Why Flaring Your Feet at Address Makes Golf Easier

[mvmac]

6 hours ago, DownAndOut said:

The detailed explanation about optimal pelvic rotation is in Dr Jeff Mann's article.

To get it back to the thread topic, flaring the feet out helps the average golfer achieve what's going on in this pictures. Not saying it automatically happens but the feet flare gives the golfer a better chance to have some "freedom" with the lower body where many golfers sway the hips back, don't create enough depth with their turn and just lift the arms.

 

1 hour ago, natureboy said:

On the negative side, his videos are over-long as is his text. I suspect some of that is to more effectively refute the 'biomechanical analysis' of Kelvin Miyahura's posts as Dr. Mann seems to view Kelvin as underqualified and frequently incorrect. He should start every page with an 'abstract' so you can see if it contains what you're interested in without having to read it all. I think a lot of his ideas / preferences make a lot of sense. However, I think using a long driver swing (Sadlowski) as a model might not be as applicable to golf on a course that requires much greater accuracy and consistency.

Well said, agree. 

[natureboy]

1 hour ago, mvmac said:

Well said, agree. 

 

Spoiler

To be fair, though, Mann doesn't exclusively rely on Sadlowski and may only use him for 'extreme' visual examples. Most of his pics in the page reference Hogan, Nicklaus, & Palmer.

Mann is also wrong that with Nicklaus' turn there is no COM shift to the trail leg (possibly a sloppy word choice there). Yes there is no visible overt lateral shift of the COM, but just by rotating the bulk of the bent over trunk plus both arms and the head slightly around the inside of the trail leg, the COM has to have shifted away from the target relative to address. In his words that helps weight-pressure the trail leg.

 

Edited October 15, 2016 by natureboy

[iacas]

Spoiler

On 10/15/2016 at 7:37 AM, DownAndOut said:

http://perfectgolfswingreview.net/pelvicrotation.html

Mann is a known crackpot who misunderstands simple things for years and refuses, when corrected for the hundredth time, to correct his articles. I don't waste my time with Jeff Mann these days.

 

On 10/15/2016 at 1:58 PM, mvmac said:

To get it back to the thread topic, flaring the feet out helps the average golfer achieve what's going on in this pictures. Not saying it automatically happens but the feet flare gives the golfer a better chance to have some "freedom" with the lower body where many golfers sway the hips back, don't create enough depth with their turn and just lift the arms.

Flaring your trail foot out can also help the downswing too - the trail knee is less likely to kick in toward the golf ball when it's flared than when it's square.

[RussUK]

On 10/17/2016 at 2:29 AM, iacas said:

  Reveal hidden contents

Mann is a known crackpot who misunderstands simple things for years and refuses, when corrected for the hundredth time, to correct his articles. I don't waste my time with Jeff Mann these days.

 

Flaring your trail foot out can also help the downswing too - the trail knee is less likely to kick in toward the golf ball when it's flared than when it's square.

I flare my front foot but keep my rear foot square as i find that if a flare the back foot i sway as opposed to just transfering the weight to the inside heel. 

Could "over flaring" the trail foot possible either promote a sway or even trick the mind into thinkin the body has swayed? 

Or

Am i just over thinking things....again?

[Etzwane]

1 hour ago, RussUK said:

I flare my front foot but keep my rear foot square as i find that if a flare the back foot i sway as opposed to just transfering the weight to the inside heel. 

Could "over flaring" the trail foot possible either promote a sway or even trick the mind into thinkin the body has swayed? 

Or

Am i just over thinking things....again?

If you flare the rear foot *and* let the rear leg loose some flex, it would be difficult to sway.

 

[iacas]

8 hours ago, RussUK said:

I flare my front foot but keep my rear foot square as i find that if a flare the back foot i sway as opposed to just transfering the weight to the inside heel. 

Could "over flaring" the trail foot possible either promote a sway or even trick the mind into thinkin the body has swayed? 

Or

Am i just over thinking things....again?

Odd. Most people find that flaring the back foot helps eliminate the sway.

6 hours ago, Etzwane said:

If you flare the rear foot *and* let the rear leg loose some flex, it would be difficult to sway.

Yeah…

[RussUK]

10 hours ago, iacas said:

Odd. Most people find that flaring the back foot helps eliminate the sway.

Yeah…

Wonder if its more "mental" than physical then as the aquare trail foot seems to "lock" me in place, if that makes sense. I seem to play ok with the square trail foot but will try a little flare and see what difference i get.

[iacas]

1 hour ago, RussUK said:

Wonder if its more "mental" than physical then as the aquare trail foot seems to "lock" me in place, if that makes sense. I seem to play ok with the square trail foot but will try a little flare and see what difference i get.

Pair it with the wall drill and see which is easier to do. I think you'll find the flared foot makes it easier to do the wall drill and turn properly.

[carpediem4300]

Flaring feet is a must for me as i suffer from "knock knee" where they face slightly inwards anyway, quite visible when im just stood there

[mvmac]

Look at that foot flare!

 

[billchao]

I'm sorry @mvmac but it was making me dizzy watching someone's (cellphone?) recording of a youtube video 

[Hacker James]

I dug up this old post after recently viewing a members swing. I knew that @mvmac had suggested this long ago, but I dismissed it at the time probably because I had been reading Hogan and his statement that he recommended flaring the lead foot only.

Well, the image I saw on the members swing caught my attention enough to try it and swings did indeed feel solid. Its a tiny adjustment, but so far..........

It DOES make a difference!

[Kalnoky]

Very useful information. After reading this thread, I am going to try flaring the rear foot as well. My big fear is swaying, so anything that can help me make a good turn is worth a try.

 

[iacas]

4 minutes ago, Kalnoky said:

Very useful information. After reading this thread, I am going to try flaring the rear foot as well. My big fear is swaying, so anything that can help me make a good turn is worth a try.

Flaring the trail foot often helps reduce swaying.

[Hacker James]

1 minute ago, iacas said:

Flaring the trail foot often helps reduce swaying.

I would have to agree, or at least it "felt" like I had a much more stable foundation. It felt a little restrictive at first, but I immediately had good results.

[Hacker James]

17 minutes ago, Kalnoky said:

Very useful information. After reading this thread, I am going to try flaring the rear foot as well. My big fear is swaying, so anything that can help me make a good turn is worth a try.

 

Yes, at first, it feels counter intuitive. Without knowing the physics behind it, I feel as though with both feet flared, it leads you into making a better turn - in either direction. Also easier to stay centered while at the same time no problem in transferring weight more forward.

[mvmac]

1 hour ago, Hacker James said:

because I had been reading Hogan and his statement that he recommended flaring the lead foot only.

FYI check out Hogan's right foot when he's hitting a driver, 3 wood or long iron 

[Hacker James]

yep, I see that. In his book, he made it a point however. Even said something about watching people with flared feet, he didnt know which direction they were going to swing. Goes back to saying People are not doing what they think or say they are doing. A little hard to discern in the photo, looks to me as if it "might" be straight. He also used to say his lead knee was kicked in a little at address.

Edited January 28, 2017 by Hacker James