Snap fades - yes the sh**ks...

[Mikeland]

Out of the blue, all of a sudden, I got 'em. The snap fades, the hosel rockets, the dreaded sh**ks.

Sometimes I feel like I'm leaning into the ball...then other times I feel like I don't get my right hand "through" at impact. I'm a 4 handicap...just shot 76 the other day, and now I can't hit the ball in the center of the clubface..

If I lay down a stick just outside the ball to force proper swing path I can hit the ball ok, but that's not legal on the course... And I can't remember the feeling of a good swing, only the hosel rocket swing sticks in my mind, so I know part of the problem is mental.

This happens to me almost every year...about this time, it's crazy. I didn't have them last year, and thought I was done with them, but alas, here they are.

Anyone have any thoughts on this subject, and how to fix what's going on? My pro moved to Florida and I have no idea who to go to in my area (southeastern MA).

THANKS!!!

[CG031]

Here's a few things I do when I get them.

- Make sure you are not crowding or standing closer to the ball than you normally do.

- Don't get too 'wristy' through impact. Overactive wrist and hand movement at impact can cause some WEIRD things.

- Make sure there is a transition from backswing, to downswing. A slight 'pause' at the top of the backswing seems to help me initiate the downswing. When I get too quick and the slight 'pause' at the top doesn't exist, I'm susceptable to a shank.

- Try swinging flatter, more around your body, or "out to right field" You make be coming a little too steep on your downswing. Can't really say this could be it without seeing your swing, so I doubt it.

Try these few things, especially 1, 2, and 3.

[pshizz]

Go to the harmon golf center in rockland mass. The instructors their are awesome. You also might wanna check out the burlington golfers warehouse and get a lesson with Jamie. He uses cameras and analyzes the swing with computer software...similar to some youtube videos.

[SpringBokVol]

take all of the change in your car and put it in your left pocket.

wear one black sock and one white sock.

put on sunglasses

roll your left sleeve up

put your hat on backwards

and swing....just swing baby.

[Mikeland]

Thanks everyone. Guess it's just a matter of working through it.

[Dr. Slice]

i hate the shanks im 15 and i got them during districts for high school.

i had no idea what to do considering i have never had them before...

after the 18 holes i shot 111!!!

it looked even worse because i was a 2 seed,

yep good ol' shanks

[iacas]

Sometimes my weight gets a bit too much on the heels of my feet. My body will "re-balance" itself ever so slightly coming down... and that inch and a half is just enough, you know.

So that could be it too.

[squaddie]

Make sure you aren't dropping your head down to the ball during the downswing. Whenever I start shanking or hitting fat my tendency to head-drop is usually the culprit.

[uppi]

just got over a slight case of the shanks. For me my backswing was too steep, and I had a HUGE over the top problem. I'm starting my backswing more to the inside now with a slightly flatter swing plane, hitting nice draws.

[BASHERBAKER69]

It's mostly with the short irons that I hit shanks with- I find it harder to hit shanks with say a 3 iron.

It's fair to say that a shank is quite close to a perfect ball strike, but once you hit one sometimes a golfer can have a fit of them- it's not uncommon for a player to hit 5 or 6 shanks in succession- I can have a crippling mental impact on a player.

The question has to be whether you can hit a shank with a square club face at impact- I think the answer is no....the ball may come out of the hosel but I will not in my opinion squirt off sideways at right angles!

When I get the shanks I try to concentrate on turn through the ball at impact. People who 'slide' through the ball tend to leave the club face open through impact when their timing is off!...Greg Norman hit a few shanks in his hayday before he stopped 'sliding'.

[DavidFehertysBike]

I saw a video of Darren Clarke hitting a shank some time ago. Might have even been posted on this board..

[iacas]

I saw a video of Darren Clarke hitting a shank some time ago. Might have even been posted on this board..

[BASHERBAKER69]

..what about Ian Poulter's shank at Augusta in 2007/2008? on the long par 3 (the 6th)?....if you don't like Poults for whatever reason it me be, it makes for enjoyable viewing.