Jump to content
Check out the Spin Axis Podcast! ×
IGNORED

Why Flaring Your Feet at Address Makes Golf Easier


Note: This thread is 1038 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Recommended Posts

Posted

Hi guys...

Thanx for the replies...

Played yesterday and experimented with varying degrees of flare for

left and right foot...Definite improvement in ball striking and turning

and pretty much eliminated the block.

Will continue the tweaking...thanx again...

 

 

 

  • Thumbs Up 1

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

Hi guys...

Well after a bit of tweaking, he's hitting the driver beautifully...

The final adjustment was to go to a double overlap grip...

Results, together with the flaring are wonderful....

Cheers to all....

  • Like 1

Posted

So about 6 months ago I started paying distinct attention to my foot angles in my setup and have been flaring both out about 20 degrees. I just finished reading Ben Hogans 5 lessons though and in it he says you should only flare out your front foot and the back plant foot should be perpendicular to the target line. I have been experimenting with it the last 2 nights and it felt slightly uncomfortable as I have gotten used to flaring my right foot out. That being said the explanation in the book makes sense and I looked up a few pros (Tiger, Thomas, McIlroy) and they go with that setup as well. Are they able to because they are most likely more flexible and don't need the help achieving a full turn? The subtle differences between Rory McIlroy's driver and iron golf swing

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

  • Moderator
Posted
1 hour ago, Lugowskins said:

Are they able to because they are most likely more flexible and don't need the help achieving a full turn? 

If you go back to the very first post, @mvmac makes exactly this point, that many of us benefit from turning the feet out because it allows us to turn our hips more freely while remaining centered.  The best players in the world are, for the most part, substantially more flexible than the rest of us mortals.

  • Like 1
  • Thumbs Up 1

Dave

:callaway: Rogue SubZero Driver

:titleist: 915F 15 Fairway, 816 H1 19 Hybrid, AP2 4 iron to PW, Vokey 52, 56, and 60 wedges, ProV1 balls 
:ping: G5i putter, B60 version
 :ping:Hoofer Bag, complete with Newport Cup logo
:footjoy::true_linkswear:, and Ashworth shoes

the only thing wrong with this car is the nut behind the wheel.

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

  • Administrator
Posted
11 minutes ago, DaveP043 said:

If you go back to the very first post, @mvmac makes exactly this point, that many of us benefit from turning the feet out because it allows us to turn our hips more freely while remaining centered.  The best players in the world are, for the most part, substantially more flexible than the rest of us mortals.

Yeah, this.

I teach my better players a more "squared up" back foot, but many others benefit from the turned out deal.

Erik J. Barzeski —  I knock a ball. It goes in a gopher hole. 🏌🏼‍♂️
Director of Instruction Golf Evolution • Owner, The Sand Trap .com • AuthorLowest Score Wins
Golf Digest "Best Young Teachers in America" 2016-17 & "Best in State" 2017-20 • WNY Section PGA Teacher of the Year 2019 :edel: :true_linkswear:

Check Out: New Topics | TST Blog | Golf Terms | Instructional Content | Analyzr | LSW | Instructional Droplets

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

  • Moderator
Posted
1 minute ago, iacas said:

Yeah, this.

I teach my better players a more "squared up" back foot, but many others benefit from the turned out deal.

Especially old fat guys.  Not pointing fingers at anyone else, only at myself,

  • Thumbs Up 1

Dave

:callaway: Rogue SubZero Driver

:titleist: 915F 15 Fairway, 816 H1 19 Hybrid, AP2 4 iron to PW, Vokey 52, 56, and 60 wedges, ProV1 balls 
:ping: G5i putter, B60 version
 :ping:Hoofer Bag, complete with Newport Cup logo
:footjoy::true_linkswear:, and Ashworth shoes

the only thing wrong with this car is the nut behind the wheel.

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Posted

Going out on a tangent here rather than start another thread...

Whats the general opinion about focusing on a spot about half a ball

in front of the ball at address, rather than the ball...this seems to work

brilliantly for my son...perhaps not something for everyone...

(irons only)...the strike is so pure....


  • Moderator
Posted
11 hours ago, bones said:

Going out on a tangent here rather than start another thread...

