Improved swing, but increased shanking...

[Gambler]

I've been working on improving my swing lately. I had a short lesson and he said, ease up on your swing and work on shifting your weight and maintaining balance. I've improved my weight shifting dramatically; it has greatly improved my shot consistency and practically eliminated my slice. Unfortunately this has caused my point of impact to move toward the heel, and now I've started shanking which is something I've never had a problem with before. If I consciously aim behind the ball (toward me) I do much better. Unfortunately I forgot enough times that the head of my driver broke off of the shaft (hit the hosel too many times I guess).

Should I continue to adjust my aim, or should I tweak my swing/setup so I don't have to consciously think about it (one less thing to worry about)? I tried backing away from the ball, but I automatically compensate for this and hit it in the same spot. Any suggestions are appreciated.

[thumper07]

sounds like you are sliding your weight foward instead of rotating. make sure you are turning through impact and not sliding with your hips. if you slide your hands get stuck behind forcing them outward causing a shank. this lesson wasnt with mike at golf galaxy was it? it sounds like something he would teach.

[Danattherock]

First thing I would do is have your clubs fit to you. Length and lie angle especially. Nothing worse than changing a swing and finding out it was equipment fit. Get this one variable out of the way, then move forward. In the meanwhile, it might not hurt to stand about an inch further away. And get some of the impact stickers and see exactly where you are hitting the club face. I used some recently. Great product. Take those used stickers to your club fitting. With a pen, write down what iron they were used on.

[Gambler]

sounds like you are sliding your weight forward instead of rotating. make sure you are turning through impact and not sliding with your hips. if you slide your hands get stuck behind forcing them outward causing a shank. this lesson wasnt with mike at golf galaxy was it? it sounds like something he would teach.

It could be, I guess I'm not sure how to shift weight without sliding the hips somewhat. No, the lesson wasn't at GG.

First thing I would do is have your clubs fit to you. Length and lie angle especially. Nothing worse than changing a swing and finding out it was equipment fit. Get this one variable out of the way, then move forward. In the meanwhile, it might not hurt to stand about an inch further away. And get some of the impact stickers and see exactly where you are hitting the club face. I used some recently. Great product. Take those used stickers to your club fitting. With a pen, write down what iron they were used on.

This could be a problem as well, i recently got name brand irons (loving the feel). They are standard length, and I am planning on having them lengthened. I'm 6'5" with wrist to floor measurement of 40" so the charts say I should have shafts with 1.75" over length, but I think that might be a bit long for me. Should I stick with the charts, or go with +1 like I've used in the past? I've been using the impact stickers, love them!

[Leftygolfer]

Ive heard that a shank is often close to a very good shot. You would have to be standing up and changing your spin angle to hit a shank.

[Gambler]

Ive heard that a shank is often close to a very good shot. You would have to be standing up and changing your spin angle to hit a shank.

It is, about 1" from being a very good shot

[Williamevanl]

I don't know about you guys but my swing always completely falls apart before getting better. It's starting to be an expected pattern having happened 3 times now. I have to make some sort of minor swing change to get closer to what I want and I pretty much lose all ability to play during that time. I do feel bad for the people I get paired up with though when it happens.

I was around 80-85 for my first 20 rounds or so this year and my last round was probably 105ish something terrible I shanked six shots at least and I was simply duffing routine pw shots. Oddly enough I'm thrilled about it, it means my swing has changed and the hardest thing to do in my opinion is to abandon a familiar swing in hopes of building a more reliable one.

[deafheaven]

For me I find that as I try to relax and make a smooth swing everything is good and I'll hit shots right down the middle. But at some point my swing goes from relaxed to lazy and I'll start slicing or topping the ball. Then I start speeding things up and I'll hit some good shots and then it starts to get out of hand with me swinging too hard.

Man, this game can have you pulling your hair out sometimes.