Nothing is more annoying than being on the golf course when the terrible shank appears out of nowhere! It's humiliating, and it's potentially hazardous for your playing opponents. As a result, knowing how to never shank a golf ball again is crucial.
First, understanding why you shank is crucial. The solution becomes simple once you know what's causing the shank in the first place. Below we have some of the major causes of golf shanks and the solution to never shank the golf ball again.
What is a Golf Shank?
A golf shank happens when the golf ball hits the hosel on the golf club instead of hitting the clubface. As you probably learned from your golf lessons, when the golf ball collides with the hosel, it shoots forcefully to the right if you're a right-handed player. However, the ball doesn't move very far, but it may travel rather far offline.
A golf shank will frequently end up deep in the woods or out of bounds. This has the potential to completely derail your chances of getting a decent score on that hole. If you hit more than one, then your entire day may be ruined.
It might be riskier for your playing companions. The golf shank is so powerful off the tee that it nearly always hits your playing partners.
The shank is one of the terrible shots one can never hit. Most shanks will happen out of nowhere and can easily ruin an amazing round of golf. It can also cause serious doubt the next time you're playing.
What Causes a Golf Shank?
The golf shank becomes more challenging at this point. Understanding the root problem is difficult to pinpoint. You're probably doing something that causes the club's hosel to come into contact with the ball rather than the face, although it can also be a combination of many factors.
Here are the two major reasons why this happens;
- It is most likely that you're too close to the ball. Before the ball hits the ground, you may be sliding in front of it.
- It is possible that your weight is resting too far on your toes. This causes you to lose balance mid-swing.
It is possible that you're glancing up before striking the ball. Finding a solution isn't always easy, with so many possible causes for your golf shank. A breakdown in various phrases of your golf swing sequence is possible.
How to Never Shank a Golf Ball Again
There is no denying the fact that a shaky golf swing might result in more shanks. The most difficult aspect of repairing the golf shanks is overcoming negative thinking. Here are some tips you should consider.
1. Identify the Type of Golf Shank You Have
To begin the mending process, you must first determine the type of shank you have. The most common shank we see is getting stuck in the downswing or showing up too far off the inside.
However, you can also get a shank that is generated from an over-the-top swing path. It is important to make use of a golf swing analyzer to identify your route. Calculate your swing plane using an elbow plane line as well as the right knee line and tush line, as demonstrated in this video.
2. Put Weight on Your Heels
Falling forward during your golf swing is one of the errors that might result in a golf shank. To put it another way, your weight is too intense on your toes.
Your weight should be on the balls of your feet while taking a proper golf stance, but if you're battling the shanks, you might want to emphasize the solution.
Try hitting several iron shots while standing on your heels. You can begin to shift your weight back to the balls of your feet once you've eliminated the swing that was generating the golf shank.
3. Take a Step Back from the Ball
It's possible that you're presenting the hosel to the ball because you're too near to it. Give the ball some room if you're fighting the golf shanks. Extend your distance to check if the problem has disappeared.
You may not need to do this indefinitely, but if you start hitting golf shanks, the main aim is to stop them. This can sometimes lead to overcorrection. If you have a terrible case of the shanks, practically everything feels better.
4. Fix Your Golf Release
The most critical component of the golf swing is the release. It's where the big value is, and it may influence how straight you hit the golf ball and whether you're getting the most value for money in terms of speed.
To improve your golf swing release, remove as many distractions as possible and concentrate your attention on the lead wrist. Here are things you should note and the best golf instruction to avoid ;
- Stand with a narrow stance and the majority of your weight on your lead side.
- Make sure you hold the club in your lead hand and that you are entirely calm.
- Swing your lead arm beyond your trail thigh and come to a complete stop at hip height (9:00).
- Ensure that the club shaft is parallel to the ground and that the logo on your glove is facing you directly.
- Swing your arm behind your shoulder and spin your wrist till you reach 3:00.
- Make sure the glove logo is facing backward, and the club shaft is parallel to the ground.
- Ensure you're comfortable and not tugging on the arm too hard, and don't use your thumb to press on the shaft.
- Maintain a steady pace and complete several hundred reps.
5. Make Your Way Clear
It's time to fix your path and put everything back together now that you've worked on training your release. Use the drills to help you build a flawless path and avoid taking large swings at first. You should begin slowly and gradually progress to full swings.
These few drills on the range can help you cure shanks. A good example would be the driver headcover driver.
Place the driver headcover outside your ball. Ensure the toe of the club is almost touching the headcover at the address. You might hit the headcover on the first few shots if you always come over the top on your downswing.
As you consistently hit the ball several times, you should try doing things differently by keeping the ball straight on the toe of the club. When doing this, you want to feel like you're swinging out towards your target as well as swinging from inside. This drill tends to force your swing path from the inside, creating a draw swing.
How to Get Back to the Game after a Shank
1. Stay Positive Always
One of the most significant differences between scratch golfers and high handicappers is their mental approach to the game. Good players try and put the previous shot behind them and concentrate on the next one. The following golf stroke is the most crucial.
Tension should be avoided at all costs. Keep calm, take a deep breath and swing the golf club aggressively. Make an effort to push bad thoughts away from your head. Don't even consider golf shanks. Visualize a well-hit ball heading towards your objective instead.
If you remove shanks from your mind, you may discover that they disappear from your game.
2. Have a Mental Break
A little time away from the game may be beneficial. We're not suggesting you give up golf because of shanks, but battling this shot may be emotionally exhausting.
If you've tried all four of our tactics and are still hitting the dreaded hosel rocket, it's time to take a step back. It can last for an hour, a day, or even a few weeks.
Go to the 19th hole after leaving the driving range. Perhaps a cool beverage can divert your attention away from the golf shanks, allowing you to return for further practice.
If you've been having trouble with shanks for a while, you should take a week off. Put the clubs aside for ten days and don't think about the hosel of your club.
Golf shanks may be so aggravating that you become burned out on them. Remove yourself from the game until you no longer care about it. A break from your work might revive your interest.
You'll get a strong desire to hit some golf balls. Return to the course or driving range with your clubs in hand. Take a confident swing with your 7-iron. Remember to keep an eye on the ball as it flies towards your goal.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Golf Shanks
1. Can a weak grip cause shanks?
A weak grip is a risky posture, which means there's not much room for the hand to twist during impact. It's almost in front of the objective. Due to the obvious softness in this grip, the clubface may remain open upon contact, resulting in the dreaded shank.
2. How do you easily stop a shank on a wedge?
Try this easy drill to repair it: Under both arms, put a towel across your chest. Make half swings with a wedge, focusing on swinging the club with your chest. From start to end, keep the towel beneath your arms. When you've become used to striking the same location on the ground, try it with a ball.