The Best Way To Stop Shanking Chip Shots

Shanking occurs when the ball doesn’t make clean contact with the club. When this occurs the ball ends up going in a direction not intended by the golfer. Instead, the ball may fly at an angle or fly to the side moving further away from the target. Understanding elements that contribute to shanking can help you stop the action and allow you to make better chip shots. The following points provide insight on how shanking occurs and what you can do to achieve better results and avoid making such shots in the future.

Check Positioning of Your Club

When you check positioning of your club look at the clubface and the direction it should go toward the ball. Your grip and swing motion may also play a role in how your clubface makes contact with the ball. Consider the area on your clubface the ball should hit when solid contact is made. If you hit the ball and the clubface is not in line with the target line the ball should travel after it gets hit, consider changing your position behind the ball to ensure proper contact.

Make Improvements to Your Posture

If you slouch while getting yourself in position before taking your shot this could affect your outcome. Standing with your arms extended and shoulders in good position along with your back and legs firmly in place can help you achieve better control of the ball during your swing motion. You can consider doing some light exercises that will encourage good posture.

Assess Swing Motion

You can take practice swings before hitting the ball. Take note of how you swing toward the ball before and after you complete your swing motion. Check your tempo. You should have consistent movement from top to bottom of the swing and establish solid contact with the ball at the right spot on the clubface. A good grip is also important to establish good control.

Check Your Distance from the Ball

The right distance behind the ball is important to avoid shanking. In many cases the golfer is too far away from the ball. They go to swing and miss the ball or they hit it and the wrong part of the clubface hits the ball. You can do a few practice swings to determine distance based on where your clubhead comes down toward the bottom of the swing before contact is made.