Day 33: Back on the Range

I was excited to get back to the Range and start hitting balls again.

However, after I warmed up I noticed that I was not making solid contact. Soon thereafter, I started shanking balls again ('again' meaning how I finished in the bunker the previous night). It did not matter what club I took out of the bag, I could not hit a shot. It was awful and it was my worst nightmare come true. All timing, mechanics and everything felt terrible.

I walked over to the swing coach and told him about the terrible news that was unfolding before me. He told me to hit a couple balls. Welcome to Shanksville - Population: Me.

He had me put a green leaf under/behind the ball and hit it to see where on the club head I was making contact. After about 3 or 4 of these, I saw that I was making contact near or on the hosel! How awful! I was not even hitting the ball on the face of the club! What was going on? How could this happen?

He told me not to panic. He said that the bunker swing was causing me to change my path from inside-out to outside-in. He had me put down three balls all touching and in a line, so that the first ball was closest to me and the third ball was furthest away from me when standing at address. He then had me take away the middle ball. He told me to set-up like I was going to hit the third ball (furthest away from me). Then I would take the club away and proceed to hit the first ball (closest to me) on my downswing. I hit the first ball flush right down the target line. I did it again, second ball right down the target line. I ended up hitting the rest of my bucket of balls this way with the coach watching until the very last ball and I hit that well, too. Shanks be gone! I finished on a high note!

I was unable to find that exact drill on youtube, but I did find a nice drill from Hank Haney. Mr. Haney clearly demonstrates the reason for the shanks and shows us how to build a little wall on the right side of the golf ball with 4 golf tees. If you don't hit the tees, then it will be impossible to shank it.