Shank Help

AldilaMan

Every season I seem to go into a shank slump that has me ready to give up golf for good. Fortunately it doesn't last too long (couple of weeks) but when I start to hit one, I can repeat that ugly swing many times. I never really know what the cause is. People say it's standing too close to the ball but I know from experience it can be achieved standing too far from the ball which can cause you to reach for the ball causing a shank. It's normally the very lofted clubs SW,Lob Wedge, but I can manage the odd 6 or 7 iron.

When I check my swing by putting a shaft down about 3 inches above the ball parallel to the target I invariably hit the shaft or at least if I miss the shaft there is no shank. So I know I am swinging outside the ball at impact. A pro told me before that it's mostly caused by having too much weight on my toes. I also used to address the ball with the toe of the club to prevent shanking but it doesn't seem to work at the moment.

Pros stating that it's the closest to a perfect shot doesn't help !

Any good advice out there for sorting this out once and for all. Getting a lesson next week but I don't think I can play competitive golf this weekend with the fear !!

Thanks in advance

ThunderCat

AldilaMan wrote: »

Every season I seem to go into a shank slump that has me ready to give up golf for good. Fortunately it doesn't last too long (couple of weeks) but when I start to hit one, I can repeat that ugly swing many times. I never really know what the cause is. People say it's standing too close to the ball but I know from experience it can be achieved standing too far from the ball which can cause you to reach for the ball causing a shank. It's normally the very lofted clubs SW,Lob Wedge, but I can manage the odd 6 or 7 iron.

When I check my swing by putting a shaft down about 3 inches above the ball parallel to the target I invariably hit the shaft or at least if I miss the shaft there is no shank. So I know I am swinging outside the ball at impact. A pro told me before that it's mostly caused by having too much weight on my toes. I also used to address the ball with the toe of the club to prevent shanking but it doesn't seem to work at the moment.

Pros stating that it's the closest to a perfect shot doesn't help !

Any good advice out there for sorting this out once and for all. Getting a lesson next week but I don't think I can play competitive golf this weekend with the fear !!

Thanks in advance

Lifiting the head is a big culprit for causing the shanks. You certain you are staying down on the shot? Presumably though, if that was the case with you the pro would have spotted it and of course lifting the head is easy enough to detect on your own without the aid of a pro anyway, but it's a cause nonetheless. How are you on 1/2 or 3/4 swings with the short irons?

Fr RomeoSensini

I have suffered serious doses of the shanks and gotten the same advice as you, standing too close, weight distribution etc but the only way that I was able to cure them after almost quitting was to ensure that the clubhead stayed inside the ball line but outside my hands at least until halfway back in my swing. I had a habit of getting the club stuck behind early in the back swing and throwing the club at the ball and the result was always a shank (even when chipping). They still show up occassionly but at least I know know what to work on to get rid of them again. Hope this helps

f22

Three most common causes, some mentioned already:

• Standing too close to the ball
• Too much weight on your left sidecausing over the top motion
• Taking the club on a outside path

Miley Byrne

AldilaMan wrote: »

Every season I seem to go into a shank slump that has me ready to give up golf for good. Fortunately it doesn't last too long (couple of weeks) but when I start to hit one, I can repeat that ugly swing many times. I never really know what the cause is. People say it's standing too close to the ball but I know from experience it can be achieved standing too far from the ball which can cause you to reach for the ball causing a shank. It's normally the very lofted clubs SW,Lob Wedge, but I can manage the odd 6 or 7 iron.

When I check my swing by putting a shaft down about 3 inches above the ball parallel to the target I invariably hit the shaft or at least if I miss the shaft there is no shank. So I know I am swinging outside the ball at impact. A pro told me before that it's mostly caused by having too much weight on my toes. I also used to address the ball with the toe of the club to prevent shanking but it doesn't seem to work at the moment.

Pros stating that it's the closest to a perfect shot doesn't help !

Any good advice out there for sorting this out once and for all. Getting a lesson next week but I don't think I can play competitive golf this weekend with the fear !!

Thanks in advance

*/ Blocks ears, closes eyes, turns off computer and runs away

stockdam

No idea how to stop it. It really only occurred once for me (although I'll occasionally hit one). I was playing well and was just off the putting green. Then I shanked a chip....then another........and another. I ended up going round the perimeter of the green.

My memory was that I was rolling the wrists on my chip but to be honest that was a guess.

AldilaMan

ThunderCat wrote: »

Lifiting the head is a big culprit for causing the shanks. You certain you are staying down on the shot? Presumably though, if that was the case with you the pro would have spotted it and of course lifting the head is easy enough to detect on your own without the aid of a pro anyway, but it's a cause nonetheless. How are you on 1/2 or 3/4 swings with the short irons?

Every bit as bad - short chips - full swings. Does feel as if I'm just throwing my hands at the ball !

