(from the male portion of this email)-your last two of the four tips helped cure a nasty shanks I had for almost a week and a half. Swinging gently with my finger on the club helped changed my backswing so the club was extending back to come through square. Swinging hands close to body also helped Thanks
I've always battled with the shank and absolutely agree that addressing the ball off the toe (standing further away, don't just pull the club closer to your feet) and a more upright swing path (hit down, not out) will help. It'd be great to be able to train your swing so you don't even have to think about or do these things though
Thank you...you showed me how to stop the shank. I golfed this last Monday and shanked the ball three times. I was so depressed! So, when I hit a perfect drive and I was 100 yards from the green and now taking my gap wedge to hitting it close to pin...all I am thinking about is the shank. So today, after seeing your stop the shank tutorial, I did not shank once. Instead of thinking about not shanking I was totally focused on the shot. What did it for me was just creating a little more distance between me and the ball at set up. The first time I did it, I pulled the ball to the left. I think that was just me getting use to the new set up. From then on, I was hitting it real well. I think the reason I was standing originally close to the ball is because I felt real comfortable in the set up...so comfortable that I wanted get even closer to the ball. And doing that brought me enough closer to be able to shank the ball. I was so worried at the start of today's round but after a few good strikes, my confidence came back. Thanks again! Jim Koczara, Michigan.
I agree that, generally speaking, standing further from the ball leads to other problems. For me, the best cure for the shanks is to concentrate on a fuller shoulder turn. This alone sets up a more "curved" swing path from the top of the backswing through the finish. The part of the instruction from the video that also makes sense is to brush your leg with your trail hand as you come through the ball. This keeps your hands from moving out of the swing path. Another issue that is not addressed in this video is "early extension", in which your hips move into the ball during the downswing as opposed to turning through it (right to left for a right handed golfer). Early extension will automatically move your club face further from your body, which automatically puts you into the dreaded shank position. So, the best cure for the shanks is to rotate your shoulders and release your hips properly. Just sayin'....
I've been having the early release of the hips problem lately, and not moving my weight through the ball properly. Seemed to come out of nowhere! But definitely important to note that shanks don't only come from the issues talked about in this video.
I agree with this, early extension and lack of hip rotation to 'exit left' is one of my main causes of the shanks, which I have been having a spell of, especially on half wedge shots.
I like how at 6:40 hes standing right in the blast zone of a shank. I would never trust myself to hit that ball without possibly shattering that dudes kneecap
I've had the shanks so bad and never knew it. Sometimes I would it on the curved part of the club and thought I hit the toe. Sometimes I would just straight up hit the shaft and thought that I topped the ball. Sometimes I would be hitting the heel and thought I was hitting the center. Been working on it for the last week or so and I think I might finally turn into a decent golfer soon. My swing is good I just had no idea I was favoring the heel of the club so much that would cause so much inconsistency. I'd rather hit it slightly outside of center.
I'm sure this works for some, but I'm just chiming in to say standing farther back did the opposite for me. As a tall player, I leaned over more which exacerbated the issue. Once I got a little closer and stood more upright the shanks went away. Weight on the heels helped too.
Gonna try this tomorrow. I play a really good 2 rounds in my local golf tourney this past weekend. Shot 79-78, just left strokes on the greens. But I was striking every club very well. 2 days later I come out & shank every single shot with in 80-155 yards with my AW-7iron. Complete baffling & infuriating. Didn’t shank one but once in 2 months. Idk where it came from.
Saaaaammmeee!! I can shoot 73 one day then shank every flippin shot inside 130 yards the next. I want to cry and toss my bag in the lake when this happens.
@@patwaddingtonDude- I’m here 2 years later and crying seeing that I actually commented on this. I just had a disaster best ball tournament round. I shout low 80s and now I cant hit the ball!!
The taking the club back tip I'm definitely going to try as I think I bring the club back too flat and then am sending it out so presenting the hosel to the ball. As for Martin wanting to give Blair his secret sauce, the less said about that the better!!😆🤦♂
I think there’s another kind of shank, and it’s the one where it hits the front head of the club (where the tip of the head is at for those wondering) almost the same effect.
