Got the shanks?
Got a Case of the Shanks?
The shanks are like a dreaded disease for a golfer. There’s no way to leverage this shot into something positive, like you can with a fade or a draw. If you’re shanking, you want to get an antidote to the problem ASAP!
With a shanked shot, the ball shoots off immediately in the wrong direction. What usually happens is that your ball came into contact with the spot where the clubhead meets the shaft, known as the hosel.
Some people call this area the socket. Instead of smacking the ball right n the sweet spot, the ball contacts this awkward point on the club and flies right off the tee at almost a 90-degree angle.
It isn’t the shot occurring every once in a blue moon that worries most golfers, but the rash of shanks that generally occur right in a row, like the golfer’s come down with some major illness and can’t shake it.
What causes you to get the shanks? There are a variety of things that result in a shanked shot. Your set-up might be to blame. If you’re not back far enough from the ball, or aren’t leaning toward your toes enough, it can cause a shank.
If you’re the kind of golfer who likes to push the club back instead of let gravity work with your shoulders during your backswing, it can cause a shank. It’s also the result of someone who pushes the club forcefully on the downswing and follow-through.
Make sure you’re not working too hard to control the club during the backswing and follow-through. And distribute your weight just right, not relying too heavily on your heels or toes to support the shot.
If you’re working to control the shot with your arm strength, you’ll inevitably wind up having to overcorrect for the flaw, resulting in the ball making contact with the hosel.
Your shoulder turn is very important to getting rid of the shanks. You want it to be a natural movement, turning them to carry the club back and repositioning them forward again to carry the club through.
With most shank shots, the hosel is leading the clubface and racing toward the ball. Take time to practice getting rid of the shanks on the driving range or at home using a training golf mat before you play another 18 and wind up feeling defeated.
Don’t forget to Practice:
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