You start a round and then… shankkkk

[taxgolf]

It happens to me once or twice (lucky me) in a year. I'll explain.

 

Last week i was at a club. I got to speak with the club pro who also fis a fitter. Track Man and a Pure system in the house. We talked about clubs. He showed me his clubs, which were PXG. Which I thought were impossible to get in Europe, let alone Holland. He let me hit a few balls. So impressed with those clubs, and happy, it felt nice. My round was about to start, so I wanted to hit a few balls, And offcourse it happened. First ball on the range, shank. and again again. I quickly stepped away, tried to loose my tension.

 

It never got better in the round, even shanked a wedge. Somehow, when I hit a shank in a round, I can not get rid of it. The one shank I can handlle, but when you start a round and I top the driver and shank the next one, I know it is going to be a horrible round. 

 

How the H!@LL do you stop it when you hit 2 shanks in a row? What is the quickest fix? First thing I do is breath! Just breath in and out, try to relax. But I really would like to know how to stop it.

[Patch]

I have read that a shank is caused by a lot poor swing issues. I have also read that some pro swing gurus won't tuch a player with the shanks. A grain of salt fits nicely with those sayings. 

Myself,  I have shanked shots before. I expect to shank more in the future. Most of mine show up when I am using my wedges, with most of those showing up when I am practicing. 

The one thing that has always helped me to get over the shanks is to revisit my one piece take away, and get that part of my swing back in order. Even if it 's just a half swing, if I get my take away under control, I don't shank the next shot . I suspect when I do shank a shot, there is more than one problem causing me to shank. My correct take away seems to fix all the problems that might be causing the issue. 

I have always thought that with all poor shots, the golfer would do well to understand why they hit these poor shots, just as much as knowing they  hit the good ones. I'd suggest you read up on the swing flaws that cause the shanks. If you know the whys, then you have head start fixing the problem(s). 

 

 

[DrvFrShow]

You should have seen me on the range before my last round. Chunk. chunk. chunk. skull. shank. dead miss. I hit like a dozen shots in a row that didn't go anywhere. they were rollers ... and they were my last 12 shots before I headed to the putting green. I almost parred the first hole. almost parred the 2nd hole. parred the 3rd with a sand save. Sure I hit a dog of a shot here and there, but nothing out of the ordinary. I was getting nGIRs. So apparently it was just stuff on the range.

[DeadMan]

Here's a drill that should fix it quick:

 

Another version is to address the outside ball and hit the inside ball. 

Best way to fix it in the long term, though, is to correct the problem in the swing that's causing the shanks. It could be a lot of things, but if you post a my swing thread with video, we can all help you out.

[taxgolf]

Thanks.

Funny thing, it comes out of nowhere. 2 years ago, I had a great golf month in September and October. Season coming to an end, weather started to get worse. End October, a nice weatherforecast, so I could play 9 holes. Everything was fine, hit al the shots on the range. Hit a fine one from the tee, and then, bamm. I laughed, but ended up shanking allmost every shot. Didn't touch a club for 3 months. What I remembered mostly, that I could not control my emotions. 

[Rainmaker]

This will definitely happen to me when I'm working on my swing a lot.  I feel like it's because I either get "confused" during my swing or because I am reverting to some old move which is incompatible with the new ones. 

It's usually not much of a problem in practice but, if it is, I go to video to see where I'm going wrong.

It's when it pops up on the course that's the trouble.  The only thing I've found that remotely works is way easier said than done . .but just forget it.  Don't allow yourself to ask "why did you just shank that one".  You're normal good swing doesn't make a shank so focus on "DOING" that and not on "NOT SHANKING".  Letting go of anger is key because sometimes I just can't fix it.  The best chance I have, though . .is to forget about it and just hit the next shot as if my last one was perfect. 

A guy gave me a on-course trick once that worked a little - which is to step back a few inches from the ball so you have to reach for it a bit in your downswing.  Putting that mental focus on reaching for the ball seems to help in the short term.

[Buckeyebowman]

The hardest shot to hit in golf is the next shot after a dead shank! There are a number of things that can cause a shank. A couple are not keeping your legs and hips "in the shot", and just flinging the clubhead at the ball. Another is not staying over your feet and falling into the ball. I generally only suffer these problems when I have a 40-50-60 yard partial wedge to the green, but that's my particular malady.

