Has Ricky Fowler revealed the secret of famous instructors? Maybe, but the last sentence in the latest Golf Digest piece raised my eyebrow. I flipped to the cover story and found some insightful information. Butch thanked his students for educating him. DJ, and Ricky spoke well of Butch. It was a love fest.

However, there was one line, which quoted Ricky Fowler, that stood out to me. Golf Digest placed the quote on the picture that ended the article. Before you read it, remember that my opinions about instruction and famous instructors are well-documented and cynical. Therefore, take that into consideration as I explain my view. Here is the quote.

Am I the only one who sees it? Didn’t I just read that Butch has created a mystique so potent that it allows him to cherry pick his players based on their chance to be great? Ever hear of catching a shooting star? What a fortunate position to be in, huh? Having the gravitas to write your own ticket must be wonderful. But, before you think that hard work led to his success, let me tell you that it was inevitable.

I’ll hold Butch’s astrology in reserve, or at least until enough of you ask for it that I feel compelled to share it. In the mean time, I can just say his heritage provided a paved path to success that never wavered. Additionally, Butch has always been nice to people who can help him.

He learned golf from his father, who provided his sons an immediate “In” with top players. It’s a dynasty – a continuum of consistent presence in one field of work. As a dynasty grows, it intensifies. Hence, over the past thirty years, we witnessed the weight of the Harmon family dynasty manifested in Butch and his brothers’ fame. But, dynasties are fickle things.

The Hilton’s had a dynasty. Paris is their matriarch now. However, she is famous or, infamous, not because she has any special business skill, but because she has the benefit of the Hilton dynasty. Her family maintains business partners that Paris used to turn her sows ear of an image into a silk purse.

Then, there is the Open Stance Academy. Descended from no one teaching the Open Stance, I work without the assistance of ropes and safety nets, inheritance or privilege. My only possession is the brain between my ears and the desire to free golfers from the cult-of-personality, instructional treadmill. Hopefully, I’ll have the opportunity to be a hypocrite in the near future, so I can find out if I’m any different than he who floats on a raft of adoration. In the mean time…

Open your stance, and play golf.

John Wright – Founder
The Open Stance Academy

Ladies and Gentlemen, An Interview With Gurbaaz Mann, the world’s greatest club-fitter:

JW: Mr. Mann, we spoke at-length last year at The Bridgestone Invitational, where you impressed me with your intelligence and comprehensive knowledge of club-fitting. Suffice it to say, I came away with the opinion that the world needs to know who you are and what makes you the world’s greatest club-fitter. So today, if you please, I want to sort of lay the foundation for further talks by going backward in your golfing history. Do you mind?

GM: “Fire away at will.”

JW: Okay. First, Lets talk about what led you to your current career. I’d start with academics first. But, since schooling and golf for us began about the same time, Ill start with golf. So… Baaz, tell us about your playing resume. Are there highlights that stand out in your memory?

GM: Sure, I was No 1 Junior in India in 1999-2000. Then, I earned a partial scholarship from Arizona State to play on their golf team. I turned pro after school and played on the Indian Tour, where I was Rookie of The Year. I won twice and earned Asian Tour Status. Then, I played on the Asian Tour for six years and earned a world-ranking.

JW: Your upward playing trajectory sort of flattened off. What was behind that?

GM: In 2010, I suffered a Labrum Tear injury in my hip that ended my playing for two years. I did recover from the injury in 2012 and my best finish on the Indian Tour thereafter was 2nd in 2013.

JW: Tell us about your schooling. I would guess you were an excellent scholar. What were your favorite subjects?

GM: I attended High School at St. John’s High School, Chandigarh, India before attending ASU. My strongest schooling subjects were Economics, Math, Physics and English.

JW: Those subjects certainly make sense considering your command of physical concepts with regard to the golf ball and club interactions. I’ll ask more pointed questions about the empirical data you, alone, possess later. For now, and on the lighter side, who were your golfing heroes?

