SHANK

Question
Hi,
I,ve been playing golf for years and have a 10 handicap.All of sudden within 100 yards I've been shanking my sand wedge.I don't know if it's possible to answer this without seeing my swing,but I'm desperate for advice.
      Thanks,Steve

Answer
Hi Steve:

Sure it is, and it's simple.  You'll just need to work through these to see which one or combo of them it is.  Here is what causes a shank.  

One:  Are you simply too close to the ball?  This is the obvious one.  Good rule of thumb though is to back up about an inch or two and see what happens.  

Two:  Are you too handsy?  If you use excessive hand action in an effort to close the clubface at impact, you are actually driving the clubhead out and around the ball because when you use your hands down there to try to hit it, your arms stop swinging.  Disaster, and you know it only takes about a quarter of an inch to shank it.  So check your hand action.  

Three:  Balance.  As you make your forward swing and begin to transfer your weight to your front foot, be careful not to press down into your left toe, make sure to keep the balance point moving to the outside middle of the left foot and end up towards the heel.  Your left toe should actually come up a bit so we could one or two spikes at the finish.  

There is also a fourth one I'll mention:  Taking the club back away from the ball too far to the inside produces an outward movement of your arms away from your body as you try to swing the club back to the ball.  If your arms, hands and club are moving out away from your body............get the picture?  Just something to check.  

Check these, hit some shots and you'll fix it.  

Eddie Kilthau
PGA Member