Shanks only on the range!

[dwalker79]

Hello All!

This is my first post. I'm currently a 16 handicap and have only been playing this great game for about three and a half years. I'll admit that I'm totally obsessed with the game.

I have recently had something very weird happen though. I've been playing pretty well on the course. I've shot a couple of 87's in the past month which is pretty good for me. However, the past couple weeks I've gone to the range to practice a few times and all of the sudden I'm shanking 90% of the balls I hit. It happens with all clubs from driver to pitching wedge. I've convinced myself that this has to be a mental thing. I've had this happen during the week and then on the weekend I go play a round and don't shank it once. Has anyone ever had this happen or have known of this type of thing happening. It's very frusterating because it's making me not want to go to the range to practice anymore. It's the strangest thing and I can't figure it out. I've tried all of the tips I've researched on getting rid of the shanks but it's almost like my mind can't stop thinking of them. Like I said, the weird thing is it's pretty much only happening on the range which just totally baffles me.

Can anyone tell me if this is probably purley a mental distraction on the range that's causing me to do this?

Thanks so much, and I love the site!!

Dustin

[ZaPPPa]

Does you range have mats with markings on it? If so, you may have accustomed yourself to set your feet relative to the markings rather than the ball. On the course you don't have those marking and you may end up with a slightly different setup.

Just a thought.

[ks8829]

go to You Tube and type in golf and watch " swing like tiger woods " Its excellent!

[dwalker79]

No, I'm actually hitting off of grass. Not very good grass though.

[Stacey_E]

I've had this happen. I think it is mental, for me anyway. Some people are wired to grind balls for hours on the range. Some people aren't. I guess I shouldn't advocate not practicing. But I think if you are not enjoying the practice, (and who is when they are s%&@*ing?) you could actually ingrain some bad moves.

When I have this problem, I am usually just going through the motions and not a pre-shot routine. Maybe try playing little games on the range. Never hit without a target in mind. And forget about the distances on the range. If you can afford it, instead of ranging it a couple times a week, just spend the dough on one more round. Just a few suggestions and good luck. This too shall pass.

[fusioncal]

I've just had the same problems for the past 3 weeks. The difference is I also shanked shots at the course, but only with irons. I just figured out what's wrong in the last driving range session. My problem was that I snap the clubs too early leaving my club face way too open. However, before I reached that point I went through all possibilities I researched for the cause of shanks. First possibility could be that your lower body is swaying on the downswing. Secondly, you could be leaning forward too much during your address. Standing too close to the ball might also be the cause. Then there's this blocking release of the club instead of closing the club face.

There are many videos you can find on youtube provided by many instructor. Just search there and hopefully you'll find the cure.

[Stacey_E]

As for the mechanics, I sh*%& when I don't stay in the shot. If I concentrate on maintaining my spine angle they are less likely, for me anyway. When I stand up or sit down too much, my whole swing is just like cooked spaghetti. But if I stay in my shot and really fire down with my right shoulder, the ball comes out crisply.

[dwalker79]

Thanks so much for everyones replies. This forumn is great! If nothing else it gives me peace of mind that there are others out there that have struggled with this too. I definitely think it's a case of me getting into a rut and just banging balls. I also think in my case it could be that I'm leaving the clubface too open at impact like fusioncal. I'm sure the majority of it is just mental though. I'm going to take all of your advice and try to cure this nasty disease! I'll keep you posted on how it's going.

Thanks again!

[ZaPPPa]

I've been hitting on the heel of my driver a lot. What helped me best in this situation is hit 1/2 or 3/4 shots. It is much easier to get in the correct plane when you're not coiled up fully. Then, when I got the 1/2 and 3/4 down I work my way up to a full shot.

For now I think my 3/4 shot actually works fine. 90% of the time I hit it further and more straight than a full power one. By looking at the ball markings on the head, I am much closer to the sweet spot and I can control my plane.

[dwalker79]

Thanks for the tip! That makes sense. I'll give it a try. I'll try anything at this point.

