Golf lessons delay the lasting gratification of self-discovery. For decades, our culture trained us to pursue immediate gratification. Today, I’ll use the Open Stance and Modern Instruction to bookend our philosophical conversation on the topic.

The pain accompanying delayed gratification manifests in impatience and intolerance for any gradual process, like learning. Hence, masses of people live in their subconscious dream-world rather than the harsh reality of personal responsibility. Golfers are no different.

Impressionable minds prefer others tell them what to think rather than cultivate their own opinion through discussion or civil argument. They are happier with the bread-and-circus of identity politics, socialism, and Hollywood morality. It’s really quite Orwellian. If you have not read 1984, their’s is a submission to group-think. Like hamsters at the feeding tube – waiting for the next elite morsel.

Russel Brand, whom I believe is a formidable intellect, interviewed my man Jordan Peterson last year. Their discussion turned to individual identity and responsibility. He argued we received a little consciousness in The Garden of Eden as a consequence of choosing immediate gratification over discipline. Eve’s and Adam’s lack of discipline, and their associated pursuit of ease, was enough to ruin their blissful existence. Whether or not your subscribe to the allusion, the fact that we need discipline to be happy, is universal.

The cure for a little consciousness, therefore, is not a return to unconsciousness or zombieism – glamorized in modern media. Unconsciousness, Brand and Peterson agree, is not a solution to life’s problems. We can’t go backward. It’s too late for that. The solution is MORE consciousness.

Furthermore, they share my opinion that there are many different ways to understand a journey. But, that fact does not supplant one underlying truth that binds every story. Apparently, they believe there are things that are relatively true, and things that are absolutely true… just like Johnny.

Though unsaid, I believe the point is that being merely awake is not our human goal… it is simply our vehicle to gathering experience through individual discovery. Whether an intellectual, a teacher, or a student, we need to use our waking hours for disciplined, intentional work to reach worthwhile, personal goals.

Make a decision to exercise discipline when you practice your golf game. Create your own structure based on a Open Stance platform/philosophy, and work at it. It’s fun. Once you get used to the time commitment, you’ll like it.

Open your stance, and play golf.

John Wright – Founder
The Open Stance Academy

Look What Jordan Spieth Is Doing With His Set-Up!
The Secret in The Open Stance
How to Adapt to an Open Stance

I’d never heard of Bertrand Russell, only Russell Brand. Only when Russel Brand quoted him in the following video, from 2018, did I know a bit about Bertrand Russell and his work. Notice the language used in the first minute. Intention, expression, etc. All it means is that the truth is behind the curtain of prevailing narrative.

From the beginning of my Open Stance work, my verbiage revolved around a curve of knowable truths. On the one end we’re the beginnings of things. And, at the other, the measurement of those beginnings. Because I wrote about the interconnectedness of all human pursuits, I naturally had to develop incisive language to eliminate sloppy thinking.

Words are, once again, gaining power. Our ability to build topical platforms for civil human discourse depends on precision. Within our constructions exists an agreed upon set of assumptions that bind the subjective to the objective – no matter the topic. The more I teach, the more I find that it’s our assumptions that have diverged over the past decades… not our intentions.

Choosing an Open Stance philosophy expresses our intent to efficiently and solidly strike a golf ball, and move it toward a specific target with power and precision. It’s not exactly splitting the atom in the hierarchy of important things. However, it provides a goal-setting/achieving opportunity that expresses a disciplined golfer’s innermost desire.

Fortunately, I am in position to arbitrate the assumptions on this topic.

Open your stance, and play golf.

John Wright – Founder
The Open Stance Academy

Add Intention To Your Practice

First Things First: Create an Intent for Your Game

Why We Don’t Cut a Steak With a Spoon

Emerson knew the golf swing as well as words. Even Ralph knew the natural order of things. He wrote, “The ancestor of every action is a thought.” Implicit is knowledge of the mind as the engine of every movement.

Every word I write is to convey his message in practical terms for golfers, world-wide. In literal and cryptic form, the thread running through my body of work is intention. Likewise, bringing minds into communion with the beginnngs of their humanity negates movement-focused or – voices of the incidental.

Adaptive response is a given, you see? Therefore, adaptation is incidental. All my students learn to trust their own decision-making around one thought, which simplifies their learning process. Once I educate the world of golf on the power in self-trust, we can have a real, subjective discussion about the golf swing.

At the moment, we have subjective discussions because we have been conditioned to trust “Swing Gurus”. Listening to a guru of the inevitable is listening to a salesman of the useless. Conveniently, there are no short-cuts to improvement except for not wasting time chasing the fixes swing gurus throw out there.

