Shanks

[muskegman]

Well, I'm a little embarrassed to admit I've got a bad case of the shanks. Its been a problem all along and I've never fully dealt with them.

I played a full round Sunday afternoon and managed a 95, which is quite remarkable in that I shanked the ball no less than 15 times. I was adding it up in my head and counted 15 of these miserable little dribbles to the right. Can you imagine how I would do without the shanks?

This problem is confined to a 3/4 to full swing with just about any iron and can come and go, but it mostly stays. I think my problem might be traced to sliding foreword on the downswing and perhaps a slight lunge toward the ball. I've got to fix these and if I do I feel my scores will drop dramatically (obviously).

Any ideas or suggestions? I've read several tips online so far. It only occurred to me Sunday night that it was quite simply the shanks I've got to deal with.

[who00knows]

Ive always dealt with it as a mental issue. I think its just something has to click in your head, and you have to realize that you have hit the ball 234234234 times before and this time is no different. Good luck with your shank issue and keep us posted. Atleast you dont have the yips like charles barkley.

[muda]

is it bad that a part of me wants you to keep having this problem until the newport cup? :-)

i guess i don't have any real good advice, but my would be to keep your head still and just not worry about it. it'll come around.

[muskegman]

is it bad that a part of me wants you to keep having this problem until the newport cup? :-)

i guess i don't have any real good advice, but my would be to keep your head still and just not worry about it. it'll come around.
Beware... if they leave alltogether you'll be accusing me of being a sandbagger. Criticism I would love to hear. :-P

[Rickins]

I'll start a round with no serious expectations until I find myself one-over after the first four, or five. That's when the "I'm-playing-over-my-head" attitude kicks in. Or, I just simply negate in my mind what got me there in the first place. The good shots are forgotten and the first shank confirms what I "know", i.e. I'm not good enough to be where I'm at.

I start "pressing" for that five or ten extra yards off the tee to fight the mental attitude. The smart lay-up goes out the window. More shanks...

"I can still get in with an 89 if I birdie two of the last four holes." Shank, shank, shank...

Don't keep your own score. Have someone else record it and just play each hole as it comes. Whether it's a birdie three or a double-bogey six, move on. The end result - for that round - may be the same but, you won't be as inclined to dwell on the bad shots. I'm thinking there won't be nearly as many shanks, either.

I'm playing 36 holes this weekend and I'll try to take my own advice. ;-)

Rick

[iacas]

I don't think keeping score is the problem here. Lots of shankers swing dramatically inside-out. Address the ball off the hosel or the toe and hit some balls on the range. Start with 1/2 swings and move up to 3/4 and then to full swings until you're comfortable.

You know what causes the shanks, so just work towards hitting the ball further out on your clubface. Maybe you're standing too close or bending over too much. Just apply a little thought and go from there. Experiment and see what works.

[Thrash13]

I usually fight the shanks once a year, and then I go on about my regular business after that. It's really weird I guess, but it's completely mental for me. I will start thinking of shanking it, and sure enough I will. Every great once in awhile, I'll shank one these days and wonder what the heck was going on.

But when I have the shanks, I just try to address the ball off the hosel like Erik mentioned. But I just swing without taking a practice swing or thinking about it too much. And it usually works. The more I stand over the ball when I have the shanks, the higher chance I will shank one. So I suggest lining the shot up behind the ball and then stepping up and hitting it without thinking about it.

But you can keep the shanks in our match play contest at The Newport Cup. :)

I'll probably have them for saying that. :/

[muskegman]

I think I discovered a rememdy! I had my right hand too involved in the swing... kind of pushing through with the irons. I have tried to feel my left hand guiding the swing and its gotten rid of the shanks. My right hand was pushing the hosel out. Its easier to hit the ball on line when I get my left hand guiding the club too.

[iacas]

I think I discovered a rememdy! I had my right hand too involved in the swing... kind of pushing through with the irons. I have tried to feel my left hand guiding the swing and its gotten rid of the shanks. My right hand was pushing the hosel out. Its easier to hit the ball on line when I get my left hand guiding the club too.
The old "Push vs. Pull" argument, perhaps...

[Finalist]

I've fought the shanks and tried everything. Even when a good shot just happened it felt bad. BUT my fix is this... I was standing too close to the ball. I'd feel comfortable and athletic over the ball, and make a 3/4 to full swing and shank it. The momentum of my downswing brought my arms out and the hossel on the ball. Centrifugal Force!! That's why the shanks happen with a full swing and not little chip swings. The down force around your spine throws things out such as your arms stretching out rather than keeping your address length. At every address now I make sure to stretch my arms a little to make sure the hossell doesn't dramatically come into play. This fixed several things; no more shanking, more of an in to out swing, and with longer irons I got more distance because I'm sweeping more.

When you do hit a good ball you probably pull it?? That's because you're too close to the ball, so you swing out to in just missing the hossel. Just move away from the ball 2-3 inches or whatever works.

Good Luck...
Once you fix the shanks though you will see a new level in your accuracy. I always play my best after overcoming the shanks when they happen.

[i2!ch]

In my opinion, 99.9999% of shanks come from improper set-up.

People say 'feel over mechanics', I say ingrain the proper mechanics into your "feel" of a good golf swing. =]