Golf instruction is always evolving, but the best tips stand the test of time. In GOLF.com’s new series, Lifetime Tips, we’re highlighting some of the greatest advice that teachers and players have shared in the pages of GOLF Magazine. This week, we look back at our February 1989 issue for three power tips from Greg Norman.
During its peak, Greg Norman can strap the golf ball. In the late ’80s and into the ’90s, Shark routinely ranked as one of the longest drivers on the PGA Tour, giving him a distinct distance advantage over his competitors.
Over 30 years later, the distance premium is no different. When you are able to hit it further than your competitors, you put yourself in an extremely advantageous position.
For some golfers, however, the distance is not so easy to achieve (myself included). So, to be competitive, it is important that squeeze every last bit of the distance from your drives.
Back to the February 1989 issue of GOLF magazine, Norman shared some advice for just that type of golfer. Read below about his three power keys that are perfect for short-stroke players.
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Greg Norman’s Power Tips
1. Pre-swing brainwashing
You will never increase your driving distance without a positive mental attitude. Confidence is vital to making an unhindered and powerful pass through the ball. This explains why a stubborn player with an average swing often hits the ball farther than a high-level player who allows even one negative thought to enter his mind.
To move with power, you must think power. As soon as you pull the driver out of your bag, you start to see yourself making a big splash and blasting through the ball. As you settle into address, bend your knees and swing your legs until you feel a tension—a spring—in your legs. Adjust your grip until your fingers feel supple while holding the stick securely. Finally, focus hard on the back of the ball, directing all your mental energy at impact.
2. Broaden your arc
Don’t think you can take the cover off the ball just by thinking about it. Even the most positive outlook needs the support of a good swing, and that starts with a broad bow.
Widening your swing arc means the club actually travels a longer distance, giving it more time to build up speed. The size of the arc is determined in the first few feet of the backswing: If you bend your wrists early, the radius of the arc—formed by the left arm and the shaft of the club—shortens, so the swing shortens. But if you keep your wrists tight so that your left arm and hamstring form a straight line parallel to the ground in the half-back position, your bow is as wide as possible. Hold the wide arc by swinging the club all the way to the top (wrist will hang naturally), with your shoulders turned about 120 degrees past their starting point, your hips 60 degrees, and your hands well above your head.
3. Organize the fall
Many short players reach the top and instinctively tighten their grip and pull the club down because they think that’s the way to create power. In fact, these actions disrupt the vital time to release your hands, shortening, rather than increasing, your distance.
The descent should begin by pointing the feet towards the target. If you can start this way, the rest of the landing will follow naturally: Your weight will shift to your left leg and your left hip will clear, opening a passage for your arms as the club descends. Then the right side will come into action, bringing with it maximum power.
One last tip: At the start of the downswing, you want to feel like you’re behind the ball and hitting the hard left side. (Imagine a board running up along your leg and left side, preventing you from sliding too far forward as the club comes down.) To stay back like this, keep your eyes on the back of the ball as long as possible through the stroke.
