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Draw or FadeShank (shank) Wedges Expert / Intermediate ⏱ 4 min 🇫🇷 Video in French

Shank crisis on the course: hit a fade

On IdeeGolf, golf pro Fabien Gabarre challenges a common misconception: the shank isn’t caused by a club coming back from the outside. To overcome this problem on the course, he suggests playing a fade while keeping your arms and body connected.

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IdeeGolf · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

To be continued

7 minSame problemJordan Spieth's safe fade with his ironsJordan Spieth · Intermediate / Expert10 minSame problemBrooks Koepka's Fairway Finder: The Safe FadeBrooks Koepka · Intermediate / Expert16 minSame problemJon Rahm's Short Driver Backswing ExplainedJon Rahm · Intermediate / Expert

What the lesson shows

It is often believed that the term "shank" comes from a club that's making a comeback too vertical and from the outside. For Fabien Gabarre, it’s the opposite: in this case, the brain compensates, and you tend to touch with the tip instead. The shank comes from a a club that's really coming from within, hips that slip and locked hands that don't bring the clubface back. This happens especially on short shots, when you're so focused on controlling the clubhead that nothing else moves.

His approach on the course boils down to two ideas. First, feeling very connected: The upper body and the club move together. Then look for a fade: A slightly open stance and a club that moves from the outside in, toward the left for a right-hander. Contact is made in the middle of the clubface; if you make a mistake, you’ll hit the ball with the toe, not the heel.

The Exercise, Step by Step

  1. Take a slightly open stance, as if you were hitting a fade.
  2. Feel your upper body and the club move together, without your arms moving independently.
  3. Let the club move from the outside in, toward the left for a right-handed player.
  4. Avoid letting your hips slide toward the target.
  5. Check the contact: it should return to the center, or at worst toward the tip.

Key Takeaways

A club that's just returned from abroad tends to provide top-notch contacts.
The shank comes from a very inward rotation and hips that slide.
When your hands are locked, you can no longer bring the face back.
It tends to occur mainly on short shots that are too controlled.
Solution: Keep your upper body and club connected; hit the ball on a fade.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • To believe that the shank came from a pass over the top.
  • Correct it by going even deeper inside.
  • Let your hips slide toward the target.
  • Keep your hands in place during short strokes.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

  1. Open stance, fade shots
  2. Upper Body and Club Connected
  3. Short strokes without locking your hands

Your Questions

Why play a fade when you're making shanks?

Because the shank comes from too far inside. Aiming for a fade forces the club to move from the outside in: the point of contact returns to the center, or at worst toward the toe.

What does “being connected” mean in this video?

Make sure your upper body and club move together, rather than letting your arms move on their own while your hips slide.

Why do shanks happen mostly during short strokes?

Because we’re so focused on controlling the clubhead that nothing else moves: our hands stay locked and don’t bring the clubface back.

Learn More

All “Draw Effect or Fade Effect” videos →Find the lesson that's right for youAll “Shank” videos →Find the lesson that's right for you

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