Shankers Anonymous

[bond007]

There are a multitude of reasons why golfers shank. Giving one reason is not possible. However, there are a few things I do with students that has given some positive results:

1. Get them to set up at impact fix - most golfers do not know how "far" they need to be from the ball. The weight of the club and the speed it is swung will "stretch the club" away from the player. Most of the time the player is simply standing to close.

2. Ball Position - many times a player has the ball to far back in their stance so there is not enough time for the clubface to square up.

3. Open clubface - players who shank tend to have "weak" grips or tend to open the clubface to much on the backswing. A good anti-shank drill I have used is to get the clubface very shut. It is virtually impossible to shank the ball with a closed clubface.

I hope this helps.

While a shank can certainly be a product of an open face, I have seen many times that it is a product of a closed face. Primarily, in an attempt by the player to fix a shank, they close the face and the shank continues.
I demonstrated this at a HG fitting school at Bridgemill Athletic Club a number of years ago.
I put face tape on the hosel as well as the face and produced a mark that was clearly on the inside edge of the hosel but also produced a streak across the face with a resulting shank. The purpose of the demonstration was to show that things are not always what they seem.
No doubt the real culprit is one of the many of the posted causes but wanted to offer that sometimes it's more than meets the eye.

[powerdraw]

as ive shared here, i got a case of the shanks during one round, so i went back to basics in my dungeon and just chipped balls for the past week, ceiling of dungeon not permitting full swings, i did some pitch and punch work as well.

so i went on to these "bigger" shots, i started adding some #3accumulator without overdoing it, to at least feel secure that im not throwing the hosel at the ball in my mind.

i must admit, in the past weeks, i've been holding on a bit on my shots to calm some hooks recently, even working on developing a fade.

am i cured? i dont know, but i did play last night and didnt hit a shank at all.

did i overdo it at times with the acc#3? yes, face closed a bit too early at times but very playable.

Golfingrandy always said to me, if you become a scientist of the game and swing, your game will pay a price.

i just want to learn to fade the ball with what ive got, maybe i pushed it a bit.

thanks y'all

[elygc1]

I've seen lots of shankers.

Easiest fix-Stand farther away ,almost too easy a fix-students may be so upset they didn't figure it out themselves that they shake their head as they hit balls on the clubface again

Inside out shanker- Towel under the armpits works wonders

Outside in shanker- Baby steps are usually needed here. Chip, pitch, then full swing

Weight on toes can cause it. Swing barefoot or curl up toes.

Arms drift from body- I like the drill where they set up outside the ball and swing inside. Works for most people.

Super scooper shanker- Impact work

[Yoda]

I've seen lots of shankers.

Easiest fix-Stand farther away ,almost too easy a fix-students may be so upset they didn't figure it out themselves that they shake their head as they hit balls on the clubface again

Inside out shanker- Towel under the armpits works wonders

Outside in shanker- Baby steps are usually needed here. Chip, pitch, then full swing

Weight on toes can cause it. Swing barefoot or curl up toes.

Arms drift from body- I like the drill where they set up outside the ball and swing inside. Works for most people.

Super scooper shanker- Impact work

Words from a guy who has spent a lot of time on 'the hill'. Thanks, elygc1.

[Kumabjorn]

Not entirely sure this belongs here. Maybe a separate thread. Marshalls' beware.

I'm a tinkerer. Enjoy experimenting as much as I enjoy playing. Call me sick and demented if you insist.

When I get the urge for a new component combination I start out with Basic Motion (great concept). But sometimes I can get the shanks with BM. Experience still somewhat limited/shallow, but intuitively, if you get the Shanks with BM, shouldn't you just move on????

[powerdraw]

hhhmmm, i still need some help, apparently my swing is very inside out. still shanking some irons, im really getting pissed.

my focus is always on the hands with extensor action, hands are here, they go up here and go back there is pretty much what ive always done, not sure wazzup. i dont know if this helps but the only way i could hit it nice was concentrating on using accumulator no.1 (bending and unbending of right elbow). anyone?

[yodeli]

hhhmmm, i still need some help, apparently my swing is very inside out. still shanking some irons, im really getting pissed.

my focus is always on the hands with extensor action, hands are here, they go up here and go back there is pretty much what ive always done, not sure wazzup. i dont know if this helps but the only way i could hit it nice was concentrating on using accumulator no.1 (bending and unbending of right elbow). anyone?

Hi Powerdraw,

When Hitting, I sometimes go into shanking crysis... This occurs when lag pressure is lost on PP#3.
It is vicious because while hitting you can sometimes fell that you have plenty of lag... but sensing it in PP#1!
Instead, focus on feeling lag also in PP#3, you might actually not have enough pressure here in comparison with PP#1.
(Check it out (if you dare) by removing your trigger finger of the club while hitting -> shank garanteed!)

If it is not enough, check if you're not standing too close to the ball using impact fix.

Good luck.

[powerdraw]

update....recently ive been working on a zero flared right foot (right hander). Might be a coinkeedink, but the shanks started around that time. When i looked through the golfers catalogue, i stumbled on shanking due to roundhousing due to not clearing the right hip in both directions. Anyhoot, oddly enough, i flaired it back out and no shankos last night. Might be coincidence?

[JerryG]

Over the past 3 or 4 years I have had an infestation of the shanks. As Yoda stated in an earlier post it was due to being off plane. The laser tool that KevCarter threw at me worked great at providing a much better concept of plane.
As a result of that I have also found that a strong pivot and focus on the aiming point help greatly in getting the club on plane and making a good pass.