Need Help With Short Iron S**NKS!

[gord962]

Re: Need Help With Short Iron S**NKS!

In these cases it's not a matter of technique, the problem is focusing on the wrong things. You think about a shank, you get a shank. If you think about hitting your driver OB, you will hit your drive OB. If you think don't come up short because there is water, you will drown your ball, and any other bad scenario, with any club can be added.

What is needed is a fresh, positive start. If you have been successful at chipping/pitching prior to the shanks, the best thing to do is to forget all the tips and quick fixes and think 'go in the hole' instead of 'I hope I don't shank ANOTHER'. If you can conquer the mental portion, you will do fine.

[GoBucks]

Re: Need Help With Short Iron S**NKS!

Heh, thanks for the confidence booster. I'm thinking it's not my technique that's off, I'm doing all the right things like you mentioned and am familiar with chipping fundamentals, but there's something that's just slightly off that none of my golfing friends could pick up when watching me (one of them is around a 4 handicap). Again, this isn't happening on EVERY shot, just on 1 out of 4 chips/pitches, but I can't pinpoint what I'm doing wrong. Don't worry Gord, I still enjoy golf and everything else about my game is okay, just need to figure out what the *bleep* I'm doing with my short game.

[GoBucks]

Re: Need Help With Short Iron S**NKS!

Just to update, I'm thinking I figured out what my problem was (without the help of a lesson). But I cured my swing by doing the following things...

Pitching: Move ball in the center of stance, swing club like normal, address lower half (half that is closer to me) of ball

Chipping: Narrow stance, move a few inches away from ball, open stance about 20 degrees, address lower half of ball, take club back low, on downswing should be some chest movement forward

This helped me tremendously while practicing, but I'm curious if I can continue these things on the course.

[gord962]

Re: Need Help With Short Iron S**NKS!

Everything sounds good, now just remember to be confident your shot. Pick your line, pick your weight and trust your judgement. Being 100% confident over your shot you have chosen are about to attempt will increase your success rate.