Fairly often I will get someone phone me up with fear in their voice asking to book a lesson and they want the next available slot and are desperate to get a lesson.
This is usually due to the dreaded “Shank”!
Here is an example of a lesson this morning and the strike tape results as a before and after.
Here are a few tips that I find helpful to remedy the situation:
1. Understand the FACTS of the shot. It is amazing how many people think that when they shank it the ball is being struck by the toe of the club. This is why I use strike tape so that they can see the contact is near the hosel of the club.
2. Balance. Shanks can very often occur when a player loses balance forwards in the downswing and the heel of the club gets closer to the ball. Try this drill.
Toes in the air. Curl your toes up so that only the ball of the foot and heel are on the ground. This should put you in a balanced set up and as you swing will help you to maintain balance.
(Check out this article on balance that could also help)
3. Strike the toe of the club. Set up normally, check your balance and then swing with the intention of striking the ball with the toe end of the club. This normally results in more shots being struck from the middle of the club face.
Shanker’s are very delicate as sometimes just one shank can set them back to square one.
Stay calm, accept the result. Ensure your balance is good and visualise the strike being closer to the toe. That should get you through the round and you can then get back to the range to work on it.
neal granville golf 