| What is a shank? | | | | If you are standing too close to the ball at setup, |
| Have you ever watched Tin Cup? I know it's a | | | | your natural tendency will be to adjust your |
| movie, but there is a scene when Roy 'Tin Cup' | | | | downswing to a more comfortable and natural swing |
| McAvoy (Kevin Costner) is at the practice range, and | | | | path. The effect will be that the club head will move |
| he is hitting shank after shank. | | | | away from you, and as we have found out, even |
| How did he do that? | | | | ½ inch will cause the dreaded shank to appear |
| Well Roy did the same thing that I did and every | | | | into your game. Simply standing too close could be |
| other golfer does when they shank the ball and that | | | | the reason that your are shanking the ball! |
| is when you hit the ball with the hosel of your club. | | | | Reason #3 - Your natural swing aim is flawed |
| The hosel is the rounded bit between the shaft of | | | | When you are hitting the ball, you are most probably |
| the club and the club face. This part of the club has a | | | | aiming at the middle of the ball, and expecting the |
| rounded surface, and so the ball shoots off to the | | | | middle of the club face to make contact with the ball. |
| right at an amazing angle (to the right for a right | | | | The cause of your shanks could be as simple as a |
| handed player and to the left for a left handed | | | | slightly incorrect aim! |
| player). Basically you are hitting the ball too close to | | | | Reason #4 - Your arms move away from your body |
| the heel of the club, rather than the center of the | | | | When you are making your downswing, do your |
| clubface. Most likely your shot will fly off as a line | | | | arms drift away from your body? If they do, the |
| drive directly away from your body. | | | | effects can be disastrous! One of the effects is the |
| 5 Common faults that will cause a shank | | | | club head moves away from the correct swing path |
| Reason # 1 - You are transferring the weight from | | | | and so the club connects the ball with the hosel, and |
| your heels to your toes | | | | you get a shank. |
| Weight transfers to the toes at impact making you | | | | Reason #5 - You have an incomplete shoulder turn |
| lean forward When you set up to hit the ball, you | | | | If you are not getting a good or complete shoulder |
| may find that you feel more pressure in your heels | | | | turn, then your swing will become too narrow and |
| than in your toes. This occurs because you are | | | | steep. Your left shoulder should rotate to a position |
| basically leaning or sitting back. As a result you may | | | | above your right knee. If you are not getting to this |
| be compensating for this imbalance during your swing. | | | | position, the result is that you are likely to be |
| This will have the effect of leaning slightly forward | | | | swinging on a very narrow arc. Having a narrow |
| and thereby moving the club head forward. | | | | swing due to an incomplete shoulder turn may be |
| Remember looking at the photo of a shanked shot, | | | | causing you to "fall" into your shots during your |
| all it takes is ½ inch of forward movement | | | | downswing, and by leaning forward by ½ inch |
| from transferring the weight from your heels to your | | | | will cause a shank. The cause of shanking could be |
| toes and you will get a shank! An uneven weight | | | | due to an incomplete shoulder turn. |
| distribution between the back and the front of your | | | | How do you cure a shank? |
| feet during your swing may be causing you to shank | | | | The main reason I cured the shanks was because I |
| the ball. | | | | found a Simple Golf Swing that is easy to learn, and |
| Reason #2 - You are standing too close to the ball at | | | | real easy to repeat, giving you great consistency. |
| setup | | | | |