The stance you assume as you take a golf swing helps determine the flight path of the ball. Ideally, when making a full swing you want your stance to be square to the target, meaning you could draw a straight line across your toes to the target. A closed stance indicates your feet point to the right of the target for a right-handed golfer, and an open stance means you are lined up to the left. Many golfers will deliberately use an open stance when they need to fade or slice the ball to make a shot.
Step 1
Line up to the golf ball as you normally would, with your feet and shoulders square to the target.
Step 2
Move your front foot back a foot or two and turn your back foot so your toes are in alignment.
Step 3
Look down at your toes to ensure they are lined up and pointed left of the target if you are right handed.
Step 4
Aim the golf ball to start left of your target to allow for the ball to fade back toward the center. An open stance encourages an outside-to-inside swing path, which puts sideways spin on the ball.
Step 5
Open your stance in the same fashion when making a chip or pitch shot. Aim the ball straight at the target, as it won’t fade or slice on such a short shot. Your stance is open because chips shots don’t require a full swing and the hips don’t have time to clear before your hands come through.
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