Scotty Scheffler’s swing improvement over the course of the 2026 season has been nothing more than a return to his former. If you recall from early in the season, when Scotty was hitting it all over the place, his action looked much different than in recent weeks. Do you know what changed… both to dismantle and rebuild his swing?

We don’t cover Scotty much at the Open Stance Academy because he doesn’t set up open. However, in the Spring, he began to swing like he DID. His position at the top fell across the line (flatter) with some lag action on his downswing that his platform would not allow.

If you notice, he developed a pronounced down-cock for some reason and shelled everything to the right – roughly where his stance was pointed. I yelled at the T.V. more than once in hopes my voice would get through to him. “You can’t lag the club from a closed stance, money!”

Because Scotty developed Open Stance action, he could not get his club face shut at impact. You see, at his best, Scotty doesn’t hinge at the top because a closed stance won’t allow it. His UN-hinged position at the top means, at impact, he can deliver a square club face. The lag sheffy built into his move is great for distance. However, since lag also keeps our club face open longer for Open Stance impact, using lag from a closed stance/open shoulders set-up is the ball-striking kiss of death.

My suffering through his malaise was just like your’s. Naturally, when he got things back in order, I was relieved. However, Mr. Scheffler’s recovery did not come soon enough to add to his early-season win total. If not for improved putting, I shudder to think where his season would have gone. Anyway… onward.

If you look at this action more recently, his action is back to normal. He doesn’t hinge at the top, which fits better with his set-up orientation. Consequently, his ball-striking has become predictable again. And, with his strokes gained putting at a +9 for the week and a happy family life, he wins at St. Jude.

Our takeaway from Scotty Scheffler’s swing destruction/improvement this year is as follows. There are things you CANNOT do with a golf club when your stance is closed that are natural with an Open Stance set-up. A flatter swing, lag, and leverage are advantages sought by everyone, but only Open Stance golfers can use them.

John Wright – Founder
The Open Stance Academy

create lag with an open stance

Lag is a Byproduct of a Flat Swing