Caution, Shanks Inside

[Yanks Fan]

I'm at an absolute loss right now. I went from shooting 80-83 consistently to not being able to break 95 my past 2 times out. My local pro has been working with me to release my hinge earlier and changing my grip to interlocked. I've got a big golf trip planned in 3 weeks so I'm keeping my swing what it is until I get back to work on everything but now my swing is beyond lost. For those who have gone through this terrible feeling, what did you do to get back into rhythm?

The Golf God's are spiting me because I shook the hand of a guy and gave him a tough time about his own case of the shanks declaring "I've never had the shanks before."

[Cut68]

This may not be the technical advice you are looking for, but I had a very simple fix for this. I went to the range, stood as far from the ball as I could while still reaching it, and just hit the ball. I wasn't trying to make a swing or it at a target, I was just trying to beat the crap out of it, didn't even look where it went. I did this until it felt like solid contact, and then I picked a target and continued to beat the crap out of the ball.  I then eased off and found myself back in the groove. Muscle memory took over at that point

[LankyLefty]

When ever I get like this, though it is not usually for multiple rounds. I play what I call "Ready? Golf!" which is to say that as soon as I drive up the the ball pull my club I'm ready, then i Golf. I forgo any fancy setup routines. I don't aim my shot. I don't care which club I'm using I just get ready and golf and try to take my anger out of the ball and try not to give a hoot where the shot ends up. Eventually as the poster before me said I start making more decent contact as my body just swings without me trying to control it and I then work in all the little things I normally do and before too long things return to normal.

[saevel25]

Simple answer is your bringing the hozel into play. To me there are a few things that occur..

1) your standing to close to the ball

2) you swing so much over the top your bringing the hozel into play

3) your loosing your spine tilt, your butt gets closer to the ball forcing your hands away more and the hozel closer to the ball

[Yanks Fan]

Originally Posted by saevel25

Simple answer is your bringing the hozel into play. To me there are a few things that occur.

1) your standing to close to the ball

2) you swing so much over the top your bringing the hozel into play

3) your loosing your spine tilt, your butt gets closer to the ball forcing your hands away more and the hozel closer to the ball

I think number 2 is the winner. In the two weeks before I officially got the shanks, I had noticed that my divots were (for lack of a better explanation) looking like this (ME \ ) as I am a righty. In other words, cutting across it with a great over the top move. When I do hit the ball "decently" right now, I'm missing with a dead pull or a soft lazy fade.

I might have to give that a shot tomorrow Cut. Makes sense since I'm knocking a lot of the hosel.

Funny you mention that LL, I actually just began to walk up and hit the ball without much thinking or effort and went 2 over on the last 3 holes. Which normally I would not be pleased with but for that round, I was exuberant.

[Yanks Fan]

I don't know what I did but I went out and shot a 40 on the front nine today but couldn't finish. My swing didn't even feel that good but I scored well. We'll see what happens tomorrow when I play. I don't dare say I'm over the shanks though lol.

[rwfastrax]

I'm dealing with the same thing right now...thought standing too close was it...played 9 yesterday and before the end of the 9...I was shanking again..even with the ball further away...this is maddening. Practice swings feel grooved, in tempo...perfect. Then on contact the ball shoots off in a 45 degree angle. Will watch the spine angle closely...see what happens.

[Kieran123]

Ball between two tees, focus on only hitting the ball and not the tees. Fixed my episode of the shanks