BraveDonut

Something that helped me was to concentrate on hitting down on the ball for the short irons.
I am sure that this in itself is not the cure - but that it helps to ensure that I am keeping my head down, etc

k.p.h

Are your palms facing each other when you grip the club. Unify the hands. This is the best anti-shank tip IMO.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p3jUQwPrpRM

Let me know if this works...

zolons

I certainly wouldnt be addressing it off the toe of the club. Try adressing it off the heel, ud be surprised how well that might work!

pduigee

I personally got them a lot. I have it sorted in my head what to do. As you said there are hundreds of reasons. I suffered serious confidence like yourself with the irons and as a result they were the weakest part of my game. As the pro says its the weight on the toes!!! If i ever get near a shank, i quite simply try get the weight a little bit back on my left heel (right handed player) and commit to the shot. you may pull the ball but better than a shank and confidence will build up again. Trust me, i learned from experience.
Best of luck. Let us know how it goes

GreeBo

Fanning the club open is always the culprit for me.

ssbob

Is a snap hook the same as a shank? If so I am guilty of this lately and trying to eliminate it from my game.......I have even been doing this with my PW and SW, at the mo I am hitting about 50% fairways and 15% GIR, not good enough!!!

AldilaMan

ssbob wrote: »

Is a snap hook the same as a shank? If so I am guilty of this lately and trying to eliminate it from my game.......I have even been doing this with my PW and SW, at the mo I am hitting about 50% fairways and 15% GIR, not good enough!!!

No afraid not. A shank is when the hosel hits the ball and all other players in you group run away for fear of contagen !!

stockdam

ssbob wrote: »

Is a snap hook the same as a shank? If so I am guilty of this lately and trying to eliminate it from my game.......I have even been doing this with my PW and SW, at the mo I am hitting about 50% fairways and 15% GIR, not good enough!!!

I've never seen a snap hook with a wedge. A snap hook is when the ball starts out to the right (usually very low) and then quickly and violently hooks across to the left. I'd say it's impossible to do this with a wedge due to the loft of the club. You can hook a wedge (not that easy) and you can pull hook a wedge but a snapper is some feat.

ssbob

stockdam wrote: »

I've never seen a snap hook with a wedge. A snap hook is when the ball starts out to the right (usually very low) and then quickly and violently hooks across to the left. I'd say it's impossible to do this with a wedge due to the loft of the club. You can hook a wedge (not that easy) and you can pull hook a wedge but a snapper is some feat.

Sorry maybe I am describing a pull hook, seem to be doing it with all my irons...................just thught the way it snapped left would indicate a "snap hook", Have been told my left hand is too strong on the club and my right hand is too week, but 3 weeks ago I was using the exact same grip and no problems.:rolleyes:

david

denisoc16 wrote: »

*/ Blocks ears, closes eyes, turns off computer and runs away

I propose a two-month ban for anyone who dares to mention Lucy Locket in this forum!

david

david wrote: »

I propose a two-month ban for anyone who dares to mention Lucy Locket in this forum!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5CkmKGQDb0

AldilaMan

david wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M5CkmKGQDb0

OK I got it. The change is in my left pocket. Double knot my left shoelace. I'm turning my hat backwards and I'm sticking a tee behind my left ear. I look stupid but I'm not thinking about shanking. Hey I'm cured and now I'm going to get pissed !!;););)

J6P

Opposite problem for me, hitting my wedges constantly off the toe.

Anyone had this and got it fixed? I've tried standing closer to the ball but to no avail:(

pinkdoubleeagle

Played with a guy at the weekend who had a serious dose of these. ended up having to look away every time he stood over an iron

U.P.O.

This thread was relevant to my interests

I was probably playing the golf of my life before christmas. Took a few weeks off then over Christmas and came back with an awful dose of the shanks. Would be playing great for like 6-7 holes but as soon as i had to take a full swing with a SW id shank it and then i could literally shank 10 shots in a row.

Read everything about weight being on the toes etc....but didnt feel thats what i was doing wrong and it certainly didnt help.

Then came across this great drill. Seems to have worked wonders so far but i reserve the right to come back in like 2 weeks asking for help. You know how golf is

Anyway, obviously there can be many reasons for a shank so i cant say this is your fault but its worth a try. It was all basically bad shoulder alignment for me on the shorter irons. Shoulders were pointing left while hips and feet were parallel.

When using the shorter irons your bent over more and reaching down more. For a right handed golfer, your right shoulder is more forward and your left shoulder back. While your feet and hips may be parallel to the target line, my shoulders were pointed left. This caused an outside to inside swing path so the club was leading with the hosel towards the ball. Result - a shank.

Do this drill. Put a box (if you have a long golf club box its ideal, if not a corn flakes box, even a 2 x 4 will do if you dont mind hitting it !) Put it like 1/2 inch infront of the toe of your club.

