Yesterday, I was teaching a gentleman how our feet can change our ball position. The dynamic is simple enough to understand. However, expanding our knowledge is the point of coming to OSA, so you get the full monty.

The first assumption is that all fundamentals are in tow. Otherwise, open, closed, or square are all included. Also, we are assuming motion is a consequence of set-up orientation, and not a predetermined method – like Stack-and-Tilt. Ouch!

Assumptions eliminate circular logic, which is most of what I deal with from doubters. Setting assumptions ahead of time squashes the jumping around normally accompanying their “game”. In fairness, I’m sure my own, logical style is equally frustrating to them. Nevertheless – our feet….

Our feet are attached to our leg at our ankle, from which our feet extend anteriorly to assist our perambulation. If we notice, we are able to move our toes left and right while keeping our heel in the same spot on the ground. In doing so, we utilize muscles and joints differently to relieve the pressure it creates. Our upper body movement adjusts to accommodate different foot orientation, too.

Swinging our golf club with our forward foot perpendicular to the target causes our adaptive response to react differently than if our forward foot is pigeon-toed backward or splayed toward our target. I am tempted to talk motion here, but I won’t. Let’s get into ball position with three, leading-foot positions.

Assuming the trailing foot is square to our body-line, the leading foot can move our ball position forward or backward, depending on degree. When our leading foot splays open toward our target, the natural bottom of our swing moves forward or, toward our target with the change. Consequently, our ball position moves, physiologically – backward in our stance. By contrast, when our leading foot pigeon-toes backward (With our same set of assumptions), the natural bottom of our swing moves away from the target.

Small changes in our foot orientation can have beneficial or disastrous effects on our golf swing. Motion consequence is for next time. However, if we place our feet intentionally, and with knowledge of our choice, our ball position becomes an intentional choice, by default. Then, our results are more measurable. But, just to reemphasize our theme – Our set-up HAS TO BE purposeful.

Open your stance, and play golf.

John Wright – Founder
The Open Stance Academy

Our Stance, Ball Position, and Adaptation Form Our Practice

Your Set-Up Can Feed Your Brain or Starve Your Brain

Patrick Cantlay Won The Memorial From an Open Stance