The success I have with students seen and unseen tells me the Open Stance is more than a trickle now. It has turned into a clear stream cascading down a snow-capped summit. Whether or not it feeds a fountain of youth at the base remains to be seen. However, the Open Stance waters are definitely, and at a minimum, a potent potable.

Open your stance, and play golf.

John Wright – Founder
The Open Stance Academy

Thesis Creep
Bruce and Specific Intention
Byron Nelson Wanted to Buy a Farm

After watching Jordan Peterson talk about what it is to be “good”, I feel that displacing every golfer’s darker impulses with an open stance is warranted. You may find the discussion of avoidance as interesting as I do. Let me begin by first setting Peterson’s perspective front and center.

Peterson argued that he isn’t good. He is has a healthy fear of his darker impulses. “I became terrified of how terrible I could be.” Arguing that the nature of man is inherently evil, he cites a history splotched with war, genocide, and corruption. Jordan even takes us, biblically, all the way back to God destroying his creation due to our misdeeds.

Therefore, he recommends his students “Read history as a perpetrator and not as a victim or a hero.” Isn’t that a fantastic twist on the prevailing narrative-consciousness? We battle the forces of success, arrogance, and worldly corruption as we walk our path.

The path, to JP, represents Truth… not OUR truth… but THE truth. Therefore, the path is not OUR path, but THE path. Inevitably, some stray from the path, and some don’t.

JP explains the psychology as we derive power and, by association, happiness by controlling our dark side. We need to ‘focus on an ideal that is transcendent and absolute, or we will fall for anything.’ This guy has the most fascinating intellect I’ve ever witnessed. Nonetheless, Jordan creates an opportunity for a corollary I find irresistible, so I will now turn onto Golf Blvd.

Our darker golfing impulses revolve around our desire to define our individuality in a competely subjective manner. We indulge in what makes our golf swing unique by creating our own definitions – never knowing where the path is. Some go through their cloudy, mist-shrouded, peat-laden, golfing life having never even searched for a stable footing of truth.

You see, golf does not tolerate equivocation or subjective reinvention. Our golf game demands what our life demands – discipline, self-control, hard work, and pursuit of truth. When we stop doing one of these, we leave the path for indulgences of ego and sloth, to name two. Consequently, our game suffers. In short, golf doesn’t play our dark game. Golf doesn’t reward undisciplined golfers with lasting success, so why start down that road?

I have made it my mission to bring the truth about THE golf swing to everyone doing the work on their own. However, I could invoke my inner Jordan Peterson and say it a different way. For instance, I could say, ‘I want golfers to become terrified of how terrible they could be if they listen to modern, subjective instructors.’ Why would I want to cause anxiety? Because, there is a transcendent idea just sitting beside you as you ponder your darker impulses. All you have to do is pursue it, and it’s light will show you the path.

Open your stance, and play golf.

John Wright – Founder
The Open Stance Academy

Water’s Natural Movement is Upward
Watch Out For Rabbits, Sheep, and Boars This Year
String Theory and Our Golf Swing

We all love gerunds, clever phrases, and pithy observations. However, my opinion is that ideas and profound solutions, throughout society, mean more to people now. In that spirit, how might Open Stance golfers identify that our pretending is ending? Let me draw out some corollaries.

We know, for instance, that the “Recovery” in the economy was due to monetary heroin in the form of QE123. Mainstream economic news outlets pretending everything was fine, pumped our stock, student loan, real estate, and bond markets to the precipice of failure… again. But, is everything fine?

We know money supply increase is the classic definition of inflation. Obviously, we know the US Dollar only buys a fraction of its 1913 purchasing power. However, when will that inevitable inflation return, and in what common-knowledge form? I suggest inflation is more than a monetary definition. Inflation is the artificial expansion of any system. Information, sales, and services are no exception.

We even inflated our cultural sensitivities. Conservatives stood witness to thirty years of emotionalizing every issue in the world. We’ve seen everyone-gets-a-trophy-ism, political and corporate corruption, and identity politics ruin debate and thought, prosperity and trust. Recently, more radical interests have been trying to erase American history by destroying venerable and hallowed monuments and institutions.

Now, we see greater minds engaging in the deflation. The protections of the radicals are withdrawing. Books and media are deflating along with their fidelity to the Truth, which partially inspires my own work. Revisionism, which once halted the discussion it proposed to advance, is also being exposed as a cudgel to separate people into groups. So, what can we expect? Good things are ahead.

So speedy are the conversions back to logical and profound thinking that more-impressionable minds are reeling from the wake. The SS Sales Marketeer is, ironically, running aground on watershed ideas. The days of pretending that different words, describing the same action, somehow mean something new – is ending.

