Closed-Face Shank: The Driver Cover Drill
Do you think you're shanking with an open clubface? Butch Harmon says otherwise: the clubface comes through closed, the toe digs into the ground, and the ball hits the heel. In two minutes, he demonstrates a single exercise using your driver's cover.
To be continued
What the lesson shows
For Butch Harmon, a shank is easy to describe: the ball hits the club form (the pass) and heads to the right, not very far. The mistake is thinking that the face opens up. In reality, The face closes as you approach, the clubhead hits the ground and leaves a long, narrow divot. A golfer who tries to “move his right hand back” to close the clubface therefore makes the problem worse.
His remedy consists of one exercise: place the driver cover right next to the ball, on the outside, with the clubhead almost touching it. On the first few shots, you’ll touch the cover with the clubhead—that’s a sign you’re coming over the top. Add two cues: position the ball slightly toward the clubhead at address, and get the feeling of hit the inside of the ball by swinging outward.
The Exercise, Step by Step
- Remove the cover from your driver and place it on the ground, outside the ball.
- Position it so that the tip of the club almost touches it at address.
- Aim the ball slightly toward the clubhead.
- Swing with the feeling of hitting the inside of the ball and moving outward.
- If the tip touches the cover, you've gone over it: try again until you avoid it.
Key Takeaways
Mistakes to Avoid
- Believing that a shank is caused by an open face.
- Use your right hand to press down and close the face.
- Swing back over the ball, with the club facing outward.
- Ignore the long, narrow divot left by the tip.
Driving Range Mode
Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.
- Driver cover on the toe side, almost touching the ground
- A shot aimed slightly toward the tip
- Feeling: hitting the inside of the ball
- Check the divot after each shot
Your Questions
Why does my shank get worse when I try to close the clubface?
"Because the clubface is already closed when you shank," explains Butch Harmon. "By adding movement with your right hand, you close it even more, and the clubhead digs into the ground even deeper.".
Where exactly should the driver cover be placed?
On the ground, just outside the ball, close enough that the clubhead almost touches it at address. If you swing down through it, the clubhead will hit it.
How can you tell if a shank has a closed face?
In a divot: the tip of the club enters the ground and leaves a long, narrow mark as the club exits.
Should you aim at a specific part of the ball?
Yes. Butch Harmon recommends focusing on the sensation of hitting the inside of the ball while swinging from the outside in, with the ball positioned slightly toward the toe.
Learn More
Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Butch Harmon). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.