I just realized, that in order for the shanks too go away I need that secret sauce! But they both won't tell you were to get it. I got a big money game coming up, one cent greenies with double press, and alot of stress, I need that sauce " NOW".
I shank because of a too open clubface on the downswing. Then I flip and early extend to fix it, moving my trail hip closer to the ball, leading to a shank. I struggle to square up the club face but when I do, I don't shank it. Any tips on squaring the face early enough?
I wish I only had 3 shanks. I’m at a point I don’t even want to touch an iron. My shanks are face shanks. I played 9 holes and face shanked every shot with an iron. That’s like 15-20 in 9 holes. I don’t shank a lot on the driving range, but once on the course, disaster is one iron shot away. How does one fix that fear?
Usually appreciate Martin’s advice but he didn’t mention the causes of hitting the ball off the hosel. Coming over the top with a closed face is an obscure one as is not turning the shoulders enough. And rolling the face open can lead to both open face shanks from the inside and outside in with a closed face. I think standing farther away is terrible advice. At the range, place a tissue box or headcover just outside the ball and let your body make its adjustments instinctively. On the course pick a blade of grass or spot just outside the ball and avoid hitting it. Give your meddling “self 1” a simple task rather than contemplating the shanks and let “self 2” do its job free of crippling interference. Just last week I was confident with my full swings and opened with a good drive and well positioned lay up to an uphill lie to 75 yards. Decided to 3/4 punch a PW rather than a 60LW because of the lie. Shanked that and the next 40 yarder over a bunker to a now short pin. 2 shanks in a row on my third and fourth shots of the day with my ball now a yard away from the hip high lip of the trap I was to lob over. I wasn’t turning my shoulders. Byron Nelson also said that “You can’t stand too close to the ball.” Within reason, sure but I still have trouble with that.
Ben Jarmin, My shanks generally come from both over confidence and lack there of. When confident I look up to the my great shot thereby having my right shoulder come out. When apprehensive I tend to restrict my shoulder turn. I wish I had videos of my recoveries from difficult positions. They’re usually worthy of TV and the simple reason is that the shot is planned with utmost clarity and focused concentration is at it’s height. And that doesn’t mean getting stiff and tight with fear or anger. Calm and focused- like a child playing his favorite video action game.
@@penguingolf2805 Yes, i understand. This one makes the most sense to me at the moment. I was suspicious of taking it to far inside. th-cam.com/video/6Hf3o9aPXW4/w-d-xo.html
ben jarmin, that must be the number one cause. If Homer Kelly’s “The Golfing Machine” can identify over a million ways to hit a ball, there must be just as many ways to shank one. That’s great instruction for taking it too far inside. I hope you’re not a roller.
Take your most exspensive crystal wine or brandy glass and stand it just outside the ball, hit the ball without smashing your glass, you will never shank again!!! Of course you can cheat and use another ball or a tee if you're a chicken!! haha =0). Good luck, Nigel, PGA pro, Norway.
I've seen Martin stand in Blair's 'shank zone' here and many times on TV and I just wish he would stop doing it. It's bravado, it's dumb, and it sets a bad example for novices. More than anything, I don't want Martin to get hurt...so would you please stop doing it? Thx and regards.
That depends on how close someone is standing to the ball. Many people (including me) stand probably the same distance to our 9 iron as we do our longer irons or even our hybrids and aren't even aware of it. This of course causes a myriad of problems. But I think knowing the distance to stand from a ball is incredibly important. Even a pinch too close or too far and you'll end up trying to compensate for it.
Points 1 and 2 might be okay. But point 3 with the club steep at near 90 degs at the top of the back-swing is total nonsense and goes against everything that builds a good swing - a steep club might fix it for the next shot but the path will end up coming from out to in where all hell breaks loose.
Out of the hundred or so videos on shank cures this is the best. Hands down. KISS
I ran into a case of the shanks on Mon and Tues.Before my round today (Thurs) I watched this tip. Thank You! Thank You! Shanks gone!!!
