Ssshhhhh ......the 'S' word.......solutions ?

[Macster]

Had a few 'shanks' creep into my play in the last couple of weeks, no idea why or where from, as I generally hit my irons well.

I remember years ago suffering a bout of this terribly, and if I recall, it was as I was getting too close to the ball in setup.

Whats everyone's take on the matter pls ? Tips ?

 

[brendy]

I suffer occasionally too, I read and proved to myself that it wasn't standing too close as I was able to stand even closer and hit the ball better than ever. I think my problem was moving my arms and hands (and club effectively) away from myself on the down swing meaning I wasn't hitting the club face but the hozzle instead.
I havn't had one in a few rounds and the last time it happened, it felt like an involuntary movement so not sure how I managed it but it didn't happen again that day.

 

[Dodger]

I'll cure you no probs.....address the ball out the back of the irons hosel so that the ball is effectively between you and the clubhead and swing away,the swing path you will take will cure you in an instance and you can soon go back to addressing the ball in your normal way.Try it I promise you it will work.

 

[Robobum]

Just look at it logically Chris, if you set up with the ball in the middle of the clubface, to hit the hosel the club is returning to the ball further from your body than at address.

Could be because you are too close and have to throw the club out from the top to get out of the way of your body & legs. Could be because you are too far away.

Go back to the basics and check set up, ball position, alignment, grip etc.

If all else fails......PANIC....or see your Pro!!

 

[RGDave]

Damn silly business.

I got in the bunker the other day with my new Vokey, thinned 4 out of the first 10, almost no hope.

Then dropped another 10 and got about 7 out nicely

Dropped another 10 and S****** the lot.....

I now have scratches and ugly marks on my new club...

 

[mono217]

Its either where your placing the ball in your stance or your standing too close to the ball. I'd go see your pro.

 

[brendy]

Just a thought Dodger, would that not encourage you to cut.fade every iron then?

 

[Dodger]

shank is caused by an in to out swing path this gives you the opposite.I had a wee bout a few years back and pro gave me the drill and worked straight off and anyone whos suffered since I have given them this pointer and it has worked.

 

[brendy]

I am not doubting it as the theory is spot on, I think I tended to hit them when trying too hard to hit a slinging draw round trees or on a less than flat lie. Video jug and Rickard Strongert are helping immensely haha!

 

[Herbie]

This is sometimes the psychological thing here, dodgers idea does work for a number of reasons but one is your brain thinking one thing conciously and another sub-conciously. You might think it wont work but then when you try your brain corrects it.

 

[birdieman]

I get cursed from time to time too, best drill I have found to work is hitting balls with a sand iron right handed only when practicing.

What this does is make you clear your hips rotating well on the downswing rather than sliding hips toward target - that is a main cause for shanking.

Give it a try just swinging smoothly, in order to swing the club one handed, because it's quite heavy, you initiate the downswing with the hips and torso first, not the arms.

If you get the unmentionables on course just swing one handed for a few practice swings between shots focusing on a good hip turn particularly on the downswing. Clearing the body out of the way is key to good ball striking.

It really does work and will get rid of that awful fear all shankers know about.

Dodgers method also works I think by making the swing steeper which forces a better shoulder turn.

Shanking is an 'arms working separately from the body' issue much of the time I believe.

Good fundamentals such as correct balance and takeway are key - get them looked at professionally if you can.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

birdieman

Thank you. I was trying to picture why I'd been having trouble with my pitches after I'd had my pitching lessona and changed my set up etc. It was because I was letting the arms do to much work and not synchronised with my body.I can see it clearly in my minds eye now the right and the wrong swing. The problem with the shank is that it comes from nowhere and for the most part the swing feels exactly the same as all the others you have made which have been fine.

 

[007chappie]

I suffered the very same problem last month, only it was chronic!
Daft as it sounds, try not playing for a couple of weeks. Granted, I could only do it because I was away working, but when I came back the shanks had gone and I played some pretty good golf

 

[Macster]

Actually, thats a fair point chappie, I do find that playing quite a lot tends to invite these things on

In fact, I've said many times that I 'should play less more often'
....it sometimes works wonders !

 

[CrapHacker]

shank is caused by an in to out swing path this gives you the opposite.I had a wee bout a few years back and pro gave me the drill and worked straight off and anyone whos suffered since I have given them this pointer and it has worked.

I spoke to my old pro about it years ago, so my memory could be wrong.

But I've got it in my mind that, for me, the shanks were caused by me casting the club from the top, and cutting across the ball, out to in.

Which is pretty much the opposite of what you're saying, isn't it ?