In this episode of Ask Malaska Golf, Certified Malaska Golf Coach Matt Baker answers a question from Richard Tracy about foot position at address—and why the lead foot is not routinely flared open to help the lead hip move back through impact.
At first, turning the lead foot out appears to make sense. If the goal is to move the lead hip back and away from the club, an open foot might seem to create more room. Matt explains that the answer begins with understanding how the human body functions most efficiently.
Drawing on principles from the Egoscue Method and his work with Mike Malaska, Matt describes the body as functioning best when it is balanced, symmetrical and organized around straight lines and 90-degree angles. That includes level shoulders and hips—and feet that are relatively straight.
A square foot position gives the joints a more neutral starting point with less unnecessary tension and stress. It also allows the golfer to use pressure against the ground and move the hips more freely through the swing.
Flaring the feet excessively can create the opposite result. When the lead foot is turned out too far, the lead knee also points outward, which can restrict the knee and hip from moving naturally during the backswing. Flaring the trail foot too much can similarly interfere with the knee moving inward and completing the follow-through.
Matt is not prescribing a rigid, identical setup for every golfer. As Mike often says, there are windows of opportunity. A small amount of flare may be appropriate depending on a golfer’s mobility, hip flexors, hamstrings and individual physical limitations.
The larger point is that more flare does not automatically create more rotation. Keeping the feet as square as the body comfortably allows can give the hips greater freedom to move back in straight lines and help the golfer finish the swing without added restriction.
Matt also emphasizes that modern life has made many golfers less mobile. Long hours sitting at desks, in cars, on couches and even in golf carts can tighten the hips and hamstrings, making flexibility and strength work increasingly important.
By improving mobility and beginning from a more neutral foot position, golfers can reduce stress on the joints, use the ground more effectively and create a freer, more functional motion in both directions of the swing.
“Having the feet perpendicular gives you more movement, ironically, because it’s how the body functions—as opposed to turning the feet out and adding restriction.”
— Matt Baker
What You’ll Learn in This Video
· Why square feet can give the hips more freedom to move
· How excessive foot flare can restrict the backswing and follow-through
· Why neutral joint alignment reduces tension and stress on the body
· How mobility determines each golfer’s acceptable window of foot flare
· Why stretching and strengthening the hips and hamstrings improves motion