Shank (shank) in golf

What is a "shank" in golf?

The shank is one of the most dreaded shots in golf. The ball is not struck by the clubface but by the hosel (the neck), the rounded part where the shaft joins the head. Because the surface is curved, the ball shoots off sharply to the side, often at nearly a right angle: to the right for a right-handed person, to the left for a left-handed person.

English speakers call it shank. The shank primarily affects irons and wedges, especially on approach shots, because their necks are very close to the striking area.

Shank vs. escalope (divot): don’t mix them up

You sometimes read that “making an escalope” is the same as creating a shank. That’s not true: the'escalope is a colloquial synonym for the divot, the divot torn up by the club. A thin shot can follow an excellent iron shot, whereas a shank is always a bad shot.

Nor should the “shank” be confused with a shot struck by the toe of the club: in that case, the ball flies weakly, without the characteristic right-angle launch of the “shank.”.

Why do we make shanks?

The mis-hit always stems from the same thing: at the moment of impact, the shank is where the center of the clubface should be, so further away from the player ...at address. Several defects lead to it:

• Standing too close to the ball at the address, or move toward it during the swing.
• Weight that slips away on tiptoes on the downswing, which brings the hands and the club toward the ball.
• A club path that's too far to the outside (a top-down swing) or, conversely, too much from the inside, with the hands pushed far away from the body.
• A very open face upon impact, with the collar facing the ball.
• The tension: After the first shank, you get nervous, and that's when the mistake creeps in. That's why shanks often come one after another.

How do you fix a shank?

On the course

• Step back a little Aim at the target and strike it with the tip of the club rather than with the center of the clubface.
• Keep your weight on your heels and the balls of your feet throughout the entire swing.
• Ease up on your grip pressure and breathe: tension keeps the problem going.

At the driving range

• The Protective Ball Exercise: Place a second ball, a tee, or a box of balls just outside the ball to be played, on the club's toe side. You must hit the ball without touching the obstacle.
• Measure your distance from the ball a day when you're hitting the mark—for example, by tapping the ground with an alignment rod—so you can find it later.
• Check your club path with two sticks placed parallel to the line of play.

If the stuttering persists, a session with an instructor usually helps identify the cause quickly: it's easy to spot on video.

Does a shank count as a hit?

Yes. Like any other shot, it normally counts toward the score. If the ball ends up out of bounds or in a penalty area, the usual rules apply: a one-stroke penalty and the distance to the nearest point of play for out of bounds, and a drop with a one-stroke penalty for a penalty area.