Look at all the many gerunds describing (ha!) so many dynamics. Aren’t they delightful? Our change of mind is, of course, ongoing. Time determines outcomes. Groups are productive only when their members are logical. Of course, I do know one logical group to which belonging golfers find worth. But, let’s save that for now.

Open your stance, and play golf.

John Wright – Founder
The Open Stance Academy

https://www.openstanceacademy.com/golf/a-lie-can-travel/
https://www.openstanceacademy.com/golf/waters-natural-movement-is-upward/
https://www.openstanceacademy.com/golf/open-stance-dream/

I know golf is hard. It’s supposed to be hard for anyone who wants to improve. However, if you add intention to your practice, you won’t get lost. So, let me give you an idea of how to do add intention.

Obviously, we set up open for every swing on the range using alignment sticks to be sure we are precise. We grow accustomed to the way our target looks when we look up. Then, we swing and make perfect contact or we don’t. Our ball travels along our intended line or it doesn’t.

Since our set up was exactly the same, we can dismiss half of the questions that vex golfers who set up differently each swing. Because we eliminate the set-up questions, we are free to feel and analyze our movement. While most golfers change their address to correct bad movement, we change our movement to assist intentional, precise address position.

As long as we intend (commit) to our set-up regimen, our results will make more sense with each pass. I can’t emphasize it enough. Practice without intention is fultility without hope.

Even with my experience, I still get lazy. Yesterday, for example, a storm was approaching. And, I mean, on top of us. It was the ugliest sky I’ve seen for years. Anyway, instead of collecting extra balls from the turf ahead of me to strike off the mat, I walked around the tee, and hit them too quickly and without precision.

My next session will involve more focus and better intention… with alignment sticks.

Open your stance, and play golf.

John Wright – Founder
The Open Stance Academy

https://www.openstanceacademy.com/golf/specific-intention/
https://www.openstanceacademy.com/golf/our-stance-ball-position-and-adaptation/
https://www.openstanceacademy.com/golf/achievement-in-golf/

My week of practice ending June 23 was light. However, my focus increased. Intermittent ball-striking sessions forced me to focus on my trailing elbow to direct my backswing and impact. I was reminded me of my 2002 process. Made some powerful moves with the change.

Short-game practice is more about landing spot and trajectory now that contact is sure. Chipping and pitching are sharper. Practice from 30-50 yards is yielding good results, as well. Additionally, speed control and touch improved all around. I used rotation to control speed instead of hands and arms. Rotation was especially effective from bad lies.

Putting stroke improved thanks to concentration. I set the putter face on line, and now have a pattern of motion which yields pure contact and allows me to release my putter. Consequently, my ball came off my putter like a rocket, and dove into the hole time after time. The end.

Open your stance, and play golf.

John Wright – Founder
The Open Stance Academy

https://www.openstanceacademy.com/golf/anyone-write-about-open-stance-cure/
https://www.openstanceacademy.com/golf/open-stance-wins-debate/
https://www.openstanceacademy.com/golf/our-stance-ball-position-and-adaptation/

People think moving the same way at a golf ball is impossible to replicate, which is a false idea. They assume the movement they are being taught works – regardless of set-up, which is also a false idea. Every time you set up to a golf ball you have an opportunity to either destroy or create patterns of movement.

I had a young, indignant, and inexperienced instructor poke at me the other day about his closed stance and the “fine” shots he was hitting. I said, “That’s great. So, I guess you’ll be telling students to use a closed stance, then?”

“No. Because It’s not for everybody. Nothing is for everybody.”

“An open Stance is.”

“No, it isn’t.”

“Sure it is. You wanna know why?” I was waiting to hear the sound of his next shot behind me. (We we’re practicing side by side.)

“Well, he said incredulously, are you gonna tell me?”

“Oh, sorry, I thought you might be swinging. The reason is that we are symmetrical. Able-bodies golfers are symmetrical.” 

“Why does that matter? We’re all different sizes and shapes. We’re not supposed to all swing the same.”

“There you go with that motion stuff again. All you motion guys believe the golf swing begins and ends with motion, and it doesn’t.”

“Why should everyone set up the same if you don’t think they should swing the same?” 

“You’re trying to prove an objective with a subjective. It’s interpreting facts to support your own conclusions… it’s the daVinci Code’s, Lee Teabing method of golf instruction… ‘interpret facts to support your own conclusions.’

“I don’t see that.”

“Few instructors do.”

Although my young counterpart was earnestly arguing a point of view, he was not trained to look beyond his didactic. His is a common fallacy – ‘We are destined to relativism because we are relative to one another.’ Some folks are oblivious to the commonalities that bind us athletically.

