Golf Lessons and shanking

[ThePuttKing65]

I remember when I had my first golf lesson in the early 90's, the guy changed all my set up and I started shanking the ball badly.

Last week I had a lesson. The guy advertised having a swing trainer so I thought I would give it a go. The swing trainer was rubbish but the guy looked at my swing and said the following:

Swing too flat
Takeaway too inside
Stance too narrow
Hands behind the ball
Ball too far forward
Arms too straight

They were a few others that I've forgot.

He got me into this new setup position and I started shanking the ball. After the lesson finished I had half a bucket of balls left. I used them up and shanked every single one. I then went back to my golf course and practised using my normal swing to get the shanking out of my system.

Today I shot a 77 gross off a 5 handicap.

It's put me off having lessons because they always seem to want to change everything about your swing when only minor changes are needed !

[ubizmo]

Re: Golf Lessons and shanking

Today I shot a 77 gross off a 5 handicap.

It's put me off having lessons because they always seem to want to change everything about your swing when only minor changes are needed !

I don't have a lot of experience in these matters, but it seems to me that if you're playing off 5, you are striking the ball very well, and your swing must be pretty good, since the only definition of "good swing" that makes any sense to me is one that enables you to strike the ball well. Any instructor who recommends major surgery on a swing that has taken you this far is, in my view, to be avoided.

Since you are paying for the lessons, I'd take the position that you should make it clear that you are not interested in an all-new swing, just some tweaking of what you already are doing, since it's working pretty well. If the prospective teacher can't work with that, then go to a different one.

[golfndawg]

Re: Golf Lessons and shanking

I remember when I had my first golf lesson in the early 90's, the guy changed all my set up and I started shanking the ball badly.

Last week I had a lesson. The guy advertised having a swing trainer so I thought I would give it a go. The swing trainer was rubbish but the guy looked at my swing and said the following:

Swing too flat
Takeaway too inside
Stance too narrow
Hands behind the ball
Ball too far forward
Arms too straight

They were a few others that I've forgot.

He got me into this new setup position and I started shanking the ball. After the lesson finished I had half a bucket of balls left. I used them up and shanked every single one. I then went back to my golf course and practised using my normal swing to get the shanking out of my system.

Today I shot a 77 gross off a 5 handicap.

It's put me off having lessons because they always seem to want to change everything about your swing when only minor changes are needed !

I took a lesson 3 weeks ago because I had developed the shanks very bad and of course didn't know why. Just a very bad feeling!!!!! But before I committed to the lesson I asked, do you work with what I have or do you change things more or less to your liking, She actually worked with I have and got me in some of the positions that have been discussed in this forum that I thought I was doing but wasn't. Anyway,has been a blessing lately as I shot 71 yesterday with 7 birdies,go figure(1 blowout hole)....But I feel I am one of the lucky one's to have a lesson work out in the right way,compared to taking a lesson and then hitting the ball worse.....I don't believe in someone saying you're going to get worse before getting better after a lesson,if that is the case then their not working with the good things of the swing(especially 5 handi)...JMO

Good luck

[wicket94]

Re: Golf Lessons and shanking

I've just had a lesson to cure shanking - and it worked with a fair bit of practice. I've been playing quite well lately but all of a sudden I couldn't hit the ball without a top or a shank.

I had lost my alignment, body compenating incorrectly and a flat swing. I get on well with my pro and he just tweaks - not overhauls. He's very experienced and with his help I'm getting better and better. He tends to change just one thing at a time and won't move on until I'm comfortable with any change or technique.

My only experience of shanking and poor striking was with younger Pro's, straight from training as it were. I think they have been taught a perfect swing and try to plonk that on everyone. Trouble is one size doesn't fit all our shapes, sizes and physical ability etc.

Certainly at your level surely tweaks are all you need not an overhaul - unless you developed a fault. I suppose alot depends on what you were after from the lesson. Why did you go anyway?

Good luck with your swing!

[ThePuttKing65]

Re: Golf Lessons and shanking

I only went because they advertised a Swing Trainer and my Dad said it was something called The Explanar. I read up on this training aid and it seemed a good idea. It gets you swinging on the right plane. However this guy's swing trainer was home made and not the Explanar. It wasn't very good and it was a waste of money but thankfully only £15.