Shanks in golf are not a pretty sight and it’s common for beginners to deal with them.
In a situation such as this, you will want to learn how to cure the shanks in golf and what to account for as a modern-day golfer.
The amount of options you have to work with now is going to make life easier for you. This includes learning how to stop shanking in golf right away.
To stop shanking in golf, record your golf swing, use an alignment stick to test your hip movement, change your golf club, and avoid a flat golf swing. It’s also recommended to take a few practice swings before each shot and breath properly to relax the body.
Some golfers that begin shanking irons all of a sudden will often look back at the mental side of things with golfing. Golf shanks mental issues do pop up, especially with pro golfers from time to time.
Your swing might be good but an uneasy mind will make it hard to stop shanking golf balls.
This guide is going to showcase A simple cure for the shanks in golf, the most common cause of golf shanks, what is a golf shank, and the reason for shanking with different golf clubs.
What Is Shanking In Golf?
Shanking refers to miscuing a golf ball, which means it hits the hosel rather than the club face. The hosel is where the shaft meets the clubhead and a miscued golf shot will cause this to be the main point of contact with the golf ball.
As you can imagine, shanking golf balls will lead them to go in all sorts of directions.
You might end up shanking a golf ball into the woods!
This is why it’s important to stop shanking the ball when golfing. Otherwise, it’s going to impact your golf score.
Reasons A Golfer Might Shank A Golf Ball
1. Improper Golf Stance
To cure a golf shank, you need to start with your stance.
How are you standing in front of the golf ball?
This is one of the main reasons for shanking golf balls and it’s not a pretty sight regardless of how well the contact point is.
A good golf stance is one where you feel stable throughout the swing. This means your hips don’t sway and you are not falling to one side during the golf swing.
2. Poor Alignment
When it comes to the golf shank cure, it is common for golfers to have alignment issues with their golf swing.
This is noticeable when you take a video of your golf swing to analyze it in greater detail. You will notice there is something off with the swing including your hips swaying too much or you leaning in one direction more than necessary.
When learning how to fix shanks in golf, you need to start with your alignment. You want to make sure your golf shots are being hit cleanly.
3. Wrong Golf Club
What type of golf club are you using right now?
The best golf clubs are the ones that are going to work with your swing and are not going to bog you down on the golf course.
Always take the time to choose a good golf club that works for your swing. This includes assessing your golf swing speed and understanding how often you shank a golf ball when golfing.
Whether you are shanking wedges, shanking drivers, or shanking putters, you need to focus on your golf equipment too.
This is the only way to prevent shanking in golf and make sure you optimize your golf swing moving forward.
4. Mental Hurdles
A golfer can have mental issues that lead to golf shanks.
If your mind is not in the right place, you are going to feel uneasy and this is going to end with you shanking golf balls left, right, and center.
There are numerous reasons for this and sometimes it has to do with external factors that cause stress. Do not underestimate what this can do to your mind while golfing.
5. Flat Golf Swing
A flat golf swing is not ideal when you are working on stopping shanking in golf.
When stopping shanks in golf, you need to figure out how your golf swing is set up. Is it too flat or is it properly working in line with what is required?
When the golf swing is flat, you are going to end up shanking golf balls a lot.
6. Bad Grip
The way you grip a golf club is going to play a significant role in how you hit a golf ball.
A loose grip can easily cause you to begin shanking a golf ball when you hit it. This is not a good sight but changing your grip as a golfer can make things better.
Steps On How To Stop Shanking In Golf
1. Record Your Golf Swing
To overcome shanks in golf, you need to begin with the basics.
This means you are going to record your golf swing and see it from another perspective. Sometimes, taking a step back and seeing a video of your golf swing is the only way to improve your game.
2. Analyze The Weak Points Of Your Golf Swing
With the video in hand, you are now going to begin to assess the weak points of your golf swing.
This can include:
- The weight of your golf club
- The positioning of your hips
- Your stance
- How smooth your golf swing is
Look into each element of the golf swing to see what is leading you to miscue a golf ball.
3. Check The Direction You’re Shanking The Golf Ball In
To get rid of the shanks in golf, you will need to also look at where the golf ball goes when you hit it.
