Open diagonal stance

Posted: Thu 6:04, 06 Jun 2013

Hi Dariusz,

I've seen on another forum you suggest that both open and closed stances with siffering hip, shoulder and feet alignments are superior to a parallel stance.

An open stance seems to solve a lot of problems for me, i'm interested to know your thoughts on the optimal setup for an open stance, and how it might change with different clubs, as well as optimal ball position. Ive also been experimenting with a trevino type open stance and closed face setup at address then playing a push. Seem to keep the tush line much better than with a closed stance.

What do you think is the best way to get an open stance working?

Thanks

Posted: Thu 18:50, 06 Jun 2013

Hello Bobby,

let me ask first -- by open stance you mean open feet stance, yes ? The reason I ask is that the standard diagonal stance has feet closed but hips open in relation to the target.

Cheers

Posted: Fri 2:16, 07 Jun 2013

Hi, yes an open feet stance with the heels say 23 degrees open from the target line. I also had some success with the ball back in the stance which maybe correlates with your 'rear eye dominant' ball position suggestion. Im not sure whether to keep this 23 degrees open for all clubs, i hit short irons very well but the driver less well.

Do you think a hips shoulders and feet all parallel but all open with a closed clubface then playing a push is worse than an open feet, less open hips and squarish shoulders and a square club face at address?

Posted: Sat 21:59, 08 Jun 2013

Answering your last question -- yes, I think there should be no parallel elements in the stance because of diminished chances in achieving a good coronal plane balance. Do you agree that a better static balance leads to a better dynamic one ? If yes, think about the tower in Piza. Assuming it is made of solid material (and do not have strong building fundamentals) when would it fall down ? When the CoG exceeds the perimeter of the base, which means the bigger it is the better. Simple physics.

As per open feet diagonal stance -- the best is to watch Trevino and Couples. They have open feet line, naturally open pelvis and shoulders less open than both hips and feet. I sincerily believe this kind of stance works well, however, lacks universality as regards shaping all shots. Probably this is why, as the very Trevino said once, there were courses not suited for his play.

Cheers