[Odogesq]

Hello! Every now and then I will shank a ball too. Frankly, if you play enough golf I think your bound to hit a shank or two. Even happens to the pros. That said, a shank is the result of coming into the ball with the hosel. The cause can be a lot of things, but generally it's the result of standing too close to the ball. If you are not giving yourself enough space to swing the club through the tendency will be to come in on the hosel. When I first started playing I had a tendency to shank. My pro had me step away from the ball and take my address position feeling like I'm reaching for the ball. Probably 1-2 inches ahead of where I placed it. When I swung through I had plenty of room to swing the clubhead into the ball. Its not a permanent fix, but if you get the shanks again, try moving away from the ball a few inches on the next few shots to get the feel of making good contact. Then go take a lesson and tell.the pro you shank one every now and then and see what suggestions they have to improving your swing. Good luck! A shank is the worst.

[Rainmaker]

On 6/7/2016 at 10:44 PM, Odogesq said:

Hello! Every now and then I will shank a ball too. Frankly, if you play enough golf I think your bound to hit a shank or two. Even happens to the pros. That said, a shank is the result of coming into the ball with the hosel. The cause can be a lot of things, but generally it's the result of standing too close to the ball. If you are not giving yourself enough space to swing the club through the tendency will be to come in on the hosel. When I first started playing I had a tendency to shank. My pro had me step away from the ball and take my address position feeling like I'm reaching for the ball. Probably 1-2 inches ahead of where I placed it. When I swung through I had plenty of room to swing the clubhead into the ball. Its not a permanent fix, but if you get the shanks again, try moving away from the ball a few inches on the next few shots to get the feel of making good contact. Then go take a lesson and tell.the pro you shank one every now and then and see what suggestions they have to improving your swing. Good luck! A shank is the worst.

I disagree . .not with 99% of your post . .only the last sentence.  A shank is no big deal.  It's just a miss like any other.  It's no worse than a big slice or a top or a fat.  In fact, a shank can be a sign of good things.  I *love* the 5 Keys approach the the swing . .not that I'm an expert on it or anything.  But if you develop one of the 5 keys way ahead of the others - like a perfect key 2 but a bad key 5 and 4 . .or a perfect key 1 but a bad key 2 . . you may shank it.  Doesn't mean you're not doing something good, though.  But shanking in practice and shanking on the course are 2 different things . .to fix shanking on the course, you just need to relax or, like you said, take a step away from the ball or otherwise "trick" your mind into distraction.  Because if you were literally shanking everything in practice no matter what, let's face it. . you wouldn't be on the course . .so you know how not to shank it.  There's nothing to be learned from analyzing your last on-course shot (edit:swing) . .just step up to the ball and hit it. 

Edited June 11, 2016 by Rainmaker

[amoline]

In my own swing, I find that my "shank causing death move" is nearly always head movement towards the target. Even by a few inches and your path is moved and your risk for a terribly miss increases substantially. The problem for me gets exasperated because if I shank it, I'll think on the next swing "OK, hit it at all costs -- hit it fat if you have to, just no thin shank" and that causes me to go caveman on the ball and makes the head movement even worse, even more increasing the likelihood of a shank.

Just my two pennies. Worst scenario, I'll address it off the toe 

[newtogolf]

I had this happen yesterday, was hitting the ball well on the grass range but didn't feel "comfortable".  My ball flight was good but I felt like I was struggling to find the right swing path and slot.  This is usually a bad indicator of how the round will go because my swing deteriorates more from the range to the course (I don't know why) and sure enough, the first drive was a slice followed by a shank and then a decent shot.  I fought my swing for 9 holes before calling it a day. 

[dchoye]

Happens to me about twice a year  lately it's with the wedges . Sometimes I start off with chipping technique and have my hands high and want a steeper swing then I change my mind mid swing and shallow out and hosel the ball 

Edited June 11, 2016 by dchoye

[Dave2512]

I don't hit a shank often but when I do it's on the range after exaggerating motions with drills or when I get handsy around the greens with a partial shot instead of doing what I know works.

