K: Johnny, I only have one question about an open stance, and here’s it is. What is the pot of gold at the end of the Open Stance progression?

JW: I like the imagery. Did you compose it that way because the Golf world is focused on the UK for the next two weeks?

K: Actually, it’s an old question a friend asked me a while back, which is now clever and topical.

JW: haha! Okay… let me take this from one perspective at a time. First, health… the open stance requires a flattened plane along the body line, which minimizes shoulder impingements and rotation on your forward knee and hip.
Second, power… the open stance causes the brain to create efficient solutions for impact. One of those immutably logical and athletic adaptations is lag – facilitated by placing your trailing elbow prior to impact.
Third, repeatability… placing the trailing elbow inside the trailing hip before impact creates a necessary structure. The club head cannot get closer to or further from the ball with this controllable structure in place. Therefore, measuring your distance from the ball will cement further progress.

K: Okay, I lied. I have follow up questions. Is it for everyone? Does it work for everyone?

JW: No, I think it’s safe to say an open stance is not for everyone. However, the open stance does work for everyone who sticks with it.

The Open Stance Academy