Yes, it's the shanks, AGAIN...

[MikeLowry5]

So I hit off of a mat all winter long, no shanks. When late fall arrived, couldn't hit off the mat without shanking. Now that I'm hitting off both, shanks...

It's definitely a mental thing here but still frustrating.

[canes113]

I feel your pain dude. Early 2009 I had the "illness" and got some lessons. It turns out I was rolling my forearms on the takeaway & opening the clubface thus, sometimes making contact with the hosel first. I was also "cupping" my left wrist at the top of my backswing which didn't help either. I'd start with the takeaway and focus on using your shoulders... not your arms to start the backswing. Also, make sure the clubface is slightly shut at the half way point.... i've incorporated this into my pre-swing and has helped tremendously!! Watch Anthony Kim this weekend... he does it too!! G'Luck!!

[MikeLowry5]

I feel your pain dude. Early 2009 I had the "illness" and got some lessons. It turns out I was rolling my forearms on the takeaway & opening the clubface thus, sometimes making contact with the hosel first. I was also "cupping" my left wrist at the top of my backswing which didn't help either. I'd start with the takeaway and focus on using your shoulders... not your arms to start the backswing. Also, make sure the clubface is slightly shut at the half way point.... i've incorporated this into my pre-swing and has helped tremendously!! Watch Anthony Kim this weekend... he does it too!! G'Luck!!

I also roll my forearms on the takeaway and cup the top wrist. I went through an entire bucket last night with a 52, pw, 4 hybrid and shanked all bout a handfull of them. Even managed to shank-pull one if thats possible. I tried locking the face down so much that I necked it and it was a straight pull on the ground.

[canadianpro]

Sometimes increasing the tilt of your spine will help. Tilt more and allow your arms to hang naturally, address the ball and make swings that have the clubhead miss the ball on the inside. Do this for awhile then incorporate part of this drill attempting to swing "inside" hitting the ball on the toe. This should help

PB

[MikeLowry5]

Another session today at the range and I'm cured.

Same old things, pronating the wrists at take away and not making a full turn.

[OJsakila]

Simply put, improper swing path is the only thing that causes a shank. Do not attempt to stand "further away from the ball," as that will only cause weight to be applied to the toes causing yet more shanks as you "fall into the ball" through impact....

Just correct your swing path, thats all.

[iacas]

Simply put,

Not true at all. C'mon. You can expose the hosel to the ball while having a good "swing path."

And I'm assuming you're not talking about the half inch of the club's location at impact, but rather the actual "swing path."

[davbrucas]

Your hands are further from your body at impact than they were at address...whether this is caused by suppinating your right arm on takeaway, getting too quick on your backswing and coming a bit over the top, or whatever...the easiest way that I have found to fix these is to slow your backswing...taking a full swing...and consciously swing your hands in close to your body on the way back down. When you start hitting them off the toe of the club, you know you are cured.

[Chicago Lefty]

Been there....super frustrating. It's a combination of coming too far inside and mental issues for me.

[MikeLowry5]

Simply put,

Agreed, but then again what problem isn't caused by an incorrect path?

[normdamarine]

Simply put,

I do not agree with you here, swing path is not the only reason for the shanks...

[Shanks A Million]

I do not agree with you here, swing path is not the only reason for the shanks...

Just to drive this point further home, imagine that I took a club, and turned it 90° open. I could swing it perfectly, on just the right path, and still hit the hosel. If I missed the hosel, I would whiff it, plain and simple.

The shanks are usually mental, as a major error in swing would be required to bring them about. The more you think about it, the worse it gets. So give it a few days, and relax, and it should clear. If it doesn't, film the swing and we'll find a solution. But remember, you're never alone.

[TakeDeadAim]

Very painful, indeed. Don´t worry they shall pass soon. Whenever I get the illness, I go to the range and hit a full bucket of balls JUST doing half swings with all clubs. JUST HALF SWINGS. Good tempo and rhythm is all that should matter doing this exercise. When you are done with the bucket, go home. Don´t hit any more. Somehow it works for me.