Stop
Hitting the
SHANK
The ball shoots sideways off the hosel. Usually happens suddenly, lasts for a few holes, sometimes longer. The good news: it's almost always a setup and bottom position problem — not a swing change — and it's fixable fast.
Strike location: HEEL / HOSEL
Ball flight: 90° RIGHT (right-hander)
Spin: EXTREME CLOCKWISE
Cause: BOTTOM FORWARD OF BALL
What a Shank Actually Is
The shank is a heel strike. That's all. The clubface contacts the ball near the hosel instead of the center. The ball goes sideways at high speed, often with a distinctive "clunk" at impact.
Most shank episodes come from one of three things: standing too close at address, the bottom of the swing moving too far forward during the downswing, or a grip that pushes the handle forward at impact.
The Fix Sequence
Work through these in order. One of them will fix it — usually the first or second. Don't try all at once. Start with the simplest and work up.
Stand Further from the Ball
Slide your front foot back 1 inch. Stand further from the ball at address. Most shanks in recreational golf come from being too close — the club handle ends up past the front hip and the heel catches the ball.
Light Grip Pressure
Excessive grip pressure creates tension that causes the clubface to rotate closed at impact. Shanks often come when a golfer gets nervous and grips tighter. Lighten the grip — 3 out of 10.
Impact Tape Check
Put impact tape on the clubface. Hit 5 balls. Any heel-side marks confirm the problem. Track progress: marks moving toward center = fixing the pattern.
Towel Drill
Place a towel on the ground just in front of the ball — close enough to nearly touch the clubhead at the bottom. Hit the ball without the clubhead touching the towel. This forces the bottom to stay back.
The "Right Elbow" Fix
At impact, the right elbow should be roughly 2 inches from the right hip. If it's closer — pressing against the body — the clubhead has moved too far forward. Feel the right elbow staying connected to the side body through the downswing.
The "Two Tee" Test
Place two tees in the ground, 2 inches apart, just in front of the ball. The clubhead should pass between them at the bottom. If it touches either tee, your bottom is forward.
Why Shanks Spread to Other Clubs
The shank becomes a pattern because the nervous system tries to "help" by creating space at impact. Each club has a slightly different bottom position — so the shank moves from driver to 7-iron to wedge. The fix is the same: get the bottom back to center.
The fastest way out of a shank episode: stop playing for 20 minutes, hit impact tape shots with a 7-iron focusing only on setup, then return to play.
Get Out of the Shanks
A video analysis session shows exactly where the bottom moves forward. TrackMan confirms impact position. Most shank episodes are fixed in one session.
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