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how to hit a golf ball without shanking

by Mr. Major Stark Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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To stop shanking the golf ball you need to ensure you are striking the ball with the centre of the club, not the hosel. For many people, this will require standing a little farther away from the ball at address or moving weight more into the heels of your feet. A good swing thought is to try and hit the ball more out of the toe of the golf club.

Raise the golf club about 2 feet above the ball, and take your normal back-swing and note its plane. Then on your downswing, keep your plane below it all the way through to the finish. By doing this, you will be less likely to shank the ball.

Full Answer

How do you hit a shank in golf?

“To hit a shank all that needs to have happened is that the distance between your body and the ball created when you set up has shortened by a thumb width – 2cm (1 inch) or so while turning and hitting the shot – the result is that the ball hits the hosel first and goes shooting off sideways”.

How to avoid shanking the ball with the trailing hand?

If you push or get the trailing hand too active you will force the clubhead outside and closed which is the recipe for shanking. Placing a cardboard box just outside the ball is a good motivator to stay off the hosel during your practice. Good luck. Reply Tomsays: August 16, 2017 at 8:30 am

How to hit a golf ball?

Before we start with the steps of how to hit a golf ball, let’s go over some of the basic golf lingo. Stance – The position of your feet and legs as you prepare to hit the ball. Your stance will provide the foundation of your entire swing, from backswing to follow through.

Can you dip your arms when shanking a golf ball?

That’s possible as you will then be closer to the ground and hence closer to the ball with no room to extend the arms fully into impact without hitting the hose. It’s possible you can still dip down as long as you keep your hands out in front of the shaft with a bowing in the lead wrist. Look at part 3 in the shanking info as it might apply to you.

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How do I stop shanking the golf ball?

2:066:17GOLF SHANK CURE - How to Stop Shanking the Golf Ball - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe same direction as the club head so the handle and the club head move the same direction right soMoreThe same direction as the club head so the handle and the club head move the same direction right so set here move them the same direction notice the difference.

Why do I keep shanking my golf ball?

More often than not, a shank occurs when a player's weight gets too far onto the toes, causing a lean forward. Instead of the center of the clubface striking the ball—as you intended at address—the hosel makes contact with your Titleist, and—cover your ears and guard your soul—a shank occurs.

How do I stop shanking in 5 minutes?

0:2812:50HOW TO STOP SHANKING IN 5 MINUTES (don't miss this fix)YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipIn like five minutes. Okay you just gotta understand it. And then apply that the fix to your swing.MoreIn like five minutes. Okay you just gotta understand it. And then apply that the fix to your swing. And then all of a sudden you're gonna stop shanking.

Why am I shanking the ball all of a sudden?

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.

Why can't I stop shanking the ball?

It is possible that you are standing too close to the ball, and the primary cause is incorrect posture. To cure this, allow your arms to hang toward the ground, then grip the club as you have been taught.

What swing path causes a shank?

A shank happens when you hit the ball with the housel (the intersection of the clubhead and the shaft) of the club.

How do I stop shanking forever?

2:245:57FIX YOUR SHANK!!! Stop the shanks for good - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipLet's now talk through the two simple drills help you eradicate those shanks from your golf game allMoreLet's now talk through the two simple drills help you eradicate those shanks from your golf game all you need is head cover an alignment stick.

Why do I keep shanking my irons?

When your hands get further away at impact than they were at address, a shank will likely be the result. If you stand too close to the ball, it will be easier to open the clubface too much leading to a shank. It also increases your chances of hitting the ball with the heel of the club.

Why am I hitting the ball off the hosel?

But the ball doesn't hit the heel—it hits the hosel, and its round shape makes the ball carom violently to the right. The easiest fix is to stand farther away from the ball at address. But for long-lasting results, be sure to keep your weight over the middle of your feet, which stops you from moving toward the ball.

Can golf grip cause a shank?

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).

Are the shanks mental?

On the one hand, the shanks are something mental, but you have to acknowledge that there is a physical component. The experience was shocking, sad, surreal, shattering my firmly held convictions. I felt like the skeptic who'd scoffed at hypnotism, only to wind up clucking like a chicken.

How do I stop shanking pitch shots?

1:084:26STOP SHANKING YOUR PITCH SHOTS - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWe can even get the one where the club goes well inside. And again from there the hosel. Comes backMoreWe can even get the one where the club goes well inside. And again from there the hosel. Comes back and the handle comes back out towards the golf ball. So it is very much if you can get a takeaway.

How to tell if you shanked or sliced a golf ball?

Fortunately, you can tell whether you’ve sliced it or shanked it just by observing your ball flight. A golf shank travels low and directly to the right. A slice gets up in the air and curves to the right. For now, I’m going to share golf swing tips for overcoming the golf shank only. But don’t worry.

What is a shank in golf?

A shank occurs when you hit the ball off the hosel. The hosel is the socket connecting the shaft of your golf club to the clubhead. 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 ...

How to get a lead shoulder in golf?

