In this episode of On The Mark, Mark Immelman welcomes Carolin Pinegger (Austrian national team alum, UCF golfer, former LPGA/Symetra player, and now coach + social media star). Carolin shares what it was like competing on Big Break: Myrtle Beach—five weeks isolated, long production days, constant cameras—and why that experience made competitive golf feel easy by comparison.

From there, the episode becomes a masterclass on what really wrecks swings: Tension, driven by brain “traffic.” Carolin explains how to train your brain like a muscle, use breathing to shift from “red” (overstimulated) back to “green,” and build dependable systems that hold up under pressure.

Then she delivers a set of at-home drills (no range required) to improve grip, sequencing, pressure shift, and putting start line—using everyday items like a hammer, mirror, towels, and books.

In This Episode, You’ll Discover: 

• What Big Break pressure is really like (cameras, no phones, 3 hours sleep)
• Why tension happens — and how the brain’s “traffic” affects your body
• The mindset truth: You don’t rise to standards — you fall to systems
• How to move from “red” to “green” using belly breathing, and
• Why at-home motion training works (less “hit ball” mode, more learning.)

Carolin also share 5 Game Improvement drills you can do at home:

Drill #1: Hammer & Hinge (fix grip + wrist set, stop early elbow fold)

Drill #2: Backswing Sequence (Mirror) (hinge → arms → shoulders → hips)

Drill #3: Mirror Depth Check (hands near heels; match top position to your shot shape)

Drill #4: Flow / Pressure Shift (towels under feet for rhythm + movement)

Drill #5: Book Putting Gate (start-line training + “through” mindset.) 

Key Takeaways:

1. Your brain is trainable. Treat it like a muscle and build routines that lower “traffic.” 
2. Pressure kills feel. Systems hold up when nerves show up.
3. Grip + wrist function matter. Many swing issues start with the trail hand and early elbow fold.
4. Sequence starts in the backswing. Build separation in the backswing, then keep moving through.
5. Putting begins with start line. You can’t make it if you can’t start it on your intended line.

This podcast is also available as a vodcast on YouTube.  In fact it is recommendable to watch it so you can learn exactly how to do the drills.  Search and subscribe to Mark Immelman.