the Shanks

I'm left-handed and lately I've been 'shanking'(proper term?) severly to the left. I've always had a problem with 'pushing' my ball to the left, but this 'shanking' is far more severe and happens a lot lately. Why is it happening and how do I fix it?

shanking generally happens when you have an over the top swing path- so rather than you starting the downswing and the club going down the way it came up, you cast the club, rather like a fishing rod.

so you have an out to in swing path- in that your club is coming to make contact with the ball with the club head above the swing plane

This can causes the club head hosel to make contact with the ball first, as opposed to the club head. That is waht causes the shank.

I am probs not the best person to give you advice on how to fix it. i will let someone else do that. As i think i have just got rid of my out to in swing path (although the jury is still out).

but just make sure:
that your grip, set up, posture are all ok.
try not to murder the ball, but swing nice.

it is frustraiting i know, cos i have just been there, especially as almost everyone has an out to in path but yet not everyone shanks. I would try and work on getting the club inside, or at the very least to not cast from the top.
i have heard that the inside approach training aid is pretty good for this, this would stop you shanking righ away from. Biut it is 30 quid. you can make your own from B and Q or other hardware sotre. If you go on ebay and search for insifde approach, there is enerally a guy selling the instruction to make you own for £2.50. he will email it to you right away and it costs 10 quid to buty the stuff.

if you dont do that do a search for other posts on her relating to getting an inside path- there are stacks of them, some posted by me. And there is some good advice in them.

generally though try and start your downswing with your body and not your hands/ arms.

there are lots of psots about using your hips to start the downswing- i got into a bit of trouble doing that. But i read harvey penick little red book. It states on starting the downswing " there is no magic move there are two, you start to put your weight on to your left leg (right for you) and you pull down with your right arm (left for you)."

i was previously firing my hips at the target and it was causing mayhem.

Anyway good luck and let us know how you get on.

T

__________________
Fore!!!!

To Tinny McAnn and CMays -- Thank you both for insights. I have a driving net in mymback yard...I'll go out now and work on your suggestions!
(,I hope!)

I don't know what you mean - "when you swing back' Are you referring to my back swing? If so, what does "too inside" mean?

I'm putting your golf mind to work --- thanks for using it to help me.
Bill

once every year i struggle with the shanks . my latest swing thought is when i start the downswing, to keep my hands close to my body, or my waist, that way i concentrate on avoiding moving my hands away from my body at impact, which is what makes the ball get caught in the hozel.

oh yea, and swing easy