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Shank (shank) Wedges Beginner / Intermediate ⏱ 5 min 🇫🇷 Video in French

Anti-shank drill with a sand wedge: hitting the ball at the tip

For Joël Bernard, a “shank” is simply a 2-cm misalignment. He lists three causes, explains why the open face has nothing to do with it, and then demonstrates his favorite sand wedge drill.

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Joel Bernard
Joel Bernard · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

To be continued

8 minSame problemSpace Between the Body and the Ball: How to Prevent a ShankGiles Gill Golf · Beginner / Intermediate7 minSame problemTwo-Ball Drill to Prevent Shanks and SpraysRick Shiels · Beginner / Intermediate8 minFrom the same proBuying a Golf Club: 3 Tips Before Making a ChangeJoël Bernard · Beginner / Intermediate

What the lesson shows

Joël Bernard defines a "shank" as an off-center hit, with the club collar, 2 cm off the mark. The primary cause—by far the most common—is the forward lean, which pushes the club even further down. Second: a swing plane too flat, the club comes back too far, which often happens to seniors and women who use fairway woods a lot. Third: an outside-in swing path that curves so sharply to the left that the club comes back too far forward.

In none of these cases is the clubface too open: a lob shot goes to the right, but it’s struck in the center. His drill: with the sand wedge, place a second ball beyond the tip, at 5 mm or 1 cm at most. Play with the intention of not touching the ball with the tip. According to him, the exercise corrects the shanks eight times out of ten.

The Exercise, Step by Step

  1. Grab your sand wedge—the club where shanks appear most often.
  2. Place a second ball beyond the tip of the club.
  3. Leave a gap of 5 mm—or 1 cm at most—between the tip and this ball.
  4. Play the ball that is closest with the clear intention of not hitting the other one with the tip.
  5. Keep hitting the balls one after another while maintaining the same focus.

Key Takeaways

The shank is displaced by about 2 cm upon impact.
Main cause: a forward lean.
A plan that's too simplistic sets the club back further.
There was also a very pronounced shift from the outside to the inside.
The open face does not account for the shank.
It's the intention that counts: don't touch the ball placed at the tip.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Believing that the ball will go to the right because the clubface is open.
  • Lean forward during the swing.
  • The course is too flat, especially with the fairway woods.
  • Aim for the outside ball instead of avoiding it: you'd hit both.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

  1. Sand wedge, second shot no more than 1 cm from the pin
  2. Intent: Do not touch the outside ball
  3. Checking balance at the end of the movement

Your Questions

Can an open wound cause a shank?

No, according to Joël Bernard. A lob goes to the right with an open face, but it's hit down the middle. The shank is a contact error.

How far away should the second ball be placed?

Beyond the tip, at 5 mm or 1 cm at most.

Why do older adults often make shanks?

He points to older players and women who hit a lot of fairway woods: their swing plane becomes too flat, and the club comes back farther.

Learn More

All “Shank” videos →Find the lesson that's right for you Joel BernardAll of his lessons

Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Joël Bernard). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons without hosting them.

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