the horrible SHANK

[flyingbigbertha]

How do I cure a shank that has suddenly crept in my game?

[jambalaya]

Re: the horrible SHANK

I have no simple answer to that question. Can you give us some more info about your swing and your game?

[flyingbigbertha]

Re: the horrible SHANK

well I have seen Tiger shank thats a relief but I am a 5 handicap player, and yesterday it suddenly crept in my game and I hit four shanks, 3 on a par 3 and one on second shot par 4 last hole and lost the game.

[buteman]

Re: the horrible SHANK

How do I cure a shank that has suddenly crept in my game?

I'm suffering with you my friend, this affliction appears from nowhere and I'm sure you are aware of the mental affect it has on your overall game.
Three games in a row I have had this " problem " yesterdays' round was classic, I ripped a great drive on our third hole with a wee fade ( 372 yd, dogleg right ) I was left with an 85 yard approach to a front pin. I was hitting ( or planning to ) a 3/4 52 wedge and shanked it into an unplayable lie in the bunker.
The following hole ( 535 par 5 ) I shanked my third shot from 90 yards and barely stayed in bounds,,,,,,brutal. Do I have an answer ? no I dont, but I cured this problem in an instant, at the end of my round I marched into the pro. shop and spent $ 129.00 on a wedge, an F2 wedge.
Beyond a doubt, this has to be the ugliest piece of equipment you ever laid eyes on, I kid you not,,,yuk !! I took a bucket of range balls and dumped them at a quiet corner of the range and started hitting pitch shots, quarter shots, half shots and full shots. Not the slightest hint of a shank, with the face forward design it takes a bit of getting used to, but it cures the shanks thats' for sure.
I was at a loss for an answer, buying this club really was last resort, but that being said it will definately restore confidence knowing that you can hit those short wedges, and that my friend can have a ripple effect on your overall game. I do wish you good luck, I'm not suggesting that everyone who suffers from the shanks resorts to what I did but to be honest I was beginning to get that desperate feeling. All the best.

[BrianW]

Re: the horrible SHANK

I can only speak from a recent attack of "Socket Rockets". In my case the problem was due to me over rotating and swaying forward at impact, this allowed my upper body and head to be in front of the ball with my shoulders open. As the swings wide point is in line with your left armpit the clubface was still wide open at impact and travelling in to out as it contacted the ball with the hozel.

I cured it at the range by keeping my head behind the ball and my shoulders square at impact. If only I could have fixed it on the course but there is nothing like a succession of shanks to cloud your thinking and destroy your confidence.

[flyingbigbertha]

Re: the horrible SHANK

Well Thanx Both Of U, I'll Try To Get The Club But In The Mean Time I'll Keep My Head Down Behind The Ball And Just Give It A Try.......

[jbrunk]

Re: the horrible SHANK

Shanking is caused by lagging the hosel vs. lagging the sweetspot. You shoud be able to feel the sweetspot through your right index finger on the club. It feels very different than the hosel. You can test what your lagging by hitting shots with your right thumb off the shaft. This will force you to keep your right finger "behind" the sweetspot.

Further, there are certain mechanical problems that make it easier/harder to lag the sweetspot. An example is swinging too much from inside to out. IMO, this is why better players seem to get the shanks more than weekend hackers. The more inside (underplane) you are, the easier it is to lag the hosel.

Best of luck.

[jambalaya]

Re: the horrible SHANK

Shanking is caused by lagging the hosel vs. lagging the sweetspot. You shoud be able to feel the sweetspot through your right index finger on the club. It feels very different than the hosel. You can test what your lagging by hitting shots with your right thumb off the shaft. This will force you to keep your right finger "behind" the sweetspot.

Further, there are certain mechanical problems that make it easier/harder to lag the sweetspot. An example is swinging too much from inside to out. IMO, this is why better players seem to get the shanks more than weekend hackers. The more inside (underplane) you are, the easier it is to lag the hosel.

Best of luck.

Interesting thought. I sometimes like thoughts about feeling something rather than a technical explanation to reinforce one's training.

[flyingbigbertha]

Re: the horrible SHANK

thanx will practice to understand the sweetspot technique.