One thing i found that helps determine the proper width of a stance is the ratio of the leg to torso length. For example, I have proportionally shorter legs than average compared to my torso length. Because of that, if I have a slightly narrower stance I stand slightly taller at address. What that does is help to have a flatter club lie with standard length shafts and lie angles. Someone else may have longer legs and might benefit from a slightly wider stance. However, there are other variables like those you mentioned that also determine what's going to work best for everyone. BTW, I used to have an over the top swing years ago and worked hard to develop a flatter swing plane and that slightly narrower stance played a big part in that.
Interesting because as a senior in great shape, I tried opening my stance and had my back foot angled back to get more height and distance with my driver. But I began hooking it. I have a natural draw, so I think I will try narrowing my stance in the spring to see how this affects my ball path. Funny that I don’t hook my irons at all; just my driver. Probably because with irons my stance is closer together. Duh!
I know this is a old video but I’ve been looking into this idea. But the opposite. I have a wider stance, and I think a wider stance for me feels like I’m blocked on down swing and end up coming over the top to avoid hitting my leg. Don’t think I slide very much. But I’m going to try a narrow stance with my driver, long club wide stance I come over the top. What do you think
Hi Ali, as always your golf IQ never ends. Another great video that I will try by widening my stance a little with my driver slice problem. The video where you recommend moving the ball towards the sternum helped but now I am questioning if my stance width is consistent. Thanks and Happy New year, stay safe and take care. Mark
Thanks for the tip Ali! I experienced with a wider stance lately and for me it works great! I’ve always had problems to shift my weight forward. Is it because I have 2 fused vertebrae and the third is getting there I don’t know but it works for me!
my stance was too narrow and no matter what i did i could not swing in to out . i was always over the top . i could not hit woods or hybrids . i widened my stance today and was hitting woods hybrids and my low point on irons was finally fwd . thanks for infor to confirm what i stumbled on . maybe do another video on how it changes low point and shallows angle of attack .
Hi Ali, One thing which I think we amateurs all need help with, but is never covered, even on your channel, is this . You video your swing, you see several faults. How on earth do you know which to work on , and in what order? The chicken wing, the reverse pivot, the early extension, fanning the takeaway etc etc. Hope you can help with an area that is under explored. All the best for 2022.
I have always thought the opposite was true. Meaning, if one does not turn well, a narrow stance will allow for more turn on the backswing and thus being able to come from the inside on the downswing. When I go wider and can't turn back enough, I will come over the top, sway forward not get onto my front leg as fast. Good video that merits experimentation.
Hi... My playing partners kid me about my narrow stance "all arms and shoulders and no turn" BUT, at 73, I play bogey golf and hit the ball fairly straight all the time... It works for me
I discovered this through trial and error about a year ago…I’ve had both hips replaced and after my second one about 2 years ago, I started to think, maybe my stance needs to be different than normal due to my hips…so, after trying it, noticed a HUGE difference…for me, narrower is better for me, even with my driver…
Hurt my back yesterday over swinging and possibly to wide stance causing me to hang back. I narrowed my stance some remembering this video and I was able to finish the round. Sitting on ice the next couple of days 😩
Through experimentation, for me, the opposite is true, I am a 5-6 degree outside in for my whole life (baseball player), but narrowing my stance allows my back leg to get out of the way more creating some room to swing in to out. Just my experience I like the trial and error lesson.
Fellow baseball player, 6’4 190lbs and I agree with you. Narrowing my stance along with leaning more over the ball got rid of the slice and has me hitting consistent draws now
Ali great vid but there's a couple things you didn't address that you have to be careful about when changing stance width. Spine angle and distance to the ball. I had exactly the opposite results by narrowing my stance because I stood taller which caused me to have more spine angle and then I came more from the inside. When I widened my stance I had less spine tilt and would get stuck on my right side which would cause me to come over the top with the club face wide open. (BAD COMBO). Just wanted to illustrate that this is kind of oversimplified and your results may vary
Thank you. Spent an hour on Trackman today and was annoyed about how strong my draw was. Considering that it's winter and I haven't hit any shots in a couple of months I was actually seeing a consistent pattern on my path of positive 3-4 degrees average with my irons and positive 5-6 degrees average with my woods. I also struggled a bit with strike and I now figure that possibly my stance was a bit wider than usual today.
I guess Im an outlier. Have hit a 5-10 yd draw as long as I can remember. So I have 15 years of experience aiming at the right edge of the fairway and it drawing back to center. Recently for some reason my driver has started going straight. Its the weirdest thing, and infuriating when you hit it dead straight and youre in the right rough!
One thing i found that helps determine the proper width of a stance is the ratio of the leg to torso length. For example, I have proportionally shorter legs than average compared to my torso length. Because of that, if I have a slightly narrower stance I stand slightly taller at address. What that does is help to have a flatter club lie with standard length shafts and lie angles. Someone else may have longer legs and might benefit from a slightly wider stance. However, there are other variables like those you mentioned that also determine what's going to work best for everyone. BTW, I used to have an over the top swing years ago and worked hard to develop a flatter swing plane and that slightly narrower stance played a big part in that.
