Can you cure shanks in golf? Yes, you absolutely can cure shanks in golf with the right knowledge and practice. A shank is one of the most frustrating shots in golf. It happens when the ball strikes the hosel of the club. This sends the ball wildly off to the right for a right-handed golfer (or left for a lefty). It is often a symptom of a deeper swing flaw. We will look at proven steps to fix this major miss. This guide will help you stop slicing golf ball shots and even improve your overall game.
Deciphering the Dreaded Shank
Before we fix the problem, we must know what causes it. Shanks are not random. They result from specific technical errors in your swing motion.
Primary Golf Ball Slicing Causes Leading to Shanks
A shank happens when the club strikes the ball too close to the heel. This contact point is the hosel. When this happens, the clubface opens too much, and the ball rockets sideways. Several factors contribute to this poor contact:
- Too Much Forward Rotation: Early rotation of the body or hands in the downswing throws the club too far out from the body line.
- Casting or Throwing the Club: Releasing the wrists too early (casting) pushes the hands out ahead of the clubhead path.
- Poor Weight Transfer: Failing to shift weight correctly to the lead side makes the body stall. This forces the arms to swing outside the intended line.
- Standing Too Close to the Ball: If your posture is too tight to the ball at address, your arms have nowhere to go but away from your body on the downswing.
Shanking often occurs alongside or as a result of trying to fix golf slice issues improperly. Sometimes, golfers try too hard to stop a slice by over-swinging from the inside. This effort can push the hands out, causing the shank.
Phase 1: Adjusting Your Setup to Prevent Shanks
Your starting position holds the keys to a correct swing path. Simple setup changes can make a big difference in curing this fault.
Hitting the Right Ball Position
Where you place the ball matters a lot. If the ball is too far forward, it encourages an out-to-in path, which can lead to shanks.
- Use your irons slightly more toward the center of your stance.
- For woods and driver, keep the ball position inside your lead heel, as usual.
- The goal is to ensure the ball is struck by the center of the clubface, not the heel.
Perfecting Your Posture and Stance
Posture dictates how your body moves during the swing.
- Arm Extension: Stand slightly further away from the ball than you normally might. This gives your arms room to swing naturally. You want your arms to hang down freely.
- Knee Flex: Maintain athletic knee flex. Do not stand too upright or too crouched over.
- Spine Angle: Tilt slightly from your hips. Keep your back relatively straight. This allows for good rotation.
Grip Pressure and Position
A death grip often restricts natural wrist action. This restriction forces the hands to push outward during impact.
- Relax your grip pressure. Use a 4 or 5 on a scale of 10.
- Check your grip alignment. Ensure your hands work together smoothly, not fighting each other. A neutral grip prevents overactive release.
Phase 2: Mastering the Swing Plane and Path
The swing plane is the angle the club travels on. Shanks usually happen when the club travels too far ‘outside’ the target line on the downswing. This is often called an “over-the-top” move, which can lead to a right miss golf swing.
Focusing on the Takeaway
The first move sets the stage for the entire swing.
- One-Piece Takeaway: Move the club, arms, and shoulders away together. Avoid the immediate flick of the wrists.
- Keep it Inside: On the takeaway, ensure the clubhead stays slightly inside your hands initially. Do not let it drift outside your hands quickly. This helps maintain a proper plane.
The Crucial Transition Move
The transition from backswing to downswing is where most shanks begin.
- Initiate with the Lower Body: Start the downswing by shifting weight slightly to your lead foot. This should feel like a small squat or bump toward the target.
- Keep the Elbows In: As you start down, feel your trail elbow move down and slightly in toward your body. This keeps the club on a proper inside track. Resist the urge to immediately throw your hands toward the ball. This throwing action causes the club to move away from the body, leading to the hosel strike.
Training the Inside-Out Path
To fix golf slice, you generally want an inside path. For shanks, we need to ensure the path is controlled and doesn’t go too far outside.
| Swing Fault Leading to Shank | Corrective Feel | Why it Works |
|---|---|---|
| Throwing hands out early | Let the club drop behind you first | Promotes lag and keeps the club on plane. |
| Standing up too soon | Stay down through impact (maintain spine tilt) | Prevents arms from moving away from the body line. |
| Over-rotation | Focus on rotating the chest after impact | Ensures hands arrive squarely at the ball. |
Phase 3: Essential Drills to Cure Golf Slice and Shanks
Practice makes permanent, so we must use drills that reinforce the correct feeling. These drills help build muscle memory and are excellent for golf slice correction.
The Towel Drill for Arm/Body Connection
This is a classic drill to stop the arms from separating from the body, a major cause of shanks.
- Place a small towel or headcover under both armpits.
- Take half swings, focusing only on keeping the towel pinched between your arms and torso throughout the swing.
- If the towel drops, your arms separated from your body, a key right miss golf swing trigger.
- Gradually increase swing speed while maintaining connection.
The Gate Drill for Path Control
This drill focuses directly on the swing path to prevent coming over the top, which often causes shanks when trying to stop slicing golf ball shots aggressively.
- Place two headcovers or alignment sticks on the ground outside the ball. They should form a narrow “gate” leading toward the target.
- Place one stick slightly in front of the ball and one slightly behind the ball, just outside the normal swing path.
- Your goal is to swing the club down between these two sticks.
