Shanks

[dcallan]

The dreaded "s" word.  Oh yeah, I got 'em.  Can't lose 'em.  I freeze up over the ball with the irons and get so anxious I can't hit it.  I'm playing about 1/4 as much as I have in the past due to work and family.  I can hit the driver much better than before, because my swing seems to be flatter.  But, I can't hit an iron with a full swing to save my life.  

Who here has beaten the shanks?  Please share, I'm desperate.

David

Edit.  Read some posts from a few years ago on topic.  Btw would gaining weight do it?   

[Henry_Picard]

One common cause of shanks is the rear hip moving out toward the ball before trailing elbow has passed that hip. Clear the hip first and see how that works.

[limpwrist]

I find that when shanks start to creep into my game (mostly wedges), it's because I'm standing too close to the ball and coming down very steep.  I just step back a hair from the ball, address it on the toe and swing slower and a little flatter.  After I get a feel for good contact again, I can move back to a more normal address position.

[mr_divots]

I get one out of the blue every once in a while. The only thing I tell myself is, "Hands First." (Let the hands lead the clubhead.)

[br61]

First of all, don't be afraid of that word "shanks", if you are scared of that word, you're more likely to be doomed to have them once a while. Embrace that word and you'll get rid of them easily.

I do have them once a while, often on short 20-40 yards pitches off tight lies or downhill, hanging lies around the green. When the shanks occurs once a while, it tells me what I was doing wrong, I had moved my weight to toes on my downswing as it's a so short shot to execute. I just try to keep my weight centered on my feet whenever I face those shots and I'll be fine.

In your case, check to see if you are moving your weight around excessively during your iron swings. You might be unconsciously moving bit of your weight shift into your toes or to your left side(assuming you're righty)

[Nukegolfer]

Had em, hated em, beat em!  My "trick" is to head to the range and use a club head cover to help.  Lay the ball on the side of the ball opposite of where you stand (or if your balsy or stupid like me, use the big wooden planks that lay on the ground).  It forces you to keep your hands forward and on plane where they should be.  You'll hit several on the toe of the club to start out, but once you settle down and get comfy with it, you'll start seeing the results.  Just don't rush, it's a patience thing, not a quick recovery.  Just my humble opinion on the matter.

[Backspin9]

I guess misery loves company because I'm kind of fighting that now.  They can be caused by any number of things that have been posted already.  You just need to find out what's causing yours.

Mine were happening because of an out-to-in swing and getting my upper body wide open at impact, essentially cutting across the ball.  If I didn't hit it in the hosel it was a dead pull.  I went back to the image that Hogan talks about -- feeling like you are throwing a ball underhanded.  That helped get the swing more in-to-out and solved the problem of opening up too much.

Good luck.  I feel your pain.  Doing THAT can really ruin your day! 

[Cwebb]

Initiating the downswing with your upper body, instead of a lower body pivot. 

A path that is too in to out, or over the top.  One of the best drills is to hit balls right next to a shipping box.  Have the toe of the club about a 1/2 to 3/4" away from it.  It's impossible to hit a shank with it there and will show you where the club is getting too far away from you and will force a better path into and past the ball.  You can also take this further by putting something in your lead arm pit (glove, towel, or a very small nerf ball).  This will force you to stay in the shot and stay away from the tendency to chicken wing away from the box and hit it off the toe.

[dcallan]

Thanks guys.  This is great help.  I am going to the range tonight.  I think my wife is giving me an hour lesson with the head pro at our local course for Father's day.  Hopefully, I/he should be able to diagnose my cause, and work on the cure. 

Cheers!

[Sillybodkins]

I have the cure, but it's a secret! 

[dcallan]

I have the cure, but it's a secret! 

It should fetch a pretty penny on bst.   

[dcallan]

I figured out the secret...

Lessons...

