Why do some tour pros hit shanks?

[AlexA12]

After seeing Stenson's shank today, I was wondering why some tour pros have a tendency to hit them.  I know both Stenson and Poulter have a habit of hitting the odd hosel rocket.  Given that Stenson is considered one of the best ball strikers around, is there a swing fault that he or other pros share that lead them to hitting shanks?

[Hawkeye77]

Tendency?  Please explain Stenson's "habit" of shanking the ball.

 

Looks like you can find a couple online because people get a chuckle vs. thousands of shots he's hit.

 

I'll take his swing faults all day long.

Edited April 9, 2021 by Hawkeye77

[AlexA12]

8 minutes ago, Hawkeye77 said:

Tendency?  Please explain Stenson's "habit" of shanking the ball.

 

Looks like you can find a couple online because people get a chuckle vs. thousands of shots he's hit.

 

I'll take his swing faults all day long.

I'm in no way trying to take a dig at Stenson, of course I'd want his swing.  It's just interesting to me that some guys hit the odd shank or two, but others haven't.  For instance, Tiger and Phil have hit thousands of shots on camera and I don't recall them ever hitting a shank.  As someone who also is prone to the shank, I was wondering if there's something specific about Stenson or Poulter that lead to the occasional one.

[Hawkeye77]

18 minutes ago, AlexA12 said:

I'm in no way trying to take a dig at Stenson, of course I'd want his swing.  It's just interesting to me that some guys hit the odd shank or two, but others haven't.  For instance, Tiger and Phil have hit thousands of shots on camera and I don't recall them ever hitting a shank.  As someone who also is prone to the shank, I was wondering if there's something specific about Stenson or Poulter that lead to the occasional one.

You said it’s a habit for Stenson - how so?

 

Everybody hits the odd shank, take comfort in the fact pros do as well. 

[Soloman1]

These are special "Tour Issue" shanks. These are done on command. The PGA and European Tour randomly assign players to shank a few times per year to increase the video clicks. It generates great interest (and some whacky Internet postings) and fools golf fans into thinking that Tour players make the same mistakes as regular hackers.

 

[Buzzkill]

1 hour ago, AlexA12 said:

After seeing Stenson's shank today, I was wondering why some tour pros have a tendency to hit them.  I know both Stenson and Poulter have a habit of hitting the odd hosel rocket.  Given that Stenson is considered one of the best ball strikers around, is there a swing fault that he or other pros share that lead them to hitting shanks?

Better players swing in to out, prone to shanks, however, outside to in happens too although not as frequent imo.

[MK7Golf21]

1 hour ago, AlexA12 said:

After seeing Stenson's shank today, I was wondering why some tour pros have a tendency to hit them.  I know both Stenson and Poulter have a habit of hitting the odd hosel rocket.  Given that Stenson is considered one of the best ball strikers around, is there a swing fault that he or other pros share that lead them to hitting shanks?

you have to look at their swing, stenson stands pretty upright with flat shoulders  for how deep his hands get on the backswing. Can cause the clubhead to kick out too much with elbow behind, and add in how much he smashes down the the ball. Recipe for occasional shanks, he’s got quite a few clips out there of shanks in tournaments, majors etc 

[ATLgopher]

No idea on the mechanics but his shanks are better shots than mine....I almost sent a beverage lady to the hospital 

[Hawkeye77]

4 minutes ago, ATLgopher said:

No idea on the mechanics but his shanks are better shots than mine....I almost sent a beverage lady to the hospital 

I pretty much circled a green once, nobody was in danger, though, other than dying of laughter. 

[chrisgilly09]

Streb forgot to yell “flip it” on 12 this morning, that’s why 

[DShepley]

A couple years ago I was following Justin Thomas at a practice round for the Canadian Open at Hamilton Country Club. On an uphill par 3, the gallery ropes were close to the tee deck and he hit a screamer, straight right over my head, the hardest foul ball I've ever seen and I've seen lots of shanks.  He made a comment like, "That right there folks is how you hit a shank", before reaching down to tip the tee up straight and hit the same club to the middle of the green.

[grm24]

4 hours ago, AlexA12 said:

After seeing Stenson's shank today, I was wondering why some tour pros have a tendency to hit them.  I know both Stenson and Poulter have a habit of hitting the odd hosel rocket.  Given that Stenson is considered one of the best ball strikers around, is there a swing fault that he or other pros share that lead them to hitting shanks?

