Socket healing and naked karma - assistance required please

[IrishGolfer]

Has IG finally gone mad? What's this Naked Karma nonsense he's rabbiting on about?

Shank, Hosel Rocket, Socket Scorcher, 45 degree trick shot, Low Power Fade, Attention Grabber! Call it what you will. The Karma gig just softens it a bit...(you now should know what I all mean at this point!)

OK, so here' the thing. I was playing on Sunday and I got tarred with this Shank brush. Thinking about it I seemed to hit a lot of shots off the heel all day and obviously with the irons I was catching the hosel. But I also hit a lot of rockets. I feel like I'm swinging the club well, on the right plane and getting plenty of clubhead speed. I am happy with the flight and shape of the good shots.

It's just these damn shanks, outa nowhere! A mix of shots going at 45 degrees and some hit close to the hosel (semi-shanks). I must have hit 4 or 5 mid iron shots that started scaring me. But conversly I hit 2 or 3 of the best iron shots I have hit all year. I'm sorta laughing it off right now, but it is niggling me.

My own self analysis included possibly standing too close to the ball? I tried standing back from it a bit. Nope.

Addressing the ball towards the heel? I tried setting the toe of the club to the ball. Nope.

Moving my head? I don't know. This is always hard for me to tell.

Mental breakdown? Probably, but that's not about golf!!!

Has anyone any other thoughts? It's now "closed season" and I'll only get one game a week at most now. But obviously I'd like to figure this one out.

 

[Kilted Arab]

Any chance you're standing too far from the ball? I believe that can be a common cause of the shanks.

That was my problem, meaning when I swung I'd reach out and...shank city. Standing closer cured it.

Of course, it could be terminal and you'll never break 80 again...

 

[Andy_79]

Yep, most common cause is standing too far away with better players & too close when higher h/cap players are involved.

Just noticed the "laughing it off" bit there, Marko. I try to do the same now. I have realised the error of my ways, and this guy has witnessed some very foul language come from my direction on a golf course this year I am very pleased to say I have moved on from that now. It only makes things worse, AND IT IS NOT THE END OF THE WORLD, AT THE END OF THE DAY !!!

Peace

 

[IrishGolfer]

Interesting...
so we are postulating that perhaps standing too far away is the root cause of my dreaded squirters. I'll have to try standing a touch closer. Initial thought is that it will make the swing more upright, right?

Anyone else any experience with the sh#nks?

 

[DaveE]

I went through it over the summer and it will drive ya a bit crazy if ya let it.

I not completely sure that I know what caused it but here are some things I think were involved.

On short shots like half wedges I was bringing the club back too far inside.

On full shots I was too handsy, not getting my junk through. For whatever reason it was causing my hands to go too far outside on the downswing.

I also made a effort to hit the ball on the inside corner. I know there aren't any corners but you know what I mean.

The worst of it was in my head. I had to make enough normal shots to stop thinking about the rockets. It's like when you think don't hit it in the water and then you do.

One thing's for sure and it's that they will go away so ya got that going for ya.

 

[Rockford35]

Interesting...
so we are postulating that perhaps standing too far away is the root cause of my dreaded squirters.

This is actually from eating too much mexican food.

Shanks are from over extending. Stand a ball closer and hit a few. It'll cure it. Over emphasize in your practice swing, you'll be hitting it pure in no time.

Then, you can get back to your mexican food.

R35

 

[Bravo]

My only cure for them is to hit the range with a large quantity of balls. Start by taking very short swings/shots with whatever club suits your fancy. Just little punch shots to start with and then lengthen your swing whenever you feel confident at the previous swinglength.

For all of my own swingfaults and problems, thank God this has been a rare one for me. Not sure what really causes them but this drill has helped me whenever one or two snuck into a round...

(Notice how I never called it by name?!??!)

 

[dave.]

Hit hard and through the ball,don't quit on it

 

[Silver]

Hit hard and through the ball,don't quit on it

so that you're left with a very hard, well-struck shank?

 

[dave.]

Yep,looks like you were practicing punched sliced wedges on purpose

 

[Silver]

everyone here's seen my video of practicing well struck sliced clubs of all sorts

and I assure you, it was on purpose

 

[IrishGolfer]

Quick update.

I programmed all the feedback into the memory banks of the Model IG 5.6 and he went out yesterday for 9 holes with his female equivalent.

No shanks to report. Just some very solid shotmaking! Actually it felt as if I was crowding the ball and standing too close, but I was smoking the driver and I hit one of the purest 4 irons I have ever hit, 165 into a strong breeze, like an Exocet missle. Even Mrs. IG, who never comments on any of my shots, said she was impressed with that! (And the shot! )

I think standing closer has made the swing a tad more upright. I seemed to be taking bigger divots. This and "getting my junk" through the ball are my two main goals rigt now. I "feel" as if I have increased my swing speed and I'm now just hitting the crap out of it.

Pity the season is all but over! Never mind, roll on Winter golf!

 

[Kilted Arab]

Hey...what's happened to that Southern Irish reprobate? Not seen him here recently.