How to Avoid Shanking

Whether a beginner or a seasoned professional, you’ve probably experienced the dreaded shank shot.  Not only will this shot hit your ball away from your target, but you’re left picking up your game from wherever that shot landed.  It can entirely frustrate your day on the greens.  The good news is that there are a few easy tips you can use to avoid shanking.  

What is shanking?

Shanking is when you strike the ball near the heel of the club.  The ball strikes the curved part of the heel and will fly wildly off to the right away from your target.  Some golfers observe that when you hit the ball, it feels heavy–as if you’ve hit a large rock.  Others say it will make a clicking noise and feel too light.  Regardless, the swing will not feel right, and the ball will shoot off to the right.  By using strike tape or foot powder spray on the club head, you can visually see if you’re shanking or getting close to it.

What are some simple ways to avoid shanking?

1. Back up.  You may simply be standing too close to the ball when you swing.  By stepping away from the ball, you will also be moving the club’s heel further from it.  However, if you stand too far from the ball, you may overcompensate by leaning forward too much.  Use a video camera or a partner to watch your stance to ensure you are correctly aligned for a good swing.
2. Put more weight on your heels.   If your weight is on your toes, you are likely leaning too far forward, and that can result in shanking.  Test your stance by moving your toes.  You should be able to do this easily if your weight is on your arch and heel.  You should also feel comfortable with your weight squarely on the middle of your foot.
3. Check the club face.  If your club face is too far open when you swing, you are more likely to move forward to correct it and shank the ball.  You can examine this with a practice swing.  Keep your index finger straight on your lower hand as if pointing to the club head.  Pull your swing back until you are pointing towards the sky.  The club should feel light because the head is squarely over the shaft.  If it feels heavy, you are angled too far behind your body, and the face will be too far open when it makes contact with the ball.
4. Keep your hands close to your body.  Some golfers tend to move their hands away from their bodies as they complete a swing.  Your hands should remain within 6 to 8 inches of your legs when your swing comes down.  Record a video of your practice swings to see how far your hands are from your body, and then pull them closer as needed.

What is another way to test if you are shanking the ball?

Here’s an easy exercise you can try on the driving range.  Set two balls down with about ⅔ of a club’s face width apart.  Then take a swing to hit the ball closest to you.  If you hit both balls, you are shanking the ball.

Learn more simple techniques to improve your game at our Eagle Point Golf Club Academy.

We encourage our members and guests at the Eagle Point Golf Club to take advantage of personalized tune-up sessions.  These mini-lessons are designed to help golfers warm up and fine-tune a handful of skills before hitting the greens.  During a session, we’ll introduce you to some easy warm-up exercises designed to achieve balance and alignment on the course.  

Next, one of our professional trainers will observe your swing in a few different scenarios.  We’ll pinpoint specific issues getting in the way of your game, such as aligning the perfect swing on the chipping green.  Next, we’ll introduce a few simple exercises for you to practice to perfect your short game.  By targeting just a few critical items, you’ll be headed to your game in no time with a manageable number of techniques to practice.

If you’re ready to take your game to the next level, call the Eagle Point Golf Club at 541-826-8225 to inquire about golf lessons.  We’re excited to see your game improve!