Chi Chi's Golf Tips
The Stance
Enough Body Turn is Essential
There is only one way to generate the speed you need for power and that is by having the proper stance before you even attempt to swing the club. Again, the prime factor in selecting a stance has to be complete comfort. But there is another factor: which stance will allow you the biggest body turn.
Main Stances
There are three main stances - the square, the closed, and the open. In the square stance you place your feet directly along the intended line of flight of your shot. Point the toes slightly out and be sure you distribute your weight evenly between both feet.
In the closed stance, the main difference is that you drop the right foot slightly back form the intended line of flight of the shot. This, in effect, causes the hips and body to swing slightly to the right.
In the open stance, your left foot is slightly drawn back from the intended line of flight, causing the hips and body to face slightly to the left.
I use a slightly open stance, drawing by left foot back a bit from the imaginary line. My right foot is about an inch or so beyond the outside of my right shoulder. This is fine for smaller men like myself who use a lot of leg movement and need maximum stability.
It took me a long time to decide on this position, but when I finally did I realized it was the one that allowed me the biggest body turn. For the average golfer, though, I suggest a stance where the feet are no further apart than are the shoulders. Anything wider might restrict a full shoulder and hip turn.
After you have experimented sufficiently and have decided on the proper footing, you can complete the rest of your stance. While addressing the ball, flex the knees slightly. This helps you distribute the weight of the feet toward the heel instead of toward the ball of the foot. When you have your weight properly distributed, and your knees are flexed slightly, you should have a feeling that you are sitting down at the ball.
Positioning the Left Foot
This brings me to an essential point in my stance, a point which has the greatest bearing on the success of the left wall. This is the positioning of the left foot. How many times, while I have been giving lessons back home in Dorado Beach, have I seen a golfer turn his left foot toward the hole during the swing? This is especially bad for the small man like myself who swings very hard on the downswing.
I admit my left foot is in a very unusual position because I point it one-half turn to the right. It appears that I am pigeon-toed when I do this. But understand my reasoning. Because of my very hard downswing, my left foot has to serve as a brace. It keeps me from losing my balance and actually falling. Without the iron left side, there would be nothing to arrest the turning of the hips, and subsequently I would get a hook.
But remember, I recommend the pigeon-toed left foot mainly for small men. A large man has a naturally long arc, and he can take a narrow stance which will help him turn easily into his backswing. He doesn't have to make the same effort the small man does to get clubhead speed. But now I am getting into another area, which I will cover thoroughly in the next segment. My swing is probably the most essential part of my game, with the exception of the left-wall principle.
Right Knee, Head, and Eyes
Before moving on, I would like to add a few comments about the position of my right knee in my stance, and the position of my head and eyes.
Many people have commented and noticed the exaggerated right knee bend I use during the address. The knee is actually bent toward the left leg. This is not a must for power golf. It is just something I developed in searching for my most comfortable stance.
As for the head and eyes, I always keep my head about six inches in back of the ball at address and tilted slightly to the right. I concentrate on looking at the ball with my left eye and I keep this eye on the ball throughout the entire backswing and downswing.
It is a fallacy that the head must remain absolutely still on each shot. This is almost physically impossible. But you have to concentrate on keeping it as still as possible on every shot. As Cary Middlecoff said, " The head is the gyroscope of the entire swing, so far as balance is concerned."
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