Shanking short irons on a tee

Question
Almost any time I hit a short iron ( 6 iron on up)off a tee I shank it.  I've gotten to the point of hitting the tee shot off the ground and almost always hit it just fine.  Any suggestions?

Answer
Gerry:
Sure.  Let's start by understanding why someone shanks a ball.  Shanking a ball (hitting it on the hosel or neck of the club and the ball squirts straight to the right) is caused by a few things.  Let's start with the obvious:  could you simply be standing too close to the ball?  Check that.  #2:  Your weight is moving towards your toes on the forward swing.  Check to make sure that when you are finished, the weight on the left foot (assuming you are right handed) is on the outside of the foot and towards the middle to the heel of the foot, not your toe.  So there would be a little air under your toe at the finish.  #3:  Using too much hand action.  If you are swinging too much from the inside and using your hands to try to square the face, too much hand action at the bottom forces the clubhead out and around the ball.  You don't have to go to much outside the intended path to shank it.  So, you have 3 things to check.  Are you too close?  Check it by taking your set up position like you always do, then leaving the clubhead where it is, go ahead and back up from the ball about an inch.  Second, check your weight distribution as you swing the club through impact to a finish.  Do not let your weight move towards your toes.  Finish in balance.  Third, quiet down your hand action through the impact area.  You should be able to swing the club to a finish without trying to "save" it somewhere or trying to "hit" it down there, etc.  Hitting off a tee should not matter.  The move is the same.  

Eddie Kilthau
PGA Member