Your August newsletter is here, and this month we are discussing a drill on how to combat a case of the shanks.* A shank is a shot where the hosel of your golf club strikes the ball, causing it to move off target. The cause of a shank is when your downswing comes off plane. Since the hosel is completely round, with no loft, a ball that strikes the surface of the hosel has no choice but to travel low and off course.
The problem with a shank, other than the obvious of an embarrassing shot that almost injured your playing partners, is the mental impact. If you just shanked your shot, you immediately start to worry about what may transpire on your next shot. We have a drill that will help prevent a shank from happening or fix a case of the shanks. Try these tips to help keep your downswing on plane:
- The first thing you will need is impact tape or spray like On-Mark available in our store, and it is also available at other golf stores for a small price.
- Put the impact tape on whatever iron you are having trouble with, or whichever iron has the most wear on the hosel.
- Take your normal set-up.
- Instead of putting the ball in the middle of your clubface, line it up on the hosel.
- Hit shots trying to get the impact patterns as close to the toe of your club as possible.
- Repeat the process until you are consistently hitting the ball off the toe of the club.
- This drill will ingrain the opposite feeling of a shank.
Most everyone, amateurs and pros alike have shanked a ball, or worse yet, had a case of the shanks. The secret to correct this, and preventing this from ruining your round, is to remember the cause of the shank. Knowing the cause and have practiced this drill, you will quickly and confidently stop or prevent the dreaded shank from happening.
Now go out and play better golf!
Thank you,
K & D Online, Inc.
"Indeed, the highest pleasure of golf may be that on the fairways and far from all the pressures of commerce and rationality, we can feel immortal for a few hours." -Colman McCarthy
*Jeff Elliott, PGA Apprentice