Take your regular golf stance. Open your stance by shifting your lead foot farther back than your trail foot. Take your backswing. As you swing forward, be mindful of your lead shoulder and the wall behind you. (If there is no wall, imagine one.) You want the lead shoulder to stay low and work back towards the wall.

What is the most dreaded shot in golf?

The golf shank may be the most dreaded shot in the game. You think you’ve got a good shot lined up, then the ball flies low and to the right. Now you’re off course, you’re irritated, and you just wasted stroke.

How many swings should I do in golf?

Do about 50 swings, pausing as you’re about halfway down, palms more down to the ground. I’m going to be covering that golf ball a lot better inside of dropping to the inside. Second half after we’ve done about 50 golf swings or so, until you feel comfortable, you can do more than that if you need to.

Can you catch a shank in golf?

That’s absolutely not true, not close to an ideal golf shot, but better players tend to catch the shanks, because they tend to get more to the inside, too much to the inside, and then hosel’s headed out for the golf ball, and it’s very easy to start catching it too much on the hosel.

Can you shank your golf ball into the lake?

No more shanking your ball into the lake or the housing development. For those of us that have ever had the shanks (most of us)... You know it's hands down the worst shot in golf. You've experienced the incredible frustration and embarrassment that comes with squirting the ball out of bounds. But before you throw your clubs in the lake...

How to do a backswing on a golf ball?

As your body reaches further back, avoid the inclination to bend your lead arm ( left arm for most people.) One helpful tip for the backswing is to bend your lead knee (usually the left knee) right at the ball. Turn your hips slightly, and begin to shift your weight towards your trail foot.

How to swing a golf club?

It is generally the first 12-18 inches. It can set the stage for a great swing, or a not so awesome one. Start the takeaway by using your shoulders and arms moving as one to move the club back, away from the ball.

How wide should your stance be for golf?

The details of a proper stance seem straightforward, but many golfers work on it over a lifetime. A standard golf stance for your driver starts with your feet just wider than your shoulders, parallel to your “target line”. For irons, make your stance about two inches narrower so it’s about shoulder-width apart.

What is the position of your feet and legs as you prepare to hit the ball?

Stance – The position of your feet and legs as you prepare to hit the ball. Your stance will provide the foundation of your entire swing, from backswing to follow through. Address – Once you’ve taken your stance , grip, and are set in your posture, you address the ball by placing the clubhead on the ground behind the ball.

How to play golf with a longer club?

With longer clubs, your hands line up with the club in a straight line and the ball will be further up in your stance, so it’s closer to your lead foot. With shorter clubs, the club handle and shaft is tilted slightly towards the target.

What foot should I use for a golf swing?

Your lead foot (the foot that’s closer to the target) should be pointed slight towards the target of your swing, which can allow for increased hip rotation. For most golfers, their trail foot (the foot that’s farther from the target) is commonly situated so it’s perpendicular to the target line.

How to do a full shoulder and hip turn on a backswing?

Your spine should be at a diagonal angle to the ground, which will allow to a full shoulder and hip turn on your backswing. Tilt your body slightly so it feels like you’re leaning slightly away from your target. If you don’t get it right away, don’t worry.

What is shanks in golf?

And even though as a golf coach ‘the shanks’ are probably about the easiest thing to sort out. For most golfers they can be a devastating affair as generally they appear during an important game. Which means most golfers react by panicking, then instantly start to change things in their technique.

What needs to be addressed in tennis?

“Instead of changing everything to do with your technique, what needs to be addressed is the movement of your body in towards the ball (see above) as you get close to hitting it.

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.

How to hit a low golf shot?

When you decide you would like to hit the ball lower, you simply move your hands a couple inches down the grip at address, and swing away. It really is that easy. As far as swing adjustments go, they don't come any easier.

How to hit the ball lower?

To hit the ball significantly lower, you are going to need to move on to other adjustments. Move the Ball Back in Your Stance. If simply choking down on the grip of your club is not going to make enough difference to bring the ball down far enough, the next step is to move the ball back in your stance.

Why does backspin affect golf?

Backspin is largely responsible for sending the ball up into the air, so lowering your spin rate will lead to a flatter flight and a lower overall shot. There are a couple reasons your spin rate should come down thanks to choking down on the grip. First is that swing speed reduction we mentioned above.

How to flatten a low ball hitter?

After taking your stance, shuffle back an inch or two from the ball while maintaining good knee flex. (Don't bend over to reach the ball.)

Why is a shorter backswing better?

A shorter backswing will contribute to the speed loss, but it will also help you to control the club nicely from start to finish. You will probably find that you hit the ball on the sweet spot more often while choked down on the grip, and finding the sweet spot is always a good thing. So far, so good.

What is the worst thing to do when playing into the wind?

The worst thing you can do when playing into the wind is to force the issue by swinging harder, which adds backspin and height. Instead, play more club (a 7-iron instead of a 9) and make a smooth swing at 80-90% power. A low, boring shot with minimal spin will result.

What happens when you swing away from the target?

Needless to say, this is a serious mistake. When you swing away from the target, you will lose your balance and it will become difficult to hit the shot cleanly. Also, since your weight will now be back over the ball, you will lose any benefit you gained by changing your ball position.

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