Head Pro at Deerfield, IL Golf Course with a video camera overhauled me today.  I am hitting everything better.   Life is good again.  He said something today that had not occurred to me.  He said when you are practicing your swing, judge the quality of your swing by the quality of your misses, not good hits.  Any "fugly" swing can produce some good shots beating balls.  But if the misses are going every which way, then you're not swinging well.  After lessons, my misses were typically low balls and about 25% short, but all very playable.  NO SHANKS!!!

BTW, for those interested (I know... you're on the edge of your seat) I needed more knee bend, and I needed to maintain the knee bend through the back swing (athletic posture).  I was straightening the right leg on the back swing and causing a terrible (Elvis) hip swivel and routing the club way too inside.  Then, on the way down, I would have to re-route the club over the top (via Ohio) to hit the ball.

Now, I have three things I think about.  Knee flex at address. Keeping everything towards the ball in the back swing with the club on line, and creating "x" factor. 

The fun never stops...

Thanks for all the advice.  If I look closely, I can see many of your comments ringing true.

David

[Divot Dan]

I figured out the secret...
Lessons...
Head Pro at Deerfield, IL Golf Course with a video camera overhauled me today.  I am hitting everything better.   Life is good again.  He said something today that had not occurred to me.  He said when you are practicing your swing, judge the quality of your swing by the quality of your misses, not good hits.  Any "fugly" swing can produce some good shots beating balls.  But if the misses are going every which way, then you're not swinging well.  After lessons, my misses were typically low balls and about 25% short, but all very playable.  NO SHANKS!!!

BTW, for those interested (I know... you're on the edge of your seat) I needed more knee bend, and I needed to maintain the knee bend through the back swing (athletic posture).  I was straightening the right leg on the back swing and causing a terrible (Elvis) hip swivel and routing the club way too inside.  Then, on the way down, I would have to re-route the club over the top (via Ohio) to hit the ball.

Now, I have three things I think about.  Knee flex at address. Keeping everything towards the ball in the back swing with the club on line, and creating "x" factor. 

The fun never stops...

Thanks for all the advice.  If I look closely, I can see many of your comments ringing true.

David

Wow, that was the advice I was gonna give you, but before I could post it my wife asked me to take out the trash!

[dcallan]

 

[Sillybodkins]

I have the cure, but it's a secret! 

Can't believe that I posted that one - must have been after my 5th Bushmills.

BTW, i wish that the yips were as easy to cure as the shanks.

[jeffkar]

Can't believe that I posted that one - must have been after my 5th Bushmills.

BTW, i wish that the yips were as easy to cure as the shanks.

No kidding.  I'm just beginning to get over the yips, and am just beginning to get into the shanks.  Good times.

Seems like I'm ok until I shank a pitch shot, which has been happening once or so a round, then I'll shank a couple of full swings.  Then, they'll go away as quickly as they appeared.  Very strange...

[ShaneNZ]

I was hitting ball great last month and then in my last 3 rounds i have had over 20 shanks - last week i had 10 shanks in shooting 88 

I get the shanks every so often and they go away - hoping this weekend they will be gone 

[golfnerd317]

First of all, don't be afraid of that word "shanks", if you are scared of that word, you're more likely to be doomed to have them once a while. Embrace that word and you'll get rid of them easily.

I do have them once a while, often on short 20-40 yards pitches off tight lies or downhill, hanging lies around the green. When the shanks occurs once a while, it tells me what I was doing wrong, I had moved my weight to toes on my downswing as it's a so short shot to execute. I just try to keep my weight centered on my feet whenever I face those shots and I'll be fine.

In your case, check to see if you are moving your weight around excessively during your iron swings. You might be unconsciously moving bit of your weight shift into your toes or to your left side(assuming you're righty)

Yeah to this...moving weight onto toes is a great cause and moving weight too forward on the downswing essentially out racing your wrist hinge and shank city.  I had a few recently and saw a video about keeping your head behind the ball.  It really worked.  On the iron set up, I had my head just off the back of the ball.  On my swing I just maintained that position as best I could and then the hands catch up and the club head releases without the shank or hosel beating it.  Another thing is GRIP PRESSURE.  I was death gripping it out of nowhere and that was preventing my release.

