Reasons for the dreaded J Arthur's ?

[Deleted member 1147]

Morning all,
I played in our captains day medal on sunday. After a poor start of 3 bogeys in a row I was 2 over par after 13 holes. But then it started, I shanked one on the 14th tee with a 7 iron, hit one out of the heal on the 15 using a 3 wood and shanked a 6 iron off the 16th tee.

Leaving me to finish 8 over par. I'm happy as it has bought me back down to 8.3, but it could have been so much better.

So, anyone know any reasons for the shanks, especially someone who hasn't had one out on the course for years?

 

[Macster]

I usually find its because I have crept too close, only a smidge can make the difference.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

From my limited swing knowledge it is caused by an excessive out to in or in to out path that results in the hosel being presented to the ball.

If your swing is from too far inside, one of the best cures I've found is to put a headcover just to the right of the ball and make your swing. Conversely if you come too far OTT put the cover just inside the ball. The aim is to swing normally and avoid the cover which gives you a visual image to focus on.

Someone else (Smiffy I think but don't hold me to that) advocates a three ball routine which I think from memory involves placing a ball either side of the one you are going to hit and the aim is to not send the others hurtling around the range or practice ground.

I'm sure bobmac or one of the better golfers will be able to give you far more on this soul destroying shot and how to get rid of it but I hope this helps

 

[USER1999]

For me, if I take the club back on the inside, then I shank it on the way back.

 

[jeffc]

Looking at it from a different angle, seeing as you played 13 holes well are you getting tired towards the end of a round.
I know it depends on age,fitness etc but I'm a great believer that you should eat and drink something throughout a round of golf. It's a game with such a fine line between brilliant and horrendous so IMO it's worth considering.
Personally I nibble at energy bars and always keep sipping water and/or an energy drink.

 

[Dodger]

I'll cure you in seconds.......address the ball with the hosel past the ball and swing.....I promise you that you will not shank.

 

[Deleted member 1147]

Thanks for the advice folks.
My main problem is that I don't want to think about it too much, and worry so much it makes me do it all the more. But I want to sort it out as it's a card wrecker. You wouldn't believe how well I played & thought my way around the course until the 14th. As +2 after 13 with absolutely no good luck is pretty good going in my book.
Cheers

 

[birdieman]

A pro I saw told me there are 13 different reasons for shanking. Unless you are great at analysing your own swing you need to see an expert.

I had J Arthurs destroyingly bad for half the 2004 season, I was close to giving up and loathed golf during that time but kept coming back. I read all the books, looked at internet fixes, tried all the tips.
In the end I visited a PGA pro, not something I'd done ever before. He watched me hit balls for about a minute and see me shank about half the balls I hit.
He cured me in, I kid you not, less than 2 minutes!

I felt like I'd been cured of leprosy by JC I was that happy! 2 small things to remember had me back in the groove instantly.

Felt really stupid I didn't go along sooner.

 

[patricks148]

I find I sh*nk it when my swing path is too shallow.

 

[ColinR]

A pro I saw told me there are 13 different reasons for shanking. Unless you are great at analysing your own swing you need to see an expert.

I had J Arthurs destroyingly bad for half the 2004 season, I was close to giving up and loathed golf during that time but kept coming back. I read all the books, looked at internet fixes, tried all the tips.
In the end I visited a PGA pro, not something I'd done ever before. He watched me hit balls for about a minute and see me shank about half the balls I hit.
He cured me in, I kid you not, less than 2 minutes!

I felt like I'd been cured of leprosy by JC I was that happy! 2 small things to remember had me back in the groove instantly.

Felt really stupid I didn't go along sooner.

So what were the two things.....c'mon spill the beans !

 

[birdieman]

A pro I saw told me there are 13 different reasons for shanking. Unless you are great at analysing your own swing you need to see an expert.

I had J Arthurs destroyingly bad for half the 2004 season, I was close to giving up and loathed golf during that time but kept coming back. I read all the books, looked at internet fixes, tried all the tips.
In the end I visited a PGA pro, not something I'd done ever before. He watched me hit balls for about a minute and see me shank about half the balls I hit.
He cured me in, I kid you not, less than 2 minutes!

I felt like I'd been cured of leprosy by JC I was that happy! 2 small things to remember had me back in the groove instantly.

Felt really stupid I didn't go along sooner.

So what were the two things.....c'mon spill the beans !

The 2 things were specific to what I was doing wrong, they aren't a cure for shanks per se.
For me it was taking the clubhead back at least 18" on the target line whilst not rolling the clubface open. The other was being able to lift my heels off the ground at address - formerly my weight was back such that I couldn't do that. Weight needed to be on balls of feet so I could lift heels and toes at address.

Nowadays when I get the very occassional 'hosel rocket' it's not because of the 2 reasons above but because my hip rotation turns into a hip slide- I have to clear my body out of the way of the ball better at times. I find a few right arm only practice swings make me do this.

 

[thinrib]

I feel for you. I'm by no means to the standard of most of you guys (playing off 18) but I have absolute faith I can half my handicap if I can shake the sh*nks - last week I shot 82 without one shank - just plain simple golf. My question was around height though. I'm 6'6" and find my ball striking is consistently on the heel half of the club face. I'm never sure whether I'm standing too close to the ball, rolling on to my toes on the down swing, etc. Any thoughts for tall golfers?

Cheers

 

[RGDave]

Talking of the dreaded shot....would anyone care to describe what would happen if you did the "hozel thing" with a metal wood?

I had 2 shots in Sundays game when the ball (with a fairway wood off the tee) hardly got off the ground and went about 30 degrees left cutting daisies before ploughing into the rough.

I reckon they were effectively sh****

 

[brendy]

I used to suffer badly from the shanks but have come to see them in the same light as a pull, hook, push and thin.
I dont fear hooking two in a row as I know it wont happen. it's the same mentality with shanking, I made a bad swing/stance so next shot I go back to my normal swing. Its easier to look at it this way as my normal swing doesnt result in a shank so put the last one down to a plain old bad setup and swing.