I just did all of these anti-shanking tips on the range and my goodness it worked BIG TIME! Thank you to Martin and Blair on these tips!
Nelsons tip has made a huge difference on pitch shots around the green. Thanks Martin!
The third tip, upright backswing really saves my life! Thank youu..
This was the best video I have seen for stopping the shanks. Thanks!
This is gold! Thank you so much Ms. O'Neal and Mr. Hall. These suggestions are invaluable. Keep up the great work!
This absolutely worked for me, and fast! I like that the 4 tips affect the set up, the backswing and the downswing. Very clear! Many thanks!😀
Outstanding! Just what the doctor ordered! Thanks for helping to kill the shanks!
Did you accidentally hit your ball on the heel? No problem, just completely change your setup and your backswing for your next shot.
Yeah....seems a little much. I find I sometimes get might weight on my toes so the heel suggestion would benefit me.
That’s a great video , I constantly hit out the heel with my irons 👍🏌️♀️⛳️
(from the male portion of this email)-your last two of the four tips helped cure a nasty shanks I had for almost a week and a half. Swinging gently with my finger on the club helped changed my backswing so the club was extending back to come through square. Swinging hands close to body also helped Thanks
Need these school videos more often please !!
I've always battled with the shank and absolutely agree that addressing the ball off the toe (standing further away, don't just pull the club closer to your feet) and a more upright swing path (hit down, not out) will help. It'd be great to be able to train your swing so you don't even have to think about or do these things though
Thank you martin. Just did the 1st Cure which was standing further away from the ball. Guess what, No shank's on the Range for 45 minutes.
Shanks very much,best explanation i,ve seen for shanks cure.S/J.
Another great video from the maestro Martin Hall.
Thank you...you showed me how to stop the shank. I golfed this last Monday and shanked the ball three times. I was so depressed! So, when I hit a perfect drive and I was 100 yards from the green and now taking my gap wedge to hitting it close to pin...all I am thinking about is the shank. So today, after seeing your stop the shank tutorial, I did not shank once. Instead of thinking about not shanking I was totally focused on the shot. What did it for me was just creating a little more distance between me and the ball at set up. The first time I did it, I pulled the ball to the left. I think that was just me getting use to the new set up. From then on, I was hitting it real well. I think the reason I was standing originally close to the ball is because I felt real comfortable in the set up...so comfortable that I wanted get even closer to the ball. And doing that brought me enough closer to be able to shank the ball. I was so worried at the start of today's round but after a few good strikes, my confidence came back. Thanks again! Jim Koczara, Michigan.
I agree that, generally speaking, standing further from the ball leads to other problems. For me, the best cure for the shanks is to concentrate on a fuller shoulder turn. This alone sets up a more "curved" swing path from the top of the backswing through the finish. The part of the instruction from the video that also makes sense is to brush your leg with your trail hand as you come through the ball. This keeps your hands from moving out of the swing path. Another issue that is not addressed in this video is "early extension", in which your hips move into the ball during the downswing as opposed to turning through it (right to left for a right handed golfer). Early extension will automatically move your club face further from your body, which automatically puts you into the dreaded shank position. So, the best cure for the shanks is to rotate your shoulders and release your hips properly. Just sayin'....
I've been having the early release of the hips problem lately, and not moving my weight through the ball properly. Seemed to come out of nowhere! But definitely important to note that shanks don't only come from the issues talked about in this video.
I agree with this, early extension and lack of hip rotation to 'exit left' is one of my main causes of the shanks, which I have been having a spell of, especially on half wedge shots.
strengthening my grip and keeping my right arm closer to my body on the downswing has cured my shanks!
