If you have been playing golf for any length of time or watched tournaments on television, you are sure to have heard the phrase ‘he/she shanked it’.
The shank is when the club hits the ball using the join between the shaft and the club face. This part of the club is now known as the hosel but it was once referred to as the shank, hence the name of the shot.
When the club contacts the ball on the hosel of the club, it sends the ball well off target. While shank are usually reserved for beginner players, professionals have been seen to shank the ball too, with Jhonattan Vegas at the Tour Championship and Ian Poulter at the Phoenix Open being two good examples.
If you find you are shanking the ball, we have highlighted four possible reasons why and what you can do to avoid them.
A shank can be caused by having your weight on your heels at address. If you do this, as you move into the swing phase, your body weight will move forward onto your toes and this momentum increases the prospect of a shank. Always have your weight on the balls of your feet at address.
Rolling your hands, especially at the beginning of the backswing can be a cause of the dreaded shank. By rolling your hands on the backswing, the face of the club turns and you can end up hitting the ball flush on the hosel of the club. Try inserting an alignment stick into the top of the club, so it acts as an extension of the club shaft. This should remain by your side when you begin the backswing. If it is moving in-front of you, the chances of hitting the heel of the club increase.
Another thing to check if you are shanking the ball is your shoulders at address. They must be square because if they are open, you will take the club back outside the line and loop it back on the inside in an attempt to compensate. This increases the chances of a shank but can be easily avoided at address with square shoulders.
Finally, always check your posture because this could be the reason you are shanking the ball. Your back must be straight at address and the body bent forward at the hips. If you hunch over the ball, with chin tucked in towards your body, your swing is going to be far from accurate and this can lead to a shank among other problems.
So, the shank can often be avoided from address and these are all things you can practice at home or on the range.
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