Put another club on the ground along your target line. Make sure your shoulders are parallel to this. One your happy that they are, make your swing. Any outside to inside path will hit the box. If you dont hit the box, you should see a good shot. (As long as your shoulders are parallel to the club on the ground you shouldnt hit the box)

See image below for explanation. Worked great for me anyway but like i said without seeing your swing i cant say 100% this is your problem too but its definitely worth a try.

I got one of those areoflow balls and just practice it for a few mins every evening in the back garden and have seen a great improvement - so far !

DiegoWorst

All sorts of theories around as to the cause, many of which are probably true.

Deceleration on pitches, half/quarter swings I'm sure, but not 100% certain of, has caused me to shank on occasion.
Of the full wedge shank, I've often wondered if it was tension in the arms, trying to squeeze that extra 5 yards, instead of allowing the club to just swing.

The pitch shank I can get over quite quickly, but the full swing shank haunts me for days, it is the worst feeling in golf.

Southeast1

I went for a couple of lessons last year and it really messed up my irons. Started shanking the ball. It nearly broke my heart. It lasted on and off for weeks. I havent been fully confident over an iron shot since. Now as well as occasional shank i have another problem. When I'm playing an iron shot I often hit the ground several inches before the ball. Just wondering does anyone have any tips to stop this happening?

k.p.h

Southeast1 wrote: »

I went for a couple of lessons last year and it really messed up my irons. Started shanking the ball.

What did you work on with the lessons ..?

matt-dublin

sounds like youre trying to artificially create a large arc in your backswing?

as said above, what where the changes that were made to your swing?

Southeast1

The main thing he tried to work on was shortening my swing. I had a very wild backswing. Has been shortened now and have the shanks. also when the problem was at its worst he suggested changing my grip so that my left hand is ffurther over to apparently stop the ball going off to the right. This worked for a while although i did hook the ball left more often. Just have no confidence over my sing now at all!

Southeast1

Just have no confidence over my sing now at all!
That should read swing!

moycullen14

Lads, STOP TALKING ABOUT THEM.

It's a known fact that they do not exist.

The only cure is to deny their existence. If a tree falls in the wood and no-one hears it, it doesn't make a sound - same thing with those shots.

If you or your playing partner hit a 'shot' then it is vital that no-one comments AT ALL on the 'shot'. It never happened, never, do you hear me?

Families have secrets and shame - these 'shots' are golf's equivalent. No good will come of discussing them.

matt-dublin

moycullen14 wrote: »

Lads, STOP TALKING ABOUT THEM.

It's a known fact that they do not exist.

this has made my day :P

AldilaMan

Please close this thread. I never should have started it. It gives me nightmares !!

pinkdoubleeagle

AldilaMan wrote: »

Please close this thread. I never should have started it. It gives me nightmares !!

+1

charlieIRL

U.P.O. wrote: »

that pic reminds me of biffogooner (i think) who took the chunk out of the carpet is his house!!:D:D

matt-dublin

charlieIRL wrote: »

that pic reminds me of biffogooner (i think) who took the chunk out of the carpet is his house!!:D:D

I've done it tooo

at the time there was a rug in the living room, mum and dad didnt' notice for a month.

when they did find it I was like "damn mice, better call rentokill *walks away while whistling**"

kincsem

Try holding the club very lightly. You swing the club best when you hold it with a light grip.

Arsenium

Thank God these unmentionables curse other people too. I played last night and they crept in. At the 11th hole I was about 170 out, took a 6 iron and shanked it straight right. Dropped a ball and repeated it. Dropped another and repeated it. I wanted to ensure I hit one good shot to get it out of my system...so dropped again, repeated it, and finally one more time !!!

Confidence is now completely gone on iron shots and last night was not a good sleep....

I know I am a using an out to in swing which I need to eliminate but my biggest problem is with my wrists. I know I am rolling my wrists and opening up the face wildly and never getting it back.
You should have seen the long irons I tried to hit later in the round :-(
Problem is I have no idea how to get it back. Anyone know any tips for not breaking the wrists etc...

Reading this is like therapy. I really want to get to the range to try to sort it out..but I feel I should give it a few days.

mike12

david wrote: »

I propose a two-month ban for anyone who dares to mention Lucy Locket in this forum!

I thought it was against fourm rules to use that work the least ye could have done was cover it with a spoiler.

Shank

.

MP62

Jesus H. Christ what the hell are the mods doing allowing a thread with the unmentionable in the title, delete asap or at the very least change the title.

WillyWonka

OP, just get a lesson and you'll sort it out. Best 30-40 quid you'll spend and will save it on lost balls in no time.

I had shanks for a year or two and don't anymore. Just standing too close to the ball. Simples.