Okay, so, today I wanted to mess around with Fred Couples’ setup, see what all the fuss is about. I’ve heard a lot about this guy and his gear, so I figured, why not give it a shot myself? I started digging around, just to get an idea of what he’s working with.
Turns out, this dude’s bag is a bit of a puzzle. It’s not your usual “14 clubs and done” situation. It’s more like, “Let’s keep tweaking this until it’s perfect.” He’s always messing with it. Adding a hybrid here, taking out a long iron there. It’s a constant work in progress, you know? Inspired.
Then I found this little video clip of Couples himself talking about his clubs while playing Pebble Beach. Turns out, the longest iron he carries is a 7-iron. A 7-iron! Can you believe that? Most of us are still struggling with our 4 or 5-irons, and this guy’s just chilling with a 7 as his longest. And get this, the rest of his bag is packed with woods, six woods to be exact. Six! I mean, who even does that?
So, I went out to the range to give this setup a go. Swapped out most of my long irons for woods, kept my 7-iron in there, just like Couples. The first few swings? Awful. I was all over the place. It felt so weird not having those long irons in my hands. But I kept at it, trying to channel my inner Fred Couples.
After a while, something started to click. I started hitting the woods more consistently, getting some decent distance, even if it wasn’t quite Couples-level yet. It felt…different. Lighter, somehow. Like I had more control over my swing, more freedom to shape my shots. I even managed to hit a few decent shots with the 7-iron, though I definitely need more practice with that.
Here’s what I realized:
- It’s not about having the latest and greatest gear. It’s about finding what works for you. Couples clearly knows what he needs, and he’s not afraid to break the mold to get it. By choosing gear that enhances his natural talent and prioritizing performance over flashiness.
- It takes time and effort to adjust to a new setup. I’m not going to lie, it was rough at first. But the more I practiced, the better I got. It’s all about muscle memory and getting comfortable with the new clubs.
- This setup might not be for everyone. We all have different swings, different strengths and weaknesses. What works for Fred Couples might not work for you or me. But it’s definitely worth experimenting to see if it can improve your game.
So, yeah, that was my little adventure with Fred Couples’ irons… or rather, his lack of long irons. It was a fun experiment, and I definitely learned a thing or two. I’m still not sure if I’ll make a permanent switch to his setup, but it’s definitely got me thinking. Maybe it’s time to ditch those long irons after all. Who knows?
