Fred Couples' Keys To an Effortless Golf Swing | Golf Tips | Golf Digest

[@bh5606]

Nobody can swing a golf club like Couples...absolute poetry.

[@Leemz100]

Anyone can do it. If they want the back problems he has had throughout his career.

[@garysimons1608]

Ben Jonson you're absolutely right. Smooth yet powerful.

[@dougdavis8986]

Ben Jonson : poetry? What a dork...

[@radar0412]

@Grady Whitman Dozen of guys CANNOT swing or Strike the Ball like Freddy. Freddy's admitted that what held him back was his inability to concentrate. And if you've watched Freddy's career you'd know that he's a mediocre putter. Those major Champions you mentioned all were more focused. An Elegant golf swing is no substitute for unwavering concentration.

[@radar0412]

@@Leemz100 Fred Couples has never explained how he hurt his back. I don't believe it has anything to do with his beautiful golf swing. A bad back can be the result of many things including Genetics, Trauma, or like Tiger Woods, overtraining and heavy weightlifting. Look at John Daly, who takes the club WAY beyond parallel. At the beginning of his career "Experts" claimed that Daly's overextended golf swing would lead to injury. But because Daly never developed a vigorous Training Program, he NEVER injured his back.

[@vinestreet4031]

Fred was my hero growing up. Such a great person and then a golfer.

[@sjenkins8468]

‘Great person?’ Ha! Yeah, ask his ex-wives about that.👍🏼

[@toddlevine9377]

@@sjenkins8468 So tell us when and where you met with these women and some of the conversations that you had about Fred? If you can’t, I guess you’re just a little gossip girl! What a stupid comment!!

[@seanm3226]

@@sjenkins8468 They’re actually both deceased.

[@windowrob]

@@sjenkins8468 You gotta look at why they divorced before making such a comment dawg💀💀

[@26japrey]

I love how he says he goes at it with everything he has.

[@JGunit]

Yeah, it puts a smile on the face don't it.

[@titaniumsandwedge]

Freddy Couples has the smoothest swing in golf. Listen to him talk about mechanics. It's all programmed into all his muscles which makes it look effortless. Normal humans don't have this programming so they end up looking like Charles Barkley.

[@Kaddywompous]

Barkley could post him up though! 😂

[@tomsauer3830]

Key words, "past the ball". Increasing speed through the ball, down the line. Also, I think having a flexible upper body helps a shoulder turn.

[@TonySop]

People have compared the rhythm of my swing to Couples and I think it might be my biggest compliment of my life 😂

[@jeffrypittman]

Perhaps the most graceful swing in golf. Poetry in motion.

[@CoIoneIPanic]

The crazy thing is Fred doesnt even care about being graceful. He's just trying to hit the ball the only way he knows how.

[@kathrynleaser5093]

I've been watching the old Shells wonderful world of golf series. Fred " Freddie" Couples was simply amazing to watch. He had the most laid back perfect golf swing I've ever seen. I could watch him for hours. I was always surprised at how far he could carry his shots. I have to mention I loved how nice he was to the kids. Down to earth great guy.

[@bruceheysse4835]

Couples in a word is genuine. One of my favorite players by a large margin.

[@RobertMacCready]

Fred Couples makes it look so easy. He has the best swing in golf.

[@dennislaux]

One of the best keys I lost track of and that's releasing down the line, and not around with the hips. So much help in so little time of the video. 1 minute 13 seconds of gold.

[@dudeathlete3067]

Could you explain what that means? Thank You.

[@johnfranciskennedysongwrit2639]

What he’s describing is what he SEES on videos of his swing afterwards, swinging that smooth is just feel and an educated set up through experience of what works for him personally, swing thoughts would ruin that tempo and grace, don’t be fooled. Great to watch.

[@hmaurud1]

Du har så rett Fred, hoftene starter nedsvingen og hendene kommer raskere og raskere ned mot ballen og fortsetter igjennom. Fred is the man !

