Invasion of the shanks

[Slicer30]

Playing in our weekly 4 ball on Saturday was coming down the par 4 9th having played 38 shots.

100 yds from the green with par to get in for 40 or safe bogey for a good 41 for the front nine.

Shanked my first attempt into the ditch/hedge about 60 feet from the green. Should have dropped from the hazard, but elected to drop "tin cup" style and reload. Another shank another wet ball.

Eneded up with a 9 for 45 which was right on my handicap, but the doubt had creeped in and the shanks were there for the rest of the day.

Every one of the remaining 9 holes had at least 1. First time they have appeared mid round and everything I tried failed. In one attempt tostop the ball goin right I hooked it left. Just had to apologise to the playing partners and carry on.

Heading to he Driving range at lunch time to try and work out the problem.

This happened anyone before? an invasion of shanks whilst you are playing well.

 

[patricks148]

Yep got them last year won the medal the week before and playing well. Open, the following week, monster opening drive 100 to go, sh*nk oob, reload same again, 9 on the first hole. The proceeded to drive the ball straight down the middle and sh*nk the next shot except for the par five where i hit 3 wood, 17 deg hybrid, 17 deg hybrid, for par. to cut a long story short 28 over par for 8 holes without missing the fairway with the driver. Walked off taken my a year to get rid of them, but still the odd one on the practice ground. So i just don't go to the practice ground anymore

 

[USER1999]

It's a confidence thing. You still need to put a committed swing on it, and hit through the ball. The moment you don't commit, then you will shank it. Every time. Get your hands through the ball, and clear your hips out of the way.

Ruined my last medal. Par, par, par, treble. Shanked a 5i into the woods on the par 3 fourth.

 

[Slicer30]

Patricks - sounds similar to me, Driving and short game were decent

Murph- Agree its a confidence thing. By the 14th I had lost all confidence. I think my backswing consisted of 4 separate movements and the club fell onto the ball rather than swinging through it.

heading out the door now, perfect scenario being I am shanking when I get there and not shanking when I leave.

Worst case scenario - hitting 59 lovely strikes and shanking my last ball!!

 

[bobmac]

Step back an inch and lift the hands a touch

 

[SirSliceAlot]

Agree with Bob. I am certainly no expert but when I had a bout of the shanks, mainly with my wedges, I found out through watching youtube videos that I was simply standing too close to the ball. So I gave myself a bit more room, couple of inches or so, and it hasn't happened again!

 

[Slicer30]

Bob - spot on.

Turns out I was too close to the ball. Been a problem for me trying to work out how far to stand from the ball.

resorted to lining my toes up with the end of the grip while my hands are lowered directly down from my shoulders and presto! the irons were flying again.

there were a few slices but not shanks. so worth the trip.

 

[Cmansdad]

Had an awful attack of the shanks a couple of years ago, we had got into the final of the pairs summer knock out at our club, played 5 holes well then had a 7 iron aproach to the 6th which was shanked into the adjacent field followed by the next ball. Then like you had many more. We lost the final on the 14th having been 1up after 5. I can honestly say it was the most horrible experience.

For me its a swing path issue that i still suffer with occasionally.

At the time i was off 11 and really thought i would get down to single figs but i have drifted back up to 13. I can't say the shanks are the only or main reason I have struggled (lack of proper practice is) but they do have an effect on your confidence which can creep into the rest of your game.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Had a whole round of them round Maidenhead last year in the Volvo knockout. Started with the 9 iron into the 1st and went from there. Got so bad I was doing everything except make solid contact. We had shanks, tops, thins, hook and slices and very nearly a complete air shot. Once the head went I was a dead man walking and tried to be too careful instead of just swinging throught it. Awful, truly awful and I wouldn't have wished it on anyone

 

[SocketRocket]

In my experience the problem is due to the hozel leading the clubface so that the face is wide open. Working on rotating the clubface into impact normally sorts it out.

 

[Imurg]

Only time I've really got them was the day of Princess Di's Funeral. Clashed with a Medal so HID watched that and I played. Got to the 11th and sha*ked 5 in a row OB.
Stopped playing there and then, walked round to mark my partners card and NR'd the comp - only time I've done it.

Never been back since.........

 

[Tommo21]

Started getting them mid season and been with me for a while now. The worst one was on the 3rd Dunbar, put it over the pros shop into heavy rough, hacked out backwards to get as far as the path, nicked it short of the green then took three to get down. 6 on a par three. Two other shanks cost me on the front nine that day, but I still got it round in 79....in a medal too.

But it rips the heart out your game though and I'm still getting the odd one.

 

[chris661]

I get them often enough now and it sucks. The thing is I know why I do it, it is really laziness on my part but it is an absolute heead wrecker when they come. At least it keeps my playing partners amused though

 

[Parmo]

I am suffering from them but I find some people who call a shank but its a slice/push rather than a 45* straight shank.

Anyone else found this?