Harry How/Getty Images

I based this article on this month’s Golf Magazine interview with Fred Couples by Mike Chwasky. I found it very compelling reading because so much of what he said was in accord with the philosophy of the Golf State of Mind teaching. In his always very candid style, Freddie gives us an insight into how he is able to continuously play relaxed, confident golf, despite all the pressures of the game.

Freddie has always had the demeanor of someone un-fazed by life at the top of his sport. Great golf seems so natural to him. The characteristic pulling of the shirt, the slow, ambling walk between shots, his congenial manner – all convey a man that is grateful for the game and simply enjoys life. His swing is an extension of his personality – easy-going, relaxed and laid back. But what lies within in a fierce competitor that has made him one of the legends of the sport. We have so much to learn from Freddie.

Tempo and Rhythm

If the average amateur golfer could copy the smooth tempo and rhythm of Freddie Couples (or Ernie Els for that matter) they would see a huge improvement in their game.

This “effortless” power and graceful rhythm that Fred generates starts with his hands:

“The tighter you hold anything, the slower you’ll be. You really need to be soft and supple to create clubhead speed and power. When I’m at address you could walk up and take the club out of my hands easily. That’s how soft I hold it.”

To the average golfer wanting to crush the ball huge distances, this might sound counter-intuitive. They think that the tighter they hold the club and the harder they swing, the more power they will produce. In fact, as Freddie tells us, the exact opposite is true. Freddie “Boom Boom” Couples, even at 50, is one of the longest and best ball strikers on Tour. He attributes this to keeping his whole body (and most importantly, his hands) relaxed and maintaining good balance.

“When I reach impact, my right hand feels like it’s almost off the club, which gives me a more powerful hit through the ball than if I was “choking” the grip. I wouldn’t necessarily teach anyone to do that, but it’s the right kind of feel.”

Remember the phrase “light is right” next time you are out there. When it comes to your grip pressure, the looser the hands, the better rhythm, power and ball striking you will achieve.

Successful Putting

On discussing his on-going success at the Masters, he puts it down to a deeper understanding of the “art” of putting and green reading:

“If you can’t read a putt you don’t have much chance…I see the line from behind the ball and then hope to see the same line when I get over the ball. When I do, I putt well.”

Putting is probably the most important factor in winning at Augusta. Under pressure, staying relaxed and centered over the ball throughout the stroke is the key, especially on short putts.

“The worst thing you can do is move your body or head on a two-footer because it takes almost nothing to open or close the club face just a tiny bit, which will lead to a miss.”

We would (obviously) all like to play golf like Freddie Couples. But even when he’s not playing his best, he looks like he’s relaxed and having fun. And why wouldn’t he? This is perhaps the most important thing to learn from him. Enjoy it no matter how you play. Try to follow Freddie’s lead and play relaxed, stress-free golf. Simply gripping the club a little lighter is a great start. Tension in your body and mind is not conducive to playing your best golf and Freddie’s style is testament to that. Take a look at the video below and feel that same tempo and relaxed action the next time you are on the course or practicing.

Do YOU want to learn how to switch between being relaxed and enjoying yourself on the golf course into the zone which will give every shot your maximum attention and focus? This and many other mental game techniques are covered in the Golf State of Mind CD and mp3.

But even the tour pros feel confident some days and not so confident on others. It is for this reason that they continually work on a good mental strategy to optimize the probability of holing putts and making a good score.

We’ve all experienced the hole looking bigger on some rounds and smaller on others, which we know is simply our own perception and directly related to our confidence. When we feel confident, the hole looks bigger. I’ve previously discussed the importance on a solid routine to help you feel more comfortable over the ball, but here is a tip for training your mind to make the hole look bigger and give you extra confidence to hole more putts. It works like this – if we make the hole smaller when we practice, we will learn to focus harder and the hole will seem bigger on the course.

Start by putting a tee on one side of the hole about half an inch from the lip of the hole and about half an inch in from the edge as you look down the line of the putt. If it is a slight right to left putt, put the tee in the on the left side of the hole (and vice versa). Hit 5 putts from 6-10ft, dying the ball into the side of the hole. Now put another tee in the ground about half an inch from the other tee, toward the center of the hole. Now hit another 5 putts. Now place another tee, this time in the center of the hole, so now there is only one half of the hole to roll the ball into. Roll another 5 putts. Repeat this exercise with left to right putts (and vice versa). Then remove the tees all together and see how much bigger the hole feels.

Because you are rolling the ball into a hole of decreasing size, this makes your focus on the putt (and where the ball will enter the hole) so much more acute. So when you have all 4 1/4 inches of the hole to look at, it will seem a “hole” lot bigger. You will feel that putting is easier and you will hole more putts! Try this while you are on the practice green before your next round.

Would be great to hear your feedback on this drill.

Putting is where scores are made. If you are an 18 handicapper and you make 36 putts a round (2 per hole) this represents 40% of your total number of strokes. So clearly it is worth dedicating at least as much practice time here as you do on your long and short game. This time is not about simply about perfecting your stroke, it’s about developing acute positive visualization and feel with every putt.

The most important factor in putting well is visualizing and committing to a line. Only you know how hard you are going to hit it, so only you can determine the the line you are going to hit it on. Reading the slopes and understanding how different grasses affect the putt will simply come with experience. The body performs better when the mind is focusing on visual images, instead of words or technical instructions. The mind needs to tell the body what it wants to do, not how to do it. Developing acute visualization of the ball rolling on its line into the hole will give your body all the information it needs to execute a putt well.

With your practice strokes, get into the habit of seeing the ball go in the hole. Whether you pick a spot to aim at or you see the whole putt, ALWAYS visualize holing every putt. Tiger believes he is going to hole every putt no matter how far away he is. If you have read any motivational books about the secrets of successful people, it is having a very positive image of this success that typically differentiates them from people who do not achieve it.You need to start believing you are a good putter and convincing yourself of a positive visual outcome before you strike the golf ball.

If we think about lagging it to the hole, we will miss more putts. I’m not saying you need to be so aggressive that you blow every putt 6 ft past the hole, but always focus on making it. We need a vivid a picture of the ball following its line and dying into the cup. Be so precise that you see the side of the cup the ball will drop in. You are actually playing the putt in your head before you hit the ball and seeing it go in a couple of times will increase your confidence and give you a far greater chance of making it. Use this mental imagery to feel the speed with your practice strokes, which will pre-set the right tempo. Once you are over the ball, you can be confident in the fact that your mind has all the information it needs to allow the body to hit a good putt. Then let the subconscious mind take over and concentrate on a solid strike.

If you can do all these things during your routine, you will have hit a good putt whatever the outcome. Your power of positive visualization will intensify with every putt. Overtime, this process will no doubt lead to better putting, greater confidence and lower scores.

For more information on how you can learn mental techniques to improve your game every time to you play or practice, please visit www.golfstateofmind.com

Copyright Golf State of Mind, Ltd 2009