Swing Problem!!! Urgent!!!

I've been playing pretty good golf lately and all of the sudden i went to the range today and started shanking everything!! Also when i did hit one clean it was about 20 yards shorter than usual. I couldnt tell what was wrong with my swing. So, i was just wondering why someone would shank (like what they're doing wrong in there swing) and why the loss of distance? I thought it might be that my hands are coming through before the club head, but im not sure. And also im 5'4" with standard length clubs if that helps any. All help would be great!!!!!!! thanks

most common causes for shanks,
arms and club shaft have too large an angle at address, which centrifigul force dictates that angle must straighten in the down swing, and causes a shank Get the left arm and club shaft closer to a straight line at address
weight too much on balls of feet at address
people may say too flat of a swing but if you were not shanking before I find it hard to imagine your swing would all the sudden change, but to change the set up without being aware of it is more common

thanks, but, do you mean set up like at address like you were talking about before or set up like stance . If you could eloborate more on that, that would be great

left arm and club shaft closer to a straight line, little angle in the wrists, with weight centered or favoring the heels

Were you Shanking (hitting off the hozel and sending the ball violently right) Or was the ball traveling forward with a big curve right?

it just went violently right, (started right)

In that case do what Shootin is suggesting.

If you are putting too much weight on the balls of your feet a good drill is to try hitting with a golf ball under the front of your shoes, practice that and then try to repeat the feeling when they are gone.

The "shanking" and the loss of distance on a better-hit ball makes me think this is an off-the-toe deal, rather than a true shank off the hosel. If you have too much weight on the balls of your feet, you would naturally "fall" back from the ball on the forward swing, which would account for an off-the-toe hit, it seems to me.

Also, are you continuing to make a full shoulder turn. When I start the off-the-toe junk I notice that I've quit turning my shoulders and come over the top on my forward swing.

Hope you work it out.

Bill

Thanks for your help guys. I went to the range and didnt shank any . I wasnt hitting as far as usual , but they were going higher and straighter . Thanks again

what exactly did you work on, so others may learn?

shootin,

I basiclly just worked on what you guys said. I cut down the angle of my arms and club shafts. I put the ball (for wedges) in the middle of my stance so that the shaft would be straighter. I also tried to keep the club face square/closed throught the swing so i dont open it up and shank it. Hope that helps anyone with the same problem

I went golfing today and i started shanking again!!! i tried what you guys said but i still managed to shank one every few holes!!

Make sure you are making a good weight transfer from your back foot to your front foot during your backswing and downswing.
I just started shanking a few weeks ago (had a shanking problem at the end of last year too grrr), I'm about a 12 handicap and was rather embarrassed when I started doing it (hit about a half bucket of balls bad). Went to my club pro for a lesson and he said make a good weight transfer and make sure you aren't moving towards the ball during your swing (weight on toes). Also I hit a few with the ball a little closer to the toe of the club and that sort of helped.
I went to the range a few days ago and hit all of my irons great except a few of my 56 degree wedges shanked off to my left (I'm left-handed), but I think I was playing the ball too far back in my stance and swinging too armsy.
Now that I think about it maybe a looser grip may also help (create more clubhead lag). Also make sure your hands aren't too close to your body or that you're standing too close to the ball (don't stand too far away either though).

hi
standing to close to ball and not giving your arm room to move. stand futhers away, just an inch or two, try just moving your right foot back a little first and see if it goes away.
bill

you also could be loosing your spine angle, which will make you swing too flat, and that causes shanks. If I ever shank it anymore it is because of that