Shank-a- potomis

Shank-a-potomis

Greetings Golfers,

Remember that tv ad where the baby talked in a grown-up voice and called his golf buddy “Shank-a-potomis”?

Shanking is not fun. In fact “shank” was a word too awful to be said on the golf course … it was referred to as the “s” word.

So why is it so terrible and unmentionable on the golf course? Because, it can become a disease and almost incurable if it really gets in your head.

There are two types of shanks: the good player shank … and the bad player shank. The good player shank is when the club gets too shallow on too much of an inside-out path … so that the hosel of the club makes contact with the ball instead of the club face.

The bad player shank is the opposite move. It’s coming too steep and too outside-in … hitting with the shoulders and not the hands. Some people say it’s a result of flippy hands … I don’t buy that. Both shanks have no hands … whether it’s the good-player shank or the bad-player shank.

The bad-player has no lag and no hand-action (other than a flip or scoop). Basically, the bad player tries to hit the ball with his shoulders … lift it up … and smash down. It feels powerful … and over-the-players can hit it far if they can square-up the club face. But that swing is not a swing … and has almost no control.

However, the good player knows how to rotate or “release” his hands through impact and thus put hook-spin on the ball. Because he can make it spin left … he needs to swing-out right to have room for the hook spin to work to his advantage.

But here’s where the good player runs into trouble. Trying to control wedge shots or other little shots … he may try to hold the club face through the shot rather than release it. That holding of the club-face on an inside-out path can easily drive the hosel into the ball. Thus … a shank.

Ironically … the fix for both the good and bad player is to release (rotate) the club through impact. That will immediately work if you get the shanks on the golf course.

Then when you get off the course … go to the range and work on your swing path … either less inside-out … or less outside-in.

It’s very fixable … if you do this.

It’s worth it. Shanking is not fun … and not really funny. That ad was funny … but no one wants to be known as “Shank-a-potomis”.

Cheers!

Tom Abts
GM/Head PGA Professional
tabts@deerrungolf.com