Is it always going in one direction?
This is a sign that a simple adjustment will do the trick. A lot of golfers will shank the golf ball to the right while others will shank the golf ball to the left.
This is normal and it’s all about seeing where the golf ball goes to then adjust your golf swing.
4. Adjust Your Alignment Using An Alignment Stick
This is a common issue when you are shanking pitch shots or want to stop shanking wedges.
The goal here is to set up an alignment stick.
The alignment stick is going to let you know when your hips are out of line as you swing. This is when you are going to touch the alignment stick and it will show you the weight transfer is not smooth enough to hit a ball cleanly.
[amazon box=”B082N7L7QN”]5. Stabilize Your Stance
You need to assess your stance.
Are your feet too narrow causing you to fall over during the swing? Perhaps your feet are too wide, which doesn’t let the golf club come down smoothly.
These are potential issues that do arise and you need to figure out what’s going on by making adjustments to your golf stance.
6. Take Practice Swings Before Each Shot
The best thing a golfer can do is slow things down.
You need to avoid walking up to a golf ball and just swinging randomly. Take a few practice swings, soak in the environment, take a few deep breaths, and then swing.
This is going to help you work on the mental side of things as a golfer to get rid of shanks.
What Causes Shanks With Wedges?
Shanks with wedges are caused by using the wrong golf club, having a flat golf swing, not setting your feet properly, or dealing with a mental setback that makes it difficult to relax at the time of hitting the golf ball.
To stop wedges from shanking, it’s essential to account for each element of your golf swing.
Shanking wedges is a real concern and it has to be addressed with care.
Work through the video to see why you are shanking a golf wedge and how to stop shanking golf wedges moving forward.
Why Do I Keep Shanking My Irons?
You can keep shanking irons when using the wrong type of golf iron for the shot, having a misaligned golf swing, using the wrong golf stance, or having a flat golf swing. It’s recommended to record your golf swing and analyze where the issue lies.
The most common reason can come down to having the wrong alignment. Making changes to how you stand in front of a golf ball and how you manage the downswing of a golf club is what matters most.
Can A Poor Grip Cause A Shank?
Yes, a poor grip can cause a shank in golf. This is due to the hands not holding the golf club properly, which causes it to move in the hands during the downswing. When this happens, the golf swing becomes misaligned and that causes the golf shank to occur.
Can Bad Alignment Cause Shanks?
Yes, bad alignment causes shanks and it’s one of the more common reasons for golfers shanking golf balls. To stop this, set up an alignment golf stick to train your body to remain straight while swinging the golf club.
Can Standing Too Close To The Ball Cause A Shank?
Yes, standing too close to the ball can cause a shank in golf. This is due to the golf club’s path being too narrow and that causes it to come in at an angle. When this happens, the golf club face goes out of line making it harder to hit the sweet spot.
Can A Flat Golf Swing Cause A Shank?
Yes, a flat golf swing can cause a shank in golf. This occurs due to the golf swing not coming down at the right angle and this causes misalignment to occur with the golf swing. It’s best to use the right golf club to optimize the golf club’s path and ensure it moves freely.
This is why a toe-up golf swing will make a difference in how you hit a golf ball.
Why Am I Shanking Punch Shots?
You are shanking punch shots due to having a misaligned golf swing or using the wrong type of golf club. It’s recommended to assess the way you stand in front of a golf ball before playing the punch shot and make adjustments until the golf swing is straighter.
Can Early Extension Cause Shanks?
Yes, an early extension can cause shanks. Golfers are recommended to use an alignment stick to make sure the hips don’t move closer to the golf ball during the downswing. The alignment stick will teach you how to golf without an early extension.
Golf Shank Slow Motion
Here is an example of a pro golfer shanking in slow motion and what it looks like.
It’s best to analyze this video to better understand what causes a golfer to shank the golf ball and where adjustments can be made.
Final Thoughts
This is what you need to know when learning how to stop shanking in golf.
To stop shanking in golf, begin by recording a video of your golf swing. Next, set up an alignment stick and work on both your stance and downswing until everything is stabilized. The golf club’s path should come down straight or you will continue to shank the golf ball.
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