[@alextaylor8011]

Favorite personality and swing in golf. Since I was 8 years old I loved watching this guy swing. It’s therapeutic to watch.

[@moreme40]

His swing looks effortless and the ball goes a mile. I like it

[@FredCDobbs-er4qd]

Do you know why it looks effortless? Because it IS effortless.

[@solozion]

Wow, he reveals pretty much everything i need to know about golf swing! What a hero :)

[@fireonice143]

Love Freddie’s swing. Silky smooth with the flow of 10w30 throughout‼️I could watch him all day on an endless loop video!🏌🏽‍♂️⛳️🏆

[@GetUpFalcon]

Lol as a car guy I approve the analogy! Typically speaking, you'd consider a thicker oil for a motor idling away on the champions tour. But not in Fred's case. No leaking seals whatsoever. Go as thin as you like!

[@billyray577]

Agreed. Also check out Louis Oosthuizen and John Senden.

[@widndn]

It looks like you give it everything you have. Which is pure gold.

[@jryer1]

That is EXCELLENT instruction by Freddie! He explains and keeps the sequence simple: 1. Once the shoulders and arms at the top 2. Rotate and clear the hips (the arms stay passive at the beginning of this phase) 3. Release the wrist angle at or past the ball, down the line. The arms do not follow the hips around, they trace their own separate arc than the hips.

[@razorbak6783]

Freddy's swing looks like he's just taking a breath....so effortless and smooth.

[@chuckhartey9349]

Thanks Freddy for that tip.I should be on the pga circuit by next week!

[@7676ezra]

Just started playing again and been watching vids of him and also Jack Nicklaus. Both have the high hands and more upright posture. What I never really noticed is how wide Couples shoulder turn is and the strong shift to the left side. I think the more narrow stance kind of hides how much power his lower body is putting into the swing.

[@jackgarland4080]

I have watched this video numerous times over multiple years. I have slowly discovered that it holds so many golf swing gems. Fred's statements have to be broken down almost word by word and then slowly applied. The end result is great ball contact. Thanks, Fred.

[@jackgarland4080]

I went and saw Fred live for the first time at the 2022 Houston Insperity Golf tournament. First of all, it was incredible to watch him live. Secondly, I noticed that Fred has wide shoulders, linebacker shoulders. His shoulders are wider than most. May explain a lot.

[@nerd9992]

A living legend!He actually explains angular momentum!

[@davidmcbride8906]

Not very well

[@Mr1rickyr]

That’s my favorite all time swing! Boom-Boom is a legend 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻

[@buzz-maths-physique]

Many thanks Mr Couples, and congratulations for your brilliant golf level, I love watching you on tv

[@JayColucci1]

1 minute and 13 seconds and its one of the best descriptions of a driver swing I have seen. I have seen other 20plus minutes long and have no idea what the heck they are talking about.

[@THEHANDICAPPERSGOLFWORLD-jd4lh]

Fred don't even know. Hahaha legend. He just hits it and it's so beautiful to watch. Amazing swing.

[@vinceroady7918]

freddie and louis. poetry.

[@aussiegolfer2919]

Freddy is the best , what a golf swing

[@darrenpage5426]

When I go back on the back swing I just swing back about three quarters of my swing then come down to the golf ball. I find it’s like a full swing for myself.Good on you Fred..

[@anthonyperrin3411]

And a major winner too. Class. Tony Perrin.

[@mebeingU2]

No, Freddie. It does not look like you’re going at with everything you have, but goodness does that ball go!! Just smoothness. Thanks for the info!

[@healthsignalllc3456]

Awesome! Love FC! Always marveled at your swing. Looked so effortless! Thank you!

[@Foreverhear]

Thanks Fred great pointer ... I'll be thinking on that tonight when I play.

[@o_Juffo_o]

+James Hill Same here lol

[@DMR4736]

i've always felt his swing and Ernie Els, were the two most effortless beautiful swining i've ever seen

[@readmore3634]

And Steve Stricker's the simplest

[@dub16100]

Best swing in golf ever.