I like how at 6:40 hes standing right in the blast zone of a shank. I would never trust myself to hit that ball without possibly shattering that dudes kneecap
Great lesson I’m off to the practice ground!! 😊
Great! Thank you very much! I‘ve constantly have to fight against the shank... 🤦♂️👌
I've had the shanks so bad and never knew it. Sometimes I would it on the curved part of the club and thought I hit the toe. Sometimes I would just straight up hit the shaft and thought that I topped the ball. Sometimes I would be hitting the heel and thought I was hitting the center. Been working on it for the last week or so and I think I might finally turn into a decent golfer soon. My swing is good I just had no idea I was favoring the heel of the club so much that would cause so much inconsistency. I'd rather hit it slightly outside of center.
Great video!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
Many thanks Martin! Enlightening!
Great advice.
I'm sure this works for some, but I'm just chiming in to say standing farther back did the opposite for me. As a tall player, I leaned over more which exacerbated the issue. Once I got a little closer and stood more upright the shanks went away. Weight on the heels helped too.
Gonna try this tomorrow. I play a really good 2 rounds in my local golf tourney this past weekend. Shot 79-78, just left strokes on the greens. But I was striking every club very well. 2 days later I come out & shank every single shot with in 80-155 yards with my AW-7iron. Complete baffling & infuriating. Didn’t shank one but once in 2 months. Idk where it came from.
DUDE- SAME HERE. I almost had a complete meltdown on the range today. I'm sure it was entertaining for the others to watch.
Saaaaammmeee!! I can shoot 73 one day then shank every flippin shot inside 130 yards the next. I want to cry and toss my bag in the lake when this happens.
Same with me shooting 80-85 at my local club then went to the range the day after and shanked every ball
@@The_Preacher_LLC Mateeee how did you cure it?
@@patwaddingtonDude- I’m here 2 years later and crying seeing that I actually commented on this. I just had a disaster best ball tournament round. I shout low 80s and now I cant hit the ball!!
THAAAANNKK YOU!!!!!!
The taking the club back tip I'm definitely going to try as I think I bring the club back too flat and then am sending it out so presenting the hosel to the ball.
As for Martin wanting to give Blair his secret sauce, the less said about that the better!!😆🤦♂
64k views and only 550 likes. Harsh!! Great video
Do these also work for hitting the driver towards the heel also.
I think there’s another kind of shank, and it’s the one where it hits the front head of the club (where the tip of the head is at for those wondering) almost the same effect.
They call that a toe shank.
Blair O’Neill 😍😍
O'Neal
just thinking about the shanks gives me the heebeeejeeebeees
Loved it.
I just realized, that in order for the shanks too go away I need that secret sauce! But they both won't tell you were to get it. I got a big money game coming up, one cent greenies with double press, and alot of stress, I need that sauce " NOW".
Get it!!!!
I shank because of a too open clubface on the downswing. Then I flip and early extend to fix it, moving my trail hip closer to the ball, leading to a shank. I struggle to square up the club face but when I do, I don't shank it. Any tips on squaring the face early enough?
Stay tall, especially with short Clubs. Avoid to have your weight on the toes when contacting the ball. That is my short Tipps ☺️
The only time I hit an 56 Wedge 150 yards is with shank all the way to the right pass the OB line
I felt this. My 56 degree is the only club I do this with for some reason.
She has a king F9 like I play 😊
I am embarrassed that TH-cam recommended this for me
I am more embarrassed that I watched it
I wish I only had 3 shanks. I’m at a point I don’t even want to touch an iron. My shanks are face shanks. I played 9 holes and face shanked every shot with an iron. That’s like 15-20 in 9 holes. I don’t shank a lot on the driving range, but once on the course, disaster is one iron shot away. How does one fix that fear?
I never shank on full shots with any club… it’s all 80-20 yards in?!?!?
Any help?
Usually appreciate Martin’s advice but he didn’t mention the causes of hitting the ball off the hosel. Coming over the top with a closed face is an obscure one as is not turning the shoulders enough. And rolling the face open can lead to both open face shanks from the inside and outside in with a closed face.
I think standing farther away is terrible advice.
At the range, place a tissue box or headcover just outside the ball and let your body make its adjustments instinctively.
On the course pick a blade of grass or spot just outside the ball and avoid hitting it. Give your meddling “self 1” a simple task rather than contemplating the shanks and let “self 2” do its job free of crippling interference.
