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The Shanks
Written By: Randy Smith on Aug 17 2007

Just this past week, I witnessed something very sad, a player that has come up with a case of the shanks.

The shank is the most dreaded shot in golf. This shot has been known to paralyze even the lowest handicapped player and even a few Tour professionals from time to time.

There are two types of shanks – the over the top, out-to-inside hozzle-rocket, or the inside-to-out wrist rattler. Either one is devastating and will destroy a nice day at the club. That said, let’s get on with the fix.

To fix the shanks, you first have to understand the cause. The root of the problem is the clubhead path into impact. The over the top shank is usually triggered by an extremely inside club path on the back swing causing the outside-to-in entry path to the ball. The inside-to-out shank is in most cases caused by standing too far from the ball at address. This creates a flat swing plane, resulting in the body weight being pulled out to the toes through impact creating the hozzle contact.

There are two remedies that will fix both of these shots.

1. On the practice range, try hitting balls against your bag stands or a simple 2×4. Address your ball next to the base of the bag stand or 2×4 and make sure you have no more than 1/2-inch clearance between the toe of your club and the stand and/or 2×4 (= Dimensional lumber is a term used for lumber that is finished/planed and cut to standardized width and depth specified in inches. Examples of common sizes are 2×4, also two-by-four and other variants). Start out with a very, very small swing until you feel the difference in your swing path. It’s always better to use a tee when practicing this way. Don’t worry about hitting the bag stand or 2×4. It will only sting for a little while the first time you do it. After that, you will correct rather quickly. Remember, this method works on both types of shanks. By using the base of the bag stand, you will change your entry path very quickly. Once you are making reasonable contact, slowly increasing the size of your swing.

2. This method works really well on inside-to-out shanks and also you can use it on the golf course. If the hozzle is hitting the shot, we want to start hitting the ball on the toe instead. Make a practice swing before hitting your shot. Address a piece of grass or object on the ground during this practice swing, and when you swing through during your practice swing, try to make your divots inside the piece of grass or object that you addressed. This will force you to stand much closer and taller to the ball at address. It will also make you stay much taller through the impact area. Repeat this swing with your ball. Continue this method until success is achieved. It might take a few shots, but it works.

Don’t just keep doing the same old thing. Try one of these two fixes and start enjoying your rounds again.

About Randy Smith
 
The all time leading PGA of America National Award winner with 18 national awards to his credit. Inducted into the PGA of America’s Hall of Fame in the summer of 2005. Randy secured the National Teacher of the Year honor in 2002. In addition to this year’s award, he was the 1996 National PGA Golf Professional of the Year and 16-time winner of the President’s Plaque for individual contributions to The PGA’s National Golf Day. Randy has also collected numerous Section honors including the Golf Professional of the Year (1989), Horton Smith (1984), and Teacher of the Year awards (1995,’97, ’01 and ’02). He also served as the president of the Northern Texas PGA Section in 1988-89 and as PGA District 12 Director from 1991 to 1994.

He has been the personal golf instructor to numerous professionals and amateurs golfers. These include: 1997 British Open Champion Justin Leonard (PGA Tour) Harrison Frazar (PGA Tour) D. A. Weibring (Champions Tour) Jess Daley (Nationwide Tour) Numerous touring professionals on various mini tours. Amateur students who have received 13 NCAA All-American honors. Amateur students who have received a total of 100 college golf scholarships.

A PGA member since 1977, he attended Texas Tech University where he played on the golf team for two seasons.