Two-Ball Drill to Prevent Shanks and Sprays
Rick Shiels, writing for Golf Monthly, offers four simple solutions for fixing a shank. One involves adjusting your stance at address, one involves checking the clubface, and two involve practicing on the driving range with equipment you already have.
To be continued
What the lesson shows
A shank results from contact with the the heel or the neck of the sweater. Rick Shiels points out that this happens more often with open clubs, whose face is more exposed than that of a 3-iron. The first solution: the distance to the ball. First, position the club behind the ball, then place your feet so that the end of the grip is below your chest, your arms are hanging down, and your weight is centered over your feet. Stepping back too far from the ball isn't the answer: you'll end up shifting your weight onto your toes during the swing.
Second remedy: Spray some spray for athlete's foot On the face, draw a line down the center with your fingernail and locate the impact point near the tip. Third: two balls side by side, the second one on the outside, just far enough apart to slide the club between them; you only hit the one closest to you. Fourth: the right buttock against a driver placed in the bag behind you, to keep your hips from moving forward toward the ball.
The Exercise, Step by Step
- Place the club behind the ball before positioning your feet.
- Place the end of the grip under your chest, with your arms hanging down and your weight centered over your feet.
- Spray some product onto the front of the hair, draw a line down the center, and aim for volume at the ends.
- Place a second ball outside the first one, leaving just enough space to slide the club between them.
- Hit the ball that's closest without touching the other one.
- Place a driver in your bag behind you, so that it touches your right buttock.
- Swim strokes of about 55 yards, keeping contact with your right buttock and then your left.
Key Takeaways
Mistakes to Avoid
- Place your feet in front of the club, resulting in a different distance for each shot.
- Step back as far as possible from the ball.
- Keep your weight on the balls of your feet.
- Leave too much space between the two balls.
- Let your hips move forward toward the ball.
Driving Range Mode
Keep it in plain sight, on the rug.
- Pre-shot routine: club behind the ball, then the feet
- Spray on the face to gauge the impact
- Two balls; only the closest one is hit
- Glutes Against the Driver: Start with Short Shots
Your Questions
Why do I tend to shank the ball, especially with my wedges?
Rick Shiels explains that the collar is more exposed on open clubs than on a long iron. A shot that makes contact slightly toward the heel is therefore more likely to hit the collar.
How much space should you leave between the two balls?
Just enough to slide the clubhead between them. If the gap is too wide, the exercise loses its effectiveness.
What is the spray on the face used for?
See where you're actually hitting the ball. Draw a line down the center with your fingernail and look for impacts toward the tip.
How can you safely place your driver behind you?
Put it in your bag, with the grip facing you, so it rests against your right buttock. Start with swings of about 55 yards—not full swings.
Learn More
Video posted on YouTube by its creator (Rick Shiels). Best Golf Tips selects and summarizes the best free lessons, without hosting them.