GM: My Father starting out as a 10 year old. He was a three-time Club Champion and a scratch handicap. He represented India for the Senior Championships. After him, I like Jeev Milkha Singh, David Duval, Ernie Els, Tiger Woods, Colin Montgomery, Seve Ballesteros, Jack Nicklaus, Davis Love… not necessarily in that order.

JW: That’s an extensive list.

GM: I couldn’t ever pick one as a favourite as I enjoyed each of their games for different skills.

JW: Yes, I certainly understand that. They each had a specialized skill in their skill-set, which leads me to my next question. What were your strengths on the golf course?

GM: I was the longest hitter on the Indian and Asian Tour, which contributed to my high rank on the eagles and birdies list. My wedge play around the greens was also very strong.

JW: And your weakness was…?

GM: My putting was probably the weakest part of my game until 2014 where I re-learned it all in a fresh way, and I dare say it has become a stronger part of my game. I took time off from pro golf and doing research into golf technologies and protocols in manufacturing etc. to understand this. Also when I was able to apply this to more players in my academy and see immediate results I knew I was on to something.

JW: I sense we are headed toward another interview about what you do on the other side of the ropes. So, Baaz, let me ask one more question for this episode. Do you still play/competitively? 

GM: Yes. I have recently been able to qualify for the Indian Tour as I have been positioned here for a while. I finished 16th in the Q school to earn a full playing card status. Otherwise, I only play as I am a mentor to some players on the tour and it helps me to keep applying my process to myself, which has yielded good results. Considering I have not played actively for four years and only eight competitive rounds last year, it was good to finish 16th on a really tough scoring track.

JW: Thank you for your time, Gurbaaz Mann. Talk soon.

Open your stance, and play golf.

John Wright – Founder
The Open Stance Academy

Watching Bryson DeChambeau win in Dubai reinforced what we all know and raised a second question. Which is, if putting wins, why worry about full-swing set-up? The answer is simple, actually. However, I will draw it out as if a proof of work.

I can answer the question with a question of my own. I ask, how would either part of the game exist without intention? Putting excellence and set-up consistency both begin with perfect practice rooted in the desire to repeat what works. We express our desire by intending to fulfill it. Intention requires attention. By definition, any desire unfulfilled, was not a desire. Hence, future proves past.

Assuming the expression of desire is underway, the next step is that we have to create a philosophical anchor for our technique. Our philosophy is expressed in an intentional set-up to our ball and target. The “putting wins” axiom is true. However, it is incidental to excellent putting, which is also subject to a set-up anchor for technique.

Technique, on it’s own, has more to do with movement. Therefore, I will bypass that topic, for now. However, I will say my Open Stance following is quickly growing. And, in my opinion, it’s because golfers are beginning to understand that they are responsible for their own expression of desire.

Open your stance, and play golf.

John Wright – Founder
The Open Stance Academy

Watch out for Rabbits, Sheep, Boars this year… (and Tigers and Rats). The Chinese Year of the Pig is agreeable for lots of people. However, 2019 will especially favor Rabbits (Cat), Sheep (Goat), and Boars (Pig). Tigers and Rats also have a decent shot at achieving. Basically, any PGA Tour golfers born in odd numbered years will do well for the next sixteen months, but especially my big three.

Rabbits include Woods, Hadwin, Stanley, Day, Lowry, Burgoon, Hadley, Poulter, Malnati, Willett, and Streb. These guys will have to focus their nervous energy without over-taxing their bodies to do it. The best examples of the Lucky Rabbit are Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, Tiger Woods, and Vijay Singh.

Boars include Leishman, Champ, S.W. Kim, Na, Hossler, Steele, Gay, and Blaum. These gents will have to have a good home life to feel free to achieve. The best examples of the friendly Boar are Gary Player, Fred Couples, Mark Calcavecchia, and David Duval.

Sheep include Howell III, Ancer, Glover, Gooch, Conners, Bozelli, An, and Werenski. These boys will have to outwork everyone else so they feel deserving at the big moments and foil their inclination to get run over. Best examples of the Sheep are Billy Casper and Fred Funk.