- If you swing over the top, you will hit the front stick. If you swing too far under the plane, you might hit the back stick or the ball shankedly.
The Step Drill for Weight Transfer
Proper weight shift ensures your lower body leads, keeping the hands behind the ball at impact.
- Start with your feet together.
- Begin your backswing, simultaneously stepping your lead foot toward the target, matching the width of your normal stance.
- Hit the ball (or just swing through if on artificial turf).
- This forces the weight onto the lead side early, pulling the arms into the proper slot. It’s a great golf slice drill.
Using a Golf Slice Training Aid
Sometimes, external feedback is necessary. Many golfers benefit from using a specific golf slice training aid. Devices that connect your lead arm to your body or a visual aid showing the proper club path can be very effective. Look for aids that promote keeping the hands slightly behind the clubhead at impact.
Phase 4: Impact Position Focus
The moment of truth is impact. For a clean strike and to cure golf slice permanently, you must control the clubface and hand position here.
Feeling the Release vs. Casting
Shanks often result from ‘casting’—releasing the wrist hinge too early. This pushes the clubhead out in front of the hands.
- Lag is Your Friend: Try to feel like your hands are slightly ahead of the clubhead at impact. This means you are holding the wrist hinge (lag) until the last moment.
- Delayed Release: Imagine releasing your hands after the club has passed the ball. This keeps the shaft leaning slightly forward.
The Lead Wrist Position
For a right-handed golfer, a cupped lead wrist (bowing away from you) at impact often causes slices or pulls. A slightly bowed (flat or slightly flexed toward the target) lead wrist promotes a square or slightly closed face.
- Practice impact positions while holding a mirror or just gripping a club over a ball on a mat.
- Feel your lead wrist stay relatively flat or slightly flexed. This helps square the face naturally.
Seeking Expert Guidance
If you have diligently worked on these steps and still struggle with shanks, it might be time to seek professional help.
Finding the Best Golf Coach for Slicing
A good instructor can diagnose subtle flaws missed by self-assessment. When looking for the best golf coach for slicing or shanking issues, ask:
- What is their teaching philosophy regarding swing plane?
- Do they use video analysis to show you your path?
- Can they demonstrate drills tailored specifically to counter your common miss?
A coach can quickly identify if your shank is related to your grip, posture, or a specific timing issue in your transition.
Common Misconceptions When Trying to Fix Shanks
Many golfers create secondary faults trying to cure the shank. Be aware of these pitfalls.
The Danger of Overcorrection
If you swing too far from the inside to compensate for the shank, you can start hitting severe hooks, or even develop a different type of mishit where the club gets stuck behind you.
- Goal: Aim for a straight path that slightly brushes the inside of the ball, not a massive swing from the deep inside.
Worrying Too Much About the Slice
If you have a shank, you are likely hitting the ball off the heel. If you have a slice, you are likely hitting the ball off the center or toe with an open face. These are related but require slightly different focus. Trying too hard to fix golf slice mechanics can sometimes bring the shank to the surface. Focus solely on improving heel contact first. Get center face strikes, and then address any remaining slice tendency.
Table: Shank Diagnosis Checklist
Use this table to quickly assess which area of your swing needs the most attention.
| Symptom | Likely Cause | Primary Fix Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Ball starts right and stays right (slice) | Open face, out-to-in path | Wrist position at impact; lower body rotation. |
| Ball hits the heel hard (shank) | Club moves outside the hands early | Takeaway and transition move (keep elbow in). |
| Feeling like you have to ‘steer’ the club | Poor weight transfer | Step drill; initiate downswing with lead side shift. |
| Club feels heavy or stuck | Casting/Early release | Practice drills focusing on lag retention. |
Final Thoughts on Permanently Eliminating Shanks
Curing the shank requires patience. It is a high-speed problem caused by a low-speed error in setup or transition timing. Do not rush the swing. Focus on feeling the club travel on the correct plane during practice. Consistent, slow practice with the correct drills mentioned above will build the needed stability. Work on connection drills and perfect your stance first. Once you eliminate the hosel strike, you will have taken a huge step toward a reliable slice swing fix and better overall ball striking.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Curing Shanks
What causes a golf ball to shank?
A golf ball shanks because the club strikes the ball directly off the hosel (the joint where the shaft meets the clubhead). This nearly always happens because the hands and arms move too far away from the body’s center line during the downswing, often due to casting or a rushed upper body move.
Is shanking the same as slicing?
No, they are different misses, though sometimes related. A slice is usually a ball that starts straight or slightly right and curves severely right due to an open clubface traveling on an out-to-in path. A shank is a catastrophic mishit off the heel, sending the ball immediately and severely off-line, regardless of the face angle at impact.
Can I use my driver swing change techniques to fix an iron shank?
While general principles apply (like good weight transfer), iron shanks are often exposed by the shorter swing length. Focus on maintaining connection (using the towel drill) for irons, as the shorter backswing can make it easier to throw the arms out if you are trying to stop slicing golf ball shots with your driver.
How quickly can I expect to cure a shank?
If the cause is purely mechanical (like standing too close), you might see improvement in one session. If the shank is deeply ingrained due to poor timing or muscle memory from years of trying to fix golf slice issues incorrectly, expect several weeks of dedicated drilling before you cure golf slice permanently and eliminate the shank for good.