Nina Caldwell
Shanking a chip shot is one of the most embarrassing and frustrating mistakes a golfer can make. It occurs when the clubhead moves closer to the ball, causing the strike point to be on the hosel of the wedge, resulting in a shank. While there are many causes for shanking chip shots, the most common is standing too close to the golf ball. Other causes include improper ball position, too much pressure in the grip, and too much lower body movement. To stop shanking your chip shots, it is important to address the setup, including ball position, stance, and hand position. Additionally, golfers can practice drills to improve their technique and gain more confidence.
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What You'll Learn
- Ensure your setup is correct, with the ball, stance, and hand position all in the right place
- Avoid standing too close to the golf ball
- Stabilise your lower body, taking a small pivot with your feet close together
- Keep the club in front of you during a chip shot
- Focus on keeping your left arm straight (if you're right-handed)
Ensure your setup is correct, with the ball, stance, and hand position all in the right place
When setting up to chip the ball, you must ensure that your ball position, stance, and hand position are all correct. A common mistake that golfers make is setting up as if they were taking a full shot, with a wide stance, bent knees, and hands that are too low, which lengthens the club. Instead, you should narrow your stance, keeping your feet close together, which will still allow for a clean and consistent strike of the ball.
Another mistake golfers often make is standing too close to the ball, which can cause you to hit it with the hosel of the club, resulting in a shank. To avoid this, take a step back and let your arms hang naturally down, placing the ball in a comfortable position. The ball should be positioned slightly further back than your stance, and you should ensure that you are hitting the ball first and then the grass. To do this, use a shallow backswing, keeping the club level and sweeping it over the grass.
Additionally, check that your hands are not too far forward, reaching towards the target. When your hands are too far forward, the clubface will rotate open to the right, exposing the heel on the downswing. To fix this, focus on keeping your left arm straight if you are right-handed.
Finally, it is important to stabilize your lower body during the chipping motion. A large weight transfer or excessive twisting and turning can cause inconsistencies in the impact position, leading to a shank. To prevent this, keep your feet close together, press your toes up towards the inside top of your shoes, and make sure your head remains still.
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Avoid standing too close to the golf ball
Standing too close to the golf ball is one of the most common reasons for shanking your chip shots. This is because, when you stand too close to the ball, you are more likely to hit it with the hosel of the club, causing a shank.
To avoid this, it is important to adjust your stance. First, let your arms hang naturally down and place the ball in a comfortable position. There is no exact distance that you should stand away from the ball, and the distance may change depending on the club you are using. However, it is important to ensure that your stance is narrow. Keep your feet close together, with about 60 to 70 percent of your weight on your lead leg. This will help to stabilize your lower body and prevent excessive twisting and turning, which can cause inconsistencies in your impact position and lead to shanking.
In addition to adjusting your stance, you can also use drills to improve your chipping technique and avoid shanking. One drill involves using an alignment stick to set your feet up correctly and ensure that your club is swinging out towards the target, preventing the club from moving further away from you and reducing the risk of shanking. Another drill, recommended by PGA pro Gary Munro, uses a tee peg to help you work on your strike location. Place a tee just outside the ball and then remove the ball. Set up with the club behind the tee and swing the club, missing the tee and brushing the grass inside it. This drill helps you find the middle of the clubface when chipping, reducing the risk of shanking.
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Stabilise your lower body, taking a small pivot with your feet close together
When you're chipping, the lower body moves a little. However, if you make a big weight transfer or twist and turn too much, you'll cause inconsistencies in the impact position. These inconsistencies could lead to an open clubface or striking the ball on the hosel, resulting in a shank.
To stabilise your lower body, you should take a small pivot, keeping your feet very close together. Having your feet too far apart will make you more reliant on your lower body, increasing the likelihood of inconsistencies.
A narrow stance is a key part of stabilising your lower body. You should keep your feet close together, which will still allow for a clean and consistent strike of the ball.
You can also try a drill with an alignment stick to set your feet up correctly. This will ensure that you are swinging out towards the target and that your club won't move further away from you, setting you up for a shank.
Additionally, you should avoid stopping the golf club at impact. Deceleration can cause shanks, so always follow through and get the club to a position that is well after the ball. Let your body rotate through the chip shot.
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Keep the club in front of you during a chip shot
Keeping the club in front of you during a chip shot is crucial to achieving consistent strikes and avoiding shanks. Here are some detailed instructions to help you master this technique:
Maintain a Narrow Stance: When setting up for a chip shot, ensure your feet are close together, with your front foot opened up slightly. This narrow stance helps stabilize your lower body and minimizes excessive lower body movement, which can lead to inconsistencies in your impact position.
Position the Ball Properly: The position of the ball relative to your stance is critical. Place the ball slightly forward in your stance if you want it to travel higher, and slightly back if you want a lower trajectory. Adjusting the ball position in your stance also helps control the direction of your shot.
Keep the Club in Front: As you swing, focus on keeping the club in front of you. Avoid letting it lead too much or get stuck behind, as this can cause inconsistencies in your shots. Think of the club as an extension of your arms, swinging naturally along with your body movement.
Follow Through: After making contact with the ball, remember to follow through with a smooth continuation of your swing. This helps ensure that you don't stop the club at impact, which can cause deceleration and lead to shanks. Let your body rotate through the chip shot, maintaining a fluid motion even after the ball has been struck.
Drill for Improvement: To improve your technique, try a drill using a tee peg. Place a tee just outside the ball and then remove the ball. Set up with the club behind the tee and swing, brushing the grass inside the tee without hitting it. This drill helps you focus on finding the middle of the clubface, reducing the chances of shanking.
By following these instructions and keeping the club in front of you during your chip shot, you'll develop a more consistent and controlled technique, reducing those frustrating shanks.
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Focus on keeping your left arm straight (if you're right-handed)
Keeping your left arm straight when chipping is a great tip to stop shanking your shots. This is especially helpful if you are right-handed. When your left arm bends, it can cause the clubface to rotate and expose the heel, leading to a shank. By focusing on keeping your left arm straight, you stabilize your swing path and ensure that the clubface remains square at impact. This helps you make solid contact with the back of the ball, reducing the chances of shanking.
To work on this, you can perform a simple drill. Place an alignment stick on the ground, parallel to your target line, and slightly outside your ball. When you swing the club, make sure the stick stays to the outside of your arms throughout the swing. This drill reinforces the straight arm and ensures the club doesn't move too far inside during the downswing, reducing the likelihood of shanking.
Another common cause of shanking is setting up too close to the ball. When you stand too near, it becomes difficult to make a smooth swing, and you may hit the ball with the hosel of the club, resulting in a shank. To avoid this, take a step back and let your arms hang naturally. This small adjustment can make a significant difference in your chip shots.
Additionally, it's important to focus on your wrist position. Too much wrist action can cause inconsistencies in your shots. Keep your wrists firm and stable during the swing, especially with your lead wrist. This will help you deliver a crisp, controlled strike on the ball, reducing the chances of shanking.
Finally, stabilizing your lower body is crucial. Excessive lower body movement, such as a big weight transfer or excessive twisting, can cause inconsistencies in your impact position. Keep your lower body quiet and make a small pivot, ensuring your feet are close together. This stability will help you deliver a more consistent strike and avoid shanking the ball.
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