Developing the shanks!!

I was just wondering if anyone has tried to get better but the more I try the more the shanks come to my swing. I wish I could turn this around. Does anyone have any suggestions about the first step in turning this bad golf around?

A shank is a stroke where the ball is struck by the hosel instead of the centre of the club face. I read recently in a golfing web page somewhere that a shank should be looked at as a very good swing only an inch or so off target.

The suggested cure was to get a big cardboard box (big enough so as when you take your swing you do not strike the leading edge of the box) and put that on the ground on about 3" away from the ball and go ahead and hit the ball hithout hitting the box.

Simplistic, but worth a try...???

If I can recall the link to the page (might have been a Pelz page actually) I will post it...

Cheers

It was the Pelz site...

http://www.pelzgolf.com/NewsInfo/Tips.aspx

Under the Wedge Play section, the tip is entitled "Shanker's Delight"

Have a look.

Cheers

Hi,

Shanks are normally caused by a severe outside in swing. The box drill is a good way to work out a solution.

Here is a video that addresses the same problem.

http://www.ritson-sole.com/golf-tips...shank-no-more/

Good luck.

Hilt,

I have had the pleasure of working through the shanks in my golfing life and, (no offense to anyone else), it is not caused by an extreme over the top move, or too much weight on your toes or mental issues etc.... The shank is caused by an open clubface at impact. You are probably rolling the face open on takeaway, like millions of golfers do, and not squaring it at impact. You are coming into impact with too open of a clubface which means you are leading with the hosel. If you don't get it square, guess what, shank.

Try taking the club away more square to the plane and not rolling your hands open. Box drill will not help you fix this permanently.

I have books by Mclean, ledbetter and harmon and none of them address the proper way to cure this problem. Trust me, fix the clubface.

JB

__________________
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Hey Pal,

You are quite welcome and entitled to your opinion but dont rubbish others and particularly people like Dave Pelz.

Not disparaging others at all. This is just an area that I have too much experience in unfortunately and have been very frustrated with all the "big name" teachers because I think they fail miserably in telling people what the root cause of the shanks really are.

Like I said, I have books from Harmon, Ledbetter and Mclean about this and all of them recommend band aids for this. This Pelz site, is again, a band aid for the real problem, which is the CLUBFACE.

OK, I get it then. You know the answers the rest of us are talking twaddle.

Of course it's the clubface, that's the only thing in golf that ultimately effects any shot. The issue is what is causing the clubface to bring the hozel into contact with the ball? just try and concede that there may be more than one cause!

Then why not just say it is the clubface? I think all the extra stuff is what impedes the player from fixing the problem. If some one would have told me to fix the clubface (quit opening it on the takeaway and keep it square to the plane line throughout the swing) 3 years ago, I wouldn't have wasted so much time playing with boxes, and trying to hit the inside ball, and keeping my weight back on my heels and keeping my arms in close to my side.

Doesn't that sound more logical?

As I said! you are entitled and welcome to give your view, that's what this site is for. I have given my view, you yours others may give theirs. It is fair to question someone else is you disagree, put it to them your experience tells you this or that.

It is something completely different to suggest that all other views are incorrect because you have some experience of the problem. Do you suggest that others have not experienced this problem? I have been through a bad period of shanking in the past and was helped by understanding that an outside in swing with short irons was the cause, rectifying this solved it.

I don't disagree that your suggestion is wrong either. If I did i would respectfully put it to you that I had an alternative view.

__________________
Best Regards
Brian

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Funny o'l game!

"I have been through a bad period of shanking in the past and was helped by understanding that an outside in swing with short irons was the cause, rectifying this solved it."

But you had an outside in swing because your clubface was open. Anyway, I did not mean to upset anyone, and maybe I could have phrased my concerns about this subject better. I am glad you got em fixed too.


JB

I didn't have an out to In swing because my clubface was open, it was because I was casting with my shoulders from the top, the face was never open just hitting across the ball leading with the Hozel. Did you look at the video thread I attached, it shows the problem quite graphically.

Anyway, lets agree to disagree on this one.

And here was I thinking that a shank could simply be caused by simply standing an inch TOO CLOSE to the ball...

I think the majority of the time it is because my clubface is open at impact. I also think that confidence and thinking about mechanics is a big part of it too. I dont get a whole lot of time to goto the driving range to work on my game, which is a really big downfall. I just switched from a standard set of clubs to clubs that fit me and I am still trying to adjust in the length addition to them. The golf swing is very complicated and there are prolly a hundred different things that can go wrong in a lot of swings that end in a bad shot. It just seems that I am getting worse the more I play. Has anyone done that and is there hope of getting out and improving my game? I am seriously thinking about getting some instruction but I feel like I dont want to pay someone if they really dont know how to correct my swing. any suggestions?

You are correct, it can. Thats why your suggestion of using the box drill is good.