When to stop opening stance on wedges?

[LocknLoad]

Hi all,

 

I'm not a beginner at golf, but this is my first post. I know (from the book), that we are to open our stance for a full wedge shot to the green. This is typically with a 56* sand wedge. I usually open my stance to the target line with my 60*, 56* and 51* gap wedge.

 

Do you open your stance with the PW too? Or line up with the target line? How about a 9 iron?

 

Thanks

[The Ultimate Spin]

i can only speak for myself but i only open my stance when it's a partial wedge. i only do it because on partials because it gives me better distance control.

 

not sure what others do, but i would try it and if it works for you...kudos

 

o yeah, and WELCOME

[Swingtheclub]

I think it depends on the player. Some open up all the way thru the short irons and some thru the bag.

 

I tend to open when taking something off of a wedge or short iron or when pitching or chipping.

[atlanta golfer]

Why don't you check out Stan Utley's "The art of the short game". Stan advocates keeping your stance square for ALL chips and ALL pitches and even for sand shots. It is a simpler more repeatable method, in my view.

 

Yes, I was taught to open up for pitches and chips and sand shots but this is NOT the only way to do it.

[soberguy16]

like the others said, theres more than one way to skin a cat. i prefer to stay square on full wedge shots, for the most part, and open for partial wedge shots. do what feels comfortable and works...theres no right or wrong :cheesy:

[jjj912]

In my experience, square is easier and more consistent. So, keep square except if:

-you need power, but not distance

-you need to carry a short distance and a short square shot would still carry too far

-you need a high trajectory, whether to clear an obstacle or to reduce roll

-you prefer to take three quarter to full swings on short shots

-you have a soft lie and need to avoid a fat shot

 

There are probably a few other exceptions, but these are the ones I could think of off the top of my head.

 

I'll toss my hat in with the others and say: Whatever works for you.

[vinnyv20032003]

DO WHAT FEELS RIGHT! :cheesy: I have finally decided to open my stance on all shots involving a wedge simply because I feel more comfortable hitting that way. It is all about feeling comfortable and the square stance wasn't working great for me and the open stance does. I get plenty of comments on it, but its all about putting the ball close to the hole, isn't it?

[hbear]

For full swings I'm square (actually slightly open), but when I'm getting into partial swings/pitches with my wedges I open my stance (slightly more open)...

The key is to find that point where one changes from a "pitching" motion to a "swinging" motion.

For some it's in the 30-40 yard range, while others is from the 60-70 yard one.

 

Personal preference.

[SpeedyPro]

I'm no expert, no teaching pro, no low-capper, but I have been thinking about this quite a long time so probably you might get some help from what I observed.

 

My observation: Open stance is very helpful when you try "intermediate" shots.

By "intermediate" I mean a distance shorter than your normal full-shot for a specific club, but longer than what you can achieve by putting-like stroke.

Let's say, I have a PW in hand. I hit 120 yds full, and I can chip 30 yds with a mere putting stroke using it.

 

So if I decided to use PW for 60 yds shot, I call it an intermediate shot and open stance helps.

 

Here's the reason.

 

1. For the full shot, your entire body moves.

2. For putting stroke, your arm-shoulder triangle only moves.

3. For iintermediate shot, I found it really hard to apply some force. I cannot create big-muscle power (or x-factor power) by rotating upper body and lower body. And my mere arm-shoulder rotation is not enough to creat power.

Then how about increasing the x-factor while your arm is only reached 9 o'clock position but your lower body is already facing toward the target?

 

Yes it's open stance. Open stance helps increase muscle tension between your upper body and lower body while you maintain your lower body very still.

 

Another benefit is your left hip is already cleared by opening it at address, so you can lower the chance of blocking.

 

Well, it's my observation, I might be wrong but I think it can give you some idea.

 

SP

[LocknLoad]

An open stance also limits the backswing which is correct for a wedge as most are 3/4 swings from 80 - 120 yards out.

 

It's kind of awkward at first as your usually taught to swing along your foot line which is parallel to the target line. With the wedges, you have an open stance, but swing towards the target.