Greg Norman’s 3 tips for golfers who hit the swing short and straight
Golf instruction is always changing, but the best advice is timeless. In GOLF.com’s new series, Timeless Tips, we highlight the greatest pieces of advice from teachers and players in the pages of GOLF Magazine. This week, we’re looking back at our February 1989 issue for three powerful tips from Greg Norman.
When he first started, Greg Norman knew it belt golf ball. In the late 80s and early 90s, Shaka was often ranked as one of the longest drivers on the PGA Tour, giving him a distinct advantage over his competitors.
More than 30 years later, the premium in the range is no different. When you can achieve it more than your competitors, you put yourself at a great advantage.
However, for some golfers, the distance is not easy to come by (myself included). Therefore, in order to be competitive, it is important to always squeeze the last distance from your drives.
Back in the February 1989 issue of GOLF Magazine, Norman shared some tips for that type of golf. Read below about his three power keys that are perfect for low-strike players.
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Greg Norman’s power tips
1. Pre-swing brainwashing
You will never increase your driving distance without a positive attitude. Confidence is key to making unstoppable, powerful passes to the ball. It explains why a slow bowler tends to hit the ball farther than an elite player who allows even one negative thought to enter his mind.
To swing with power, you have to think power. As soon as you pull the driver out of your bag, start to see yourself flipping through the air and exploding into the ball. As you settle into the address, bend your knees and move your feet until you feel tension – a springiness – in your legs. Adjust your grip until your fingers feel soft while holding the club securely. Finally, focus more on the back of the ball, directing all your mental energy to impact.
2. Extend your arc
Don’t think you can tear the cover off the ball just by thinking about it. Even the best vision needs the support of a good swing, and that starts with a wide arc.
Extending your swing arc means the club actually travels farther, 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 blow your wrists early, the radius of the arc – formed by the left arm and the clubshaft – is shorter, so the thickness is reduced. But if you keep your wrists tight so that your left arm and club shaft form a straight line parallel to the ground in the backswing, your arc is as wide as possible. Maintain a wide arc by swinging the club up (the wrists will naturally bend), your shoulders rotated about 120 degrees past the starting point, your hips at 60 degrees, and your hands positioned well above your head.
3. Plan the descent
Many short hitters reach up and tighten their grip and pull the club down because they think that’s how to create power. In fact, these actions destroy valuable time to free your hands, cutting, rather than increasing, your distance.
The descent should begin by driving the legs to the target. If you can start that way, the rest of the downswing will naturally follow: Your weight will transfer to your left foot, and your left hip will clear, opening a path for your arms as the club descends. Then the right side will come into action, bringing great power with it.
Final tip: On the leg kick, you want to feel like you’re staying behind the ball and hitting a hard left side. (Watch for the board running up your left leg and to the side, which keeps you from sliding too far forward as the club comes down.) To sit back this way, keep your eyes on the back of the ball as long as possible through impact.