Another great tip, Ali. Thx! I appreciate the quality and quantity of tips on this channel!
Great observation and great tip!!
That's something new.. Worth trying. Thanx!
Great video. Never thought about it that way and actually shows promise for me with continued practice. Happy new year!
Interesting because as a senior in great shape, I tried opening my stance and had my back foot angled back to get more height and distance with my driver. But I began hooking it. I have a natural draw, so I think I will try narrowing my stance in the spring to see how this affects my ball path. Funny that I don’t hook my irons at all; just my driver. Probably because with irons my stance is closer together. Duh!
Very nicely explained also hitting the ball becomes much better.
I know this is a old video but I’ve been looking into this idea. But the opposite. I have a wider stance, and I think a wider stance for me feels like I’m blocked on down swing and end up coming over the top to avoid hitting my leg. Don’t think I slide very much. But I’m going to try a narrow stance with my driver, long club wide stance I come over the top. What do you think
Hi Ali, as always your golf IQ never ends. Another great video that I will try by widening my stance a little with my driver slice problem. The video where you recommend moving the ball towards the sternum helped but now I am questioning if my stance width is consistent. Thanks and Happy New year, stay safe and take care. Mark
Thanks for the tip Ali! I experienced with a wider stance lately and for me it works great! I’ve always had problems to shift my weight forward. Is it because I have 2 fused vertebrae and the third is getting there I don’t know but it works for me!
Thanks Ali, this tip was a game changer!!!
Great tip thanx!
Excellent!
This is brilliant. Can't wait to try it.
my stance was too narrow and no matter what i did i could not swing in to out . i was always over the top . i could not hit woods or hybrids . i widened my stance today and was hitting woods hybrids and my low point on irons was finally fwd . thanks for infor to confirm what i stumbled on . maybe do another video on how it changes low point and shallows angle of attack .
I’d like to experiment of what you taught here. Most of my iron shots were slice. I hope I could get rid of the slices . Thanks
Hi Ali, how about a vid about wedge selection and uses. Possibly cover what is the correct loft for different situations.
Hi Ali, One thing which I think we amateurs all need help with, but is never covered, even on your channel, is this . You video your swing, you see several faults.
How on earth do you know which to work on , and in what order? The chicken wing, the reverse pivot, the early extension, fanning the takeaway etc etc. Hope you can help with an area that is under explored.
All the best for 2022.
I have always thought the opposite was true. Meaning, if one does not turn well, a narrow stance will allow for more turn on the backswing and thus being able to come from the inside on the downswing. When I go wider and can't turn back enough, I will come over the top, sway forward not get onto my front leg as fast. Good video that merits experimentation.
Ali great video. Do a video on fairway wood
Hi... My playing partners kid me about my narrow stance "all arms and shoulders and no turn" BUT, at 73, I play bogey golf and hit the ball fairly straight all the time... It works for me
Ali, I only slice my drives. If you recommend widening the stance, should I just shift my trail foot? Cheers
I discovered this through trial and error about a year ago…I’ve had both hips replaced and after my second one about 2 years ago, I started to think, maybe my stance needs to be different than normal due to my hips…so, after trying it, noticed a HUGE difference…for me, narrower is better for me, even with my driver…
Hurt my back yesterday over swinging and possibly to wide stance causing me to hang back. I narrowed my stance some remembering this video and I was able to finish the round. Sitting on ice the next couple of days 😩
Through experimentation, for me, the opposite is true, I am a 5-6 degree outside in for my whole life (baseball player), but narrowing my stance allows my back leg to get out of the way more creating some room to swing in to out. Just my experience I like the trial and error lesson.
Fellow baseball player, 6’4 190lbs and I agree with you. Narrowing my stance along with leaning more over the ball got rid of the slice and has me hitting consistent draws now
*Goes to try at the range*
Ali great vid but there's a couple things you didn't address that you have to be careful about when changing stance width. Spine angle and distance to the ball. I had exactly the opposite results by narrowing my stance because I stood taller which caused me to have more spine angle and then I came more from the inside. When I widened my stance I had less spine tilt and would get stuck on my right side which would cause me to come over the top with the club face wide open. (BAD COMBO). Just wanted to illustrate that this is kind of oversimplified and your results may vary
Thank you. Spent an hour on Trackman today and was annoyed about how strong my draw was. Considering that it's winter and I haven't hit any shots in a couple of months I was actually seeing a consistent pattern on my path of positive 3-4 degrees average with my irons and positive 5-6 degrees average with my woods. I also struggled a bit with strike and I now figure that possibly my stance was a bit wider than usual today.
Need a tip for a pusher. Especially my driver.
To the range !
To be fair, irons I prefer the same width as you have it but driver a wide strance
I guess Im an outlier. Have hit a 5-10 yd draw as long as I can remember. So I have 15 years of experience aiming at the right edge of the fairway and it drawing back to center. Recently for some reason my driver has started going straight. Its the weirdest thing, and infuriating when you hit it dead straight and youre in the right rough!
That was not a slice
How does a "two second tip" take nine and half minutes to explain?
Do the opposites
Very nicely explained also hitting the ball becomes much better.