Whats the general opinion about focusing on a spot about half a ball

in front of the ball at address, rather than the ball...this seems to work

brilliantly for my son...perhaps not something for everyone...

(irons only)...the strike is so pure....

I can start another thread on this.

11 hours ago, bones said:

Going out on a tangent here rather than start another thread...

Whats the general opinion about focusing on a spot about half a ball

in front of the ball at address, rather than the ball...this seems to work

brilliantly for my son...perhaps not something for everyone...

(irons only)...the strike is so pure....

 

Scott

Titleist, Edel, Scotty Cameron Putter, Snell - AimPoint - Evolvr - MirrorVision

My Swing Thread

boogielicious - Adjective describing the perfect surf wave

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Posted
19 hours ago, DaveP043 said:

Especially old fat guys.  Not pointing fingers at anyone else, only at myself,

Hey wait a minute, I resemble that.  :banana:

  • Funny 1

-Jerry

Driver: Titleist 913 D3 (9.5 degree) – Aldila RIP 60-2.9-Stiff; Callaway Mini-Driver Kura Kage 60g shaft - 12 degree Hybrids: Callway X2 Hot Pro - 16 degree & 23 degree – Pro-Shaft; Callway X2 Hot – 5H & 6H Irons: Titleist 714 AP2 7 thru AW with S300 Dynamic Gold Wedges: Titleist Vokey GW (54 degree), Callaway MackDaddy PM Grind SW (58 degree) Putter: Ping Cadence TR Ketsch Heavy Balls: Titleist Pro V1x & Snell MyTourBall

"Golf is the closest game to the game we call life. You get bad breaks from good shots; you get good breaks from bad shots but you have to play the ball where it lies."- Bobby Jones

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

  • 2 weeks later...
Posted

After watching "How to hit a driver" above, which I have taken to heart, I always flair my feet and follow those direction. It has help my driving a lot.


  • 1 year later...
Posted

Flaring the feet out is great for people who have a lack of sufficient internal hip rotation.  Turning the feet and legs outward is like taking years off your swing.  You turn better on the backswing and better on the thru swing.  It also is more comfortable turning back and through.  This allows the core and pelvis to initiate the proper downswing sequencing more consistently due to less tension/pain.  It has brought pleasure back to playing again for me as I am no longer suffering in the middle of the round with stiffness and pain and feel free flowing all the way to the end of the round.  Background:  72 years old male, handy cap 6 (from men's standard tees), average drive 245 yards,  7 iron carry 150.  Physical impairments: Spinal fusion L4-L5, Diffuse Idipathic Skeletal Hyper Ostosis, recent left hip replacement, right hip pending

 


Posted
2 hours ago, Bmich said:

Flaring the feet out is great for people who have a lack of sufficient internal hip rotation.  Turning the feet and legs outward is like taking years off your swing.  You turn better on the backswing and better on the thru swing.  It also is more comfortable turning back and through.  This allows the core and pelvis to initiate the proper downswing sequencing more consistently due to less tension/pain.  It has brought pleasure back to playing again for me as I am no longer suffering in the middle of the round with stiffness and pain and feel free flowing all the way to the end of the round.  Background:  72 years old male, handy cap 6 (from men's standard tees), average drive 245 yards,  7 iron carry 150.  Physical impairments: Spinal fusion L4-L5, Diffuse Idipathic Skeletal Hyper Ostosis, recent left hip replacement, right hip pending

 

Welcome to TST @Bmich.   We're glad you've joined.   Like yourself, I've found that flaring my feet helps my swing.

From the land of perpetual cloudiness.   I'm Denny

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Posted
21 hours ago, Bmich said:

Flaring the feet out is great for people who have a lack of sufficient internal hip rotation.  Turning the feet and legs outward is like taking years off your swing. 

 

Been experimenting with it, how many degrees open is your front and back foot? I've been trying about 30 degrees. Takes some getting used to.  245 average is heck of a performance, way to go!

