Question:
I was a solid 12 handicap golfer who has managed to break par and shoot the odd round in the low 70s. What has happened recently is I have started shanking about every iron shot I stand over. If you could please send me some drills or information on how to cure the shank it would be gladly appreciated.
Answer:
First of all it's important to understand what causes the shank. The shank is caused when the hosel of the club contacts the ball (evidenced by an extremely open clubface). Two common reasons why the clubface will be open are: 1) Hands are pulling the club down and through impact (handle ahead), or 2) The body is moving ahead of the arms, resulting in the club being stuck behind in an open position.
To eliminate this problem, you must square the clubface earlier in the swing. Try the following drill to get a feel the proper sensation of how the arms should feel on the downswing: Feel the sensation of your shoulders not moving as you drop the club down on plane
(noodle in photo #1)
at the 7 o'clock position. The red line represents the 7 o'clock to 1 o'clock position. To get the proper feeling of the hand release, the grooves on the clubface should be pointing at your back foot when the handle is balanced between your arms (see photo #3):
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The Brent Morrison Golf Academy is located at Pheasant Glen Golf Resort, 1025 Qualicum Road, Qualicum Beach, B.C. V9K 1M5. (250) 752-8786. For more information on instruction programs for adults and juniors, contact the Academy office.
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