How to Stop Shanking Irons
Shanking irons is a golfer’s worst fear, capable of turning a pleasant round into a nightmare that never ends.
This dreaded mistake, where the ball veers sharply off to either the left or right after striking the club’s hosel, can appear suddenly and kill a player’s confidence.
Even experienced golfers aren’t immune to this problem, which often emerges without warning.
The good news is that shanks are usually the result of minor errors in technique or setup rather than a fundamental flaw in your swing.
In this article, we’ll explore the most common reasons you start shanking the golf ball and provide practical tips to address each potential reason.
This will allow you to regain control of your iron play and enjoy your time on the course again.
What is the main cause of shanking irons?
Here are five of the most common reasons why golfers shank shots with their irons.
Improper Setup
The main cause of shanking irons is improper setup and ball position.
When a golfer stands too close to the ball or positions it too far forward in their stance, it can lead to a club path that causes the club’s hosel to make contact with the ball instead of the clubface.
This incorrect setup forces the golfer to make compensations during the swing, often resulting in an out-to-in backswing path or an open clubface at impact. Over time, this can become a chronic problem, causing consistent shanks.
Steep Downswing
Another significant cause of shanking golf irons is an overly steep swing path. The club can approach the ball from an outside-to-inside path when a golfer’s swing becomes too vertical or steep on the downswing.
This steep angle increases the likelihood of the hosel contacting the ball before the clubface, resulting in a shank. Golfers who struggle with this often feel like they’re chopping down on the ball rather than sweeping through it.
Working on shallowing out the swing and approaching the ball from a more inside path can help eliminate this cause of shanking.
Bad Weight Transfer
Weight transfer issues during the swing can also contribute to shanking irons.
If a golfer shifts their weight too far towards their toes during the downswing or fails to transfer their weight properly from the back foot to the front foot, the club can move outward on the downswing.
This outward movement brings the hosel closer to the golf ball, increasing the risk of a shank. Focusing on maintaining balance throughout the swing and ensuring a smooth weight transfer can help golfers maintain a consistent club path.
Bad Grip
Grip pressure and hand position at impact are often overlooked causes of shanking.
Gripping the club too tightly can restrict the natural rotation of the club face and hands through impact, potentially leaving the clubface open and exposing the hosel to the ball.
Additionally, if the hands are too far ahead of the ball at impact, it can cause the hosel to lead into the hitting zone.
Players should focus on maintaining a relaxed grip and allowing their hands to release through the ball, which can help ensure solid contact with the center of the clubface.
Lack of Mental Focus
Lastly, mental factors can play a significant role in causing shanks, especially when they occur suddenly. The fear of shanking can create tension in a golfer’s body and swing, leading to the problem they’re trying to avoid.
How do you stop shanking the golf ball?
Maintain Proper Distance to the Golf Ball
One effective solution to stop shanking is to focus on your setup and ball position.
Ensure you’re standing comfortably from the ball, allowing your arms to hang naturally. Position the ball slightly back in your stance for shorter irons and gradually move it forward for longer clubs.
This proper setup promotes a more neutral club path and reduces the chances of the hosel contacting the ball.
Creating a consistent and proper setup will establish a solid foundation for your entire swing, significantly decreasing the likelihood of shanks.
Develop Correct Swing Path
Another solution is to work on your swing path and clubface control.
Concentrate on swinging more from the inside, allowing the club to approach the ball on a shallower angle. This inside-out path helps prevent the hosel from leading into the impact zone.
Additionally, focus on keeping the clubface square through impact.
Working on Weight Transfer
Improving your weight transfer and body rotation can also help eliminate shanks.
Many golfers who shank tend to sway laterally or lean towards the target during their downswing, pushing the club outward and exposing the hosel to contact with the ball.
Instead, focus on rotating your lower body more through the shot while maintaining your spine angle.
Creating the Right Grip Pressure
Many players grip the club too tightly when facing shanks, which can restrict the clubhead’s natural release.
Practice maintaining a light pressure throughout your swing, imagining you’re holding a small bird or tube of toothpaste. Additionally, work on allowing your hands to rotate naturally through impact.
A helpful drill is to hit short shots while focusing on the back of your left hand (for right-handed golfers), rotating and extending toward the target after impact.
This promotes a square clubface at impact and helps prevent the hosel from hitting the ball.
Creating the Right Pre-Shot Mentality
Finally, tackling the mental aspect of shanking is essential for long-term improvement.
The fear of shanking can create tension and cause golfers to compensate, increasing the likelihood of mishits.
To overcome this, practice visualization techniques before and during your round. Imagine successful shots and focus on the feeling of solid contact.
When addressing the ball, choose a specific dimple to hit rather than thinking about avoiding the hosel. Incorporate deep breathing exercises to stay relaxed over the ball.
By managing the mental side of shanking, you’ll be better equipped to maintain your technique and confidence, even under pressure.
Why do I shank the ball so much?
Shanking the ball frequently can be attributed to several factors in your golf swing and setup.
One common cause is standing too close to the ball, which can lead to an out-to-in swing path and increase the chances of the hosel making contact.
Your grip might also be too strong, causing the clubface to open at the point of impact.
Another possibility is an overly steep swing plane, where you’re approaching the ball from a steep, vertical angle.
Weight distribution issues, such as leaning towards your toes during the swing, can push the club outward and promote shanks.
Finally, Tension in your arms and shoulders can restrict your natural swing motion, leading to inconsistent contact.
How to stop shanking all of a sudden?
Every golfer has faced a sudden panic on the course when they begin hitting the ball poorly.
What can create even more problems for players is by overthinking their swing. Instead, you should slow your mind down and focus simply on returning to fundamentals.
Here are four areas to look at in your swing as you set up to hit the golf ball.
Check your setup and grip.
Ensure you’re not standing too close to the ball and that your grip isn’t too tight or strong. Maintain proper posture with your weight balanced and arms hanging naturally.
Poor posture and correct setup form the foundation for a good swing and can often resolve shanking issues immediately.
Focus on your swing path and tempo
Work on swinging more from the inside to out, avoiding an overly steep downswing.
Slow down your tempo to promote a smooth weight forward, controlled motion. This can help prevent the clubface from opening at impact, reducing the likelihood of shanks.
Practice weight transfer and maintain spine angle
Avoid shifting your weight too far towards your toes during the downswing. Keep your head and spine angle consistent throughout the swing.
This helps maintain balance and promotes solid contact with the ball, reducing the chances of shanking.
Stay positive and focus on good contact rather than avoiding bad shots
If the problem persists, consider a lesson with a golf pro.
They can identify specific issues in your swing and provide tailored advice to improve your iron play.