Closed Stance
A closed stance aligns the feet, hips, and shoulders right of the target line (for a right-hander), a setup sometimes used deliberately to hit a draw but more often an unintentional cause of a push or hook.
A closed stance is created by dropping the lead foot back and/or the trail foot toward the target so the line across the toes points right of the target line, for a right-handed golfer. As with an open stance, the degree to which the hips and shoulders close along with the feet determines whether the whole body alignment has shifted or only part of it.
A deliberate closed stance is a classic way to help produce a draw: closing the body alignment while keeping the clubface aimed at the actual target encourages an in-to-out path relative to the target line, one of the two ingredients (along with a face slightly closed to path) needed to curve the ball right-to-left for a right-hander. Some golfers also close the stance slightly at address to help with a feeling of "staying behind the ball" through impact, particularly with the driver.
More often, a closed stance shows up unintentionally, especially in golfers who have been told to "aim right to draw the ball" without fully understanding the difference between aiming the body and aiming the face, or in golfers whose alignment habits have simply drifted over years of practice without correction. An unrecognized closed stance is a common hidden cause of a push, a hook, or an inconsistent mix of both, because the body is delivering the club on a path the golfer isn't aware they've set up for.
Example
A player who consistently pushes the ball right of target discovers, via video, that their stance has drifted 8° closed over time without them noticing.
Why it matters
A closed stance changes swing path without the golfer necessarily feeling it, making it one of the most common hidden contributors to a push or hook pattern.
How it shows up on video
From an overhead or face-on camera angle, a closed stance is visible as the toe, hip, and shoulder lines angled right of the target line (for a right-hander).
Common mistakes
- Closing the stance to "help" a draw without matching the clubface aim, which can send the ball starting well right of the intended target.
- Assuming alignment is fine because it "feels" square — years of practice with a subtly closed stance can make the closed position feel completely normal.
- Blaming a hook entirely on hand release when a closed stance and in-to-out path are doing most of the work.
In SwingVantage Motion Lab
SwingVantage can measure stance, hip, and shoulder alignment relative to the target line from an overhead or face-on address frame, distinguishing closed, open, and square setups.
Frequently asked questions
Will a closed stance automatically produce a draw?
Not by itself — it helps create an in-to-out path, but the clubface still has to be square-to-slightly-closed relative to that path at impact for the ball to actually curve into a draw rather than start right and stay right (a push).
How do I know if my stance has drifted closed over time?
Check periodically with an alignment stick laid across your toes, or review address video from a face-on or overhead angle — alignment habits shift gradually and are easy to miss without an objective check.
Related terms
- Open StanceAn open stance aligns the feet, hips, and shoulders left of the target line (for a right-hander), a setup commonly used to hit a fade or to help clear the hips through short-game and bunker shots.
- Square StanceA square stance lines the feet, hips, and shoulders parallel to the target line — the neutral reference alignment every open or closed stance is measured against.
- AlignmentAlignment is the direction the body and clubface are aimed at address. Poor alignment is one of the most common causes of off-target shots even with a good swing.
- DrawA draw is a controlled shot that curves gently from right to left for a right-handed golfer (the opposite for a lefty). It is produced by a clubface slightly closed to the swing path but still open to the target line.
- In-to-OutAn in-to-out club path means the clubhead is moving to the right of the target line through impact (for a right-hander). It is the draw and hook path — the opposite of over the top.
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