Is this a shank?

[Hammer1982]

Hey,

I had a round today and, well, it was absolutely atrocious!

I estimate that about 14 of my 18 tee shots ran straight along the ground for about 80 yards - and the other four that actually had a bit of flight flew off way, way right.

I know those four shots may be the typical shanks, based on what I've read on the subject since getting home, but what about those 14 tee shots that ran along the ground? Are they classed as shanks?

If not, can you tell me what they're called because my round today has dampened by entire enthusiasm for the game, and that would be the real disaster.

Cheers.

[dkolo]

Hey,

I had a round today and, well, it was absolutely atrocious!

I estimate that about 14 of my 18 tee shots ran straight along the ground for about 80 yards - and the other four that actually had a bit of flight flew off way, way right.

I know those four shots may be the typical shanks, based on what I've read on the subject since getting home, but what about those 14 tee shots that ran along the ground? Are they classed as shanks?

If not, can you tell me what they're called because my round today has dampened by entire enthusiasm for the game, and that would be the real disaster.

Cheers.

It's a shank if it hits the hosel. If you hit the ball off the extreme bottom of the clubface (skull it, top it, etc), that's not a shank. You should be able to identify where they hit on the clubface. Some basic idea of knowing what happened is a helpful thing to learn. I had something similar early on where I was shanking and I didn't know it because I had no experience. Learning what you did wrong is a great way to begin to self-correct.

By the way, I'm going on a limb and guessing you're not a 5 handicap like your profile says, haha.

[Grumpter]

Hey,

I estimate that about 14 of my 18 tee shots ran straight along the ground for about 80 yards ... can you tell me what they're called.

Worm Burner

[Hatchman]

Hey, I had a round today and, well, it was absolutely atrocious!  I estimate that about 14 of my 18 tee shots ran straight along the ground for about 80 yards - and the other four that actually had a bit of flight flew off way, way right. I know those four shots may be the typical shanks, based on what I've read on the subject since getting home, but what about those 14 tee shots that ran along the ground? Are they classed as shanks?  If not, can you tell me what they're called because my round today has dampened by entire enthusiasm for the game, and that would be the real disaster. Cheers.

Not enough info hammer. Right or left handed swing, HC suspect. Estimate 14 of 18 tee shots?? Is this a test? How many holes did you play...:-P

[EverythingGolf]

It's not as common to hit it off the hosel with the driver as it is with the irons. You are more than likely hitting it on the bottom of the face.

[dchoye]

It's very difficult to "shank" a wood. On a iron the hosel sticks out at the heel and catching too much of a heel right where the hosel is will cause the ball to rocket 45 degrees to the right. If you starting heeling the wood it will more like a cut fade You really have to miss the ball and hit it on shaft however there no face to deflect the ball 45 degrees on a wood so I don't think a "shank " is possible

[Duff McGee]

Was the ball going straight 80 yards or directly off to the right?

[DrvFrShow]

I've hit the ball right on the hosel and had it go straight off to the left. Talk about a miss. You can feel it when you hit it off the hosel.

[Hammer1982]

Was the ball going straight 80 yards or directly off to the right?

Nope. Dead straight. Sometimes it went high and off to the right, but as I said, the vast majority of tee shots went straight and along the ground. I was using irons and wedges, by the way. No woods.

[Hammer1982]

I haven't played since and, in truth, it has made me want to quit. I'm not going to, because I love playing, but damn, it's infuriating.

I was swinging fine just last week, and posting decent scores, but I shot 95 the other day - and it's a par 3 course! My best up there is 66, which I managed two weeks ago. It's just crazy the way in which your game can nosedive  so dramatically in a short space of time.

[Duff McGee]

You are likely hitting the ball on the upswing and are trying to lift the ball into the air instead of letting the club's angle do it for you.

[Hammer1982]

I do hit up on the ball, because I'm yet to truly master the downward strike, despite countless hours of reading and watching tutorials, but I was still attaining clean and consistent striking. As I said, my game was fine, for my standard, until just last week.

Golf is the only sport I've ever played where sometimes you just need to start from scratch. This summer, I've improved dramatically, but all of a sudden my skill level has reverted to somebody who has literally never swung a club before. It's so bizarre, but I will fix it.

[Duff McGee]

What I'm saying is that you have to "hit down on the ball" or you will hit those worm burners. Once you are good enough, you will not ever have that problem again. I don't know any really experienced golfers that do that...maybe once in 1,000 swings. So if that is happening it just means you are still a beginner. Don't get discouraged is the point. The guys that own this site say that we are not actually as good as our good shots, so don't be frustrated. The bad shots are really who we are if the majority of our shots are bad. It sucks and it's hard, but this is the hardest sport.

[Hammer1982]

You know what, you're right.

As I said, for the past few weeks I've been reading plenty on the subject of hitting down on the golf ball. However, I wasn't fully committed to the transition from hitting up to down because my upward strikes were okay. Overall, I was happy with them.

But now I'm forced to go balls to the wall and learn because, as we've established, my game has gone well and truly tits up. Now, I feel like embracing my deficiencies.

The way I see it; I could either rectify my shanks, worm-burners and thin shots and return to a decent upward swing, or I could just skip all of that and focus all of my attention on getting that downward trajectory, which will infinitely help my game - or so I've been told.

This makes sense, right? I'm going to the range tomorrow. And the next day. And the next day. And every day until I'm hitting down on the ball. I know all the drills.

[Duff McGee]

The problem is, though, you might not be "hitting down on the ball" correctly. I know it's a pain and expensive but one lesson could change your golf life....or just post a swing video on here.

[Hammer1982]

I don't hit down on the ball period.