A shank seems to come out of nowhere. Hitting a shank is embarrassing—whether you’re a veteran or a beginner. Some think an open clubface causes a shank. It doesn’t. Shanks happen when you strike the ball with the club’s hosel—a result of a too out-to-in swing path. Having shanked once, you now have to setup to the ball and hit again.
Here are 5 keys to hitting the next shot after a shank:
- Take a short time-out
- Perform a simple routine
- Focus on hitting the inside of the ball
- Drop your back foot back a bit
- Get completely behind the ball
Hitting a shank shakes you up. It also costs you a stroke on your scorecard, maybe two. So the last thing you want to do is hit another shank.
The key to not hitting another shank is to take a mental time-out. So take a deep breath before addressing the ball again and perform a simple routine, like rubbing your grip with a towel or untying and retying your shoelaces. Or, go to your bag to take a drink of water and change gloves.
The routine re-directs your brain. It forces you think about something other than hitting the next shot. Now you can address the ball with a simple and positive mindset.
Also, make sure you go through your usual pre-shot routine before hitting. Pre-shot routines help prepare you mentally and physically for hitting the shot. Like the previous routine, it re-directs your brain.
When you’re finally ready to hit a shot, take a nice smooth backswing and downswing. Don’t try to kill the ball. Trying to hit a bomb to make up for the shank seldom works. Instead, focus on hitting the inside of the ball.
You may also want to drop your back foot back a few inches from your stance line. This helps you make a full downswing turn. And try to stay completely behind the ball. This keeps your front hip closed, which helps you approach the ball from the inside.
