How wide should your stance be……

Many golfers either have their stance too wide or too narrow. The most common problem is too wide restricting the flexibility in the hips. If your stance, foot position is too wide it will be difficult to rotate your hips and body. Some players hang back and never get on the lead foot, left foot before impact just because their stance is too wide.

Conversely, if your stance is too narrow it will be very difficult to stay in balance. So how wide should your stance be? This really depends on your hip flexibility. For most of us over 40 and have had injuries a wide stance can really ruin your chances at making a good, athletic golf swing.

So how wide should your stance be? Start with your upper leg, thigh and shin vertically aligned with the hips. Don’t use your shoulder as the measuring device. Everyone’s shoulders are different making this a bad measurement to start from.

Once you have identified your legs and feet in a neutral position we can then move our feet from 1″ to 4″ wider and call this our true golf neutral position. Go to the range and practice how wide your stance should be providing proper hip flexibility and stability.

Feet to wide will cause lack of rotation. Feet too narrow will cause poor balance. So go practice and improve with the proper setup.

Jim Hartnett, PGA