Alright, so I spent some time today really trying to get that smooth swing feel, you know, like Freddy Couples. Everyone talks about that effortless power, that slow, syrupy backswing he has. Figured I’d give it a shot myself down at the range.
Started off just grabbing my trusty 7-iron. Didn’t want to get too crazy with the driver right away. The main goal was just slowing things down. Way down. I watched a couple of videos before I left the house, trying to burn that image into my brain. Easy takeaway, smooth transition, full finish. Sounds simple when you watch him do it.
Let me tell you, feeling it is a whole different ball game. My body just wanted to rush everything. Especially that transition from backswing to downswing. It felt so forced trying to be that deliberate. Honestly, the first dozen balls were pretty ugly. Fat shots, thin shots, couple of shanks thrown in for good measure. It’s not just about being slow; it’s this whole connected rhythm he owns. Trying to copy that specific feel is tough.
Focus Points I Tried
I broke it down a bit, trying to focus on one thing at a time:
- Just getting the takeaway super smooth and low.
- Feeling that pause, or lack of rush, at the top.
- Trying to keep my grip pressure really light, like they say he does.
- Making sure I held my finish, nice and balanced.
Each focus helped a little, but putting it all together consistently? That’s the challenge.
You know, it kinda reminds me of when I tried learning guitar years ago. I saw this guy play fingerstyle, looked so easy and fluid. I spent weeks trying to copy his exact movements, watching videos over and over. My fingers just wouldn’t cooperate the same way. Ended up getting super frustrated and almost quit. Eventually, I realized I had to find my own way to play those chords, my own rhythm. Maybe it’s the same with golf. You can take inspiration, for sure, but trying to be a carbon copy is usually a dead end. You gotta blend it with what your own body naturally wants to do.

Anyway, back to the range session. Towards the end, I did hit maybe five or six shots that felt really pure. The contact was crisp, the ball flight was strong, and it felt like I barely swung at all. That must be the feeling people chase. But man, getting there consistently? That’s going to take a lot more work. It’s not something you just switch on. It’s practice, repetition, and probably letting go of trying too hard to be exactly like Freddy.
So yeah, that was my practice today. Some frustration, a few moments of hope. We’ll see if any of it sticks next time I’m out there. Definitely something to keep working on.