Shanking Fixes for Beginner Golfers
- 1: Check Your Set Up If you set up too close to the golf ball, your arms don’t have enough room to move away from the...
- 2: Weight Shift Another cause of the shank is moving your weight during the chip shot or improper weight shift during a...
- 3: Scooping
How do you fix a shank on a golf ball?
The absolute easiest way to fix a shank, is by doing the following drill: Place two golfballs, with a little less than a golfball size in-between, as shown on the left picture below. The goal is to hit the front ball, and DONT hit the rear ball during the shot.
Can you fix a shanking chip shot?
But if we don’t face the reality of our shank shots, we can’t fix them. And that includes shanking chip shots. You can find a lot of advice out there if you want to stop shanking the ball on a full swing. But those full swing golf shots aren’t the only places in your game where a hosel rocket can break your heart.
What does it mean to Shank a golf chip?
Here is a classic example of a shanked chip shot: When you hit the golf ball off the hosel, the ball travels super low and far to the right, assuming you’re right-handed. If you’re left-handed, the ball veers to the left. To put it another way, a golf shank is the quickest way to turn one of the most popular sports into a frustrating pastime.
Is shanking the golf ball still a problem?
While shanking the golf ball may be one of the most heartbreaking challenges of chipping, it’s not the only issue golfers struggle with. To learn about other mistakes that could be plaguing your chips shots, check out this great advice. We also invite you to share your thoughts in the comments below.
What causes a shank in golf when chipping?
Shanking is when you hit the ball on the inside of your club. More specifically, you catch the ball on the hosel, back towards the heel of the club face. When you do this, the ball shoots straight off to the right (for a right-handed golfer).
What is the fastest way to fix a shank?
5 ways to get rid of the shanks, according to Top 100 TeachersTry to miss the ball on the inside. The shanks are caused by an open club face and a cast pattern during transition and release 95 percent of the time. ... Stand farther from the ball. ... Stay tall through the swing. ... Focus on the inside of the ball. ... Have a drink.
What is the main cause of a shank in golf?
The shank happens because the clubface is closed and the toe of the club hits into the ground producing a long, skinny divot. Again, the shank happens because the club is dramatically shut at impact NOT open. It's hard for most golfers to imagine the ball going that far right with a closed face.
How do you correct a shank?
1:031:57Butch Harmon on How To Fix The Shanks | Golf Lessons | Golf DigestYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAll you have to do is take your head cover off your driver. Bring it over here and put it right nextMoreAll you have to do is take your head cover off your driver. Bring it over here and put it right next to the ball. Just so the toe of the club is almost touching the head cover.
Why do I suddenly start shanking?
The main cause of shanking the golf ball is a strike that is too far out of the heel of the club, close to the hosel. This generally comes about because your set up is too close to the ball, or you tip forward towards the ball during the swing.
How do I stop shanking my driver?
How To Stop Shanking a Golf BallCheck your set up. ... Make sure that you have little tension in your arms and hands because that is the number one cause of shanking. ... Make corrections to your swing if you are either cutting across the ball or taking an inside-out swing at the ball, because both can result in a shank.More items...
What swing flaw causes a shank?
Because the ball darts right, most golfers think an open clubface causes the shank. But shanks usually come from an excessively closed face. The player swings out to in with the face closing hard -- both actions push the hosel closer to the ball (top). If the hosel catches the ball, it's shank city.
Why do the shanks keep coming back?
It often comes when the clubface is too open on the backswing, which causes you to loop the club to the outside coming down—called swinging over the top. This re-routing can move the hosel closer to the ball, leading to a shank. It also can cause a shift onto your toes, another shank producer. Here's what to check.
Can standing too close to the ball cause a shank?
Standing too close to the golf ball will result in a posture that's too upright, which could result in inconsistent shots and no control over the ball. Standing too close to the ball can result in slices and shanks, which are very common among average players.
Why do good players Shank?
One of the main reasons for the “shank” is the player swings excessively steep and downward into the golf ball. This means that from the top of the swing, the club shaft gets very vertical coming down, and there is nowhere to go but down on top of the ball, usually with the hosel of the golf club.
Can grip cause shanks?
The weakness inherent in this grip can cause the clubface to remain open at impact, again leading to the dreaded shank. To fix the problem, strengthen your grip position by turning your left hand more to the right (as the photo shows).
How to fix a shank in golf?
The absolute easiest way to fix a shank, is by doing the following drill: Place two golfballs, with a little less than a golfball size in-between, as shown on the left picture below. The goal is to hit the front ball, and DONT hit the rear ball during the shot.
Why should the arms be hanging straight down from the shoulders?
If you are to close to the ball before starting your motion, there is a great chance of the club moving away from the body due to the lack of space through the impact zone. A good guideline for most players is that from a relaxed, bend forward position, the arms should be hanging straight down from the shoulders.
What does shanking mean in golf?
Shanking is when you hit the ball on the inside of your club. More specifically, you catch the ball on the hosel, back towards the heel of the club face. When you do this, the ball shoots straight off to the right (for a right-handed golfer).
Why do golfers shank wedges?
I see a lot of golfers shanking wedges because they drag the club head inside on the backswing. To put it another way, they work the clubhead back so it’s on the same plane as their body, instead of a swing path that is straight back and straight through.
How to swing a wedge?
First, remember these two essential tips: 1 Take your wedge setup with the club in a neutral position. 2 Swing the club straight back and straight through. ( Here are more tips for nailing your swing motion.)
How to put a wedge on the ground?
Lay the alignment rod on the ground alongside your ball. The rod should be pointed at the target with the ball at the center of the rod. Place a tee at either end of the alignment rod. Remove the rod. Take your wedge setup, with the shaft in a neutral position, ball position middle to slightly back in your stance.
What happens when your hands are too far forward?
When your hands are too far forward, you force the club to lean forward as well. This rotates the clubface open to the right (if you’re right-handed) and exposes the heel on the downswing. Inevitably, that heel is going to hit your golf ball and send it shooting off to the right.
What is the most common way a golfer shanks the golf ball?
This is a swing path where the golf club gets over the top of the swing plane with the golf club coming down steep in the downswing. As the swing speeds up in the downswing the clubhead moves outside of the golf ball before it gets to the impact zone.
Where is the sweet spot on a golf club?
The sweet spot is actually about 2 inches from the hosel which is not in line with the handle that you are holding.
What happens when the right hand gets too strong?
This happens when the right-hand gets too strong and pushes against the shaft forcing the clubhead to reach the golf ball before the hands. The hands will unhinge too quickly and roll underneath causing a scooping action through the impact zone bringing the hosel into play for a shank to occur.
Does it matter if the clubface is open or closed?
It doesn’t matter if the clubface is open or shut, a golf shank can still occur. Remember this, because often golfers mistake a golf shank with the face position which has nothing to do with it and you could end spending hours trying to fix the wrong root cause of the problem.
How to swing a golf club at home?
First thing you have to do is take a break from the course. You need some alone time to sort this out on the range. Start by checking in on a few basics. Make sure you’re standing tall with your chest up during the swing, don’ t hold the club too tightly, and make sure your weight isn’t sneaking up toward your toes.
Can you talk about shanks?
You don't even want to talk about the shanks for fear bringing the subject up will cause you to catch them. But like it or not, you might find yourself in a situation where you're going to want to know a solution. Though awful, the plague of the shanks is curable.
