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Shank (shank) Irons Beginner / Intermediate ⏱ 2 min 🇬🇧 Video in English, summarized

Shank: Aim the ball at your heel to recover

Piers Ward and Andy Proudman from Me and My Golf offer a one-minute response to a subscriber who shanks the ball. Two drills: one to help you stop leaning toward the ball, and a surprising tip from their academy—aiming the ball at your heel.

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Me and My Golf · his YouTube channelFree lesson selected by Fred P.

To be continued

7 minSame problemTwo-Ball Drill to Prevent Shanks and SpraysRick Shiels · Beginner / Intermediate2 minSame problemClosed-Face Shank: The Driver Cover DrillButch Harmon · Beginner / Intermediate5 minSame problemAnti-shank drill with a sand wedge: hitting the ball at the tipJoël Bernard · Beginner / Intermediate

What the lesson shows

According to Piers Ward, the shank starts from the club form. Two main reasons: we're coming back over the top, or where one moves toward the target while raising the grip, which exposes the heel to the ball. The first solution: an obstacle—such as an alignment stick or a golf bag—placed to prevent you from moving toward the ball. If you swing over it, you’ll hit it.

Second remedy, used at their academy: hit the ball toward the heel of the club. This forces you to focus more on your own form. In the demonstration, the ball even goes past the toe even though it was aimed at the heel. It’s a very short video—think of it as a quick fix rather than a full lesson.

The Exercise, Step by Step

  1. Place an alignment stick or a golf bag so that it blocks a shot over it.
  2. Hit a few balls without hitting the obstacle.
  3. Next, aim the ball at the heel of the club, not the center.
  4. Swing normally and watch where the ball hits the clubface.
  5. Return to the usual address as soon as the contact is centered again.

Key Takeaways

A shank is caused by contact with the heel of the club.
Leaning back exposes the heel to the ball.
Move toward the target while raising the grip as well.
An obstacle placed near the ball results in a penalty for playing over it.
Hitting the ball with the heel forces you to move closer to yourself.

Mistakes to Avoid

  • Come back over it on the way down.
  • Move toward the target and raise the grip.
  • Place a hard object that could injure you or damage the club.

Driving Range Mode

Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.

  1. Soft obstacle near the ball
  2. A ball aimed at the heel
  3. Control of the point of impact with every shot

Your Questions

Why should I aim the ball at my heel when I already shank it off my heel?

That's the trick taught at their academy: by aiming for the heel, you naturally bring the ball closer to yourself. In the video, the ball even comes off the toe.

Which obstacle should you use at the driving range?

Piers Ward uses an alignment stick or a golf bag, positioned so as to block the shot over it.

What are the two causes mentioned?

Swing back over the ball, or move toward the target while raising the grip. In either case, the club's heel faces the ball.

Learn More

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