Simple. It's golf.

[RichieHunt]

They are humans just like the rest of us.  I've seen plenty of times where great players dub shots into the water, hit snap hooks, etc.  All of this happens to even the very best in the world, it just happens far less often than say scratch golfers who have it occur far less often than 10 handicaps, etc.  

 

Hell, 2011 PLAYERS Championship....Tiger was hitting skyball tee shots and putting idiot marks on his 3-wood and driver in the practice round.  Probably would not have broke 85 that day.  He then withdraws due to 'injury.'  The look of the crowd watching arguably the greatest golfer alive playing like a 10 handicap was priceless.

 

 

 

RH

[Calamity Todd]

Golf is hard.

[rolling green]

12 hours ago, AlexA12 said:

I'm in no way trying to take a dig at Stenson, of course I'd want his swing.  It's just interesting to me that some guys hit the odd shank or two, but others haven't.  For instance, Tiger and Phil have hit thousands of shots on camera and I don't recall them ever hitting a shank.  As someone who also is prone to the shank, I was wondering if there's something specific about Stenson or Poulter that lead to the occasional one.

 

[Hawkeye77]

9 minutes ago, rolling green said:

 

I can't believe Steiny hasn't had that taken down!

[iteachgolf]

On 4/8/2021 at 9:23 PM, Buzzkill said:

Better players swing in to out, prone to shanks, however, outside to in happens too although not as frequent imo.

Exponentially more shanks come from a path too left and steep than one too in to out.  More in to out promotes toe contact. Not heel

[Buzzkill]

2 hours ago, iteachgolf said:

Exponentially more shanks come from a path too left and steep than one too in to out.  More in to out promotes toe contact. Not heel

I’m not the norm then with my inside path hosel rockets, lol!  Of course, my shanks are high right off the hosel, pretty impressive l might say!

Edited April 10, 2021 by Buzzkill

[pinhigh27]

3 hours ago, iteachgolf said:

Exponentially more shanks come from a path too left and steep than one too in to out.  More in to out promotes toe contact. Not heel

thought it was opposite. why would in to out promote toe when swinging up promotes low on face 

[JayAreOhh924]

There's so many parts of the body moving at the same time that if just one is a fraction off tempo from the other, the desired result becomes undesirable. We forget sometimes they they too, are human. 

 

Asking this is also like asking why MLB pitchers don't just pitch strikes. And why the hitters don't always hit home runs..... 

 

[596]

A shank is nothing but the opposite of a toe shot.  That shank is not that far from the middle of the face, especially for regular people.  I get my monies worth from my clubs, I use the entire face!

[Krt22]

3 hours ago, Buzzkill said:

I’m not the norm then with my inside path hosel rockets, lol!  Of course, my shanks are high right off the hosel, pretty impressive l might say!

You and me both. Only shot I can hit that moves left to right is off the hosel 😂

[iteachgolf]

3 hours ago, pinhigh27 said:

thought it was opposite. why would in to out promote toe when swinging up promotes low on face 

Because the clubhead is approaching further from inside the ball, hosel is much further from the ball.  When path goes out to in the hosel moves PAST the ball and then has to move back inside before getting to the ball.  When path is from inside the hosel should never get to the target line. 
 

 

[MonteScheinblum]

I’ve hit 3 shanks in a tournament round.

 

Once on consecutive holes in US Open Q.  Second shot into 18 and second shot into 1 from severe downhill lies and with long Irons.  The one on 18 went into the range and I almost made par as I hit the second one in close.  Still had a chance to make it and broke par.

 

The other one was even funnier.  It was during a Nike (kornferry) event in Provo, Utah.  I drove it pin high on a 380ish par 4 dogleg right.  I was 30 feet from the hole in deep rough and in front of several hundred people I dead shanked it  90* right OB.  Still made the cut.🤪. 
 

It happens

[Lincoln_Arcadia]

3 hours ago, pinhigh27 said:

thought it was opposite. why would in to out promote toe when swinging up promotes low on face 

Seems logical, but we compensate for ailments in funny ways.

[JDCON]

A what? Go wash your mouth out with a bar of soap. Shame on you for using that foul word.