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Hacker1forever
stranger


Reged: 17/08/2008
Posts: 3
The shanks
      #54535 - 17/08/2008 06:51

I'm really struggling with the shanks. I started playing golf about 3 months ago after not picking up a club in 5 years and the dreaded shanks are haunting me!! I used to play off 9 and slightly suffered with the shanks before but not as bad as I am now. Has anybody please got any tips on how to get rid of this golf disease!!

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The23rdman
enthusiast


Reged: 21/12/2007
Posts: 333
Re: The shanks [Re: Hacker1forever]
      #54542 - 17/08/2008 08:33

you're probably taking the club back too deep too quickly or standing too close to the ball. You're almost definately moving your head too much.

Go back to basics. Take a 9 iron and work on your fundamentals. Get your grip right, set-up and alignment correct, make sure you're balanced and then work on making your takeaway correctly.

Feel like you push your hands back low and wide. This will establish a good arc to the swing. Just make simple 1/2 and 3/4 swings focusing on swinging nicely through the ball. your goal is to swing in balance.

It's so essential that you get the fundamentals correct.

--------------------
Bag in Transition! -
Driver: Progen Full Bore M420 ti CCt 10.5* with Grafalloy ProLaunch Blue regular flex.
16* TM Dual - irod regular
18* RAM FX9
21*/24* DM Pro Steel
5-PW: Mizuno MX20
Gap Wedge: 52* Wishon PCF - NSPro 1050
56* Mizuno MP R
Putter: Stix solar 2 - 32.5"


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rob2
stranger


Reged: 07/03/2008
Posts: 11
Re: The shanks [Re: The23rdman]
      #54543 - 17/08/2008 08:48

Hi there,

I second what the23rdman says about standing to close to the ball. On the (thankfully rare ) occasions this has happened to me this has always been the reason.

I was watching a Scott Cranfield piece the other day in which he says that at address there should be approx. a palms width gap between the butt of the club and your legs to ensure enough room to bring the club through minimising the risk of shanking.

Give it a go and good luck.

Rob2.

--------------------
My putter hates me..............


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Cernunnos
old hand


Reged: 15/07/2008
Posts: 850
Loc: Burton
Re: The shanks [Re: rob2]
      #54545 - 17/08/2008 10:08

I recently started shanking & it was down to standing too close to the ball. My usual faults of a slight overswing & head movement have never caused this. Infact I've about cured the head raise-dip I used to have along with having the overswing generally under control & it was only recently I had the shanks.

It was like a sceen from Tin cup being on the range having played well the previous week & suddenly I was hitting balls at 80 degrees to where I would normally & it was frustrating, embaresing & downright annoying especially as my game had never been so good the week before.

I needed a lesson & I needed it fast.

The problem, i'd started to address the ball with my hands hanging below but a tad too close to the body, so unwittingly was too close to the ball. Everything else ther pro was happy with in the setup he gave me an additional tip about any overswing that didn't have anything to do with the shanks but with dispertion problems, mostly causing something most amatures drema of & that was a draw.


Funny thing is that although now generally having cured those shanks my confidence in my game was dented & dented big style after a couple of weeks suffering before I sorted the problem

--------------------
Lichfield G&CC... BranstonG&CC pm for game
DriverWilson Staff Dd6+ 10.5'Fairway wood Yonex Cyberstar mII 3wood 15'
Hybrid Ping 18' reg shaft IronsPing S57 3-W
wedges NV Drew 50' low bounce Titleiest vokey 56' 10'bounce & 60' 4'bounce
Putter Ping Kaiser B60, Yes Tracy & Daly Golf #7 dark Balls Srixon Trispeed & TaylorMade Tp-Burner
Bag Bennington & Daly Golf Tour. Trolley Mottocady S1 Mk1 shoes FJ-AQL


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andiritchie
addict


Reged: 13/05/2008
Posts: 686
Loc: wigan
Re: The shanks [Re: Cernunnos]
      #54567 - 17/08/2008 13:40

just hit balls with the feet together,you wont be able to dip or sway without losing balance

--------------------
Whats in my bag

cobra speed pro s 8.5 fujikura speeder x flex
titleist 906f4 aldila vs proto x flex
ping g10 21deg rescue x stiff pro launch red
titleist 695cb 4-pw 6.5 project x
titleist vokey 52
titleist vokey spin milled 56 and 60
scotty cameron studio stainless newport2.5
bridgestone b330-s


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MizunoMan
stranger


Reged: 16/08/2008
Posts: 7
Loc: Glasgow
Re: The shanks [Re: andiritchie]
      #54575 - 17/08/2008 15:01

Get a bit of confidence back by soem chipping and pitching 1/2 swing max. Work on tempo and not trying to hit the ball too hard. Do that for an hour then try hitting a few mid irons.

--------------------
In the Bag!

Irons : Mizuno MP 29 3-PW R400
Wedges : Mizuno 56 deg wedge Mizuno 60 deg wedge.
Driver : Mizuno MP600 Fujikura E360 R Shaft 10.5 deg
5 Wood : Adams Tight lies 2 19 deg.
Putter : Odyssey White Hot.


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ColinR
member


Reged: 18/11/2007
Posts: 165
Re: The shanks [Re: MizunoMan]
      #54577 - 17/08/2008 15:38

Standing to close is one reason for the shanks, but as I understand it there are many.

I was like you about 6 months ago and had them bad !! After an hour with the pro in the camera room we worked out what it was and how to adjust my swing. Basically my left shoulder was dipping and therefore moving me closer to the ball. It only takes movement of an inch or son in the wrong direction and you are in trouble. I would have never worked this out, so my advice to you...

