| Golfers don't laugh at other golfers. If you watch the | | | | the shaft meets the club head. If you don't hit the |
| pros, you'll hear Ken Venturi say something like, "I | | | | ball with the hitting surface of the club, the ball goes |
| don't think he'll be happy with that shot" -- and that's | | | | exactly to the left or right, and generally doesn't go |
| considered to be an extremely harsh statement. | | | | very far, usually less than 50 yards. |
| However, we do know whether we're watching | | | | What probably happened is a flaw in your swing. If |
| someone on TV, or if we're watching our playing | | | | you are reaching for the ball, or pushing the club |
| partners, when they make a mistake. The most | | | | away from your body on the downswing, then you'll |
| embarassing and the most frustrating mistake to | | | | have trouble keeping the club level, and you can |
| make is to "shank" the shot. Unlike a slice or a hook, | | | | shank the shot. Alternately, you could have the ball |
| where the ball looks like it's going fine, and then | | | | too close to your feet, and you are coming |
| veers off, in this case, the ball goes straight left or | | | | "outside-in" on the ball, causing the shaft to be held |
| right, from the moment of contact. | | | | at an angle, again making it hard to hit the ball with |
| It's a horrible feeling, worse than missing a 3 foot | | | | the hitting surface. |
| putt. You know you did it, as does everyone around | | | | Here's an easy drill to try: |
| you. In fact, the shot doesn't even sound right. And, | | | | Tee up two balls, roughly 3 inches apart. Take your |
| worst of all, you probably have to walk up to your | | | | normal stance, and address the ball closest to you. |
| ball and hit it again, as your partners balls are probably | | | | Now, take your normal swing. The second ball, the |
| well ahead of you. | | | | one 3 inches away from the ball you are trying to hit, |
| So, what causes you to shank the ball? It's pretty | | | | shouldn't move. If you actually hit it with any part of |
| simple, it happens when you don't hit the ball with the | | | | the club, then you've definately shanked that shot, |
| hitting surface of the club. You hit it off the "heel" or | | | | and should try again. Keep doing it till you get the feel |
| the "toe" of the club, or even off the place where | | | | for what you are doing. |