Anyway… this interaction was all in good humor as we were both in a good mood. I don’t want to leave you with the impression this was combative. It was men talking trash… but without the hyperbole and irony. This kid was trained to take a view of the golf swing that every other instructor is trained to take. It’s not his fault he doesn’t see beyond his nose.

What is alarmingly pervasive, however, is the inclination to dismiss, out of hand, any idea that usurps the established, enabling dialectic in favor of a self-help suggestion. The Open Stance created another convert today. I gave no swing help, yet procured another student. How do you suppose hat happened?

Golfers DO NOT NEED instruction. They need teaching. Teaching allows a student to pursue their own solutions. Pursuit of our own solutions is as close to freedom as we will ever be.

John Wright – Founder
The Open Stance Academy

https://www.openstanceacademy.com/golf/our-stance-ball-position-and-adaptation/
https://www.openstanceacademy.com/golf/open-stance-creates-great-ball-strikers/
https://www.openstanceacademy.com/golf/ball-position/

If anyone doesn’t know who Mr. Trevino is, I’ll explain later. For now, let’s just watch as Lee Trevino recommends a flatter swing, magazine caution, and keeping it in the fairway. These video show how clever we can be in explaining different ways to think about our golf swings.

Lee’s swing was not especially flat. However, in his defense and by his own admission, he was a blocker. He didn’t hit it far, but he did hit his ball straight down the middle, so to speak.

I watched Mr. Trevino at the 1985 US Open, where he was paired with Hubert Green. “Hubie” asked about Lee’s new bride, saying he heard she was named Claudia. Lee said, “This is number three.”

Hubie said, “You’ve had three wives named Claudia!?” Lee, didn’t skip a beat and said, “Yeah, if this one doesn’t work, I don’t know what the hell I’ll do.” Hubie warned the crowd saying, “If there are any Claudias here, you better get the hell out!” Uproarious laughter ensued.

Then, at the 85 Western Open, Lee expressed frustration at the length of Butler National, as he dropped a ball on the deck of sixteen tee, walked up to his ball, and ripped a fairway wood straight down the middle. I have no idea how he finished, but I was sure the reigning PGA Champion would be okay.

As for who Lee Trevino is, I will get right to the point. Lee Trevino is the greatest ball-striker who ever lived. But, don’t take my word for it. Take the word of his contemporaries, who also played with Ben Hogan and watched Moe Norman hit range balls. And, by the way, Lee Trevino set up open.

Open your stance, and play golf.

John Wright – Founder
The Open Stance Academy

Why Tour Players’ Heads Move “Down” Through Impact
Steepen Impact/Flatten Swing With an Open Stance
A “Flat” Golf Swing Is A Relative Term

Mark Twain wrote, “A lie can travel half way around the world while the truth is still putting on its shoes.” And we know, very well, what he meant. We created advertising and sales founded on the idea. “Yellow Journalism” emerged from the idea. Effectively, Mark Twain’s rumination propagated every negative consequence imaginable.

We are witness to ‘Peak deception’ as all information outlets spill the last of their propaganda into the mill. As we enjoyed our ‘Bread and Circus’, all the wrong information settled into our heads. For decades, we celebrated the purveyors of sensationalism rather than Truth. However, there is a Silver lining.

As exciting and controversial information disseminated, it pulled the truth along behind it as a scapegoat. Hollywood, mainstream media, etc. put out talking points every day that mirror each other, ridiculing boring truth, and we accepted them. Because after all, why not trust channels and faces which are familiar? We have decades of comfortable memories and excitement associated with their presence in our lives.

However, establishment media outlets are being exposed as the alternative outlets emerge. I think of openstanceacademy.com as one such alternative, information outlet for a golf idea instead of people and events. To my mind, old golf media luminaries are completely lumpable as one Jabba The Hut-amalgamation of golf swing misinformation.

Understand, I don’t even like Star Wars, and yet through decades of conditioning, the cultural brain-worm is inn there. I, therefore, apologize for my mental weakness in this regard. However, the media ‘war’ over your brain ‘space’ is losing its appeal, gratefully, to truth-tellers.

I am a truth-teller. I am boring. I promise nothing, and yet deliver the truth your golf swing and game need. No other golf media outlet is tipping their hat in my direction, yet my words are still getting out into the world, and solving problems. Have a nice day.

Open your stance, and play golf.

John Wright – Founder
The Open Stance Academy

https://www.openstanceacademy.com/golf/the-proper-imbalances/
https://www.openstanceacademy.com/golf/golf-digest-takes-yet-another-step-closer-to-john-wrights-work/
https://www.openstanceacademy.com/golf/string-theory/