Getting Worse Need Help.

[sj12]

Hello all, my game has seemed to dropped from decent to horrendous in what seemed like a day. Its gotten so bad ive come looking for advice as this is my first post. Ive been playing golf for almost 2 years and ive been practicing since early winter hitting everyday, and i mean everyday since around dec-jan. Anyways out of the blue i caught a case of the shanks. I played a monday round and all was well 24 hrs later i find myself looking over my first iron shot of the day and shank city. Every shot EVERY shot was a shank. This was 2 weeks ago and i still shank 7/10 shots. Now before i go further i have and outside to in swing as i can see how my divots face way left of my target causing fades-slices pull hooks. I need help guys i went from enjoying the game to considering selling my clubs in a week. I just dont know what else to do. Any advice would be great if you guys need any info about my game in order to give more tips let me know.

[iacas]

[BirdieNumNums]

That video, in my opinion is pretty worthless, but so is the first post when it comes to giving you help.  To get better help, post a video, if at all possible with a sporting type camera.  If you have an out to in swing path, then I'd suggest on correcting that.

[billchao]

Originally Posted by BirdieNumNums

That video, in my opinion is pretty worthless, but so is the first post when it comes to giving you help.  To get better help, post a video, if at all possible with a sporting type camera.  If you have an out to in swing path, then I'd suggest on correcting that.

Worthless is kinda harsh, isn't it? While I agree that the OP probably has other problems, wouldn't you agree that the shanks are the priority piece?

You can play golf with an out to in swing, you can't play golf with the shanks, IMO.

[Zachari208]

Try less, have fun and have a few beers.

[iacas]

Originally Posted by BirdieNumNums

That video, in my opinion is pretty worthless, but so is the first post when it comes to giving you help.

It will force him to find a way to fix the shanks. We often do it with a water bottle or something else. It works well.

People tend to over-think the shanks. This drill stops them from doing that. I also agree with this:

Worthless is kinda harsh, isn't it? While I agree that the OP probably has other problems, wouldn't you agree that the shanks are the priority piece? You can play golf with an out to in swing, you can't play golf with the shanks, IMO.

[sj12]

Thanks guys. Ive considered lessons theres a 5 lesson deal going on for $90 at a local course. I heard the pro there was a great teacher. If i decided to take the lessons what should I expect and how do you think this would help my game if at all?

[Ernest Jones]

Thanks guys. Ive considered lessons theres a 5 lesson deal going on for $90 at a local course. I heard the pro there was a great teacher. If i decided to take the lessons what should I expect and how do you think this would help my game if at all?

$90 for 5 lessons? I wouldn't expect much but who knows, maybe you'll be pleasantly surprised. As far as what to expect, assuming the pro is good, expect your results to be directly proportional to the effort you put into practicing what is being taught.

[TK LP]

$90 for 5 lessons? I wouldn't expect much but who knows, maybe you'll be pleasantly surprised. As far as what to expect, assuming the pro is good, expect your results to be directly proportional to the effort you put into practicing what is being taught.

Are we talking about lessons or a clinic?

[sj12]

Lessons, according to the pro which i have gotten positive feedback about from others, his usual prices are $40-50 a lesson but they have a special this week for the 5 lesson package deal.

[Ernest Jones]

Well if the the pro is any good that is a great deal.

[JonMA1]

Originally Posted by sj12

Ive been playing golf for almost 2 years and ive been practicing since early winter hitting everyday, and i mean everyday since around dec-jan.

...i have and outside to in swing...

I hope you don't mind a crappy player giving advice, but take a video of your swing - from the front and from down the line. Look at it yourself. You might be surprised at what you'll be able to diagnose and possibly fix.

I hope you don't give up. You are obviously driven to get better. Maybe you just need to come up with the right strategy as far as learning and practicing. The Sand Trap is a good start. This game has been maddening for me. In the last year and a half (also practicing like crazy), I've gone from thinking "I've got it" to "why the #%@ do I even try" so many times that I no longer listen to either thought. Just look at some of the posts by really good players and you'll see that what you're going through happens to everyone.

Good luck.

[sj12]

Thanks everyone, Im very driven to get better at the game. I played baseball my entire life until i graduated High School. I think the baseball swing may be creeping into my golf swing. Im still relatively young (20) and ive never had any form of coaching or teaching about the game. Ive learned everything I know from simply reading and watching. I was very confident in my game for only playing for a year and a half. I was improving rapidly i went from shooting 105-100 to 90-93. This may not be the biggest jump in a year and a half but i was very proud of myself for my improvement. I thought all was going well until out of nowhere i got the shanks a few months ago. I got over that stint of the shanks and i continued to improve until a few weeks ago. The shanks returned and of course i went searching for answers online. I think all the information and swing changes, thoughts etc. have really sent me back to square one. Im just really frustrated. I havent picked a club up in a week which is the longest ive taken off in months. I plan to start my lessons next week and i really hope they will be beneficial. I plan to give 100% on the lessons and practice everything im taught.

[BirdieNumNums]

I wasn't trying to be harsh, but rather blunt, I do apologize for the word "useless".  There is one way to shank the ball and that's because the hosel hits meets the ball.  But, the swing causing the hosel to get there first can be different. This is coming from someone who has battled the shanks for 2 years(6 months hard core).  I tried that drill and it didn't help me while I had the shanks, sure it helped a couple times, but it didn't diagnose my swing flaw(s).

You are best off getting professional help from a pro (glad to see you going that route) who can either eyeball your swing flaws or will video you and break it down(I suggest the second so you can see your swing being broken down.) But for us to truly give you sound advice apart from that post a video of your swing. I will tell you though, I had 2 pros help me and their suggestions were drills and such that led me through more frustrations. There was also the "mindset" hoopla they threw at me and that couldn't have been further from the truth.  On the course, of course, it could slip in my mind, but when I was slamming hosel rockets on the range I wasn't worried about them and still was killing that hosel.

It took me video taping myself and comparing it to professional swings to figure out what I was doing wrong to fix the shanks.  I nearly sold my clubs a few times, but glad I stuck it out, because I'm playing the best golf of my life right now.  Hope you do the same!

[sj12]

Today i went over my stance, address, and grip. I noticed my grip was extremely tight. Like 1-10 i was an 8.5, can grip effect swing plane and maybe cause a shank? Or can a tight grip cause other problems?

[kings1621]

Did your shanks coincide with the start of the baseball season?

[sj12]

No no im not a baseball playet anymore (i wish i still could) i never hit a golf ball until after my senior year in highschool. I was thinking possibly that all those years of swinging a bat caused a rather baseball like golf swing.

[BirdieNumNums]

Growing up playing baseball I was told by one of my coaches(don't remember if it was high school or not) that golf could mess up a baseball swing.  I never touched a golf club growing up because of that.  Then after college I picked up golf and felt that my baseball background actually helped me be a more athletic/knowledgeable golfer.