My game is gone!

[MIKE1218]

Today I found an old Slazenger in my living room so I grabbed an 8 iron and went to hit it across the street into a field. The ball flight was unexpected to say the least. Dead shank... I immediately went to the range to reassure myself.

Long story short, nearly every shot with 5-PW was a shank. Wedges were just fine, good even. Long irons didn't shank at all. One of my friends showed up about halfway through my bucket so I asked him to take a look. He told me to put a tee in the ground with no ball, and I had no trouble hitting that "solid". Same with practice swings, the club struck the ground exactly where I intended, not 2 inches further away. Only when hitting a ball did my swing produce a shank.

Obviously it's a mental issue of some kind. I will get a lesson next week when I have money, but does anybody have an idea in the meantime? It's not like I can just "not play" for a whole week!

[Jules150]

its happened to me as well. I just made a huge effort not to fall into the ball. Try to keep your weight on the balls of your feet.

[ThatCanadianGuy]

Be careful your not taking the club back to far to the inside.

Also watch your hips. You want to start the backswing with the arms and shoulders moving back as a unit. You dont want to start by turning your hips and pulling the club inside.

This will cause you to come into the ball way to much from the inside making the ball come into perfect alignment with the Hosel.


Been there done that,

Good luck,

JS

[lamebums]

Originally Posted by MIKE1218

Today I found an old Slazenger in my living room so I grabbed an 8 iron and went to hit it across the street into a field. The ball flight was unexpected to say the least. Dead shank... I immediately went to the range to reassure myself.

Long story short, nearly every shot with 5-PW was a shank. Wedges were just fine, good even. Long irons didn't shank at all. One of my friends showed up about halfway through my bucket so I asked him to take a look. He told me to put a tee in the ground with no ball, and I had no trouble hitting that "solid". Same with practice swings, the club struck the ground exactly where I intended, not 2 inches further away. Only when hitting a ball did my swing produce a shank.

Obviously it's a mental issue of some kind. I will get a lesson next week when I have money, but does anybody have an idea in the meantime? It's not like I can just "not play" for a whole week!

They come and go. Try this drill to fix shanks, as well as outside-in/inside-out swings. Put a 2x4 lengthwise about two inches on the far side of the ball, and swing away. If you bring the hosel into play, or don't have a straight swing, your club will want to hit the board.

<---------------2x4-------------->
              (Ball)

[MIKE1218]

Thanks for the tips guys. I believe you could be right, TCG, I'm pulling it WAY too far to the inside. I will try it out on the range tomorrow to see if that affects anything.

I don't know about the 2 by 4 though... Maybe something softer . But a 2 by 4 would definately incourage you to NOT have a faulty swingpath.

[JEFF4i]

To check balance there are two drills.

A) Stand with both feet together and do a normal drill. Do you fall or have to step to keep your balance? Bad balance if so.

B) Stand on a 2x4 and swing. Same consequences same results.

[spankdoggie]

Originally Posted by lamebums

They come and go. Try this drill to fix shanks, as well as outside-in/inside-out swings. Put a 2x4 lengthwise about two inches on the far side of the ball, and swing away. If you bring the hosel into play, or don't have a straight swing, your club will want to hit the board.

<---------------2x4-------------->
              (Ball)

I read your profile, and you don't write like an 18 year old...

I think you need to come clean with us.

How old are you really? 27? 35?

Edit: Oh just forget the whole thing. I am still perplexed, and slightly discombobulated, however....

[JEFF4i]

Spank posts more useless drivvl than I do. And I hate that stupid bug.

[lamebums]

Originally Posted by spankdoggie

I read your profile, and you don't write like an 18 year old...

I think you need to come clean with us.

How old are you really? 27? 35?

Edit: Oh just forget the whole thing. I am still perplexed, and slightly discombobulated, however....

Seriously, 18. I've gone from a total hack to a 12 in about four months. Makes me wish I'd taken it more seriously when I was 6 or 7 years old (if I did, I'd be scratch by now - but all I did then was cry and stomp around because my father outdrove me and I'd want to quit because I couldn't hit long ball.)

I take the game a bit too seriously, though, I think. It's killing my wallet, and I'm probably only one step below Butch Harmon on understanding the golf swing and mechanics (doesn't mean I can actually do it correctly myself, though.)

Edit: I almost put a hole in my screen trying to mash that bug, Spank.

[JEFF4i]

Don't take anything spank says seriously.

Anyway, time can be a killer, but it's all in perspective, and there is nothing you can do now that could change your attitude when you were 7,

Also, knowing too much can be harmful too, if you let it control you. It's all about balance grashoppa.

[MIKE1218]

I went back to the range today and it seems that the shanks are gone for the most part. Swinging with my feet touching to stay balanced and bringing the club straight back helped alot. I also slowed the backswing down a bit. Thanks guys.

The shanks may be out of my system, but something has replaced them. Again, the long irons and wedges seem fine, but now 5-PW launch far higher than normal. I'm talking like if I hit 5 iron you'd think it was a 9. Carry distances seemed only about 5 yards shorter than normal. I moved the ball back a little in my stance, but that did nothing for the lauch angle, only caused a push. I normally hit really high but this was insane. Now I definately need to get a lesson...

[JEFF4i]

A lesson wouldn't hurt, but, if your distances aren't suffering, and it's straight. I wouldn't over-complicate it.