Tigers include Kizzire, Chappell, Niemann, S.J. Im, and Gore. They will have to fight off boredom in practice, which they do not like. Notice how few get to the top? They’d rather go fishing. The best examples of the dynamic Tiger have been Bobby Jones, Gene Sarazen, Hal Sutton, and Bruce Lietzke.

Rats Johnson, Woodland, Kisner, List, Bradley, Aphibarnrat, Sharma, Wise, and Burns are happiest when they are staying busy. Their brains never shut down. These guys have to set specific goals with a scoring part of their game and reach them with their relentless practice. The best examples of the Industrious Rat are Hogan, Nelson, Snead, Miller, Fleisher, and DJ.

The last few years have been dominated by the hard working signs. Rats, Roosters (Spieth, Thomas, DeChambeau), Horses (Koepka, Reed, Watson, Kutcher), and Dogs (Rahm, Molinari) have owned the majors. However, the Pig doesn’t like confrontation, so those types will have a hard time getting over the hump.

I’ll always take the hard workers over the lazier animal signs. Therefore, we can look to who is trending. Anyone inside the top 100 and moving up is worth watching. Let’s see what happens.

Open your stance, and play golf.

John Wright – Founder
The Open Stance Academy

Here we go again! The Open Stance (2012) and Three Short Game Lessons (2016) versus Golfweek (Jan/Feb 2019). Wouldn’t it be more wise to buy my book for $9.00 than spend $25 every year for a Golf et.al. magazine subscription? Most of their instructional content originates from my work anyway. I think you’d have fun using my book to find out how GD uses it.

In the latest issue, Dr. Bob Winters offered a two-page spread on becoming a great putter in three attitude changes. He subdivides one issue into three neuroses.

His bottom line is create an intention that leads to proficiency. However, he doesn’t use the word intention. He uses “an action plan”, “plan”, “create an appreciation”, and “mental blueprint”. Could word use be distracting or destructive. I think we already have our answer.

If these dazzle-merchants can hook an audience with flashy words, Dr. Drag and Professor Prod can pull you away from pursuing more central issues, which actually lead to improvement. Therefore, let me say to our periodical few, ‘catch phrases are running out, people! You’ll have to use fact-based definitions sooner or later, so you might as well start now.’

Obviously, Drag and Prod believe improvement is secondary to personality. I certainly don’t believe it. Why do you think my site is free? Yes, I charge for my books, but WAY less than several golf publications designed for consumerism. Maybe we are helpless to resist the pretty pictures and, therefore, continue on our Golf Mag. blender bender.

Open your stance, and play golf.

John Wright – Founder
The Open Stance Academy

In this post, I’ll be reviewing the Open Stance changes made in elements of set-up and golf swing. My comments assume you are using a consistent, open stance. I was going to expose the latest Golf Digest, again. But, that’s too easy. Besides, the adaptation to an Open Stance is so much more interesting.

Here is a list of elements to consider altering to adapt to your Open Stance.

Set-Up: Pre-wound backswing
Clubface square to your target
Grip orientation to facilitate Open philosophy
Shoulders parallel left of target, and closed to your hips
Hips closed to your feet
Feet open to your target line

Flattened Golf Swing
Ball position – move back in your stance along feet line
Leading foot square to feet line
Lower armswing facilitated by increase in torso tilt away from target, along feet line
Club shaft across feet line at the top of your swing and parallel to or at the target

Weight Distribution
Due to closed hips and shoulders, weight moves forward, which is why ball position may modulate from club to club without increasing your tilt from wedge to driver.
Your temptation will be to move toward the target in your downswing…. Don’t.
As I have always said and written: Move, in balance, to your forward heel through impact. If you cannot reach your ball initially, move closer at address.
Leg drive will compensate for thin misses by keeping your hips and shoulders closed a fraction longer in your downswing – allowing you to release your club into the ball.

Let me know.

