Fault - Standing too close to the golf ball can be a very common fault to explain why a golfer shanks the ball. If this is the case, it causes the hands to move forward towards the golf ball, leaving no room to return to the same place and the club becomes forced to move away from the body and the shanks/hosel becomes involved in the contact.
Full Answer
What is shanking in golf and how do you do it?
What exactly is shanking in golf? Simply put, a shank is a shot hit out of the hosel of the golf club. If your target line is straight, a shank sends your ball massively to the right or left. The reason the ball goes off-target is because the golf club head doesn’t impact hit the centre of the club (the sweet spot).
How many ways can you Shank a golf ball?
How many different ways can I shank the golf ball? 1 Toe shanking. The toe shank happens when the ball strikes the toe of the golf club. ... 2 Hosel shanking. Just by looking at the hosel, you can tell any shot that comes of it is going to be ugly. ... 3 Heel Shanking. The heel shank happens when the ball strikes the heel of the clubhead. ...
What is a heel shank in golf?
The heel shank happens when the ball strikes the heel of the clubhead. This is the opposite to the toe shank and will send the ball left for right-handers and right for left-handed golfers. Why do I shank the ball and what can I do to finally stop shanking?
Where does the ball end up when you shank the ball?
Where your ball will end up is anyone’s guess. The heel shank happens when the ball strikes the heel of the clubhead. This is the opposite to the toe shank and will send the ball left for right-handers and right for left-handed golfers. Why do I shank the ball and what can I do to finally stop shanking?
Why have I suddenly started shanking the golf ball?
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 do I shank half shots?
The inside-out shank: When the swing path is too inside-out, the hand line is moving out away from the body and nearer the golf ball. Think of swinging out to right field — your hands have to move away from you to do it. This path is a common cause of a shank. Try moving the golf ball well forward in your stance.
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.
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 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.
How do you overcome shanks?
Here's what they had to say.Try 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.
How do I stop shanking my golf ball?
2:216:17GOLF SHANK CURE - How to Stop Shanking the Golf Ball - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd move the handle. The same direction as the club head so the handle and the club head move theMoreAnd move the handle. The 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.
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.
Can a strong 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).
How do you stop a hosel rocket?
0:2510:41Common Cause & Effect of the 'Hosel Rocket' - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOkay you want the close to the center as possible the better the shot. Okay now a shank is a shotMoreOkay you want the close to the center as possible the better the shot. Okay now a shank is a shot that it hits off the hosel. And then will shank off to the side or at an angle.
Golf Shank Fix: 3 Effective Drills To Stop Shanking It Fast — Hitting ...
Butch Harmon on How To Fix The Shanks | Golf Lessons - YouTube
How to stop shanking the golf ball?
Set up properly (as discussed above), flex your toes upward as you begin your swing and keep your chest high (maintain your spine angle) throughout the swing. Other than those focal points, keep your brain free of any additional chatter, which only exacerbates shankitis.
What does it mean when a player's weight gets too far onto the toes?
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.
What is shank in golf?
A shank occurs when you strike the ball on the red circle, because the ball hits the hosel of the club first (which bulges forward of the face itself on an iron, at the point where the shaft is joined to the club face). If you hit an iron on the hosel, the usual ball flight will be drastically different from a norm. Continue Reading.
What is the green circle on a golf club?
In the shot above, the GREEN circle is the “sweet spot” of the club, the ideal place to hit the ball on every swing. A shank occurs when you strike the ball on the red circle, because the ball hits the hosel of the club first (which bulges forward of the face itself on an iron, at the point where the shaft is joined to the club face).
Can you hit a shank if you hit the ball near the sweet spot?
Here’s the key thing to take from this — if you consistently hit the ball near the sweet spot, you will NEVER hit a shank because you would have to mis-hit the ball almost a full inch away on the club face from your usual strike point.
Can golf balls be worn out?
The durability will vary depending on the construction and materials used along with a few other variables. There are several things that can eventually cause a ball to become "worn out" or unplayable.
Is it normal to hit multiple shanks in a row?
However, hitting multiple shanks in a row either on the course or on the driving range is definitely not normal, and suggests a specific cause of shanking.
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 is the center of the swing?
The head is the center of the swing and when the head moves in a certain direction, there is a great chance of the clubhead following. Therefore, make sure to keep the head still during the motion.
What is the meaning of toe shank in golf?
The toe shank happens when the ball strikes the toe of the golf club. This will result in an ugly shot to with the ball going right for right-handers and left for the left-handers.
What happens when you swing too close to the ball?
Because you’re standing too close, the when you’re swinging the golf club you’re trying to bring in the club too much at impact.
Why does my golf ball go off target?
The reason the ball goes off-target is because the golf club head doesn’t impact hit the centre of the club (the sweet spot). Everyone hates shanking the ball but solving it may be easier than you think.
What happens when you wrap your hands around the club too much to the left?
What happens with some golfers is they wrap their hands around the club too much to the left which causes the clubface to open.
What is heel shank?
Heel Shanking. The heel shank happens when the ball strikes the heel of the clubhead. This is the opposite to the toe shank and will send the ball left for right-handers and right for left-handed golfers.
Why does my golf club shank?
When looking at the main golf shank causes, perhaps the most common reason relates to the swing path. Most golfers know that the ideal swing path through impact comes from inside to outside the ball-to-target line. However, this knowledge (and the desire to attack the ball from the inside) causes players to whip the club off on the inside in ...
What happens if you swing too far away?
Too far away and the momentum of the swing will cause you to lean into the ball through impact – again, the shank is the most likely result. To help, picture a weightlifter just before they lift. Their shoulders are over the middle of their feet, with their weight sitting over the balls of their feet.
What happens if your grip pressure is too light?
If your grip pressure is too light it is likely to fall down. Setting the perfect golf grip both in terms of pressure and the position of your hands on the club should make a big difference to your game. Try this drill to add more stability to your grip and reduce your chances of hitting a shank.
How to get a good shot in the downswing?
1 Position from the ball. The first thing to check should be how far from the ball you are standing. Too close and you’ll lose your spine angle in the downswing, lift out of the shot and hit an open-faced shank.
How to stabilize your lower body?
A great drill designed to stabilise your lower body is to place your golf bag next to your left hip at address. As you start the downswing your hips should bump into the bag and then your lower body turns (without sliding towards the target).
Why Golfers Shank It
There are really two ways that a person shanks a ball, the most common way is because people are trying to stay behind the ball or pull the handle of the club down to the ball, and when they do they create such an angle that they can only hit the ball right at the shank or neck of the club. That is really where 99% of all shanks come.
How to Stop Hitting Golf Shanks
From the top of the swing you should tuck your left elbow in so that you can square the back of your left hand to the ball. If you can square the back of your left hand to the ball then you can square the club to the ball.