[@perserverance333]

Not quite, works for him but don't emulate.

[@kindpuffin124]

Dude it’s one of the best ever!

[@kindpuffin124]

@Striker 333 dude don’t emulate? Seriously? I modeled my swing after him. The only difference is I don’t have a little lag on the downswing. I’m straight back, straight down. It’s the easiest swing to repeat. It’s machine like. DeChambeau led me to the single swing plane, Couples helped me master it. I play ping g25 silver dot. Just aim for the middle of the green, swing and it’s automatic. I’m currently a +3 hdcp.

[@frankmaier5367]

Ernie Els, Payne Stewart and Adam Scott, right there with him!

[@sebastientougas333]

It all starts with the left shoulder look closely, then the rest follows. Big Thanks To My Favorite Golfer Fred Couples!!! Best compact swing ever to exist :)

[@bobbyb.4468]

As an instructor, I whole heartedly agree with everything Freddy says.....problem is only a small number of people can actually replicate it.

[@markpalmer8083]

If that's what you think, then you're a bad teacher. The responsibility for learning lies with the teacher.

[@NomadJoe0323]

The golfers that we have out on tour now don’t have much personality. Fred Couples is a class act.

[@chadricheson1038]

If it weren’t for Conor Moore, there wouldn’t be any.

[@COLETHORN10]

The most beautiful swing ever....

[@mepmep7213]

Luv freddy, and his effortless swing!!!!!

[@perrybarner3281]

the most beautiful thing in this world....Keith Murray.... Fred's swing

[@mccoyji]

Dragging the knuckles. Nice!!

[@izzy0210]

the best golf video lesson out there. thx Freddy, you're the best.

[@ghostnetnanny7343]

Fred is the coolest swinger...

[@davidr5961]

His swing, along with Ernie Els, are two of the most effortless golf swings i've ever seen; beautiful to watch

[@rokonzaman3984]

Hi Yоutubе . *GЕT Unlimited Diаmоnds & Кеуs Рermаnеnt to yоur Swing Аcсоunt* now => twitter.com/09586b09da7b5392d/status/779266996265377792 Frеd Cоuрles Hоw tо Swing Likе МMе Full Swing Кеууs Golf Digеst

[@jgmendes3664]

They both use kind of a disguised drone ball which can fly long and easy with just a simple weak shot...

[@1b0o0]

Oosthuizen is up there too!

[@Kaddywompous]

@@jgmendes3664 Do you really believe that?

[@ghostnetnanny7343]

Fred is the coolest Swinger, at all...

[@stephaniemiddleton8556]

We missed watching him at The Masters !

[@billenright2788]

THE definition of effortless power. Could watch this cat hit balls all day long.

[@edw673]

Sweet Fred, cheers I am always looking for advise on the transition at the top and that's as good as i've heard.

[@rickbaker8340]

One of the nicest people you'll ever meet I got to meet him in a restaurant in Jacksonville Beach in 1984

[@AdamDylanFoley]

Man i love fred couples..

[@nedmorales1313]

Way to go nobody can be any more vague with their descriptions!

[@perrybarner3281]

the beautifulest swing in golf

[@thegonz9]

Most beautifulest

[@DavidDavid-jb1cy]

@@thegonz9 lol

[@frankmaier5367]

Along with Ernie Els, Payne Stewart and Adam Scott, just beautiful swings!

[@jeffspicoli3796]

And Tiger

[@vd3364]

oosthuizen.

[@justanaussie2822]

At 62 myself. I have styled myself off this guy. I backswing like an LPGA player but whip the club at the ball. I’m driving 270 METRES not yards. 220 off the grass with a 2 iron. It works believe me currently a 10 hc.

[@amfohr]

I am 61, driving probably 180 meter to 200 meter and hcp 11.

[@mattb.6057]

Love this guy....a blast to watch.