John Wright – Founder
The Open Stance Academy

Do we love David Ledbetter? Maybe we do. But, we can be sure Golf Digest loves Ledbetter, and uses Ledbetter’s gravitas to further their interests. Does David Ledbetter love truth? Maybe he does. Nonetheless, he certainly knows someone outside the established instruction hierarchy is its only purveyor. Here, in another example of the power of truth, Golf Digest takes yet another step closer to John Wright’s truth.

Page 16 shows a picture of David with his right elbow planted inside his trailing hip. Moreover, at the top of the page, there is a quote citing the import of the right elbow (no regard for lefties?). Additionally, the text alludes to practicing properly using the trailing elbow in a movement common to great ball-strikers.

And, which ball-strikers are mentioned in his piece? Lee Trevino, Calvin Pete, Jim Furyk, and Fred Couples. Why this selection of golfers, you ask? Because, the two who don’t set-up open have physical limitations or abilities that most symmetrical people don’t have. One has a handicap, and one has hyper-mobility in the hips.

Every Open Stance player has the move Ledbetter recommends. However, his job is to sell it to people who don’t set up open. In doing so, he and Golf Digest are guaranteeing broken swings.

You see how it’s done? They take two anomalies, advise an important structure but not the Open Stance, then cite two, Open Stance champions as indemnification. Accordingly, they can deny any intentional misdirection when their advice, inevitably, backfires. Plausible deniability is great thing for maintaining influence.

Ohhh, this was fun! Conspiracy theory is a hobby, I suppose. I also thought I’d have some more fun at the expense of Golf Digest and David. However, we won’t press the idea so as not to invite a denial. That way, we can all be friends.

Open your stance, and play golf.

John Wright – Founder
The Open Stance Academy

Golf Digest is at it again. In our most recent issue, Michael Breed talks about a flop shot. Mike recommends standing further from your ball, which “promotes a shallower swing arc that will help you release the clubhead past your hands”.

Although an effective idea in bunker play, standing further from your ball for a flop shot is reckless advice! And, there are many reasons – not the least of which is Breed’s cited loft-through-release idea.

First of all, standing further from the ball does not necessarily shallow your arc. Michael made an assumption of experience, which he used to reach a conclusion. Experienced golfers widen their stance when they move further from their ball. Consequently, they lower themselves, which is why Breed assumes a “shallower” swing. Once lowered, golfers are, once again, closer to their ball. Good Lord!

Second, our club’s heel, no matter how open, is still interacting with the turf. We know our club’s heel engages turf because Breed makes no mention of gripping up. Moreover, using the full length of our club while lowering our handle raises the toe at address. And, when our club’s heel catches the turf first, especially Bermuda or Kikuyu, it’s over. Talk about eliminating room for errors. God help us, Mike! The heel of our club is the enemy on lob and flop shots.

Third, keeping our handle close to our body on the way through is ALL WRONG. Mike’s advice will take loft OFF your club. Releasing to add loft NECESSITATES the opposite happens. NO ONE who releases the clubhead past their hands keeps their handle close to their body on the way through. To do so requires torso rotation past the ball, which is a driving motion. Our handle is closest to our body before impact.

What Breed describes is not a soft shot action, but a confused, Mickelson-type flop with a driving, pitch shot action. Additionally, Phil doesn’t use Breed’s instruction of standing further from his ball while swinging. Mike is simultaneously recommending rotating through the shot AND releasing the clubhead past your hands. These are opposites. One cannot exist in the presence of the other.

His last paragraph is correct, though. You do want the club to glide through the grass. However, Michael doesn’t describe which lies best aid his recommended instruction. So, let’s see what we can do to correct the steel ball he and Golf Digest just screwed up.

First, we have to assume a level and fluffy lie. Once assumed, you have to keep your club’s heel off the ground by opening your clubface, gripping up, and raising the handle. Wherever you stand to get it done is correct, per club. Aim left (for righties) so your clubface points where you want your ball to start. This is all set-up stuff. The rest is practicing until you get the result you want.

Open your stance, and play golf.

John Wright – Founder
The Open Stance Academy