Greg Norman’s 3 best power tips for golfers who hit it short and straight

Golf instruction is ever-evolving, but the best advice stands the test of time. In GOLF.com’s new series, Timeless Tips, we’re highlighting some of the greatest advice teachers and players have dispensed in the pages of GOLF Magazine. This week, we look back at our February 1989 issue for three power tips from Greg Norman.

During his prime, Greg Norman could belt the golf ball. In the late 80s and into the 90s, the 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 premium on distance is no different. When you’re able to hit it further than your competitors, you put yourself in a hugely advantageous position.

For some golfers, though, distance is not so easy to come by (myself included). So, in order to be competitive, it’s important to squeeze every last bit of distance out of your drives.

Back in the February 1989 issue of GOLF Magazine, Norman shared some tips for just that type of golfer. Read below for his three power keys that are perfect for short-hitting players.

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Greg Norman’s power tips

1. Pre-swing brainwashing

You’ll never increase your driving distance without a positive mental attitude. Confidence is vital to making an uninhibited, powerful pass through the ball. It explains why a cocky player with a mediocre swing often hits the ball farther than a top-notch player who lets even one negative thought enter his mind.

To swing with power, you’ve got to think power. As soon as you pull the driver from your bag, begin seeing yourself making a big wind-up and exploding through the ball. As you settle in at address, flex your knees and wiggle your feet until you feel a tension — a springiness — in your legs. Adjust your grip until your fingers feel supple while holding the club securely. Finally, focus hard on the back of the ball, directing all your mental energy into impact.

2. Widen your arc

Don’t think you can tear the cover off the ball simply by thinking about it. Even the most positive outlook needs the support of a good swing, and that begins with a wide arc. 

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 cock your wrists early, the radius of the arc — formed by the left arm and clubshaft — shortens, so the swing shortens. But if you keep the wrists firm so the left arm and club shaft form a straight line parallel to the ground at the halfway-back position, your arc is as wide as possible. Maintain the wide arc by swinging the club up to the top (the wrists will hinge naturally), with your shoulders turned about 120 degrees past their starting point, your hips 60 degrees, and your hands set well above your head.

3. Organize the downswing

Many short hitters 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 ruin the timing vital to releasing your hands, cutting, rather than adding to, your distance.

The downswing must begin by driving the legs toward the target. If you can start that way, the rest of the downswing will follow naturally: Your weight will transfer to the left foot, and your left hip will clear, opening a passage for your arms as the club comes down. Then the right side will get into the act, bringing maximum power with it.

A final suggestion: In kicking off the downswing with the legs, you want to feel as if you are staying behind the ball and hitting against a firm left side. (Picture a board running up along your left leg and side, keeping you from sliding too far forward as the club comes down.) To stay behind this way, keep your eyes on the back of the ball as long as possible through impact.