Knees at address?

[majorchamp]

Not sure why this popped in my head tonight..but as I setup to take swings I notice my knees kind of buckle "inward" toward each other.

I am thinking of trying to push them out a bit (not a lot). I am curious actually how it will affect my swing.

[mihi4]

I just read Ben Hogan's "5 Lessons" and that looks just like he's emphasizing.
During my practice times after reading it, I figured out, that it gives me a much more stable platform and positively reduces my backswing.

Maybe it's not that bad? How do you feel using this stance?

greetings
michi

[majorchamp]

  mihi4 said:

I just read Ben Hogan's "5 Lessons" and that looks just like he's emphasizing.

I haven't hit balls trying it yet, but in my house when I try to keep my knees more in a neutral position versus letting them buckle in..I kind of feel like I am riding a horse :)

[tshapiro]

Your knees are supposed to buckle in a bit at address.

[TourSpoon]

Your setup looks good. Remember that when you load up on your right side, your leg needs to feel braced, so the position that you are starting in puts you in a good position to do that. If you push your knees out too far, you may unintentionally start to sway too much to the right.

[$2 Nassau]

my knees/legs take on more of the "riding the horse" shape. lends itself to a lot of excess movement it seems. been trying to brace them a little more (but still letting them move a little naturally).

[Open-Faced Club Sandwedge]

  majorchamp said:

I am curious actually how it will affect my swing.

Seems to me it would tend to restrict your hip turn. If I stand with my knees slightly buckled in (like yours) and turn my hips back and forth, they naturally turn much like they would in a good golf swing. If I push the knees out, then that natural turn goes away. I can still turn my hips if I force it, but it's more of a "wag my butt" motion then a simple swivel motion.

This is by no means a professional opinion, but I for one really wouldn't recommend making that change. -Andrew

[iacas]

  tshapiro said:

Your knees are supposed to buckle in a bit at address.

Not necessarily. A good number of people feel a little bow-legged. For example, I want my feet flared slightly and I want my knees pointing out more over my toes than "inward." At worst I want my knees slightly out from "straight forward."

  Open-Faced Club Sandwedge said:

Seems to me it would tend to restrict your hip turn. If I stand with my knees slightly buckled in (like yours) and turn my hips back and forth, they naturally turn much like they would in a good golf swing. If I push the knees out, then that natural turn goes away.

I can't repeat those results at all. I can stand in a top of the backswing position and move my knees in and out, too, and my hip rotation doesn't change.

[majorchamp]

thanks for the comments.

Well, I think a little buckled might be fine..but I might be doing it too much.

I think I remember hearing that Sean O'hair changed his stance a bit on his driver so on the downswing his legs were bowed or quite a part, giving him more leverage.

I like what Erik said about knees over the toes, that is a good visual. I will give it a shot and see how it goes.

I am thinking it might give me a bit more stability and "maybe" even help me from over swinging.

[Open-Faced Club Sandwedge]

  iacas said:

I can't repeat those results at all. I can stand in a top of the backswing position and move my knees in and out, too, and my hip rotation doesn't change.

I guess we're all different then.

-Andrew