A golfer’s setup is one of the most important parts of the game, and a good setup can greatly change how one hits the ball. An open stance increases the golf ball’s loft when hit, which makes it go higher than other stances. Many pro golfers use this strategy.
Pro golfers with an open stance strategy include Bryson DeChambeau, Charles Howell III, Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino, and Fred Couples. Using the open stance has solidified them as successful ball-strikers.
This article will cover these golfers and how they use an open stance in great detail. To learn more about the open stance position and which golfers have used it successfully, read on.
1. Bryson DeChambeau
Bryson DeChambeau is a professional golfer who’s well known for his analytical approach to golf, which is an excellent testament to the benefits of an open stance. His reputation for being dedicated to the science of the swing resulted in him being nicknamed “The Scientist.”
DeChambeau’s open stance allows him to make consistently good contact with the ball, which has led to him becoming the longest driver on the PGA tour in 2020 and numerous other victories in his career. He’s only the third player to have won the NCAA Division I championship, U.S. Amateur, and U.S. Open championships.
2. Charles Howell III
Charles Howell III is another successful American golfer who uses an open stance. He plays on LIV Golf and has three PGA Tour victories.
His open stance has contributed to his successful career, including finishing in the top 15 of the Official World Golf Ranking and a top 10 finish in the PGA Tour money list. He’s earned over $40 million throughout his golf career.
3. Jack Nicklaus
Jack Nicklaus, AKA the “Golden Bear,” is highly regarded as one of the greatest golfers of all time. Though he’s retired now, he won 117 professional tournaments throughout his career, including 18 major championships, which makes him the golfer with the most major championship victories in history.
His success is a testament to the merit of the open stance, which he used throughout his career. He also used a neutral grip and produced a vertical plane, though his shots usually drifted to the right before they hit the ground.
4. Lee Trevino
Like Nicklaus, Lee Trevino is also considered one of the greatest golfers of all time, and he was even inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1981. He won the U.S. Open, the Open Championship, and the PGA Championship–twice! He won 29 PGA Tour events throughout his career, establishing him as a major sports icon for Mexican Americans.
His open stance led him to be regarded as one of the best ball-strikers in the game. He also used a strong leading-hand grip.
5. Fred Couples
Fred Couples is an American golfer who has won nearly 70 professional tournaments throughout his impressive career. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2013.
Couples didn’t always use an open stance, but he made the switch when he began to experience back pain later in life. Once he switched to the open stance, he stayed long off the tee and improved his ball-striking skills.