Go see a Pro.


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realgolferuk
Carpal \'Tunnel


Reged: 19/08/2007
Posts: 2921
Re: The shanks [Re: ColinR]
      #54578 - 17/08/2008 16:30

May I quote from the great man....

"....In both these cases, the basic problem is that at the moment of impact the player's hands - and therefore the clubhead - are further away from the body than they were at address. Certainly, shanks can result from standing too close to the ball to begin with"....blah, blah...."But normally it is simply a case of one's weight shifting forward out towards the toes, throwing the hands and the clubhead further away from the body"....."The instinctive reaction is to stand further away from the ball"....."WRONG. That actually compounds the problem, as it forces you to reach for the ball through impact, pushing even more weight forward onto your toes".

Two drills.....
1) in severe cases place a ball under the toe of each shoe
2) Use a two ball drill......put one ball on the ground (tee/mat) and another half an inch outside your object ball. Try to hit the inner ball without dislodging the other. Simple, and perfect

I've only ever used the two ball drill.....but anything that stops you falling towards your toes is going to fix the problem.

Good luck.


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ColinR
member


Reged: 18/11/2007
Posts: 165
Re: The shanks [Re: realgolferuk]
      #54580 - 17/08/2008 17:00

Quote:

May I quote from the great man....

"....In both these cases, the basic problem is that at the moment of impact the player's hands - and therefore the clubhead - are further away from the body than they were at address. Certainly, shanks can result from standing too close to the ball to begin with"....blah, blah...."But normally it is simply a case of one's weight shifting forward out towards the toes, throwing the hands and the clubhead further away from the body"....."The instinctive reaction is to stand further away from the ball"....."WRONG. That actually compounds the problem, as it forces you to reach for the ball through impact, pushing even more weight forward onto your toes".

Two drills.....
1) in severe cases place a ball under the toe of each shoe
2) Use a two ball drill......put one ball on the ground (tee/mat) and another half an inch outside your object ball. Try to hit the inner ball without dislodging the other. Simple, and perfect

I've only ever used the two ball drill.....but anything that stops you falling towards your toes is going to fix the problem.

Good luck.




agree with that, good advice.


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dodger
enthusiast


Reged: 20/08/2007
Posts: 395
Loc: berwick upon tweed
Re: The shanks [Re: ColinR]
      #54594 - 17/08/2008 20:40

this drill will cure it 100 percent or you can have your money back....
address ball with the hosel of the club past the ball i.e the far side of the ball as you see it at address then swing.....I promise you you will now be cured sod all the prior instructions this is the cure.

--------------------
H'cp 2.4

I play my golf at http://www.goswicklinksgc.co.uk/ - Check it out guys,it is a superb track!


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realgolferuk
Carpal \'Tunnel


Reged: 19/08/2007
Posts: 2921
Re: The shanks [Re: dodger]
      #54597 - 17/08/2008 20:50

Quote:

this drill will cure it 100 percent or you can have your money back....
address ball with the hosel of the club past the ball i.e the far side of the ball as you see it at address then swing.....I promise you you will now be cured sod all the prior instructions this is the cure.




Old but genius.....almost never fails.....guaranteed to bring your hands in closer on the way down....but you need talent for this one!

Be careful before you bin the others though.....they're not mine, they are from someone far more worthy than anyone on this forum!!!

--------------------
Dave



Returned from 5 years of not playing - played off 8-11, now 12 .
Member of the Tommy Armour 845 appreciation society (current membership 2!)


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dodger
enthusiast


Reged: 20/08/2007
Posts: 395
Loc: berwick upon tweed
Re: The shanks [Re: realgolferuk]
      #54607 - 17/08/2008 21:11

almost never fails......INCORRECT, it NEVER fails!!

--------------------
H'cp 2.4

I play my golf at http://www.goswicklinksgc.co.uk/ - Check it out guys,it is a superb track!


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realgolferuk
Carpal \'Tunnel


Reged: 19/08/2007
Posts: 2921
Re: The shanks [Re: dodger]
      #54613 - 17/08/2008 21:46

Well, possibly....but some idiot is bound to stand too close to the ball sooner or later (to get the hosel outside the ball) thus starting a domino of disasters.

--------------------
Dave



Returned from 5 years of not playing - played off 8-11, now 12 .
Member of the Tommy Armour 845 appreciation society (current membership 2!)


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Cernunnos
old hand


Reged: 15/07/2008
Posts: 850
Loc: Burton
Re: The shanks [Re: dodger]
      #54623 - 17/08/2008 22:29

Quote:

this drill will cure it 100 percent or you can have your money back....
address ball with the hosel of the club past the ball i.e the far side of the ball as you see it at address then swing.....I promise you you will now be cured sod all the prior instructions this is the cure.




Rofl...Sounds dreadful, but an interesting idea. May just try this one just to see what actually happens. Chances are, rather than frightening players on the range infront of me I'll end up polaxing those behind instead

--------------------
Lichfield G&CC... BranstonG&CC pm for game
DriverWilson Staff Dd6+ 10.5'Fairway wood Yonex Cyberstar mII 3wood 15'
Hybrid Ping 18' reg shaft IronsPing S57 3-W
wedges NV Drew 50' low bounce Titleiest vokey 56' 10'bounce & 60' 4'bounce
Putter Ping Kaiser B60, Yes Tracy & Daly Golf #7 dark Balls Srixon Trispeed & TaylorMade Tp-Burner
Bag Bennington & Daly Golf Tour. Trolley Mottocady S1 Mk1 shoes FJ-AQL

Edited by Cernunnos (17/08/2008 22:32)


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