shanks all over the place

[jon03hemi]

Please help me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I normally play to a 17 handicap but lately I have really been struggling. I have always been prone to a draw and even a hook at times. All of sudden during my last round I started pushing everything right, especially the driver. Not really a slice just a strong push. Even worse I started shanking my pitches and chips, something I have had happen off an on over the years. I will be chipping a ball from just 10 feet off the green and I will shank it straight right with a ball mark on the hosel. I can literally see my swing path shooting out to the right.
Today I went to the range hoping to work it all out. I must have shanked half a bucket of balls off the hosel. My divots, which normally go a little to the right, were no more so than usual. I feel like I am throwing my hands out towards the ball on my chips, pitches and on the full swing. I am so lost and have no idea what is going on. I have a tendancy to set up with my shoulders open. Could this lead to the pushes and eventually the shanks. At this point I would be happy to go back to pushing the ball as shanking the ball on a chip is really embarassing.
fyi. I am 6'4" but am using clubs that were custom fit for me so I can not blame it on the equipment. I normally have a great short game so these shanks have to go. any ideas guys???? I am going to see my pro on Wednesday if the weather holds out but was hoping for some input before then.

[GregJWillis]

Re: shanks all over the place

I feel your pain...

Most often, the cause of a shank on a chip is the arms. They have taken over and the primary swinger of the club. They hinge just fine from your shoulders, right? And together, they are able to make that club go back and forth. But there is a problem when they are THE ONLY thing you are doing. And this really does not matter what your hands are doing either...

Make sure your shoulders are rotating like in a putt. Start out making long bump and runs with your 7i and making your stroke like a putt only. Imagine you have a putter in your hands, and play the ball in the back of the stance (just in front of the right-back foot). When you get that feeling down, go to the Pw and introduce the hand set-release a little, but still feeling like a putt.

This should get you back on track.

Then, to get back to the full shot, work your way back to 50 yds, and start to introduce the arms raising up a little....yet still feeling like you are simply putting it..but now you are really starting to play a regular shot. The important thing it to get the arms out of the shot as the only thing that is happening. Arms work only when coupled with shoulder rotation.

[Double D]

Re: shanks all over the place

I find if I hit one of those it usually comes from getting the legs involved too much for such a short shot, if you fire your legs too quick the hands and arms get left behind and the face gets left open leaving you to strike it with the hosel since you must come a lot from the inside to draw and hook regularly. Try turning the right knee in towards the ball a little when hitting the 50 yard and in shots Greg was talking about and keep the lower body as quiet as possible just turn back and through with the shoulders. Putting a range ball under the outside of the right foot (in the middle of the foot) while hitting a few shots will give you a good feeling of where you want the weight on the back foot. If that does not work then turn your hat sideways put a tee behind your ear move all your change from your right pocket to your left pocket and then swing away. (I can;t take credit for that one but I'm sure some of you know where it came from.)


Peace
Dave D...

[pnearn]

Re: shanks all over the place

Yep, been there too ! .. not a nice place

For me I worked on making sure my swing was connected again, the old driver head cover on the arm is good for that. And also really make sure you arent gripping the club too tight or trying too hard to release it to stop the shank .. just grip it loose and let the body turn square it

As Greg said I went back to half swings. When I hit say 50 balls all good with half swings then I went back and gradually built it up again