[@nescafeshorts1900]

...I feel pressure on my right forefinger(right-handed golfers)when I start to release the clubhead. Almost feels like I'm decelerating on the downswing. When I think about it...it seems like there are two directions in the downswing...down & across. My club is dropping down to the point where I decide to start releasing and then I release that right hand through and "that's when I can feel pressure on my forefinger".

[@brucewhittemore2277]

One word can describe F C's swing (BUTTER)

[@thegolfingmusician6345]

My favorite swing.

[@griff..7285]

Helps to have good flexibility and a lean muscle build also..sweet swing like Snead

[@TheNYgolfer]

aww Freddy how about some meat with those potatoes. HOW do you release the club? Do you use your right arm when you go at it with everything you have or do you let the club release on it's own?

[@SparksDrinker]

nerd

[@TRRyan]

I find it hilarious that here on youtube there are 100,000 videos on how to correctly start the downswing, seemingly the trickiest part of the whole over-analyzed golf swing. Now here comes Freddie Couples, one of the great drivers in golf history, who simply says, "I don't think about the change of direction, it just happens." Ha,ha,ha,ha,ha. Over-analysis leads to paralysis. You've either got rhythm, or you don't.

[@wstewart11]

True story...

[@huffhuff4110]

Yeah a lot of modern teachers are wackos

[@vd3364]

when you have ( i assume) an innate ability to coordinate your hands-arms-shoulders-etc. like that you can say you "don't think about it..." he's an amazing athlete to get so much out of so little effort. incredible clubhead speed.

[@tipsy09]

I started shooting low 80s and occasional 78-79 when my only swing thought at the top of the swing was drop and fire my arms. Everything else just falls into place like he says

[@abplusfive]

Good tip, release at or after impact.

[@m3toz4]

there is a point where I think I make contact then release the club---gold!

[@dannyjames9986]

just elite hands there

[@dannybilobram238]

“Doesn’t look like I’m going after it with everything I got”… as the ball screams off the club face. Mr Smoooth

[@lovegolf9116]

I'm an amateur golfer in Japan. I'm 47 years old. The best score is 75 and the driver's maximum carry is 340 yards. How is my swing? Please give me some advice. Thank you!⛳️🏌️‍♂️

[@russellthorburn9297]

0:14 That's a tough position for most amature golfers to achieve. One day I'm going to hit the range and spend an hour trying his upright posture and see if I can even make contact.

[@dendon777]

this is golden

[@eggsmann594]

Do the Freddie ! 🤓

[@cyncus1]

Prettiest swing in golf, ever!

[@johnnyparker9928]

Not many tips on releasing the club. I know what he's talking about. Thanks Mr Couples

[@boxterjeff]

"Doesn't look like it but everything I have" That is because you have one of the smoothest swings in the world!

[@markhelms2287]

Great player and classy guy.

[@edbo9843]

And the best of it, he is totally natural

[@SteveQuinn19]

That's easy for him to say!

[@o_Juffo_o]

+Steve Quinn Make it as complicated as you want, or as easy as you want, works for me keeping it simple

[@kingshearer2]

LEGEND

[@rogerking2801]

Hi Fred. Thanks!

[@bigdiezl]

what tempo... effn stud always. great tip

[@duwonrhee3589]

so important point

[@eddiejamison]

Legend!

[@radar0412]

To the Beginner! Notice Fred didn't say anything Foolish like "Keep your Head Down" or "Slow it Down." In fact if you rewind the tape, Fred says "I go at it With everything I have!" The lesson here is, fix your swing so you can increase your club speed, NOT slow it down, and know that your head has to release along with the clubhead.

