Why the Shanks Seem to Come Out of Nowhere — And How to Fix Them

Jul 6

The dreaded shank—it is every golfer’s nightmare. One minute you are flushing iron shots, and the next… the ball rockets sideways off the hosel and your confidence is shattered. What makes shanks so frustrating is how random they seem. But here is the truth: they are not random at all. They are the result of small mechanical breakdowns that quietly creep into your swing—and they are absolutely fixable.

What Causes the Shanks?

To understand how to overcome shanks, you first need to know what causes them:

1. Standing Too Close or Crowding the Ball

If your posture or setup drifts slightly over time, you may end up too close to the ball. This puts the hosel (heel) of the club dangerously close to the strike zone.

2. Swinging Too Far from the Inside

An overly inside-to-out path—especially if your arms disconnect from your body—can send the clubhead out and away from the intended line, resulting in hosel-first contact.

3. Early Extension

When your hips move toward the ball during the downswing, it forces your upper body to adjust—usually by pushing your arms outward and closer to the ball.

4. Lack of Rotation or Upper Body Stall

If your chest stops turning through impact, your arms take over and again move outward—pulling the hosel into play.

Why They Feel Random

The reason shanks feel so unpredictable is because the margin for error at the hosel is razor-thin. A minor shift in balance, posture, or swing path is all it takes. Often, shanks creep in during:

Tight lies where you tense up
Wedge shots where you try to guide the ball
Fatigue late in a round or practice session
Pressure situations where tempo changes

How to Fix the Shanks

Here are actionable steps to cure (and prevent) the shanks:

✅ 1. Reset Your Setup

Make sure there’s a fist-width gap between your hands and your body at address.
Stay balanced—weight slightly in the balls of your feet, not toes.

✅ 2. Use the Two-Ball Drill

Place a second ball just outside the toe of your club at address.
Your goal: hit the inside ball cleanly without touching the outside one.
If you’re shanking, you’ll hit the outside ball—instant feedback.

✅ 3. Improve Rotation

Focus on turning your chest through the ball.
A stalled upper body causes the arms to push outward.

✅ 4. Feel Like You Swing Around, Not Out

Imagine swinging around your body with connected arms.
A good feel is to keep your trail elbow (right elbow for righties) brushing your side through the downswing.

✅ 5. Slow It Down

Shanks often come from quick, out-of-sequence swings.
Slow down and focus on a smooth transition from backswing to downswing.

Final Thought: You Are Not Alone

Every golfer—yes, even professionals—has dealt with shanks. The key is not to panic or overhaul your swing. Instead, understand what causes them, apply a few smart drills, and reset your fundamentals. Most importantly, realize that shanks are not a flaw in you—they are a symptom of a minor mechanical issue that can be fixed with focus and intention.

John Grant