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. Today we look back at some power tips from Charles Howell III first published in our March 2005 issue. For unlimited access to the full GOLF Magazine digital archive, join InsideGOLF today; you’ll enjoy $140 of value for only $39.99/year.
Charles Howell III has made a lot of money playing golf. In his two-decade career on the PGA Tour, he made a staggering $42 million on course. And since joining LIV Golf in 2022, that figure has grown significantly. It’s not a bad gig if you can get it.
Howell won three times on the PGA Tour during his stint out there, and since defecting to LIV, he’s earned one more title. Since earning Tour status in 2001, he’s never been relegated to any development tours. He may have never ascended to superstardom, but he isn’t a slouch, either.
Part of the reason for his sustained success has been his ability to generate tons of power. Despite not being among the bulkiest players in golf, Howell has never lacked for power. During his final season on Tour, he ranked inside the top 50 in average clubhead speed at over 117 mph — and he did this despite being over the age of 40.
So, how does a pro with a wiry frame generate so much power? Back in 2005, Howell explained his secrets when he was the cover star for GOLF Magazine. Check them out below.
4 tips for easy power
At 155 pounds, the question I hear most often is, “How does a skinny guy like you hit the ball so far?” First, I focus on making solid contact, but I think my biggest asset is the ability to maximize clubhead speed at the ball. Not before, not after, but at the ball.
I do this by making a good pivot onto my right side in the backswing, which sets up a power shift into impact, and by keeping my wrists fully loaded long into the downswing. The more the clubhead lags behind my hands coming down, the more energy I can release at the ball. I call this “late speed.” Every long driver has it.
Below, you’ll find my four keys to maximizing late speed, as well as a handful of bonus power tips. Try them and pretty soon you’ll be the heaviest hitter in your foursome.
1. Address: The hips trick
Picture a boxer throwing a jab: To get any force behind the blow, his upper body must remain behind his fist. If his body gets in front, he has very little power. The same is true of the golf swing: Your upper body has to stay behind the ball for you to it hit hard. Set this up at address. Raise your left hip so that your spine tilts away from the target. This positions your upper body behind the ball.
To ingrain the feel of this, place your right hand on your right hip and press down and toward the target. You should feel some pressure in your right thigh and your knee should kick in. You’re ready to coil over your right leg and take advantage of a strong hitting position.
Bonus tip: Play it up: With the driver, I play the ball directly opposite my left heel, just off my left shoulder. Playing the ball forward helps me set up behind it and encourages clubbed lad on the downswing. The more lag I create, the more speed I can unleash at the last second.
2. Backswing: Hinge and turn
The backswing is one free-flowing motion, but here’s what you need to accomplish: 1) Set your wrists early and 2) Rotate your shoulders to the top. Master these moves and you’ll start the downswing from a leveraged position. As you take the club back, don’t tighten your grip; this will restrict wrist hinge. Also, keep your left arm close to your chest and your hands in front of you. Halfway back, your left forearm and the shaft should form a 90-degree angle, and the butt end of the grip should point at or just inside the ball. This signals that the club is on the correct plane. With the wrists set, all you need to do is turn your back to the target to complete your backswing.
Bonus tip: Start at the core: To stop the hands and arms from jerking the club off-line at the start, focus on using your abdominal muscles to trigger the swing. Over the ball, engage your abs and then turn your core back in sync with the club. Take practice swings with the clubbed starting well in front of your ball position to get a sense for your core going with the handle. It’s a great way to avoid a quick or off-line takeaway.
3. Halfway down: Create the lag
From the top, you want to store your swing’s energy for as long as you can, maintaining the angle between your right forearm and the shaft. If you release that angle too soon — known as casting — you’ll waste your power long before you get back to the ball. The place to store your energy is in your right wrist: As you start down, feel as if you’re driving your weight straight into the ground with your right hand and leg. I think of it as sitting into my right hip Applying this downward pressure keeps the wrists fully hinged well into the downswing, creating clubhead lag for a late burst of speed.
Bonus tip: Get in sync: The first thing to move in the downswing should be your left knee, followed by your left hip and then your trunk. Many golfers, including me, tend to slide toward the target, which causes the left hip to outrace the left knee, making it difficult for the arms to catch up. If the left knee leads, the arms and body will work in sync, improving your chances of pure contact.
4. Impact: Unleash it
The most important element of power is late speed. If you’ve followed me to this point, you’re ready to release the speed. As the wrists unhinge and the left arm and the shaft swing into a straight line through impact, the clubhead speed is multiplied and maximum energy is applied to the ball. To get a feel for late speed, swing your driver to the top and start down, stopping when your arms are parallel to the ground. From this halfway-down position, go ahead and hit the ball, accelerating your hands and arms through impact. Release your upper body through the strike, so your right shoulder faces the target at the finish.
Bonus tip: Release for extra speed: In addition to unhinging the wrists, forearm rotation through impact is another major speed producer. Through the hitting zone, my right forearm rotates a full 180 degrees, squaring the clubface and providing a flash of speed. As you swing through, focus on turning your right palm so that it points behind you halfway into the follow-through. You’ll make a fuller release and hit your drives out of sight.