[@MrDaryboy]

I wondered the same thing and have realized that the club head should release on it's on. If we steer the head it will do many crazy things and be very inconsistent and if we hold on it will slice or just push right. This is how these guys hit it a good chunk and look like they are hardly putting anything behind it. They use Torque then gravity. That is hard to get without practice. As I continued with this feeling and thought I found I could hit a 100 yard gap with a half swing with so little effort it amazes me still. Mostly because I use to swing SO HARD at it. That is what really sets these guys apart from ams. They can swing at and around 90% of all they got and still let the hands do their thing which is just drop. The harder most people swing the more tense they get in the hands and forearms and without a proper release it won't do shit. A good analogy is to imagine trying to throw a baseball with tense arms and stop without a release. I guarantee you could throw it twice as far with half the effort and a full release. With all that said it is easier said than done without practice.

[@BartmanSA]

I think you are correct Jay. Right on the money. It is all about the release and to release properly you must have loose wrists and a light grip. We are sometimes misled by seeing Tiger digging a huge hole when hitting shots and think "ah, to do that you need strength and muscle + very firm wrists and grip". I just don't think that is right. Come to think of it, I think a lot of people use shafts that are too stiff. More flexible shafts help a natural release I think.

[@wstewart11]

Physics trumps strength...

[@recolewis4487]

Fred swing is sweet, but Adam Scott swing is also pure.

[@forgotmyname4971]

Yeah, Adam might have the best golf swing. Him and Ernie.

[@readmore3634]

@@forgotmyname4971 Ernie

[@sherrysetliff2502]

Only guy I know that can take a nap during his backswing. He still hits it a mile.

[@regrobinson2268]

I have a better chance at flying by watching a hawk fly than I have of hitting like Fred by watching him swing a club.

[@cpiep]

Does he lock his back leg straight on his backswing?

[@MJB9559]

I dream of having a shoulder turn like that...never going to happen 😂

[@casual_golf]

Not with that attitude 😊

[@golflover8811]

Train it mate, you may succeed if you give it a try :-)

[@brokenarrow6491]

Sweetest swing in golf = Fred Couples

[@eliasgolf2024]

Yeah. and Els is not that bad either.

[@scooterjohnson9440]

leave it to Couples to make it sound so simple. good guy great player

[@masonkim7]

Fred Couples is 1 of 1 in the HISTORY of golf.

[@dennissmith8371]

Freddie and I are the same age neither of us wears a golf glove and , oh no that’s it 🏌🏿‍♂️

[@jsusna1972]

I share a trait with Jack Nicklaus, Lexi Thompson and Ian Baker Finch. Is it great golf? No. We all putt while wearing a glove.

[@PattywinterGG]

King of Tempo Town… Max Homa slowly approaching Freddy

[@fastfingers110]

ok , great ill shoot a 64 tomorrow :)

[@gmr7494]

I've been trying to swing like Freddie for the past 30 years and I'm a 30 handicap. What am I doing wrong?

[@amfohr]

Probably not using your body, more arms and hands. Especially not using the lower body.

[@johnclark3697]

greatest swing ever.& it goes VERY FAR.& MORE CHARISMA THAN JOHNSON MCILROY,DAY& FOWLER PUT TOGETHER.PURE CLASS.

[@chrisworthington1027]

Someone should make his club grips look like wooden handles. Like a handle on a butter churn, his swing is as smooth as butter. He's soo laid back as he addresses the ball and looks as if he doesn't care if he even hits the ball.

[@kindpuffin124]

Lmao that’s funny!

[@chrisworthington1027]

@@kindpuffin124 that's my swing thought right as I pull the trigger be like Freddie

[@timothyslaughter476]

The release is not the ball its actually before the left arm begins to fold for the finish. But its happening real quick and its only natural for the ball to be the targeted release point and this basically causes all the problems with golf. Thats why practice swings generally look ok. There's no targeted release. Just a nice free swing. Get a ball with the wrong intent and oh boy... disaster.

[@jsusna1972]

Couldn't agree more. My brother is always telling me how my practice swing is smooth as silk, but put a ball in front of me and I want to kill it.

[@gerhardvaneeden5615]

Yes, but Fred...we aren't all gifted with your unbelievable sense of timing and rhythm 😭 Thanks anyway.