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Why is it that every golfer is capable of playing some really dreadful shots. Even the most experienced golfers can have a bad day or a bad shot or two and surely the most distressing of these is the golf shank. It is a matter of understanding what causes this unfortunate type of shot and then taking steps to ensure you never have to be humiliated again.

So What Is A Golf Shank ?

A golf shank is when the heel of the club makes contact with the ball. This is an area otherwise known as the hosel or the shank of the club, hence the term. This is where the shaft of the club meets the head of the club in the heel of the club. This causes the ball to come away to the right of the target and often this means to the extreme right.

More often than not the player has incorrectly transferred their weight during the back-swing and ended up pushing forward onto their toes during the downswing, thereby moving the shaft of the club closer to the ball, the club-face farther from the ball and hitting more with the heel of the club. This is often accompanied by having the club-face in a more open angle than is desirable due pulling the heel of the club and not being square to the target, adding to the more likely outcome of the shank shot.

Standing too upright basically does the same thing in that it shuffles you in too close to the ball,causing your shoulders to swing too horizontally and the back-swing is too narrow and steep, leaving you little room and therefore little choice but to push the heel of club closer to the ball.

So What is Required To Fix a Golf Shank ?

Good balance and good rotation are keys to fixing a golf shank.If you swing out too far on the back-swing you will end up swinging through too much and out in front of the golf ball. To this end posture and set up are very important.Try and keep your weight centered so that you maintain good balance. The best way to do this is to ensure the knees are bent, your bottom is out with your back is arched. Keep the correct distance between you and the ball.

On your back-swing make sure that at the top position your left shoulder is pretty much over your right knee, which will help maintain your arc through the downswing and have you at the correct position as you address the ball.

By aligning your club-face slightly inside the line of the ball you will have the toe of the club rather than the heel of the club towards the ball.

By placing a row of tees, a club or a piece of string slightly outside the ball on the path of your golf swing to ensure you aim inside this line and more directly at the ball, you will ensure that you connect with the ball in the correct part of the club to avoid a golf shank.

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