body ‘drag the handle’ swing through the ball and I need someone to clarify which is the best swing for distance and which is the most body (back) friendly, any ideas?

[@whetedge]

Well, Couples' swing hasn't exactly been "back friendly"; he suffers from frequent lower back pain. I've dealt with lower back strain all my adult life. I never have problems with it since changing to a Ballard type connected swing, which doesn't allow for such a long back swing (like Couples), and distance is far better. Distance is from timing of release, not length of back swing. Timing is a non factor with a connected swing; it's automatic. I'd suggest reading: "The Master Key", by Noel Thomas "How to Perfect You Golf Swing", by Jimmy Ballard And study Moe Norman swing mechanics, _especially_ his short game swings. All are really a matter of rotating the core (rib cage) and arm triangle as one unit, rather than "lifting" the arms up high. Hard to learn, but mind boggling results (for me), and ergonomically very sound.

[@davidbaker2778]

Robert Bernard, after playing golf a while, I can confidently say that it all depends on the guy swinging the club. We're all different. I hit the ball forty yards further with a looser swing and holding my body off for a little while. That's just me though. You do you.

[@iamnoone894]

Hi Craig, Viking from Sweden here. I got a question for you. You talked about the mysterious "lag" at about 5.20 and about how many knuckles of the grip you need. I'm not chasing more lagg myself, I consider lag to be an effect rather than the cause created by seperation by the upper and lower body during the turn and the downswing. However would you care elaborate on what you meant with that you need a strong grip in order to have alot of lag? The only explanation I got is that lag leads to forward shaft lean at impact and when you reach the dynamic impact position with a neutral grip, the club tends to be open leading to slices. I tried myself for a short period messing around a bit with the grip, making it stronger i.e a 3+ knuckles grip but it just doesn't feel comfortable for me. Anyways, thanks for the nice video. Couples is one of those players that amazes you but it would be fatal trying to swing like that for a normal John Doe :).

[@TheNYgolfer]

I personally am getting tired of instructors parroting each other about Fred's "strong grip". He has a perfectly neutral grip at IMPACT, which is where the grip counts . Nicklaus said that his grip is like he was clapping hands in applause and then just wrapping his fingers around the club. That's exactly what Fred does. Why then does everybody and his mother then claim Fred has a REALLY STRONG grip but yet no one says that about Nicklaus?? Simple. Fred , at address, has his hands in the middle of his body where as Nicklaus has a his hands more forward so that his left arm and shaft form a straight line (Known as impact hands). If Fred took his "strong grip" at setup and just did a forward press and moved his hands to the same position as Nicklaus then they BOTH would have the same neutral grip at setup.

[@anthonywillis7634]

TheNYgolfer : do you understand what a strong and weak grip is? Not being rude but it seems you may not.

[@AAABLETTT]

Hip pause, thats why his back is rooted.

[@sandman4224]

Fred Couples has snap factor that is old school. The same kind of motion needed to crack a whip or use a hand held grass trimmer. Pretty simple once understood. Modern teaching and all its technical machinations just do not get it - which is probably just a business model to keep people buying new equipment and lessons.

[@11jv]

***** i totally agree. i've been playing for a few years now and can't hit the ball much more than 250 yards with that (for me) complicated sequential coiling up of the body x factor stuff that dominates golfing speak. i have a fast throwing arm and was puzzled as to why i couldn't hit it long. i read about the hitters swing and gave it a go. as soon as i tried to incorporate this into my action, the cracking of the whip that you mention, my drives have improved into the 280 yard region and it finally feels like i'm putting my athleticism into my game.

[@sandman4224]

James Vargeson Outstanding!

[@Valvey789]

He lets go of the club with his right hand after impact because he runs out of right arm, i.e. his head is so far back and he is swinging his arms so far down the line that his right arm can't reach that far and he has no choice but to let go.

[@littlelarry2912]

I thought the club had to be shallowed and under the right shoulder on the downswing. Seems like a lot of great players don't do this. Especially the older guys

[@rone801]

He's 58, and still averages 300 yards.. I have got to learn how to get that amount of lag! I'm going to the range till I get it!!! lol

[@whetedge]

I've learned Ron E, amount of lag is far less important for distance than when it is released. "Timing is everything", as Dustin Johnson says. Trying to get lag is one of the best ways to mess up timing, which should be automatic. The club will create it's lag if you let it, and it will release at the right time on it's own. Producing lag/timing starts with the legs. Ensuring your trail knee remains flexed and braced should be the first step towards producing well timed lag. At 9:10, note Couples is well braced, and body mass is well inside the right leg; hips level, which means trail knee still flexed. That's what causes him to start his down swing from the ground, and allow the energy to work out to the hands at impact.

[@florianredecsy4997]

Ron E I know it is 2 years now... but there is also a huge misunderstanding and explanation for lag.... most describe it the angle between left arm and shaft... and if you strife for this well normally open clubface all day long... look at 08:19... that’s true lag... the rear (right) wrist is still fully back as if you throw a ball... his left is more like 120,130degrees, which by the way is needed otherwise the clubface orientation is completely out of control... and as the other guy said, lag is a byproduct... don’t try to create it... what that means don’t force your arm to rotate backwards... it’s like throwing a ball your elbow will naturally move forward to create speed, which causes the hand to lag behind the elbow... Freddy throws it... hence the high right elbow... same as John Daly...

[@smoozerish]

The high arm positions at the top of his back swing is probably the reason for his chronic back problems.

[@synajwatkins4740]

Hip pause? That man's rotation is finished.

[@CraigHansonGolf]

Sorry I’ll try and improve the videos for you Synaj I can take it down if it’s a problem?