open shoulders vs. square.

[Sandwedge74]

Hi,
i would like to discuss shoulder alignment - when setting up with irons specifically.
I have found that having a square stance with slightly open shoulders has dramatically improved by iron ball striking- and more important helped me with the dreaded twice a round shank. however, like any student of the swing, I am weary of bad habits etc... I am interested to know what you all do
I know many pros use open shoulders or even open stances Fred Couples comes to mind.
curious what the consensus is here! I am searching to build a solid Iron game right now. Is it Ok to have a square stance and open shoulders??
thanks
Andrew

[iacas]

I kind of wanted "open stance, square shoulders" as an option.

I think it varies for everyone. I tend to be pretty square all around, but it's better to be slightly open with my feet and slightly closed with my shoulders than the other way around.

[Sandwedge74]

can I change the poll? I would. I desperately trying to keep the hosel out of play and messing with my shoulders seems to help - any thoughts Iacas??

[prutkows]

I chose square shoulders + square stance but honestly my stance tends to be a little open at times.

[lumpuckeroo]

I too tend to be open stance, square shoulders. I have issues with getting back to the left, so setting my feet open helps.

[Mizzy57]

I chose square/square, but I mostly play closed/closed as my normal shot is a draw.

[MI Rob]

Square/Square here

[anthony]

I picked square / square, but I play slightly open front foot. On a pitch shot it's more open along with hips.

[mcfc_nick]

im normally square stance, although a tiny bit open, and square shoulders other than when i am using nine iron/wedges into a green then for some reason it just feels natural to open up my stance up a bit and my shoulders!

[wedge player]

i voted for the square square option.i have recently changed my swing to where i dont curve the ball as much i play it straight now.

[NO HYPE]

i have slightly open shoulders

[bunkerputt]

I used to play square square, but it led to pulls and an inability to get my hips through naturally. Now I play open feet, square shoulders. I'm not sure what my hips are doing, but I'd bet they are slightly less open than my feet are. This gives me a much more natural move through the ball and I don't feel like I get stuck posting up on my downswing trying to find some way to get my hips to turn through.

Interestingly, I failed a facebook Golf swing IQ quiz question regarding alignment where it said :

"The image of the golfer on the left has his feet, knees, hips, and shoulders all aligned parallel left of the target. This is the best way to align for all players." True or False. I didn't know how to answer so I guessed the guy was looking for True.

[mirv]

for years i played with a slightly closed stance and open shoulders just because it was what felt "natural" to me. about a month ago, i decided it was high time i adopt a more 'correct' golf stance and go for square/square. after some adjusting, i was hitting the ball further, straighter, and purer than i ever have. had a round last weekend where i only missed one fairway the whole round, and even that miss wasn't by much. square/square ftw.

[imtomtomim]

I put open-open. I try to set up my stance a bit open as my preferred shot is a fade because I feel more control over it. My natural shot is a draw however so whenever I need one of those, I just step up and swing away.

[Where's the Cart Girl?]

I like the square-square school of thought, and try to subscribe to that. But my question for anyone whose shoulder and stance lines aren't parallel is: which line does the swing follow?

I ask because I struggle with my shoulders getting closed to my stance if I don't pay attention to myself on the course, and i absolutely cannot move the ball right to left with this setup, but I always wondered if its because my swing is trying to trace my foot line (and i get over the top) or trying to follow my shoulders and i come through the zone open?

Not to stray from the poll, but I've always wonder this.

Thanks.

[$2 Nassau]

I have absolutely no clue - probably something I should pay attention to.

[MiniMoe]

I don't do this because I did not learn it correctly and I too far into my swing to change now. But Moe Norman set up with his lead arm slightly above the trailing arm. This created a good spine tilt at address that was the same as impact. This set up position made the shoulders slightly closed to the target line. If I get the gumption to change anything about my swing it would be getting my set up position more like Moe's