It may feel redundant (and annoying) to hear someone say “relax!” to improve your swing, but if you start your stance by releasing any tension, it can help. Letting your arms hang straight down before you set up can also help make sure you’re the right distance away from the ball.
A common mistake is to round your back to bend towards the ball. It’s important that you bend at your hips so you can rotate properly in your swing.
It can help to have somebody stand behind you to confirm you’re aiming where you think you’re aiming.
If your weight shifts forward onto your toes in your stance, you may be too far away from the ball. Move closer to help balance your weight.
Make sure your weight still stays balanced on the balls of your feet. Over time, you can work to improve your swing and you’ll get a better sense of exactly where you need to stand to avoid a shank.
You’re probably sick of hearing people tell you, “Keep your head down!” This is an easy way to fix the problem.
As you rotate and move your arms, your club will come up like it’s supposed to, so don’t worry. Flexing or bending your wrists can really mess up your swing.
Too much tension can affect the way the club swings through after you hit the ball, which is often where shanks happen. Don’t loosen your grip so much that the club goes flying out of your hand, but if you keep shanking, try lightening your hold a bit.
If you find yourself feeling really tense before your swing, try taking a practice swing or two to loosen up.
Try this out if you keep shanking. As your swing improves, you may not need to continue doing it.
Try this out a few times to see what difference it makes. It can help you get a better idea of how you need to swing in order to strike the ball properly.
A large backswing with no follow-through means your swing won’t be smooth and consistent, making it much more likely that you’ll smack the ball with the hosel instead of the clubface.
It might be uncomfortable, but it can help you see where you need to distribute your weight. You may only need to take 2-3 shots to get the message.
You may be surprised how far you have to pull to miss the ball! This drill can give you an idea of where you need to keep the club relative to your body for a shank-free shot. After you miss the ball a few times, try hitting it to see if that helps correct the issue.
The barrier helps prevent you from moving your club forward and hitting the ball with the hosel, which is how a shank happens.
Learning where to put the clubhead when you swing can help prevent shanks.
