A golf shank is never welcomed into anyone's game. Never the less, a golf shank will happen every now and then to even the best player sin the world. Most do not like talking about a golf shank and others will not talk about a golf shank at all. To the point that they will refuse to know what you are even talking about!
Here are two main causes of a golf shank and better yet hot to fix this dreaded shot:
Cause: Weight forward on your toes – Many players do not understand how big of a part balance plays in a sound golf swing. Your balance will dictate the path that your club shift will take in order to return to the golf ball. For example if you begin your golf swing with a balanced setup, you have created the path that the club will swing upon. If your balance then changes and goes into your heels, a new path is created and now you have to make manipulations to the golf club to return it to the golf ball. The same happens if your weight goes towards your toes in the backswing or forward swing. The path will change to an outside path and will cause the clubhead to move forward as well. If you move your balance enough on your toes then the hosel of the golf club is hit and a golf shank is the result.
Fix: Place a broken shaft (your golf shop should have one available to you), an Eyeline Balance Rod, a piece of wood that your golf club may use to set up stations or one of your own golf clubs if you are really brave on the ground pointing down your target line. The front end of the shaft or wood should be equal to the golf ball with the remainder staying behind the ball but still on the target line. Now, make some swings. Obviously, your goal is not to hit the aid that you have placed on the ground. Your swing will now have to come from a more "inside" path. If it feels funny at first, that is good! That means we are changing something!
Cause: Rolling the clubface open on the backswing – Typically players who roll their clubface open on the backswing will end up being "laid off" at the top of their swing. This simply means that the shaft is pointing to the left of their target when the club is at the top of their golf swing. When this happens, the club must return on an outside path and causes a golf shank. An easy check for your club face is to make a swing up to hip high on the backswing. THE CLUB SHOULD BE PARALLEL TO THE GROUND and not past that. In this position the toe of your golf club should be pointing at the sky. When you roll the clubface open, the toe will be pointing more behind you. Again, swing the club back so that it is parallel to the ground and stop to check where the toe of the golf club is pointing. It should be pointing at the sky.
If you have any other questions about anything golf, make sure you read other free golf articles at Wireless Golf Coach and go to the Wireless Golf Coach – A Golf Question and Answer blog and submit your questions.
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