Opening & Closing Stance to Accomodate D-Plane

[Svenster]

Hi all,

First post in a long time but as the title shows, I have a question about setting up (i.e. stance) to be in as good a position as possible to swing "right-er" or "left-er" depending on the club and the shot, with D-Plane in mind.

Considering that most instructional info advocates standing square (i.e. perpendicular) to the target line for full swing shots, does that sort of contradict the optimal stance to hit a straight shot using D-Plane?

For me, if I'm standing square it means for driving I have to swing in-to-out and for the rest of the shots out-to-in (except for 3 wood straight, per BM). It's easier to swing in-to-out when standing square, but out-to-in not so much.

If it is better to have a closed stance for driving and open and more open stances for the other shots when utilizing D-Plane, should the direction of my swing be more or less along the line with my feet/hips/shoulders?

This might be a totally off the charts (i.e. bad/stupid) question and if it proves out to be I'll just scurry back to "lurking" here.

 

[Bigwill]

Short answer is yes. That said, closed/open stance is only better if it's easier for the player. Some will have an easier time lining up relatively square, and then swinging either "righter" or "lefter". Depends on the individual.

 

[Richie3Jack]

When they say 'better', that doesn't mean it applies to every single person. If your square stance produces an inside-to-out path and you want to hit up on the driver and you want to hit it straight or with a draw, then your square stand may just be fine.

When they say 'better' it has more to do with the average golfer (which may or may not be true anyway). The idea is that the more you close your stance....OR....the less open your stance is....the swing direction will be pointing more towards the right (or less to the left).





3JACK

 

[mgranato]

I have a very hard time with opening and closing because for me to be able to tell I'm open or closed, I'm too opened or closed. We're just dealing with a couple degrees. My regular "square" stance probably has enough built in +/- already.

 

[Svenster]

Thanks guys, much appreciated.

FWIW, I played an infrequent round yesterday and was experimenting with open stance, club face left of target and swinging left-er and sometimes the ball went straight left (natch) and sometimes straight at target. Obviously some more experimentation (preferably on the range) is in order and I'll be adding square stance to the mix as well to find my own personal D-Plane "maneuvers".

 

[faux_maestro]

As others have said, it all depends on what you do. I've been hitting drivers that go pretty straight with a square stance and I just aim everything with the irons a little left and hit a little push sometimes with a tiny cut.

 

[Svenster]

faux,
Sounds good to me. Off topic, way back in the 70's I was at a Zappa concert in Winnipeg (Flo & Eddie were the backup band) and after the show somehow or other I ended up walking past the band room. Frank was at the doorway so I walked up, shook his hand and said "Great show, Frank" and he replied with a "Thanks". Cool dude for sure. BTW, my favourite Zappa record is "Hot Rats".

 

[lia41985]

If I stand closed to the ball and incorporate the carry my pattern needs if I'm to hit the ball well then I produce what for me is an aimed straight ball that's in fact a pull.

 

[faux_maestro]

faux,
Sounds good to me. Off topic, way back in the 70's I was at a Zappa concert in Winnipeg (Flo & Eddie were the backup band) and after the show somehow or other I ended up walking past the band room. Frank was at the doorway so I walked up, shook his hand and said "Great show, Frank" and he replied with a "Thanks". Cool dude for sure. BTW, my favourite Zappa record is "Hot Rats".

I like Zappa and that picture works for me, I'm a music teacher back in college full time studying orchestral conducting.