Mike

Driver: TM Sim2 9* Ventus Black, M5 9* Kuro Kage
Fwy: TM SLDR 3W, 5W;    Hybrid: TM M1 4 Hybrid
Irons: TM Tour Preferred MC 2014
Wedges: TM Tour Preferred, 52 @ 51*, 56
Putter: Ping Scottsdale TR Anser 2 or Odyssey Rossie

It isn't the hours that you put in at practice that count. It's the way you spend those minutes. -- tony lema

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

  • 10 months later...
Posted

24 hours difference. Focusing on same priority piece of steeper shoulder turn but today I flared my front foot out too and I really like the immediate change it made.

It feels like it's flared so much further than it looks in the picture but I'm sure I'll get used to it over time.

image.png

  • Thumbs Up 1

Driver: :titleist:  GT3
Woods:  :cobra: Darkspeed LS 3Wood
Irons: :titleist: U505 (3)  :tmade: P770 (4-PW)
Wedges: :callaway: MD3 50   :titleist: SM9 54/58  
Putter: :tmade: Spider X

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Note: This thread is 1038 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Want to join this community?

    We'd love to have you!

    Sign Up
  • TST Partners

    PlayBetter
    Golfer's Journal
    ShotScope
    The Stack System
    FitForGolf
    FlightScope Mevo
    Direct: Mevo, Mevo+, and Pro Package.

    Coupon Codes (save 10-20%): "IACAS" for Mevo/Stack/FitForGolf, "IACASPLUS" for Mevo+/Pro Package, and "THESANDTRAP" for ShotScope. 15% off TourStriker (no code).
  • Posts

    • Day 14, April 22.  This morning, before going to work, I took the time to hit two dozen balls (indoors, off the mat, into the net), all with a 6-iron.  As before, this was focused on the pelvis separation and the length of the backswing -- yesterday's video view was encouraging that I'm making progress.  
    • Hey folks, Here's be a better video that outlines some of my challenges.  Any suggestiosn welcome.    
    • I enjoyed the distance wedges episode. It's something that I've not really taken the time to figure out for sure, but I went to a local trackman place over the winter and tested my four wedges (PW, AW, 54, 58) and got four yardages with each one. I am using Dan Grieve's method - you have a 1, 2, 3, and "full". The number references the number of clubhead widths between your heels.  I never really got to grips with the clock method - I'd find my 9:00 one day would go 40 yards and the next day 60 yards purely based on how fast I happened to swing it, but I couldn't turn that off and I was basically at sea with the speed method (Wesley Bryan does this - he takes almost a full swing for a 15 yard chip). The Grieve method I set my stance width and that really limits how much my swing moves back and forth and the speed seems to be naturally more consistent.  Anyway, I wound up with four yardages for each club - PW 48, 80, 112, 127; AW 41, 73, 101, 112; 54 36, 57, 91, 98; 58 28, 47, 81, 86 So, in order, I have 28, 36, 41, 47, 48, 57, 73, 80, 81, 86, 91, 98, 101, 112, 112, 127 which gives me a pretty good set of numbers. I do have a big gap from 57 to 73, but I can do a 2.5 58, which is giving me about 64. Then as they noted you can give it a bit more, or grip down on a club too to adjust a little bit. It's really useful and very freeing to just know what to do. When you have a 54 yard pitch, rather than pulling my 58 and thinking how hard is 54, I can just take my 54, do a "2" swing and just grip down a little and I'm in decent shape.  Incidentally, Erik talked a bit about watching Scheffler picking off his yardages to within a yard. I've watched DJ do that too with his wedges. Scottie does it trying to hit it all the way up to like 200 exactly with a 6-iron and he's hitting it 200.5, 199.7, etc. Absolutely mind blowing how good his distance control is. Insane.
    • Wordle 1,768 5/6 🟨⬜⬜🟨🟩 ⬜⬜🟩⬜⬜ 🟩⬜🟩🟩🟩 🟩⬜🟩🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩
    • Wordle 1,768 5/6 ⬜🟨⬜⬜🟩 🟩⬜🟩🟩🟩 🟩⬜🟩🟩🟩 🟩⬜🟩🟩🟩 🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 Zoinks
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Welcome to TST! Signing up is free, and you'll see fewer ads and can talk with fellow golf enthusiasts! By using TST, you agree to our Terms of Use, our Privacy Policy, and our Guidelines.