Golf tip I just watched...

[albatross]

Talked about standing a little bit "open to your target" making it easier to finish your swing. Does anyone do this? Is it a bad habit for any reason?

I also read this tip from Phil M. in Golf Digest last year. He said when he has trouble making a full turn, he will address his target with an open stance.

Can someone expand on this for me? Am I understanding this correctly?

[bigphil]

Was that from Leadbetter? i saw the same tip while watching the Travelers yesterday. i think he was talking about short iron play (if i remember correctly). i typically do the same thing so my hips clear for a full release. seems to work quite well.

[Cinco]

Talked about standing a little bit "open to your target" making it easier to finish your swing. Does anyone do this? Is it a bad habit for any reason?

Here's my opinion...

While standing a bit open to your target will help in finishing your swing, it will also typically cause a fade trajectory to your ball path. If that's what you want for your ball's flight path then go for it. I think it will also promote an "out-to-in" club path, which again isn't bad if you're going for a fade. If you are a beginner and working on a more "inside-out" swing path, I wouldn't open my stance to the target.

[kc8kir]

Setting open to the target can be good or bad, it depends on your personal swing tendencies. If you tend to slice the ball, then no, don't do it. A lot of good players play slightly open to fade the ball and avoid a hook. It does make following through (clearing the body) easier (per se), but can exacerbate your slice (if you struggle with slicing) by forcing your swing more out to in.

Most amateur golfers are better off setting square to slightly closed, to allow them to hit the ball from the inside, instead of coming across the line and slicing the ball.

[albatross]

Was that from Leadbetter? i saw the same tip while watching the Travelers yesterday. i think he was talking about short iron play (if i remember correctly). i typically do the same thing so my hips clear for a full release. seems to work quite well.

Yeah, I think that is where I saw it. His swing looks rough to me. I'm sure he's a great teacher, but I wonder what he'd shoot on a real course.

[beung]

Most amateur golfers are better off setting square to slightly closed, to allow them to hit the ball from the inside, instead of coming across the line and slicing the ball.

I actually find the opposite to be true, I stand behind most of the slicers to see where they are lining up and their feet are aimed at where their club is or even right of that. So now they have to swing across their body causing them to slice.

Open stance will give you more room for your body to clear and most of the good players tend to play a fade, some play a draw but hardly anyone plays a straight ball.

[jambalaya]

It shouldn't hurt with the wedges and nine iron. The reason people do it is because there is less time to get the hips and shoulders turned with the short irons. Gets those hips so they are already opened to the target a bit just like you would be at impact. You also want to put more weight on the front leg. I think it is pretty sound advice.

[DiverDown]

It shouldn't hurt with the wedges and nine iron. The reason people do it is because there is less time to get the hips and shoulders turned with the short irons. Gets those hips so they are already opened to the target a bit just like you would be at impact. You also want to put more weight on the front leg. I think it is pretty sound advice.

This what I've been taught, slightly open stance for short irons and wedges.

[albatross]

It shouldn't hurt with the wedges and nine iron. The reason people do it is because there is less time to get the hips and shoulders turned with the short irons. Gets those hips so they are already opened to the target a bit just like you would be at impact. You also want to put more weight on the front leg. I think it is pretty sound advice.

This makes a lot of sense. So you would do this even from like 140 yards???

[Richie3Jack]

It's not the worst thing I've ever heard and generally golfers are better off with an open stance than a closed stance. Most amateurs have a closed stance and it forces them the pull the ball back to the target. It can cause a fade, but can also get your swing off plane if you use your body to dictate where you take the club back. If you really want to get through the ball better, take up some stretching exercises, particularly hip stretching exercises.




3JACK

[FlopShotArtist]

It's a habit of mine to stand a little 'open' to my target. If I stand even, I feel I am putting too much weight on my left leg.

[jambalaya]

This makes a lot of sense. So you would do this even from like 140 yards???

Experiment, but I would be less inclined to do it with anything less lofted than a nine iron myself. What club do you use for 140 yards?

[albatross]

Experiment, but I would be less inclined to do it with anything less lofted than a nine iron myself. What club do you use for 140 yards?

Right now, probably a 7 or 8 iron. I used to hit pitching wedge from 140 but can't do it anymore. I have been hitting the ball SO high. Probably adding loft by mistake.

[jambalaya]

Right now, probably a 7 or 8 iron. I used to hit pitching wedge from 140 but can't do it anymore. I have been hitting the ball SO high. Probably adding loft by mistake.

If you can hit an eight iron high and 140 yards that is very acceptable.