HELP! I need a doctor I have the "S" Virus.

[johncdbass]

Out of the blue over the last two rounds I have develpoed a serious shank. I usually only do it with the mid irons but I even did it with my p wedge. I am a 6 handicap, mostly self taught and I am completely baffled as to the fix. I even went to the range after todays round and I shanked 1/2 the shots. I came home and looked at some material I have on the cure. One says I am coming ott the other says too inside. I think I may be inside but I do not know. I am going to Myrtle in two weeks and I have to "feel" better or my trip will be a total waste. Doctors please fix me, all the best, John

[GregJWillis]

Re: HELP! I need a doctor I have the "S" Virus.

Start over with 1/2 swings...like a punch 7i. Get that feeling back. Make solid contact for about 25 balls with just this shot. Increase the backswing slightly to 3/4. Go for another 25. It takes time, but there is something you did to change that caused it. This will get your confidance back to then try for full swings.

Your going to a week or so of golf and that probably put some pressure on you to step it up this early in the season (and maybe show off a little). So your normal comfort zone is out of comfort. This should get some of it back.

[pnearn]

Re: HELP! I need a doctor I have the "S" Virus.

First off I sympathise. This happens to me periodically, thankfully mostly only in practice. Starts off as a push and then becomes some horrible block/shank type thing

For me its coming way too much from the inside. I try and spin my hips too hard and too fast and my hands get stuck behind myself and I have no way of squaring them up

I have to go back to working on that first move down from the top, feeling like Im coming down so that the club is parallel to the target halfway down. Personally I have to feel as if I get more arms and hands into it and less lower body. I tend to just repeat this move over and over without a ball feeling like the club is much more in front of me on the way down and then start hitting short swings with the PW/9i to groove it back in

It feels like an OTT move (going from one extreme to the other) but actually it isnt

[JohnP]

Re: HELP! I need a doctor I have the "S" Virus.

John - help is at hand, I've been there.

1. Know that this is going to go away - guaranteed, its arrives out of the blue and dissapears just the same.

2. The only certain thing to know is that when the clubhead arrived at the ball, it was further away than in swingplane terms than it was at takeaway. Therefor the thing to work on is the clubpath through the ball.

3. There are lots of fixes and things to work on and I have tried them all. The one guaranteed fix that works every time for me is this one; take a piece of four by two wood to the range with you. Place it an inch away from the ball, now try swinging at the ball and hitting it with the toe of the club(half swings first) anytime you are going to s!&%k it - it will hit the wood.

Gradually build up your confidence again, and this is the key - confidence. You will be suprised how quickly the s*%%ks go away.

Good luck

[ChadCash]

Re: HELP! I need a doctor I have the "S" Virus.

Try this:
Hit 20 shots with all your weight on both heels. I mean all your weight, even to the point where your toes might be a little off the ground. This will be an instant cure.

[agent99]

Re: HELP! I need a doctor I have the "S" Virus.

Try this:
Hit 20 shots with all your weight on both heels. I mean all your weight, even to the point where your toes might be a little off the ground. This will be an instant cure.

I had this problem last year. I think you will find a thread on The Shanks here.

What I finally did, was not try any of the quick fixes. I rather worked on getting a consistent and repeatable set up. What I try to do (watch Annika), is first line up the shot from behind, then place my club behind the ball in address position ( I chose to put it slightly toward the toe (just to be safe), then I step into position with arms hanging almost vertical (not reaching or in too close) and get my weight evenly on feet. Definitely not on my heels because it causes me to lunge (fall forward) and not on toes. But mostly, I try to relax and take a slow (for me!) smooth backswing.

I don't like the idea of using short swings, because they often gets "armsy" and this can cause shanking in itself. A few may help to get some confidence, but I find I shank when playing a pitch & putt course, because I don't make a proper turn!

I know the S's will come back again (and have once or twice) but I now have confidence that I just have to go back to my setup routine and it is fixed.

Last year, I was virtually unable to play - Could not complete a hole it was so bad. I took about 2 weeks off while looking for a "cure", then played one or two games with my wife using new setup, had a couple of better league scores, then entered the Club Championship - 4 rounds medal play! With new setup, shot 76-74-79-83 (45 on last 9 ) Believe me, where I was coming from, I was still more than pleased!

Good luck - Try to relax!

[mr3856a]

Re: HELP! I need a doctor I have the "S" Virus.

I always start with the basics first - are you standing too close to the ball maybe? That's usually what my problem is when I **** the ball (I can't even say the word).

[johncdbass]

Re: HELP! I need a doctor I have the "S" Virus.

Thanks all for your help. At the last minute a friend called and asked me to play again today. I parred the first hole and felt very comfortable. Second tee, a par 3 and I shanked the tee shot off into the canal. I played somewhat better but I still shanked 5 shots during the round. Of course that totally boosts the score. Two rounds over 95 in a row. Ouch! I have a lesson tomorrow with an old pro just to pinpoint my exact flaw. I have a bad self-diagnosis technique so the video feedback will help also. Thanks all for the tips. I will over medicate myself and try them all to get the right fix for me. I'll let you know the results of the lesson. All the best, John

[greaves1]

Re: HELP! I need a doctor I have the "S" Virus.

Hi John

I've had 'em too!! A previous replier mentioned about checking you are not getting too close to the ball and I would totally agree with that. In my case I was getting very close on the ball as I believed that was the best way to get a steep strike for my approach shots. All I got was shank after shank. In the end I reverted to what I used to do - that being set up with the ball just inside the toe of the club. Shanks gone! ( till the next time!! )

Regards

Mike