Learn The Proper stance for your golf swing
Written By
Bobby Eldridge
Founder of Golf Lessons Online
How important is it to have the proper stance for your golf swing? Certainly not one of the top 10 topics in golf but you can not downplay the importance of a proper stance. Footwork in golf is vital to hitting accurate and powerful shots. Great footwork comes from a proper stance. If your stance is either too narrow, too wide or not parallel to your target line, you will have to compensate during the golf swing to make up for it.
The easiest thing to remember about your stance is that both feet should be slightly wider than shoulder width. Once you have addressed the golf ball all you have to do is place the shaft along your shoulder line, pinch the shaft at both shoulders and bend over to check your stance width.
If your stance is too wide you will have a tendency to to slide in the backswing. You won’t turn around your spine. If you slide in the backswing it is difficult to build up torque and your impact will be weak.
On the other hand if your stance is too narrow you will have a tendency to not turn in the backswing and you will wind up with an arm swing. An arm swing will produce very little clubhead speed. Keep in mind that the shorter the club the narrower the stance.
The second part of the stance that is equally important is the aim of the feet. Remember to aim the clubhead first before you plant your feet. Once you have soled the clubhead you have to place your feet parallel left of your intended ball flight. If you aim your feet too far to the right of the target you will have to either hook the ball or pull it back to the target. If you aim your feet too far to the left of the target you will either have to push the ball or fade it back to the target.
In closing there is one last step to a proper stance. If you point your right foot at address out to the right you will have an opportunity to make a bigger turn in the backswing. If you open up your left foot a bit at address you will have an opportunity to turn through easiert.
The next time you are on the practice tee going through the motions don’t forget that there IS a proper stance for your golf swing.
