Outting Myself

[MustGoFast]

Ok I need to deal with this emotionally so the first step is going to be to out myself..

Hi my name is Chuck & I have a terrible case of the shanks...

I was a 14 handicap last season.. this year I would be max... I went from consistant 80's to shooting low 60's on 9. I am killing the ball off the tee and putting well but I'm shanking every iron straight right either open faced toe shot or off the hozzle... I'm doing this with a consistancy that is SCARY. So far I am losing between 8~12 balls per 9 into the woods.

I have no idea why this happened to me, I swear I've tried to be a good person.... Anyway here's to hoping I can move on, it's all in my head, and the game will be back tomorrow.

Shank!

[Adam Pettman]

Stand further away from the ball, practice hitting chip shots. Its all hand eye co-ordination.

[warbirdlover]

Don't move your head too much and don't get "dancing feet"...

[MustGoFast]

Thanks Guys.... but I've moved the ball all over.. my feet and head are still... It's gotta be psychological at this point.

I went out and got a refresher lesson from the Marquette golf coach last weekend... Of course he tweaked one thing and bam I was back in the groove... that lasted 2 days. I'm still hitting the ball great on the range but not on the course.

I actually figured out the physical why the other day but can't figure out how I get into the mental block to keep doing it on the course, and why I can't correct it out there once I realize it.

[MustGoFast]

Originally Posted by Adam Pettman

Stand further away from the ball, practice hitting chip shots. Its all hand eye co-ordination.

Funny enough but I played a round last week where I chipped the ball down the fairway on the last 4 holes just to stop the bleeding

[Eracer]

Practice hitting 30 yard pitches with your eyes closed.

[Highdraw34]

I'd say check your swing plane. When I get the shanks I do two drills. Drill one is to swing the club six inches forward and then into the backswing. I do it slow so I can see where I break the plane. I usually end up dragging the club inside and across the line at the top. That forces me to come over the top. I do it with a closed club face, sounds like you do it with an open face.

Drill two is to make sure I'm not reverse pivoting. I hit the ball on just my left leg, that forces me to get my weight to my left side and not hang back.

This may or may not help you thought I'd throw it out there.

[MustGoFast]

I like the drills guys and may try them anyway....

Last night I was FINALLY able to shank on the range. This let me actually try to figure it out... I thought I had it but didn't... the thing that finally worked for me last night was getting some tension out of my left wrist & shoulder prior to the take away... then taking the club back more w/ my right hand... it seems the tension in my left wrist was the major creator of the problem.. as I could intentionally put it back and shank again..

Hopefully this helps tonight... if not back to the range... or maybe back to lessons again... I told myself if I break 45 tonight I'm going to reward myself with a new set of irons this weekend. If I shoot over 60 again I may just quit.

[zaphod]

SHANKS------No option but to give up golf----I've done that over 50 times LOL

You got it Tension kills. I focus on coordinated takeaway to cure. Keep the triangle of hands and arms intact and hips and shoulders together. Above all relax.

[MustGoFast]

Well I get some new irons this weekend now....

I didn't shank one ball tonight. I putted like crap and still shot a net -10 on 9 holes... yeah... nothing like exploiting a handicap generated by REALLY bad golf.