Why am I suddenly shanking the golf ball?

The main cause of shanking the golf ball is a strike that is too far out of the heel of the club, close to the hosel. This generally comes about because your set up is too close to the ball, or you tip forward towards the ball during the swing.

Why do I randomly shank the golf ball?

The shank happens because the clubface is closed and the toe of the club hits into the ground producing a long, skinny divot. Again, the shank happens because the club is dramatically shut at impact NOT open. It's hard for most golfers to imagine the ball going that far right with a closed face.

Why have I suddenly shanked?

Setting up at address with your weight on your heels and transferring it to your toes during the swing can move the clubface forward just enough to lead to a shank. So can standing too close to the ball and then adjusting by moving the club more to the outside on the downswing.

Why can't I stop shanking the ball?

It is possible that you are standing too close to the ball, and the primary cause is incorrect posture. To cure this, allow your arms to hang toward the ground, then grip the club as you have been taught.

Can a strong grip cause a shank?

The weakness inherent in this grip can cause the clubface to remain open at impact, again leading to the dreaded shank. To fix the problem, strengthen your grip position by turning your left hand more to the right (as the photo shows).

Can standing too close to the ball cause a shank?

Standing too close to the golf ball will result in a posture that's too upright, which could result in inconsistent shots and no control over the ball. Standing too close to the ball can result in slices and shanks, which are very common among average players.

What swing path causes a shank?

A shank happens when you hit the ball with the housel (the intersection of the clubhead and the shaft) of the club.

Are the shanks mental?

On the one hand, the shanks are something mental, but you have to acknowledge that there is a physical component. The experience was shocking, sad, surreal, shattering my firmly held convictions. I felt like the skeptic who'd scoffed at hypnotism, only to wind up clucking like a chicken.

Does early extension cause shanks?

Early extension can certainly cause shanks. When you early extend, you thrust your pelvis towards the ball, often dropping the club way under the swing plane. This severe in-to-out club path may cause the hosel to make contact with the ball first, rather than the club face, resulting in a shank.

Why do I keep shanking my irons?

When your hands get further away at impact than they were at address, a shank will likely be the result. If you stand too close to the ball, it will be easier to open the clubface too much leading to a shank. It also increases your chances of hitting the ball with the heel of the club.

Can a flying right elbow cause a shank?

If the club hits the ball at or anywhere near the hosel, then it would result in a shank shot. A flying elbow happens when the right elbow (for a right-handed golfer) sticks out a little too much at the peak of the backswing. The elbow almost becomes horizontal and points away from the body.

Does a flat golf swing cause the shank?

One of the leading causes of the shanks is a golf swing that has gotten too flat - so, as a result, a common fix is to simply make the swing more upright. An upright swing is one where the hands (and the club) find a high position at the top, and the club comes into the ball on a steep angle of attack.

Why am I suddenly shanking my wedges?

This is usually caused from a lack of upper body rotation. To fix it, try this simple drill: Place a towel across your chest under both arms. Using a wedge, make half swings focusing on using your chest to swing the club. The towel should stay under your arms from start to finish.

Why do I keep shanking my golf shots?

More often than not, a shank occurs when a player's weight gets too far onto the toes, causing a lean forward. Instead of the center of the clubface striking the ball—as you intended at address—the hosel makes contact with your Titleist, and—cover your ears and guard your soul—a shank occurs.

Why am I hitting the golf ball off the hosel?

But the ball doesn't hit the heel—it hits the hosel, and its round shape makes the ball carom violently to the right. The easiest fix is to stand farther away from the ball at address. But for long-lasting results, be sure to keep your weight over the middle of your feet, which stops you from moving toward the ball.

Does standing too close cause early extension?

Early extension, Phillips explains is often an effect caused by an unbalanced setup. Specifically, standing too far from the golf ball. “If you're close to the golf ball, that actually puts you in position where you need to move [your trail hip] out of the way and work the club out in front of you.” he says.

Why do good players shank the ball?

One of the main reasons for the “shank” is the player swings excessively steep and downward into the golf ball. This means that from the top of the swing, the club shaft gets very vertical coming down, and there is nowhere to go but down on top of the ball, usually with the hosel of the golf club.