The stance a golfer uses is one of the most important decisions to make, as they must stay balanced and have the freedom of motion needed to swing powerfully. One type of stance is the narrow stance. But which golfers use narrow stances?
Two pro golfers with narrow stances include Bubba Watson and Rickie Fowler. These golfers likely use a narrow stance because of the improved rotation in the hips and chest and the increased fluidity in the swing.
The rest of this article will explore two of the most well-known professional golfers with narrow stances. Let’s get started!
1. Bubba Watson
Bubba Watson is a successful, left-handed American golfer who has won multiple major championships, including the Masters’ Tournament in 2012 and 2014. He reached his highest ranking in the official World Golf Ranking in 2015, when he was named second place.
In the 2022 season, he finished T4 at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, and he qualified for the FedEx Cup playoffs in 2019-2022.
He has one of the most unique swings in golf, particularly because he uses a narrow stance. Because of his stance, his lower body makes a larger rotation than most, which allows him to drive the ball further and straighter than opponents. His average drive in 2007 was 315.2 yards (288.2 m), which is longer than average, exhibiting one of the primary benefits of being skilled with a narrow stance.
Bubba Watson is one of the more athletic professional golfers in recent history, likely because his narrow stance requires his legs to engage in the shot and contribute to the overall power of the hit.
2. Rickie Fowler
Many golfers use a wider stance with a full swing and a more narrow stance when they’re putting. One of the most famous examples of this is Rickie Fowler. When it’s time to putt the ball, Fowler almost always uses a narrow stance.
Rickie Fowler is an American professional golfer. He had a successful amateur golfing career, and he was even the number one amateur golfer in the world in 2007 and 2008. He’s also had great success as a professional golfer, as he’s qualified for the FedEx Cup playoffs twelve times in his career. Other recent professional victories include:
- Waste Management Phoenix Open in 2018
- Honda Classic in 2016
- Abu Dhabi HSBC Golf Championship in 2016
Fowler is a skilled golfer in many ways, but he truly shines with his putts. He uses an extremely narrow stance while putting, which allows the head of the putter to swing more and allow more release.
Another unique aspect of Fowler’s putts is that he lifts the putter’s head slightly off the ground before he starts the stroke. This method allows Fowler to avoid any snagging on the ground, and it makes his putting stroke smoother and more successful overall.
When he’s not putting, Fowler tends to use a wider stance. However, he recently changed his swing, which he demonstrated for the first time in the 2023 Sony Open in Hawaii. His new stance is slightly narrower than his old one, which hopefully improves his performance, as he hasn’t made the top 125 in two years.