Ever hit a shot and watched in disbelief as the ball veered hard right instead of flying straight down the fairway? That’s the dreaded shank, and it’s one of the most frustrating things in golf. It happens to everyone at some point, but if you’re tired of it ruining your round, don’t worry—there’s a way to fix it. In fact, understanding how to avoid shanking the golf ball just takes a few small adjustments.

What Causes a Shank in Golf?

First off, let’s talk about why you’re shanking the ball. A shank happens when the ball hits the hosel (where the clubhead meets the shaft) instead of the center of the clubface. That mis-hit sends the ball wildly to the right if you’re right-handed (left if you’re left-handed). It’s all about poor swing mechanics, usually a result of standing too close, gripping too tight, or letting your hands get too active during the swing.

Common Causes of a Shank:

• Standing too close to the ball: When you’re too close, your swing path shifts, making it easier to hit the ball off the heel.
• Overactive hands: If your hands are doing too much, they push the club into a bad position.
• Wrong swing path: Cutting across the ball from outside-in rather than inside-out.

Simple Swing Adjustments to Fix a Shank

The good news is you can stop shanking by tweaking a few things in your swing. Let’s start with your swing path. Shanks often come from an outside-in swing, where the club cuts across the ball. To avoid this, try an inside-out path. This keeps the clubhead from drifting too far out and makes solid contact easier.

Another fix? Focus on keeping your hands relaxed throughout the swing. When you grip too tightly, your hands tend to overcorrect, sending the club toward the hosel. Softening your grip can make a world of difference.

Key swing adjustments:

• Keep your swing inside-out, not outside-in.
• Relax your hands to maintain control.
• Keep the clubface square to your target.

Adjust Your Stance and Alignment

You might not realize it, but your stance plays a huge role in whether or not you shank. Standing too close to the ball throws off your balance and swing plane, increasing the chance of a hosel hit. If you step back slightly, you give yourself room to swing freely and hit the ball square.

Foot placement matters, too. If your feet are open or misaligned, it messes with your swing path, causing you to hit the ball off-center. Make sure your feet, hips, and shoulders are all lined up parallel to your target. Using alignment aids, like sticks or visual markers, can help make this easier.

Stance tips:

• Stand farther back to give yourself more room to swing.
• Check your foot alignment with the target.
• Use alignment aids to ensure a straight swing path.

Fixing Your Grip for Better Control

Your grip might be the sneaky culprit behind those shanks. A grip that’s too tight can cause tension in your hands and wrists, making it harder to control the club. When the grip is too weak or strong, you might unintentionally open or close the clubface, which can lead to a hosel strike.

The goal is a neutral grip, where both your hands work together and keep the clubface square. The key is balance—if your grip’s too weak, the clubface opens; if it’s too strong, it closes.

Grip adjustments:

• Use a neutral grip to keep the clubface square.
• Lighten your grip pressure to stay relaxed and in control.
• Check your grip during practice swings to make sure it’s not too tight or too loose.

Drills to Stop Shanking the Ball

Drills are a great way to practice how to avoid shanking the golf ball. One of the best drills is the alignment stick drill, where you place a stick on the ground parallel to your swing path. This helps you visualize the proper inside-out motion and prevents the club from going too far outside.

Another effective drill is the impact bag drill. It forces you to focus on hitting the center of the clubface, not the heel. Lastly, try a slow-motion swing drill. This allows you to focus on every part of the swing without rushing, building muscle memory.

Useful drills:

• Alignment stick drill for correcting your swing path.
• Impact bag drill to work on hitting the center of the clubface.
• Slow-motion swings to fine-tune every movement of your swing.

Mental Approach: Stay Calm and Focused

Golf is as much mental as it is physical, and shanking can get in your head. After a shank, it’s easy to start overthinking every swing, which just leads to more shanks. The best thing you can do is stay calm and remember to trust your adjustments. It’s all about muscle memory and practice, not panic.

I’ve had plenty of rounds where the shanks crept in, but slowing down and focusing on my fundamentals helped get me back on track.

Golf Equipment Can Help

Sometimes, the shank isn’t all on you—it could be your equipment. If your clubs aren’t fit properly, they can make it harder to make solid contact. Clubs with a higher MOI (Moment of Inertia), like cavity back irons, are more forgiving and can help minimize the effect of a mis-hit.

Also, consider trying out a different golf ball. Some balls are designed to promote straighter flight, which can help if you’re dealing with shanks.

Equipment tips:

• Get fitted for clubs to make sure they suit your swing.
• Use clubs with a high MOI for more forgiveness.
• Test different golf balls to find one that minimizes shanks

Fixing your shank issues isn’t about completely overhauling your game. It’s about small, focused tweaks that lead to better results. With a few adjustments to your swing, grip, and stance, you’ll be back to hitting smooth, straight shots. So next time you’re on the course, remember these tips on how to avoid shanking the golf ball.