Shank Pointe

How to Instantly Destroy your Golf Shank and Restore your Fun for Golf Again

Even Tiger Woods has shanked the ball when he least expected it. A shank can send panic into your game because the club head swing path that creates a shank is so close to that of a perfect shot...

 Experiencing a shank during a round can be so unnerving that some golfers fall into pure despair when it creeps into their game because the results of a shank are never good. 

Recently I conducted an online lesson with a very enthusiastic student from England who suddenly started experiencing the shanks with his short game. Fortunately, we fixed the problem right away.

I thought it would be useful to share some of the points we covered because at one time during your golf career a shank will pop up when you are least expecting it and if you follow these corrections, you can nip it in the bud before it takes over your total golf psyche!

Where shanks occur

As was the case with my student, a shank occurs mostly on short "feely" chip shots where there is not much hand action at impact.

A shank can also occur in the games of golfers who have a severe hook who open their club face at address or try to slow down their hand action on the downswing to counter the hook effect.

Where shanks seldom occur

Although a shank can occur with most swing paths, golfers who experience a fade or slice in their games are very unlikely to experience a shank...so you guys can relax a little.

Swing mechanics of a shank

At impact with the ball the following conditions occur to generate the shank:

-              The ball comes in contact with the heel of the club, not the club face

-              The club face is wide open at contact

-              In most cases, the club head swing path is coming from "inside to out" as it comes in contact with the ball

The last point may seem a little strange because many golfers strive for an "inside to out" swing path to create a draw flight path which is why a shank occurs on a swing path that many would say is close to a perfect shot...

How to correct a shank and kill it for good

Here are a few corrections you can make to eliminate a shank immediately:

-              Rotate your hands more into the ball so that you lead into the shot with the back of the left hand facing towards the target at impact and not pointing skywards.

Try this little exercise to give you a better understanding of the hand position that generates a shank at impact:

If you have a correct grip that is not overly "strong", stand in the address position with a club in your left hand. Now rotate your hand to the right until the back of your hand is aiming skywards.

You will observe that the club face is wide open with the heel leading into the ball.

This is the most likely hand position that will generate a shank at impact and explains why a shank occurs more on "feely" short shots where there is less hand action.

-              It is always better to shorten your backswing on short chip shots to accelerate your hands through the ball at impact rather than try to slow the hands down on the downswing for fear of over shooting the shot.

-              Also on short chips shots, aim the club face at the target and open your stance to create an "outside in" club head swing path. You will seldom hit a shank if the club head swing path is coming into the ball from "outside in", even if the club face is wide open.

-              On other shots, close the club face a little at address which will take the heel more out of play at impact.

-              Make sure you are not standing too upright or too close to the ball at setup. Standing too close to the ball will naturally encourage you to hit the ball more on the shaft end of the club face. 

-              Check that you are not using a "closed stance" at address that would exaggerate the "inside out" swing path on the downswing.

-              Do not rotate your hands to the right immediately on the take away. This flattens the swing and exaggerates the" inside out" club head motion of the swing on the downswing.

Any one or combination of these corrections will eliminate a shank for good.

Good luck and swing sweetly!

About the Author

Les Ross is the founder of the online golf instructional school," Highlander llc School of Golf", www.highlanderschoolofgolf.com that is based in San Rafael California.

 

He provides live individual instruction covering the technical aspecs of swing mechanics and video swing analysis that has given golfers of all levels an extremely successful teaching process for their golf swing development.

 

Les is also the author of two popular golf ebooks, "Breaking the Distance Barrier" www.breakingthedistancebarrier.com and "How to Break 90" that have provided golfers all around the world with a poweful understanding of swing mechanics, and a unique strategy for teaching and playing golf that has lead to a rapid development of their games.

 

His approaching to teaching golf is based on the fundamentals of swing physics and core swing flexibility that taylors a swing around the physical capabilities of every golfer to create a swing that matches their physique for optimum swing performance.

 

He has written many technical articles on golf that provide a practical, yet often controverstial approach to certain popular teaching techniques of the game that are based on his engineering back ground and more than 20 years as a physical fitness coach.

 

You will also find Les on Facebook at "Highlander School of Golf"

What does an 'FM' shank on my pointe shoes mean?

I recently purchased a pair of Russian pointe shoes. They are from there new diamond collection, however I forgot the name of the model. I have been on pointe for almost two years, and my pointe shoe fitter has been moving me up to harder shanks since I wear through soft ones very easily. I was just curious when it read Shank: FM. Is that hard, medium, or what? Please help me find the answer, thank you! ☺

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