Just last week I was confident with my full swings and opened with a good drive and well positioned lay up to an uphill lie to 75 yards. Decided to 3/4 punch a PW rather than a 60LW because of the lie. Shanked that and the next 40 yarder over a bunker to a now short pin. 2 shanks in a row on my third and fourth shots of the day with my ball now a yard away from the hip high lip of the trap I was to lob over. I wasn’t turning my shoulders.
Byron Nelson also said that “You can’t stand too close to the ball.” Within reason, sure but I still have trouble with that.
Shanking a wedge after you've done all the hard work is the WORST!!
Strangely i never seem to shank from the rough or when I'm out of position.
Ben Jarmin,
My shanks generally come from both over confidence and lack there of.
When confident I look up to the my great shot thereby having my right shoulder come out.
When apprehensive I tend to restrict my shoulder turn.
I wish I had videos of my recoveries from difficult positions. They’re usually worthy of TV and the simple reason is that the shot is planned with utmost clarity and focused concentration is at it’s height. And that doesn’t mean getting stiff and tight with fear or anger. Calm and focused- like a child playing his favorite video action game.
@@penguingolf2805 Yes, i understand.
This one makes the most sense to me at the moment. I was suspicious of taking it to far inside. th-cam.com/video/6Hf3o9aPXW4/w-d-xo.html
ben jarmin, that must be the number one cause. If Homer Kelly’s “The Golfing Machine” can identify over a million ways to hit a ball, there must be just as many ways to shank one.
That’s great instruction for taking it too far inside. I hope you’re not a roller.
Take your most exspensive crystal wine or brandy glass and stand it just outside the ball, hit the ball without smashing your glass, you will never shank again!!! Of course you can cheat and use another ball or a tee if you're a chicken!! haha =0). Good luck, Nigel, PGA pro, Norway.
Might be a bit awkward carrying a brandy glass around the golf course haha
I'll probably still hit that damn glass
sorry for the typos in the last comment geez
Standing further back is opposite to brushing your leg so I suppose you pick one of them.
MidLifeBiker stand slightly further back at address , then on your downswing feel like your brushing your legs 🦵🥊🥊🥊🥊shank proof
I was thinking the same thing. If you do both of those you will end up hitting it off the toe or completely missing the ball!!!
When i shank my hands get too out in front of the ball and my face opens big time.
Butch Harmon claims that the club face is too close at impact....
Love how they're explaining a shank when 99% of the people watching this have definitely hit a shank or 100 and would class themselves as pro shankers
Wouldn't mind giving her my "secret sauce"
Standing FURTHER from The ball typically makes it WORSE for most..... just saying.
Yep that doesn't work
Why does this bloke have to shout all the time , imagine a lesson with him
Typical overload of information. Golf remains the champion of confusion
I've seen Martin stand in Blair's 'shank zone' here and many times on TV and I just wish he would stop doing it. It's bravado, it's dumb, and it sets a bad example for novices. More than anything, I don't want Martin to get hurt...so would you please stop doing it? Thx and regards.
“Stand further away from the ball!” Awful advice. Even if it stops the shanks it causes other swing flaws.
Some people may be setting up too close, it's not a one size fit all for each person.
That depends on how close someone is standing to the ball. Many people (including me) stand probably the same distance to our 9 iron as we do our longer irons or even our hybrids and aren't even aware of it. This of course causes a myriad of problems. But I think knowing the distance to stand from a ball is incredibly important. Even a pinch too close or too far and you'll end up trying to compensate for it.
7 minutes lifetime just passed for nothing
Points 1 and 2 might be okay. But point 3 with the club steep at near 90 degs at the top of the back-swing is total nonsense and goes against everything that builds a good swing - a steep club might fix it for the next shot but the path will end up coming from out to in where all hell breaks loose.
Disagree. Throwing ha ds at the ball will stop immediately.
Not much helpful advice here
This is bullcrap. Secret sauce? Really?
Terrible.
total garbage. Overload of info that will further confuse 99.9999 % of the golfers.
Great advice