I've got the J.Arthurs....

[ColinR]

...if you have never been through a phase of hitting shanks, you will not understand how completely soul destroying it really is. At times, I'm terrified of picking up my wedge.

I had a lesson last week, but to be honest, I don't think we got to the root of it. I'm doing everything the pro told me, but last night I went for 6 holes and hit two shanks from inside 100yards. There is something fundamentally wrong with what I'm doing & I have to get it fixed. I've looked at all the YouTube vids, some of them make sense, others are sheer nonsense. My lesson was with the Asst Pro, think I need to move up to the club Pro.

If any of you guys have been through this and come out the other side, tell me it can be done !!

 

[USER1999]

It can be done, but every few years it creeps back. I go through phases of it.

 

[StuartD]

Went through a period of doing it with every iron in the bag. Could not break 100 playing off 6.


Two pro’s tried to get me swinging more upright which if anything seemed to make it worse.

Third pro, who I had known for a number of years, got me back to my flatter swing and stuck a ball under each foot to keep my weight on my heels. If I had one you would virtually have to dig the balls out of the ground as my weight was moving so far forward.

In saying all that I had two on Saturday for the first time in years. The second one was just down to fear. It does not take much to bring the thoughts flooding back

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I had one the other week from nowhere during our weekly roll up. My mates thought it was the funniest thing they had seen all day but I just had this icy cold feeling run through me. I wandered over to the rough to play my next and the club felt like a grenade with the pin out. I literally couldn't remember how to swing.

I must have taken 4-5 practice swings just telling myself it is only 120 yuards, just make a smooth swing and turn properly. In the end I made a quick punchy swing which got the ball out to the front of the green. Was a wreck for the rest of the round and having foregone a drink went straight to the practice ground to figuratively make myself feel clean again and wash the mental scarring away.

Interesting point about the weight at the heel of the foot. I have been told to keep the weight centralised (definitely not as far forward as the balls of the feet) but nver back. Is there a reason for this?

 

[brendy]

Colin Ive had them also and still get the occasionally on the practice grounds, the best advice I can offer is to understand the shanks and you will conquer (sp?) the fear.
If you imagine a hooked ball into the trees, a blocked drive into the water, a shank is no worse nor better than these and are all equally as damaging, Im not afraid of shanking the ball now, I am still conscious that it might happen but I do my damnest to put the best swing possible each time I lift a club, if it shanks then i'll analyse how it happened straight away and try not to repeat that swing for the remainder of the round.
IMPORTANT: DO NOT FEAR IT, even Tiger shanks occasionally, its how you respond each time it happpens that will prove how mentally fit you are to deal with them.

 

[John_Findlay]

Most of us have been through the shanks, Colin, and they're a frightener, to be sure. But if you understand why they happen then there's nothing to fear.

My understanding is simply that if you're hitting the hosel you must be swinging the clubface out further than it was at your address position. There are many many ways to stop this but it's knowing what causes the outward swing in the first place which is the key to the cure.

Good luck. I'm sure you'll sort it out no problem.

 

[StuartD]

Interesting point about the weight at the heel of the foot. I have been told to keep the weight centralised (definitely not as far forward as the balls of the feet) but nver back. Is there a reason for this?

You are quite correct homer, your weight should be centralised and my post should have read "more to the back of the foot". The drill does put excess weight on the heels but it helps you get out of the habit of moving your weight towards the ball

 

[birdieman]

been there got the t-shirt.

If you shank it you get paralysed with fear of the next one and you fall into the vicious circle of shank, fear, shank , more fear etc.
What happens is you get to the top of the backswing ok then as you start down you forget to rotate your hips left and out of the way, they stay rigid from the fear and before you know it you're getting in your own way as you haven't cleared you body out of the way coming in to the strike and 'Roberts your mum's brother' the club head is out of position with the hosel touching the ball first.

Do some practice swings starting with a good balanced set up position keeping nice and loose, key is really focussing on good hip rotation and leading the swing with the body rotation, not the arms. Do this and you will conquer them. Your psyche can get destroyed with this but as long as you understand there is a physical reason for doing them and it's not a voodoo curse your mind will recover too.

Whatever you do don't stand further away from the ball that will only make things worse.

 

[OldWindy]

http://www.videojug.com/film/golf-how-to-stop-shanking

 

[ColinR]

Thanks all, appreciate the feedback and advice.

I went to the range at lunch time and hit 100 balls using 8,9.PW & GW. Had a few of the unmentionables, but stepped back, relaxed and went back for practice swings before hitting the ball again. I think half the problem is getting over the fear of the bloody thing !!

 

[theeaglehunter]

I appreciate how demoralising it is, and I felt the same on my last round when hitting everything fat as I did when I had the shanks. It is more upsetting than frustrating for me. I didn't want to even look at a golf club after my last round and still haven't picked one up. It was only on sunday mind.

 

[DCB]

Having had thm badly recently I can sympathise.

One of the drills I did was short pitch shots 7 - 8 iron from a ball position level with inside of left foot. Try to imaging the impact position (hands) being 2-3 inches ahead of the ball position. Once you've done this and have the feel for it , put a basket in fornt of and outside the right foot to stop you coming in too much from the inside.

Looks really silly on the range, but it does work. Pitching routine does develop good ball contact.

all the best

dave

 

[Nico]

Like most golfers I have been there!! I am still prone to the odd one with the wedges/short irons.

The only cure I have found is to hit the ball with my feet together,trust me,it works!
Keep it smooth and it sorts it,great cure when on the course.

I have even ended up playing 9 holes like this with every shot.

 

[julsk10]

I had a real dose of the shanks last year and went for a lessons with one of the GM top 25 pros. He told me to practice hitting the ball with my feet together and this really helped build confidence back. Still occassionally hit the odd one but have learned to just accept it. The worst thing about a shank ... the next shot!