What causes a shank in golf?
The most common causes of a shank, according to instructor Roger Gunn in our Mishits Tip Sheets feature, include: 1 Standing too close to the ball in the setup; 2 Standing too tall over the ball or sitting back on your heels in the setup position; 3 Pushing your arms away from your body in the backswing or downswing; 4 Or leaning your head toward the ball or the target.
What is a shank in golf?
A shank happens when the golf club contacts the golf ball on the rounded hosel portion of the clubhead, rather than on the flat clubface. Cleveland Golf. Brent Kelley is an award-winning sports journalist and golf expert with over 30 years in print and online journalism. The shank is one of the worst (and most embarrassing) mishits in golf.
What is the name of the golf ball that rockets off the hosel of the club?
The most common alternative name for a shank is " hosel rocket ," because the golf ball rockets off the hosel of the club.
Why are golfers superstitious about shanks?
The pros can be particularly superstitious about talking about or witnessing shanks because of the belief that shanks can be contagious. One great golfer hitting a shank might cause the other tour golfers in the group to "catch a case of the shanks.". Sam Snead once said this:
What happens if you shank a shot?
A golfer who shanks a shot is likely to be very embarrassed. And might even be laughed at by his or her playing partners, if the shanker is part of a group of golf buddies who enjoy teasing one another. One of the worst things about hitting a shank is that "the shanks" often arrive without warning.
What happens when a golf ball misses the clubface?
Or, even worse, the golf ball misses the clubface entirely and solidly connects with the rounded hosel. And since the hosel is rounded, the ball can shoot off in just about any direction with various spins. But most commonly, a shank results in a ball that shoots out to the right (for a right-hander) at a severe angle.
What does "standing too close to the ball" mean?
Standing too close to the ball in the setup; Standing too tall over the ball or sitting back on your heels in the setup position; Pushing your arms away from your body in the backswing or downswing; Or leaning your head toward the ball or the target.
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.
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.
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.
What is a shank in golf?
A shank is when a player hits the ball and misses the iron clubface instead making contact with the hosel of the club. This makes the ball shoot off to the right and barely go any distance at all. When a player is shanking the ball often many people call it a “case of the shanks.”. Having the shanks can be a nightmare for a golfer ...
Why does my ball shank?
Not being balanced and not having your weight equally balanced on both of your feet can also cause a shank. If you are leaning too much on one foot it will be a lot easier to make incorrect contact on the hosel and have the ball shoot off.
Why do golfers pull their clubs away from the swing path?
Golfers mistakenly pull the club away from the swing path on the inside of the takeaway. In order to get the club to make contact they have to come over the top of it. This makes them swing outside to inside and accidentally hit the ball with the hosel.
What happens if you stand too close to the ball?
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. If you stand too far back from the ball, you will be reaching to try and compensate which can lead to being unbalanced and to a shank.
How to prevent shanks in golf?
Having your hands in the correct position as well as standing the correct length away from the ball can prevent shan ks. If done wrong, it can lead to shanks. When your hands get further away at impact than they were at address, a shank will likely be the result.
How to know if your golf grip is tight?
One way to check if your grip is tight enough is to put some grass between the butt of the club and padding of your left hand. Also put it on top of your left thumb.
What happens when the ball shoots to the right in golf?
The ball shoots to the right into the woods and your par chance is thrown away. A lot of golfers have no clue why it’s happening or how to fix it. This article will explain the causes and different ways to cure the shanks.
