Golf Tip: Shanks; Jimmy Ballard
Most players shank by pulling the heel of the club at the ball when they should really be tucking their left elbow in and squaring the back of their left hand Jimmy Ballard: Listed as one of Golf Magazine's Top 100 Teachers Golf Digest's #24 instructor in the world; Golf Magazine's 80's Teacher of the Decade; Has taught over 300 PGA, LPGA and Senior PGA Tour players
By: golflink
About the Author:
By: golflink
About the Author:
Tags: Left Hand, Shanks, World Golf
June 23rd, 2009 at 10:12 pm
this tip works for good golfers who already know where impact is, but tell a high handicaper he need to release the club early is a sure way to ruin any chance of hitting a good shot
June 25th, 2009 at 4:10 pm
This is EXCELLENT info for me. I am a pretty good golfer who will go into the shanks now and again. My fix is to stop swinging for a day, and then hit baby swing punches to reset.
What he explains as the cause, is exactly what I do. this just got me out!
I think its also important to realize that there is usually a big concept flaw that causes an error. But in this case, its so great for someone to nail exactly what I feel when I just go sour for whatever reason.
June 26th, 2009 at 11:54 am
I don’t agree with this guy… a shank doesn’t come from introducing the heel with a fanned clubface. Maybe in an extreme case, but that’s unlikely, even for a beginner. The only reason for a shank is clubface that’s too far away from you at impact. A person must retrain their muscle memory to keep those hands a tiny bit closer to the body at impact (assuming your fundementals are sound). It takes some getting used to, and you can add power after it becomes more natural.
June 26th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
This tip may work for some, but there are a million reasons why people shank. I play to a 4 hdcp, and have the shanks. My plane angle flattens during the downswing, creating a more distant ark; resulting in a draw or a hosel rocket. If your fundementals are sound, you have to retrain your muscle memory to keep the hands closer to you during impact… which will also a pull from time to time. The only thing that causes the shanks is a clubface that’s too far from you!
June 28th, 2009 at 5:16 am
i used this tip as well and it really helped me. it’s an easy swing thought to think about on your downswing to cover the ball with the toe of ur club.
thanks jimmy b!
June 29th, 2009 at 4:23 am
There are 32 different reasons why you shank the ball, that’s how many issues of that shot is :O
July 2nd, 2009 at 6:56 am
i was practicing in a common arear around my house and started shanking it…one went straight right bounces off the side walk over the fence and into the pool where dozens of people were. i almost killed someone and it scared the crap out of me.
July 3rd, 2009 at 4:13 am
is Jimmy from Tenn?
July 5th, 2009 at 10:55 pm
thank you mr.b that sounds right. i scared the **** out of myself on the range and that is exactly what i was doing. especially when you go from a driver to a wedge it exaggerates the problem.
July 6th, 2009 at 9:42 am
i think he is bang on ,great tip
July 7th, 2009 at 7:19 pm
lets talk about WAAAAAAAA
July 10th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
Simply put but effective and usefull ,used tip and it works.