Most of the shanks that I see are Off Plane motions. It's seldom that I see shanks from those that are under Plane. Most are from those that are experts at Roundhousing.
Agreed, Ted. That right shoulder rotates viciously Above Plane and pulls the Hands with it. Typically, Lag Pressure is non-existent, and the Clubhead approaches the ball steeply and from well outside the Line. So, the question becomes . . .
How do you restore order to this catastrophic mishmash of Plane and Sequencing?
Emphatically, there is no one way. In fact, it most often takes a combination of remedies before the cure is in place. I will usually begin by having the afflicted patient hit short chip shots with his right arm only. Note that I said short chip shots, not full half swings.
Actually, I start with the student just brushing the ground -- no ball -- with the Right Forearm, Bent Right Wrist and Lag Pressure Point leading the way. Let a little Hip Action help the Right Forearm, but keep the Shoulders square through Impact and brush a straight line. Brush a straight line.
Brush.
Brush.
Then, do the same thing, but with a ball.
Brush.
Brush.
I have never seen a person shank a ball making this motion. They often do immediately when the left hand goes back on, but never when the Stroke is made with only the Right Forearm. Sometimes, this drill is all it takes to set things right. More often, it opens the door to isolating and correcting other causal factors, e.g., that pesky Off Plane Right Shoulder.
Here, carefully controlled Start Down Waggles are invaluable. I'll have the student stop at the Top of his Stroke -- more often than not, some adjustment is necessary here -- then I go 'hands on' and have him pull the butt end of the club directly toward the Line until the Hands are approximately chest-high. Then, return to the Top. In other words, we're executing a 'pumping' action that gets the Power Package started down in the 'slot'. This drill emphasizes the start of the Downstroke and should be repeated many times.
Summing up, I start by emphasizing the desired end result; namely, the On Plane 'tracing' of the Right Forearm and Club through Impact. Then, establishing an On Plane Top of the Right Shoulder, Hands and Club. Finally, ingraining a Start Down Motion that maintains these alignments during the Downstroke.
To eliminate Shanking, you need to build a sound Golf Stroke. These ideas will help you do it.
Threaded Mode