[PingGKEN]

GAH!!!! I know how you feel! I had this problem all last year. I would hit 2 or 3 good shots at the range and then everything after that was sh@nk city. I couldnt even chip it 10 yards!! It was all mental, honestly, as I was playing to my normal 90ish strokes on the courses.

I signed up for an emergency lesson after one horrible range session. Explained to the instructor what was happening. She asked me to chip it and show her what was wrong. NO SH@NK. Ok, then, 40 yard pitch. NO SH@NK. Alright, well it will happen on my full swing. Whadya know, no sh@nk! I clearly remember her saying "Cmon Ken! There's nothing wring with you!! Stop waiting to mess up!"

So far, so good this year. Only been to the range 3 or 4 times though, but each has been alright for me. Pre-shot routine before every shot, target in mind, etc. Each swing means something. Before, I was focused too much on NOT messing up.

[dwalker79]

Wow, this is the EXACT same problem I'm having!! Thanks so much for sharing. It's nice to know this has happened to other people and they ended up recovering. I'm convinced it's a mental thing too more than anything else. I start off hitting a few good shots and then it all goes downhill. I think I just get myself in a rut and then spend the rest of my time trying to figure out how to recover. I agree that on the course every shot matters and you go through your preshot routine etc. and I think this really helps. I thought about an emergency lesson too but I think the same thing would happen to me. I wouldn't be able to reproduce the issue and I'd just waste money.

Thanks again for sharing your experience, it definitely gives me hope!! This is such a crazy game we obsess over isn't it?

[kafka01]

I dont shank much neither on the range or course BUT - yesterday on the first hole i hit a bad drive and my ball was above my feet buried in semi rough (and somehow the thought crept in, that this shot could go very very wrong) - i tried a 6iron and shanked the crap out of it OOB. What then happend was kinda ridicoules - the next 7 holes i shanked every shot with a iron or a wedge and then it suddenly stopped and i didnt had one shank for the rest of the round or today. Obv. the reason is mechanical - in your swing at this point, but the problem is most likely mentally induced.

In the past when this problem came up - i never only hit one shank but always a couple in row. Generally if this happens - i try to start hitting fades coming more from the outside.

[erwintrace08]

Haha...it's kind of funny too because I have had a case of the "Longshanks" (remember Braveheart???). I actually am posting this now because I have it on my chipping.

Crazy because when I had the shanks, it only happened at the range too. I think it's that your swing gets "lazy" because you're hitting tons of balls. Also, once you get that shank twice or three times, it's hard to break out.

My quick fixes for these are to check:

1) How close you are standing to the ball

2) If you are picking up your body and head at impact

3) Your swing plane (use the clubs and rail road track to ensure you are bringing back your club correctly)

4) Ensure you are really hitting through the ball with a full follow through

If it ever happens, I just go off my quick fixes (which I actually put into my smartphone) and it goes away.

Hope this helps,
e

[erwintrace08]

Haha...it's kind of funny too because I have had a case of the "Longshanks" (remember Braveheart???). I actually am posting this now because I have it on my chipping.

Just wanted to quote myself...lol

5) Ensure you DO NOT DECELERATE. That's why #4 is HUGE because when you decelerate (just like if you ever had the "Yips"), it that the club is behind your body and late. Thus, the face is open to the right. You can't get the yips/shanks if you notice going to the left.

[automatic31]

be happy you dont have them on the course like normal humans

[erwintrace08]

be happy you dont have them on the course like normal humans

Eh...lol. You know the irony of this game. I just went to the range yesterday morning and half-way through, started the shanks and couldn't get rid of it. I was making great progress prior to it and hitting it so well. Then I tried to use my right hand more to get more power. Ahhh....got to practice what I preach...lol

[erwintrace08]

Just went back this AM and I fixed it thank God.

Best way to get rid of them is to take practice strokes brushing the mat or grass.

This will help get your rhythm and stroke back...