PHILIPNB

BlackSale Interesting comments you make. I've persuaded a couple of guys (who shank) to pull back their trail foot a little. One said it made him either push the ball or draw too much. The important thing is that shoulders must stay square. The only time I shank now (rarely) is if I forget to set up with trail foot back a little. Golf is all about physics. If by doing the above, the hip and knee have further to travel towards the ball and the hosel just doesn't get chance to reach the ball because the right hip and knee at setup are already further from the ball by about 1 or 2 inches. This increased travel distance is critical and is the difference between hitting the hosel or the sweet spot. (for me anyway!) I've had the shanks for two years with lessons from three professionals and what I worked out for myself is the only thing that has consistently worked! Happy days!

My iron shots have never been great but recently I tried closing my stance (lead foot forward 3" slightly flared out) but keeping shoulders square. In addition I also closed the face but only very slightly. The result was excellent, sweet spot strikes with 8 or 10 consecutive straight shots on the range. Whether or not this is a compensation for a slight out to in swing, I don't know (and don't care!). To gauge the amount of face closure, I put myself into impact position with the face square, ie weight on lead foot, hips opening, shaft forward but then simply return to address, the face naturally closes slightly... leave it like that and swing. The face is then square at impact. The main reason I closed my stance was to try to eliminate the shank when using wedges or even up to a 7 or 8. Like many other golfers, my shank was due to my right knee and hip moving toward the ball. I find now if I set up everything all square then pull back my trail foot by 2" or 3", my shots are solid, straight, and the shank has gone. The fear of standing on a par 3 or a short wedge in on a par 5, knowing a shank is imminent has disappeared. This works simply because I've given my trail hip further to travel toward the ball and the hosel never gets as far as the ball. I've had lessons on the shank but no-one has suggested just pulling back the trail foot. Try it, it works!