slightly closed stance bad?

[lgskywalker37]

i have heard that a slightly open stance is prefered, but i was hitting quite well lately and much batter than usual, but i looked down and noticed that my stance was slightly closed (having left foot closer to ball than right, i believe that is closed)

i find when i squared my stance i would tend to hit a slight pull fade (ball would start left, and then end up going exactly where i was lined up anyway, but a but shorter)

i heard that thata closed stance can be bad for you, is that true, should i try to square myself more and work on getting rid of that pull fade?,or can i keep my slightly closed stance?

[shootin4par]

Re: slightly closed stance bad?

if you have a slightly closed stance it makes it a little harder for your elbow to get stuck on your right hip. maybe you hit a pull fade because the elbow gets stuck, so the hands go out and around your hip, but leaves the face open, or else you would be hitting a snap hook. I would tend to believe that when you really try to come from the inside you may hit a HUGE push WAY right? but this is all just speculation cause i cant see you swing but then again there are only so many possiblities that it can be. so yes, a slightly closed stance may be good for you, especially if you are not keeping your spine angle

good question, keep em coming

ps. a slightly closed stance will also allow a bigger shoulder turn but make srue that left foot is flared so your hips dont lag behind on the downswing

[BrianW]

Re: slightly closed stance bad?

Opening and closing your stance can help to shape a shot depending on where the clubface points at impact.

In general terms you can place your stance in the direction you want the ball to start off in, then point the clubface in the direction you want the ball to end up in, hit along the line of your feet, the ball will start off in the direction of your stance then bend towards the direction of the clubface by applying an amount of sidespin. This allows you to make a draw or a fade and can be good for hitting around trees etc.

Don't try it with short irons and wedges though, they produce too much backspin that negates the sidespin.

[lgskywalker37]

Re: slightly closed stance bad?

thanks for your advice.... it just wanted to make sure that it wasn't bad for my joints, i think i heard somewhere that a closed stance can be bad for your knees and hips, is there any validity to that?

[bill reed]

Re: slightly closed stance bad?

hi
i played with a closed stance for 18 years and hit a draw, till last year when i did my back in and went back to an open stance and a fade, i dont feel pain when i hit with stance well open but do if i try and hit a draw with a closed stance. i tend to stand 40% open now bit like trevino and swing back normal but come back in to ball with a hip sway and club comes into ball with an into out swing, it does work and i can keep playing like this, it i tried my old way i have to give up due to back pain.
bill

[dannyra]

Re: slightly closed stance bad?

With a closed stance you'll be more restricted in the follow through as your shoulder and hip turn have farther to go. If you flexible enough for it you can be fine with it. I would flare your left foot out slight to make it a little less restricted.

I'm guessing an open stance is easier on the body as, you will be taking the club away against the restriction. Your body moves a lot slower on the backswing so it's not so violent against the restriction as the follow through is with a closed stance.

[lgskywalker37]

Re: slightly closed stance bad?

well when i say closed, i mean my left foot is maybe and inch closer to the ball then my right, so i do mean slightly. i just do not want to hurt myself ro my back and not be able to play when i am older..... thanks for the input

[shootin4par]

Re: slightly closed stance bad?

keep your spine angle, keep the left foot flared out, and you should be fine. if you close your stance and dont open your front foot you would be more likely to hurt the back then becuase you would restrict your follow throgh. now a right foot dropped back 4-5 inches would be a different story, but you are talking about one inch