[Odogesq]

On 6/10/2016 at 9:36 PM, Rainmaker said:

I disagree . .not with 99% of your post . .only the last sentence.  A shank is no big deal.  It's just a miss like any other.  It's no worse than a big slice or a top or a fat.  In fact, a shank can be a sign of good things.  I *love* the 5 Keys approach the the swing . .not that I'm an expert on it or anything.  But if you develop one of the 5 keys way ahead of the others - like a perfect key 2 but a bad key 5 and 4 . .or a perfect key 1 but a bad key 2 . . you may shank it.  Doesn't mean you're not doing something good, though.  But shanking in practice and shanking on the course are 2 different things . .to fix shanking on the course, you just need to relax or, like you said, take a step away from the ball or otherwise "trick" your mind into distraction.  Because if you were literally shanking everything in practice no matter what, let's face it. . you wouldn't be on the course . .so you know how not to shank it.  There's nothing to be learned from analyzing your last on-course shot (edit:swing) . .just step up to the ball and hit it. 

I completely agree, when I said a shank is the worse, I meant it's one of the worse kind of shot you can hit on the golf course, mainly because you get no distance and usually end up some here at a 90 degree angle of where you started. At least with a big slice or hook you end I further down the fairway, and even if it goes OB you are taking a drop somewhere further down than from where you started. A shank, on the other hand, is the golf equivalent of an own-goal in soccer, IMHO.

[bplewis24]

On 6/5/2016 at 6:27 PM, DeadMan said:

Here's a drill that should fix it quick:

 

Another version is to address the outside ball and hit the inside ball. 

Best way to fix it in the long term, though, is to correct the problem in the swing that's causing the shanks. It could be a lot of things, but if you post a my swing thread with video, we can all help you out.

Similar (in effect) to advice I was given by a teaching pro a few years back.  He basically said if you start shanking it on the course (always been a nemesis of mine with my gap wedge, which I use for shots 80-110 yards), try to consciously hit the ball off the toe on the next shot.  The visual aid of a secondary ball outside of the path will probably be more helpful.

[mcanadiens]

On 6/5/2016 at 4:03 PM, taxgolf said:

Last week i was at a club. I got to speak with the club pro who also fis a fitter. Track Man and a Pure system in the house. We talked about clubs. He showed me his clubs, which were PXG. Which I thought were impossible to get in Europe, let alone Holland. He let me hit a few balls. So impressed with those clubs, and happy, it felt nice. My round was about to start, so I wanted to hit a few balls, And offcourse it happened. First ball on the range, shank. and again again. I quickly stepped away, tried to loose my tension.

A few weeks ago, I had the bright idea to pit my current 7-iron with a 7-iron that came with a bag I purchased some time ago. I hit 10 or so normal shots with my gamer. Then hit a dozen with the other. After switching back, I shanked the remainder of my bucket. 

It was horrible, but no trace of the shanks my next time out.

[EMC2144]

So, this year I have been playing the best golf of my short time (2 years). Was shooting mid 80s to low 90s. Then it all went wrong. I like to blame getting hit in the wrist by a stray golf ball, but I know it's more sinister. I've got the shanks. Some of it I believes come from a swing and grip change at the advice from my pro. He had me play the ball further forward with a weaker grip, which helped counter the heavy draw I got with the ball forward (which did add about 15 yards on my 7 iron (not that I was complaining about 170yds). Well, I hurt my back and then had a bad few holes, and my wrist started to bother me, and now I'm falling apart. The only clubs I can hit well are my wood (now only my 5 since my 3 broke) and my lob wedge. I'm wondering if part of it is the offset on my irons. I would think they should help but if my non offset clubs are working, why aren't my offset ones? I occasionally hit good shots with a short swing (like a punch without trying to keep it down), but I lose 15-20 yards. I think it is 80% mental and a bit physical, with my ailing body and also losing weight, which has helped me increase swing speed by 8mph which I think may be messing with my rhythm? Some of my shanks even feel off the toe, but I don't even trust my own judgement.

Any advice so I can actually get back out on the course?  I'll try to do video this weekend when I can get my girlfriend to go to the range with me, but I'm hoping for a stop-gap since my company plays on Fridays. Just something to get me to the around green so I can use my wedge and putter, which miraculously improved with my normally good iron game falling apart. 

[Aflighter]

Try hitting behind ball more and what I mean is, when addressing ball, ground club head atleast inch or more from ball instead of right up at ball.seems to keep hosel from contacting ball.