Whether you are shanking short irons or shanking long irons, the end result is still the same. This is the most frustrating shot in golf. What makes the shank so troublesome is that it can come out of nowhere and take a little while to get rid of. 

Luckily, I learned the causes of a shanked iron shot when I was young. Having these causes down and being able to answer the question, “Why am I shanking the golf ball?” has helped to keep them away for quite some time. 

If you are periodically prone to a shank, we have all the information you need to fix it, move on and ensure this doesn’t happen again. 

Also Read: 11 Practical Golf Tips For Beginners

What is a shank when playing golf?

A shank is a shot that is hit in the wrong area of the clubface resulting in a golf shot that turns severely right and has nearly no distance. Shanked golf shots are hard to recover from when they happen on the course and will almost certainly cost you a stroke or two. 

When you look at a typical golf club face, you can see the club’s center. The area just to the right of the clubface is the heel, and then the club moves up into the hosel that connects the golf iron to the shaft. 

This area between the hosel and the heel is where players strike the ball when they shank it. It’s not a shot that comes off the toe of the club. With a shank shot, you can sometimes get into a pattern where the shanks don’t go away until you make a correction in your swing. Many players have had this happen, and they walk off the course to be able to figure out what is causing the issues. 

Why does a shank happen? 

A shank in golf can happen for several reasons. This is part of what makes fixing the shank a bit more complicated. You must understand quite a bit about how the swing works and be able to make quick adjustments. Sometimes the shank even requires a mental reset, as this is not always a mechanical issue in the golf game. 

Lunging or Sliding 

Lunging or sliding in the golf swing is never a good thing. This typically happens as a player is trying to create more power. Instead of using the proper swing mechanics and turning and pivoting, a golfer will slide their lower body through the ball at impact. 

The result of this is a clubface that is still left entirely open, and when this clubface strikes the ball, it will hit near the hosel. 

The lunging or sliding cause for a shank is very popular among new golfers as they are still trying to determine what makes a golf swing powerful and how to benefit from a proper pivot in the swing. 

If you can determine this is your cause for a shank, the fix is not all that difficult. 

Poor Posture

Sometimes poor posture at setup can result in the golf club returning to the impact position at the improper angle. All golfers should be careful about how they stand so that the body can swing and return the club back to square at impact. 

With poor posture, you can still have one of the best swings in the game of golf, but you will miss your shot and strike the ball on the hosel. Poor posture is a problem for golfers of all ability levels as it is a habit you can slip into really quickly. 

This is why you see many professional golfers practicing with a mirror or video to work on their posture and ensure that it is always the right angle and setup. You must ensure these fundamentals of the game are in place if you want to strike the ball consistently. 

Swing Path 

Swing path is one of the main reasons why you are shanking your irons. With a shank, you can take the club too far inside and have it return to hit the ball on the hosel. However, some golfers also deal with an extreme outside swing path that has the same results. 

The swing path is an issue because it creates a problem that players can’t see and sometimes can’t even feel. Since the swing path issues happen right after takeaway, some players are unaware that their club is in a poor position as they are swinging. 

Swing path problems can be easily seen using modern video technology, but they sometimes need a trained eye to spot them. If you look at the other reasons for hitting a shank, and none of them make sense, chances are, you have a swing path problem. 

Also Read: 10 Golf Swing Tips That Will Help You Improve Your Game

Unnecessary Movements 

Last but certainly not least, a golf swing with some extra movement can end up causing a shank. For players not swinging the club with a compact and consistent motion, chances are, the shank will come up more likely than you would like it to be. 

We all make mistakes in our swing from time to time, and they can cause some surprising results. Luckily, if you are able to regain your footing, focus on your tempo and posture and make a complete motion, these unnecessary movements should stop causing the ball to slice so much. 

Read Also: Why am I hitting my irons right to left?

How To Prevent Irons From Being Shanked

It doesn’t matter if you have shanked one shot or fifty; you will want it to stop. Shanking the ball is so entirely frustrating that it becomes essential for golfers to prevent this from continuing to happen. Shanking golf irons is common, especially for beginners, but the good news is that you can work towards a solution rather quickly. 

Take A Deep Breath

Take a deep breath and try to regroup yourself after hitting a shank. Sometimes this shot is so frustrating that it can throw off our mental game in addition to the swing mechanics. The first thing to do is to take a deep breath and remain calm. 

Remember that a shank is often just a simple mistake you made one time and not an indication that this will continue to happen. Take a deep breath, and then work on what needs to be done to hit the next shot. 

When golfers get stressed out, they tend to grip the club a little harder, and they struggle with letting it release and unfold naturally. A deep breath encourages blood flow again and makes sure that you are focusing on the right things in your game. 

Also Read: Golf Workout Routine & Exercises

Work On A Perfect Takeaway

If you take the club back on the right path, the chance of it returning to the ball is going to be considerably more likely. The takeaway is one of the most important areas of the golf game to work on, and once you perfect it, your chance of going off the path in your swing is considerably reduced. 

With a perfect takeaway, the club will come back low and slow. The muscles in the arms and legs will be turning and carrying the club, and hands and wrists will be less involved. 

In addition, golfers with a perfect takeaway will make more of a pivot as opposed to a slide through the ball. The sliding back and through is a significant cause of a shank, but a great takeaway will discourage this slide move from happening. 

Ensure Posture and Distance To the Ball Is Correct 

We talked about posture being a cause for a shank, but the distance to the golf ball is another quick and easy way to prevent yourself from shanking the ball. Essentially, if you stand too close to the ball, it is going to the shank. 

You will leave yourself no room to get the club through and be able to turn it over the way it is supposed to. This is why ensuring your posture and setup are perfect before taking a swing is important. 

I like to use golf alignment sticks to play around with the perfect position for your golf iron shots. 

The alignment sticks can help you see lines where your feet and ball should go, and you will then be able to bring this information with you out on the golf course. 

Make The Swing More Efficient  

The golf swing that is most efficient will have a much less likely chance of shanking the golf ball. With players that are inefficient and have excess movement, you will see the shanked golf shot come up more often. It’s best to eliminate all excess movement in the swing so that it does not develop into a long-term swing issue or flaw. 

To make the golf swing more efficient, we highly recommend taking a video of your swing and comparing it to that of a professional golfer. You will notice that golf professionals have very simplified movements in their swing. However, they are powerful and precise. 

It’s hard to make consistent contact with a golf ball when you have different parts of your body that are moving around at all times. Invest the time into your game to create a really great pivot, turn, and ensure that you can repeat the motion. 

All it takes is one Sunday afternoon watching the game to realize that these players have worked hard to make the most efficient golf swing that is possible. 

Also Read: A Proper Golf Stance

Conclusion 

Hopefully, you now feel as though you can understand why you are shaking your iron shots and also how to fix this issue. We know that it can feel a bit hopeless when you first start with a shank, but once you have the reasoning and the fixes down, you can say goodbye to the shanks for good. Every once in a while, players will make a mistake in their swing that results in a shank, but when you know what causes the shot, the fix is pretty easy.