shanks really bad

[cody west]

there bad i shot 50 today and i couldnt get the ball off the ground. by the second shot it was getting really really bad. usually i can figure out what im doing or jsut slow down my swing until i can make the ball go atleast toward the hole until i can get to the range to fix it but this time it got worse as i swung easier. i even shanked a 56 like is that even possible.
does anyone know anything i can do if this ever happens again because if i ever shoot 50 again in a tournament im not going to be able to keep it together like i did today.

[TempoIsKey]

Yep I got you covered. This is strictly a quick fix. Address the ball with it lined up at the hosel. Your mind will subconsciously make you adjust your swing so you do not hit the hosel. Good luck.

[cody west]

il try it tomorow, im going to the range to hit 5-10 buckets or more if thats what it takes to get this worked out. were supposed to get snow tomoro, should be fun

[TempoIsKey]

I don't know if I would use this technique at the range. I've always used it just if I started sh#####g on the course but I guess it would work on the range. It won't fix the cause, just hopefully the effect. Good luck again

[GamerJG]

there bad i shot 50 today and i couldnt get the ball off the ground. by the second shot it was getting really really bad. usually i can figure out what im doing or jsut slow down my swing until i can make the ball go atleast toward the hole until i can get to the range to fix it but this time it got worse as i swung easier. i even shanked a 56 like is that even possible.

sounds like you could be trying to help the ball in the air or trying to pick it. just focus on hitting down on the ball and making a nice divot. check your setup to make sure you are the correct distance from the ball. also, many of us forget to watch the back of the ball and do this until you make contact. try not to peek up to see where it's going. this is a bad habit most golfers get into from time to time.

[erwintrace08]

Can I honestly tell you guys a guaranteed way of fixing this??? I usually shoot in the low 80s and had the shanks for 1 entire year!!! It was the worst feeling and I've studied it over and over and over and you hear:

1) Spacing
2) Inside out
3) Outside in
4) Put a wood next to the ball so you don't stick your arms out and hit the hozzle

All of these tips worked a little, but I FINALLY FIGURED IT OUT and CANNOT SHANK!!!

I learned the reason for the shank is:

1) You're not hinging your wrists quickly enough
2) You're not making enough shoulder turn
3) Too much tension on your back hand
4) Too fast on the down swing
5) Lifting your head

It actually came out when my buddy told me I don't bring my club higher than my arms at 9 O'Clock. He told me to hinge my wrists more and I can go parallel. What I didn't know is that it totally fixed my shanks. Hinging/Cocking the wrists early and inside made me naturally turn my shoulders. Also, slow down your swing and make it nice and easy like Fred Couples or Ernie Els. If you use all arms and get lazy on turning the shoulders, you get an out-to-in swing.

Try it and let me know how it works. Just cock/hinge the wrists early and turn those shoulders. It works on the pitches and long irons.

Good luck and let me know how it goes!
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[clonewars222]

I was shanking after a break and it was because I was hanging back, either letting the hosel get to the ball first OR turning my hands over which resulted in a pull.

A good drill for this is it stand on your left foot, with your right straight up behind you on the toes. This will keep the weight on the left side, making it impossible to hang back. Try a few. Good luck!

[cody west]

thanks for all the help. i liked putting wood next to the ball that one worked the best.
i have lost alot of distance like 10 yards, i dont know if thats because of the cold, my last round was in 32* weather. could that be causing the a 10 yard loss of distance?

[pshizz]

yeah it easily costs 10 yards the way it is in massachusetts right now. I have been taking an extra club for a week now and still making the same full swing.

[cody west]

ok thank god its not me i wasnt sure if it was my new irons (like a month old) or something. i was starting to think like all my work was worthless because my swing was getting worse everyday for the past week

[erwintrace08]

Big thing too is really rushing the downswing and moving the head to cause the shanks. Gotta give enough distance, make a nice shoulder turn, hinge the wrists, keep the left arm straight, and don't move forward. Nice and smooth