Whak exactly is shanking?

[Dr. Slice]

every once in a while i will a round of golf where i shank about every 5-6 shots with my mid-long irons

i remember one time last year during on of our biggest golf meets (high school) there were about 15 schools there and i literally shanked EVERY shot on the back 9 that was over 50 yards out and i ended up shooting a 112 when my average at that time was about 80-90

what am i doing when i am shanking the ball so i can easily fix it on the spot when it happens

[ET-Taylor]

You are hitting the ball off of the hosel of the club

[Zeph]

There may be various reasons, but for me it is that I roll the clubface open on the backswing and pull the hosel of the club down.

[EHSGolf1]

For me, it was that I wasn't making a complete shoulder turn.

[ET-Taylor]

me its when i have lazy set up and have the ball on the hosel

[Deryck Griffith]

Shanking is sometimes caused by not staying "connected" during you backswing and most improtantly, during your downswing.

Next time you practice, place a towel or glove underneath both of your armpits. During your swing, try to focus on not allowing the glove or towel to fall out of your armpits. This will keep you connected and prevent you from shifting the swing toward the ball and becoming un connected with your arms which effectively, causing the hosel line up with the ball and produce the shank. This drill will also prevent the fanning of the club face as becoming unconnected and pushing your arms away from the body slows down the squaring of the face at impact.

Also, during the drill, make sure you make a full shoulder turn.

Good luck!

[Eagle x 4]

Please, no more threads about shanking! We shouldn't even say that word -- EVER!

[sean_miller]

what am i doing when i am shanking the ball so i can easily fix it on the spot when it happens

I've mostly heard about people hitting shanks with short irons and wedges - when trying to make a shot that requires an outside-in swingpath, yet they have the inside-out path as a swingthought.

With mid and long irons you want to use the inside-out path, but it's easy to overdo it - the clubhead must stay on target line for a moment. Imagine one of the following motions (it will seem exaggerated at first - you can tone it down once you get it): - making a long pass in hockey with hands sweeping along the ice toward the intended target - sweeping dirt and leaves off your deck/porch with a corn broom PS. Also don't forget to maintain quiet feet and to complete your shoulder turn - don't just take your arms and hands back. You need to build up some proper torsion to get the most out of long irons.