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How important is opening the front foot & why?

hippyboy
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hippyboy Established Member

hippyboy

I just wondered what the reason is for angling the front foot towards the target & by how much?

Basically I have been playing with both feet square to the target but have noticed everywhere I read that the front foot should be angled.

Also if the front foot is angled do you take that into consideration when lining up to the target i.e. at the moment I line the tips of my toes 2 yards left of the target, but if the front foot is angled it would be slightly further back.
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Danattherock Great Member

Danattherock

My thoughts, which are limited, suggest opening the front foot a bit allows for a better follow through. If opened too much, it encourages a slice. If the left (front) foot is closed, or pointing in toward the ball, it encourages a hook. Beyond facilitating a better follow through, I have no idea why you would want it open. Something I would approach with caution.
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lumpuckeroo Great Member

lumpuckeroo

IMHO, I think a slightly open front foot is as much a preference as a requirement, much like overlap grip or interlock grip.

Personally I open my front foot slightly, I think it helps me get back to the left on my downswing, which is an issue for me. I also feel more in balance once completing my swing with my foot slightly open.

Craig 

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iacas Hall of Fame Member

iacas

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It can help to restrict the backswing (if your swing is too long). It can help with hip turn and/or balance issues on the downswing/follow through.

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hippyboy Established Member

hippyboy

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It can help to restrict the backswing (if your swing is too long). It can help with hip turn and/or balance issues on the downswing/follow through.

So doing this is a good idea to try it or essential I do it?

I think I'm going to find it quite difficult to adjust after 2 years with a square foot, but thats the same with any change in my swing.
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imtomtomim Great Member

imtomtomim

ok, flaring my feet is an extremely important part of my stance and key to figuring out consistency in my accuracy. I've got duck feet that splay out pretty far. If I had better arches in my feet, I'd be a fantastic ballet dancer. Anyways, if I turn my feet parallel, it causes me to invert my knees, throwing off the body lines between the knees, hips, shoulders. Those lines are absolutely necessary for accuracy consistency and swing path.
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pjsnyc Great Member

pjsnyc

If Ben Hogan suggests it, its definitely worth a try.

I flare it out just a little bit, not too much. Whats more important is heel alignment.

:P
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perfectsim Member

perfectsim

My kneecaps are tilted and I tend to overswing at times. The overswinging places a lateral pressure on my left (forward) knee which can be relieved by flaring my left foot out a little. This allows the knee to bend in the event of an overswing instead of causing pain and potentially hurting myself. I don't always position my foot this way, however. It is dependent on how my knees feel as well as my tempo as of late.

That's why I open my left foot.
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Dub Great Member

Dub

I open the front foot.....due to knee problems.....It takes the pain off when I follow through.
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Three Putt Great Member

Three Putt

Never really thought about it. I can walk and spit tobacco at the same time....next step is swing thoughts.

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HSip Well Established Member

HSip

I believe a previous poster said it - "helps restrict backswing and/or promote follow through". If you don't suffer from either it's certainly not a requirement. Cheers
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cmvash Member

cmvash

Personally, it helps me in rotating my hips and weight transfer to open it up.

However, as someone else stated it can be as much a preference as a swing mechanic.
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ks8829 Great Member

ks8829

When you transfer your weight to the left side (right handed) your natural foot position is angled slightly and the weight on the outside of your left foot and with your inside of the left foot off the ground.

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uttexas Great Member

uttexas

Helps to clear the hips at impact.

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Range King Well Established Member

Range King

For me it is mainly to take stress off my left knee. (Had 2 ACL replacements already and running out of spare parts)

According to Hogan it is also the right thing to do.

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powerfader Established Member

powerfader

My understanding of Hogan's book (please correct me if I'm wrong) was that this was one of the many alterations he hade to his swing in order to avoid the destructive hook that plagued his early career. The upshot of this was the safe fade that he relied on as his "go to" shot, if you don't have a problem with hooking and you have not got any of the injuries other posters have mentioned then I'm not sure if its worth the upheaval.

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kfowler Great Member

kfowler

Hogan believed you should have your right foot parallel and your left at a 45* angle. He felt it made sense because it pointed toward the target. A flared right foot can help your turn if you have trouble with flexibility. As mentioned earlier, Hogan had tons of anti-hook elements in his swing.

Kevin

-------
In the Bag
Driver: G15 9.0*3 & 5 Wood: BurnerHybrid: Pro Gold 20*; 23*Irons: MP-58 (5-PW)Wedges: Vokey Spin Milled 52*8; 56*14Putter: Newport 2.0 33"Balls: NXT

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