Address Posture / Stance at AddressStability & Balance During Rotation All clubs Intermediate ⏱ 8 min 🇫🇷 Video in French

Feet Turned Outward at Address: More Rotation in Golf

Name: Feet Turned Outward at Address: More Rotation in Golf
Uploaded: 2023-03-09T12:00:00+00:00
Duration: 8 min 3 s
Channel: Simon Camirand
Description: Straight feet and a wide stance may seem reassuring. For Simon Camirand, however, the opposite is true: they hinder rotation and put strain on the knees. He demonstrates how to open your feet slightly and adjust their width to turn more easily, more quickly, and with better balance.

Straight feet and a wide stance may seem reassuring. For Simon Camirand, however, the opposite is true: they hinder rotation and put strain on the knees. He demonstrates how to open your feet slightly and adjust their width to turn more easily, more quickly, and with better balance.

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Simon Camirand · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

To be continued

4 minSame problemReading Greens with Your Feet, Justin Rose's WayJustin Rose · Intermediate 11 minSame problemLow Chip with Spin: Matthieu Pavon's Mayo MethodMatthieu Pavon · Intermediate / Expert 5 minFrom the same proSeated Torso Rotation: Simon Camirand's StretchSimon Camirand · Beginner / Intermediate / Seniors

What the lesson shows

With your feet perfectly straight, the rotation as you rise shifts your weight onto the outside of the hind foot: The body loses its balance, and speed and contact suffer as a result. Trying to keep your weight on the inside with your right foot puts a lot of pressure on the knee. In slightly spreading the back foot (move the front of the foot outward, without moving it backward or forward), the weight remains centered or slightly toward the inside, and the rotation increases. The front leg, for its part, opens a little more than the trail foot: it absorbs the speed of the downswing with less pressure on the knee.

Second tip: Don't spread your feet apart to feel stable. A stance that's too wide hinders rotation and causes you to shift side-to-side from one leg to the other, which serves no purpose: The transfer occurs as the object rotates. Guidelines: with the driver, position your feet no wider than shoulder-width apart; with long irons (7, 6, 5), about shoulder-width apart; with short irons, slightly narrower than shoulder-width. Moreover, an open stance gives the impression that you’re wider than you actually are.

The Exercise, Step by Step

First, sit with your legs straight, as you usually do.
Turn the tip of your back foot slightly outward.
Open your front foot a little more than your back foot.
Check your stance width: shoulder-width apart at most for the driver, slightly narrower for the short irons.
Do a step-up and feel the weight stay in the center or on the inside of your back foot.
Rotate back down without sliding from one leg to the other.

Key Takeaways

Right-footed players shift their weight to the outside of their foot as they rotate.

To open your foot means to turn your toe outward—not to move it backward or forward.

Back foot slightly turned out: more rotation, weight centered.

Front foot positioned slightly wider: less pressure on the knee when going downhill.

A stance that is too wide causes lateral movement instead of rotation.

When using a driver, the insteps should not extend beyond shoulder width.

Mistakes to Avoid

Feet perfectly straight, toes pointing toward the ball.
Shifting your weight inward with your right foot: this puts strain on your knee.
Widen your stance to feel more stable, especially when using a driver.
Look for the pass by moving sideways rather than turning.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

Before each ball: keep your feet straight, then slightly turn both feet outward
Checking the width with a club placed on the ground
Practice swings focused on rotation, not movement
Adjust the opening to your comfort level; one foot may open wider than the other

Your Questions

What exactly does “spread your feet” mean?

Turn the front of your foot outward. Simon Camirand emphasizes: “Opening” does not mean moving your foot backward or forward.

Should you spread both feet the same way?

No. The front foot opens up a little more than the back foot. If you're more comfortable opening one of them up a bit more, that's fine.

What should my stance width be when using a driver?

The inside of the feet should be no wider than shoulder width. For size 7, 6, or 5 shoes, they should be about shoulder width, and slightly narrower for shorter shoes.

It feels like my feet are farther apart when they're open—is that normal?

Yes. The opening creates that sensation, even though the distance between them hasn't changed. It's the opening—more than the width—that provides stability.

Learn More

All videos on “Stance / Address Posture” →Find the lesson that's right for you All videos on “Stability & Balance During Rotation” →Find the lesson that's right for you Bending Your Knees at the Address: Use the Shoelaces as a GuideBending your knees too much restricts rotation: two guidelines—the club held at the tip of your knee should fall in line with your shoelaces, and the grip should point toward your navel. Pressure on the inside of the lead foot in the downswingStart of the downswing: pressure on the inside of the lead foot, checked with an alignment stick on the belt that stays low, without pushing or standing up. Weight on the front heel: the key to a stable finishPlacing a ball under the front heel helps you learn to turn by leaning on that heel rather than pushing sideways and ending up on your toes. Simon CamirandAll of his lessons

Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Simon Camirand). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.