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WTF, yesterday on the range

post #1 of 11
9/12/09 at 1:38pm
Thread Starter 
I hit the range yesterday with my father in-law, and I haven't hit the ball that poorly in years!!

I was shanking (off the hosel) at least 10 times per 1 bucket. I was shocked, stunned, and frankly embarrassed. My father in-law is a decent golfer and a lower handicap than myself. Although he has an 'original' looking swing, it is very basic and efficient.


He offered some 'slightly' unsolicited advise, which I obliged and tried. I play most of my irons, minus my 4 and 5, towards th middle of my stance. He wanted me to play all of my clubs, excluding wedges, off of my front foot's heel.

My question is this: Is this good advice?
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post #2 of 11
9/12/09 at 3:04pm

Re: WTF, yesterday on the range

its what ever works foe you I'm like you iplay my 4 and 5 off my front
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post #3 of 11
9/12/09 at 3:46pm

Re: WTF, yesterday on the range

I just had a issue with the shanks and the lady at the golf store just fixed me up yesterday. She had me stand about a 1" farther from the ball and line up the ball with the toe of the club. I also adjusted my grip and made it a little stronger. I'm now back to normal
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post #4 of 11
9/12/09 at 3:51pm

Re: WTF, yesterday on the range

I would not change too much based on a range session where you hit it like crap. Things like these happen once in a while. I don't give them too much notice and work on fundamentals the next session.

Your ball position may need to change, I can't tell, but don't use such a session as reference.

A friend of mine at hcp 10 played a tournament some weeks ago where he shot 118, including a par 5 where he used 18 shots. He shanked the ball all the time and wasn't able to correct it. Finding a band aid for those situations may help sometimes, but is not reliable. I'd rather just calm down, hit short smooth swings with the shorter irons to get the proper feeling.
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post #5 of 11
9/12/09 at 8:15pm

Re: WTF, yesterday on the range

If it works it works, but this is I believe the most accepted way, and how I play: Driver just inside the left heel, and slightly farther back for every club after that. Works great for me. I would think that what your father-in-law says wouldn't work since you hit your driver on the upswing, but everything else on the downswing or in the middle of your swing. I would say go ahead and try it but if you are hitting a ton of shots thin, then revert back to the other way.
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post #6 of 11
9/12/09 at 8:22pm

Re: WTF, yesterday on the range

It's not the norm by any means but it might work for your swing. Ben Hogan played like that, and he hit it pretty well
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post #7 of 11
9/14/09 at 12:48am

Re: WTF, yesterday on the range

Nicklaus played like that, but in most of the reading I've done, I haven't found it to be the most common theory in terms of ball position. Like many others I subscribe to the ball moving progressively back for shorter clubs, but I don't know if there's even a total of 2 balls' difference between my driver and my wedge. I don't go beyond the middle of my stance, though, for normal shots.
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post #8 of 11
9/15/09 at 2:28am
Thread Starter 

Re: WTF, yesterday on the range

Originally Posted by flanagan View Post
Nicklaus played like that, but in most of the reading I've done, I haven't found it to be the most common theory in terms of ball position. Like many others I subscribe to the ball moving progressively back for shorter clubs, but I don't know if there's even a total of 2 balls' difference between my driver and my wedge. I don't go beyond the middle of my stance, though, for normal shots.
I was so frustrated with the first range session, so I went the next day (with-out father in-law). I hit the ball so much better. I did the entire session positioning the ball mostly off my front heal. I hit the ball fairly well, I mostly play about a 5-10 yd fade, but with the new ball position it was more like a 0-5yd fade.

I would like to give this new move an honest chance, I've been struggling with my mid irons for a while and maybe this change will help me get over that next hump <80 and <10 handicap
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post #9 of 11
9/15/09 at 7:20am

Re: WTF, yesterday on the range

Originally Posted by mc0388 View Post
I was so frustrated with the first range session, so I went the next day (with-out father in-law). I hit the ball so much better. I did the entire session positioning the ball mostly off my front heal. I hit the ball fairly well, I mostly play about a 5-10 yd fade, but with the new ball position it was more like a 0-5yd fade.

I would like to give this new move an honest chance, I've been struggling with my mid irons for a while and maybe this change will help me get over that next hump <80 and <10 handicap
I'm not saying you shouldn't move the ball, I don't know what works for you, but you can hit the ball well one day and shank it all over the place the next, with the exact same setup. Sometimes the rhythm just isn't there. Many advice hitting every club off the left heel, so you might as well give it a go.

Getting better can be done by taking lessons or by trying different fixes and changes and see if it helped.
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post #10 of 11
9/15/09 at 10:44am

Re: WTF, yesterday on the range

I help with the shanks I would actually play the ball back in your stance, opposed to forward. A lot of people think they shank because they are coming in the ball to far from the inside. Many times this is not the case. It is often due to an over the top move on the downswing. I've seen this many times in the past with my swing on video.

Try playing the ball slightly ahead of center and on the downswing pull with your left arm (for a righty) keeping it extended through impact. Don't worry about manipulating the club with your right hand/arm. Just let the club release naturally. Your contact will improve dramatically and shanks will go away. Works for me..........
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post #11 of 11
9/15/09 at 4:30pm
Thread Starter 

Re: WTF, yesterday on the range

Originally Posted by steve8820 View Post
I help with the shanks I would actually play the ball back in your stance, opposed to forward. A lot of people think they shank because they are coming in the ball to far from the inside. Many times this is not the case. It is often due to an over the top move on the downswing. I've seen this many times in the past with my swing on video.

Try playing the ball slightly ahead of center and on the downswing pull with your left arm (for a righty) keeping it extended through impact. Don't worry about manipulating the club with your right hand/arm. Just let the club release naturally. Your contact will improve dramatically and shanks will go away. Works for me..........

I usually never have an issue with the shanks. My contact is typically very good to excellent. I do have a slight over the top move on my down swing. With the ball positioning off the front heal, I can feel the ability to maintain my right elbow nice and tight to my body, also, I think, it will help with the inside to outside swing. This I could never 'feel' with the ball positioned towards the middle of my stance.

Like I said, I give this new move an honest chance, and see what happens
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