Open Stance

Sneakylong

Anyone play with an open stance? Bubba Watson comes to mind. He hits cuts and draws with it. I've been using it for a while with good results. Works best with driver, woods and hybrids for me. Less so with irons I've found. I seem to get thru the shot better. Straighter shots. Less hanging back etc.. As always I'll keep riding this new epiphany until is stops working. 😃

fatshot

Sneakylong
Actually, I just started experimenting with CLOSING my stance when I played last week. Not really closing it, but
once I assume my stance, I started pulling my rear foot back from the line about an inch or so. Especially with the longer clubs I noticed the I started to hit the ball much more solidly, in the center of the face rather than slightly in the heel. Like you, I'll keep riding it "until it don't work no more"......that could be as soon as my next round!!! 😀

garyt1957

Sneakylong I seem to get thru the shot better. Straighter shots. Less hanging back etc.. As always I'll keep riding this new epiphany until is stops working. 😃

This is what I found to be true also, getting through the ball. I tend to hit some pulls, though and with a draw that can be trouble.

ode

When I want to play a fade or knock down/punch shot=open, most other shots I'm slightly open as it feels more comfortable addressing the ball....as I like to play a straight or slight fade - that's a stock/go to shot for me that yields the best results.

JeffTilley

I used to play every shot including putting with a slightly open stance. I'm more square now, but from time to time have to make an adjustment when I notice I'm open.......

Typhoon

I’ve always been a bit closed. Helps you hit to a firm left side. If your open u tend to slide past and hit a pull or big push. For me it’s a pull because my hips are fast. I also find you get a bigger shoulder turn from a more closed stance

For older folks an open stance will help with clearing the hips if you lack hip speed

sdandrea1

Yes, but only when a I need a big fade. My natural swing creates a fade, so I use offset, closed face drivers. Oddly, my fairway metals and hybrids are not overly offset and I hit them straight, so I can open up and fade them.

I also putt with an open stance.

Tinker

I like to play fades and I’m comfortable with a slight open stance. Like to hit knockdowns and short wedges from an open stance. A full mid or long iron I try to play square unless I am trying to fade. I don’t have much consistency with a closed stance or a draw.

DonM

A hidden factor is eye dominance. If your trail eye is dominant, you might like an open stance. Lead eye dominant, you might like to lean or turn your head back, ala Jack.

I’m RH and right eye dominant, and if I could, I’d use an open stance. I use the Moe Norman swing. He was left eye dominant. I struggle with turning back in the swing because my eye doesn’t want to get turned away.

Sneakylong

For whatever reason my path is straighter. I normally swing too much to the left. This seems to help keep the path of the club more down the line rather that left.

For whatever reason my misses aren't as bad. Like I said, I'll ride this epiphany until it doesn't work anymore.
And I can hit draws and fades like Bubba with open stance. A closed stance for me encourages me too swing too far left.

sdandrea1

Sneakylong For whatever reason my path is straighter. I normally swing too much to the left. This seems to help keep the path of the club more down the line rather that left.

For whatever reason my misses aren't as bad. Like I said, I'll ride this epiphany until it doesn't work anymore.
And I can hit draws and fades like Bubba with open stance. A closed stance for me encourages me too swing too far left.

Where you been Sneaky? SWMBO is shopping for Brady jerseys - we're hoping to hit a game or two in Tampa. 😁

braveheart

In my experience, the open stance does not allow me to turn enough in the backswing. My backswing is not long as it is and coupled with a quick tempo it’s not good. It creates a more over the top swing and increased pulls. If I try to hold it off, I’ll get fat shots.
A closed stance, assists me with a better backswing and more of an inside path. I can then hit straighter shots with a draw at times.

Sneakylong

sdandrea1 Where you been Sneaky? SWMBO is shopping for Brady jerseys - we're hoping to hit a game or two in Tampa. 😁

Yup, we're Bucs fans now. 😀 My wife's boss has season tickets and we hope to get to a a game. Patriots are in rebuild mode.

scotts33

To me the best fader of the golf ball.

Tinker

I try to model my swing after Travino

scotts33

Tinker That down move he makes for many is hard to replicate plus Lee Buck took it back outside and came back inside no OTT there at all. 😄

ode

scotts33 I was gonna say watching driver swing he def goes back outside but then drops it in the slot. Seems like he'd get a hold off baby fade with that motion.

Tinker

I do the take it back outside, drop it down inside. The leg action is hard to duplicate

azgreg

I was a bigger fan of Bruce Lietzke's swing.

scotts33

azgreg I was a bigger fan of Bruce Lietzke's swing.

More OTT and probably why he didn't practice much. More like the recreational golfer.

scotts33

azgreg I was a bigger fan of Bruce Lietzke's swing.

The Lietzke video I posted was in response to azgreg. I'd agree Lietzke was square. I would think most open stance players are faders in general not all. Double cross hook it OB left. lol

colej

I like the open stance for less than full shots. Most of the time I’m pretty square.