Shank!
 

So, my golf year hasn't been up to par (heh) so far this year. League handicap went up to 7, that's as high as it's been for years.

Last night I'm doing OK, 2 over after five holes. The next hole is one of the harder ones, about 400 yards with water all along the right and jungle on the left. I play conservatively to the left and land on a slight uphill lie, about 140 out, right where I was aiming.

Take my set up, swing and...cold shank it 45 degrees to the right and into the water on the other side of the fairway. Triple.

WTF was that? I've only hit a few of those in my life. I don't know what caused and I couldn't get it out of my mind the rest of the round. It's like the Golf gods saying "Surprise!" when you least expect it. Needless to say, the rest of the round wasn't much better.

you need to get a golf watch.

For what? So I'll know when to expect another one of these aberrations?

See, the universe is in balance. You get a 200+ yard eagle, I get a shank.

I can't explain it, it just happens.

I have the rest of the night to try and erase that word from my mind.

ok seriously, did you forget to squat-load your thighs?

I don't know.

But I'm ready to try anything at this point.

Focus on the target and don't consider the trouble. I don't think I've ever shanked one where there wasn't out of bounds, trees, or water on the right.

Honestly, lack of play isn't helping the cause. I've played an average of a round and half a week the last month. Not enough time to work out the kinks. Plus my back has been giving me a little trouble.

Seriously, thanks for the post MT.

the shank is the scariest thing in golf. When you get up there and have no idea if it's going straight, or straight right, it makes for a frustrating day.


I used to have a shanking problem. I tried everything and nothing really worked... then i decided to stand a bit farther from the ball. And it worked.

It was almost too easy an answer, but during set up after I figured it out, I had the butt of the club about an inch from by wang. Now I have no problem's with shanking.

Get in golf position, hang your left hand completely limp, (if you're right-handed) straight down. That's where it should be. Set up, and hit it without any swing thought.



Side note, it's amazing how much simple fundamentals have to do with a golf swing. Anytime I have a problem, i check stance, grip, ball position, etc. 95% of the time, there's something wrong with one of these.

Same for me. I was shanking almost every time and then one of the other golfers suggested that I move back a bit and it really helped. I still shank some from time to time but not nearly as much as I used to.

Not to stray too much off topic, but I can erase that word from my mind, but one thing I can't is the time I accidently hit my mom in the mouth with my backswing. I was at a driving range and I was hitting a bunch of balls. And right before I started my swing my mom got behind me to pick and something up and POW! right in the kisser. After the bleeding stopped, i finished my rounds cause she didn't want to waste money and went home. In my mind I can't get that picture of my club meeting her face. I guess it runs in the family. My brother knocked my neighbor's mom out cold with his backswing.

I had a shank today on the last hole. The first guy shanked it.

Then the 2nd guy shanked it.

Then it was my turn to hit. 9 iron. Bam, sideways. Double bogey. 3 bogeys and a double in my last 4 holes and shot 78. Could have been my career best but wasn't.

Guess I better pack my bags...