Shoulder Alignment at Address

[kfowler]

At address, if your feet and club face is square to your target but your shoulders are open or closed, what impact does that have on the ball flight? So if your shoulders are closed or pointed right (righty) of the target, will that cause you to come more inside or out or club face open or closer? Or both?

Thanks,

[RC]

The shoulders are typically slightly open to square at address, and very few great players have consistently used a closed position -- at least as far as I know. Of course, someone can surely point out an exception or two.

[jones]

The shoulders are typically slightly open to square at address, and very few great players have consistently used a closed position -- at least as far as I know. Of course, someone can surely point out an exception or two.

I think this is hilarious--I was recently wondering this too because...

About 3 weeks ago I started a workout routine with a personal trainer and my arms and shoulders were very sore up until about last week, although I am still not completely flexible and am still a bit sore. I did not (still do not, but not as bad) have complete range of motion. For example, I could not stretch my arms (locking my elbows) without pain and tightness. A week after starting this routine, without the ability to completely stretch out my limbs without pain, I decided I wanted to play golf after work. I figured if I stretched out my arms well before the game I would be flexible enough to hit well, etc. I was wrong, and it was stupid to play like this.... I explained this to one of the guys in my foursome, but after 6 holes and me not being able to stay in the fairway at all, he decided he was going to give me golf tips to straighten out my swing. I generally am on the fairway or the rough most of the time, but being that I couldn't stretch my arms completely I couldn't hit a fairway if my life depended on it. This game I was usually far off the fairway or on another hole's fairway. Well...one of this guy's tips (he had too many for his skill-level) was that my shoulders were slightly open and did not line up with my feet and kept trying to give me tips on how to line everything up. I am glad I saw this post because being that I am newer to the game I did not know if this should be the case or not. Anyhow, to end this day of golf...on the 9th hole I bladed my gap wedge from 100 yards out about 40 yards past the green. My arms were hurting quite a bit by this time and the guy wanted to keep playing....I said "bye" to the guy...grabbed my ball, went home...and iced my arms.

[DavidFehertysBike]

Im a little open with my shoulders as well.

[kfowler]

From searching the net...

"The next piece is the secret...it is the shoulders. It is very important that the shoulders are parallel to the target line. A vast majority of sliced shots could be fixed with proper shoulder alignment. The most common fault is pointing the shoulders way left of the target line. The club will always follow the shoulders on the takeaway and backswing. Therefore, the club does not come straight back along the target line but instead goes way to the outside (the side away from the body). Unless we do some major manipulation on the way back to the golf ball (which is very difficult to do), we are going to hit a monster slice."

[RC]

The post above may be true for upper body swingers, but not necessarily true for ground up or body swingers. To hit a push draw, my shoulders are slightly open at address, the club comes back with very little move to the inside in the first couple of feet, but with a full shoulder turn behind the ball, the right side resists like crazy to produce coil into a firm right leg and hip, and then hip turning leds the downswing agressively -- ahead of the shoulders. This gets me to the left side, with the hips way open at impact. Ah... another nice draw. It works for me. It is only when my hips get lazy that a pull or slice happens.

[jambalaya]

I agree that slightly open is not bad but not noticeably open. Your feet can be open or closed but the shoulders should stay square or slightly open to the target line.

[Sandwedge74]

The post above may be true for upper body swingers, but not necessarily true for ground up or body swingers. To hit a push draw, my shoulders are slightly open at address, the club comes back with very little move to the inside in the first couple of feet, but with a full shoulder turn behind the ball, the right side resists like crazy to produce coil into a firm right leg and hip, and then hip turning leds the downswing agressively -- ahead of the shoulders. This gets me to the left side, with the hips way open at impact. Ah... another nice draw. It works for me. It is only when my hips get lazy that a pull or slice happens.

Hi RC,

I have a question about slightly open shoulders. I can drive the ball great but my iron play has developed an awful case of the shanks (for 4 months! I want to kill myself on a course) and when i try to correct I hit a pull. I have a natural draw ball flight. I noticed today -that when I set my feet square and my shoulders slightly open the shanks go away thank god - and I am able to strike the ball with an iron much better. Is this an OK style to adapt or am i just applying a band aid and the wheels will come off again? Is it ok to adapt a playing style that has slightly open shoulders for all Iron shots?? I appreciate your and anyone elses thoughts on this. In Carl Lorehns book - he reccomends slightly open shoulders.