[Sillybodkins]

Yeah to this...moving weight onto toes is a great cause and moving weight too forward on the downswing essentially out racing your wrist hinge and shank city.  I had a few recently and saw a video about keeping your head behind the ball.  It really worked.  On the iron set up, I had my head just off the back of the ball.  On my swing I just maintained that position as best I could and then the hands catch up and the club head releases without the shank or hosel beating it.  Another thing is GRIP PRESSURE.  I was death gripping it out of nowhere and that was preventing my release.

Ever try releasing the club right from the top?  That's right, you can do that, and so long as you do it with your hands and no shoulders, the club will still come in from the inside and you will hit it straight or a little draw.

the reason that I ask is that i have found that when I release it right from the top, my head stays steady, the club goes right to my finish with little effort, and I either hit it straight or with a draw (a good thing in my book). 

Since golf is one of the most confounding games, and often the reverse happens from what we expect when we try a new move, I would suggest releasing the club from the top of the backswing.  If you find that an effortless move, as I have, you may find that the shanks go away - by by - forever.

[golfnerd317]

Ever try releasing the club right from the top?  That's right, you can do that, and so long as you do it with your hands and no shoulders, the club will still come in from the inside and you will hit it straight or a little draw.

the reason that I ask is that i have found that when I release it right from the top, my head stays steady, the club goes right to my finish with little effort, and I either hit it straight or with a draw (a good thing in my book). 

Since golf is one of the most confounding games, and often the reverse happens from what we expect when we try a new move, I would suggest releasing the club from the top of the backswing.  If you find that an effortless move, as I have, you may find that the shanks go away - by by - forever.

good stuff db...i think keeping my head behind the ball is creating a release from the top as you put it...i just release through the ball and finish in balance and i have been hitting much more solid irons...GREAT OBSERVATIONS

[CalleW]

Head Pro at Deerfield, IL Golf Course with a video camera overhauled me today.  I am hitting everything better.   Life is good again.  He said something today that had not occurred to me.  He said when you are practicing your swing, judge the quality of your swing by the quality of your misses, not good hits.  Any "fugly" swing can produce some good shots beating balls.  But if the misses are going every which way, then you're not swinging well. 

Funny how differently we all take to things and what helps us. My local pro gave me an advice a while ago, which was almost the exact opposite. He told me to not spend too much attention to the missed swings and start tinkering with my swing. That poor shots happen, but that they aren't necessarily due to any fundamental flaw but just inconsistency. Especially when they are random and not repeating themselves. I.e. when I am out on the course and for some reason hit the ball poorly, to just relax and try to get the feel and rhythm back and not worry about grip, swing plane etc. I think he had a valid point and it has helped me become more consistent. It has gotten me away from tinkering with my swing and to focus more on timing and actually feeling the swing.

[Divot Dan]

Funny how differently we all take to things and what helps us. My local pro gave me an advice a while ago, which was almost the exact opposite. He told me to not spend too much attention to the missed swings and start tinkering with my swing. That poor shots happen, but that they aren't necessarily due to any fundamental flaw but just inconsistency. Especially when they are random and not repeating themselves. I.e. when I am out on the course and for some reason hit the ball poorly, to just relax and try to get the feel and rhythm back and not worry about grip, swing plane etc. I think he had a valid point and it has helped me become more consistent. It has gotten me away from tinkering with my swing and to focus more on timing and actually feeling the swing.

In my case, a good shot puts added pressure on me to make a second good shot, to the detriment of that shot.

[CalleW]

In my case, a good shot puts added pressure on me to make a second good shot, to the detriment of that shot.

So basically you have to play worse to play better? 

[Divot Dan]

So basically you have to play worse to play better? 

That's why my game sucks! 

[CalleW]

That's why my game sucks! 

Look on the bright side. With that logic you are loading up for some serious good golf!!!