2 questions re: divots and swing path

[mallrat]

One question kind of leads into the other but here goes. 
 

occasionally something that resembles the shanks creeps into my game. It’s not a true hosel shank but it’s more of a very wide open face shank. Now I had an instructor years ago that taught me to hold the lag and exit hard left and low. So this has become my ingrained motor pattern and it’s HARD to break. Not only does it lead to those shanks but I get a LOT of pulls when my body resorts to that swing. Part of the reasoning is we were chasing Trackman numbers. The other thing is when this swing creeps in the toe side of my divot is significantly lower than the heel side, like 1/2 - 1”. 
 

Part of my question is how bad is a 5-6 degree in to out swing in the long run? My contact is so much better and the mechanics of my swing just feel better (I.e, my lead shoulder doesn’t spin out)? Also what causes the deep toe divot?

 

thanks

[MonteScheinblum]

5-6 is not egregious for most.  The issue is always how you’re creating the 5-6 right.  Divot means almost nothing  

Edited June 20, 2021 by MonteScheinblum

[mallrat]

Thank you. 
 

 

[Mob]

1 hour ago, MonteScheinblum said:

5-6 is not egregious for most.  The issue is always how you’re creating the 5-6 right.  Divot means almost nothing  

Monte, I am alittle curious about your comment regarding divots.  I tend to swing from in to out (I am left handed) and my tendency is a draw that can turn into a hook.  When my divot is in to out path, and facing left of the target, the hook is far more significant than when my divot is in line with my target.  Is there not a relationship here?

[pinhigh27]

50 minutes ago, Mob said:

Monte, I am alittle curious about your comment regarding divots.  I tend to swing from in to out (I am left handed) and my tendency is a draw that can turn into a hook.  When my divot is in to out path, and facing left of the target, the hook is far more significant than when my divot is in line with my target.  Is there not a relationship here?

Theres a relationship. Since divot is in front of impact, if your divot points outside that means you have a pretty significant leftward path (for a lefty). Likely too far left. Divot pointing left for a lefty or right for a righty is generally no good. 

Edited June 20, 2021 by pinhigh27

[Shilgy]

I am just trying to figure out how a player has “very wide open face shanks” and pulls?  Slam the door shut flips is the only thing I can think of.

[mallrat]

10 minutes ago, Shilgy said:

I am just trying to figure out how a player has “very wide open face shanks” and pulls?  Slam the door shut flips is the only thing I can think of.

Think of pulling the handle through with a wide open face. Then to counteract I shut the face and not just a little. 
 

I can go weeks to months without it happening. When it does it is normally later in a round when I am playing well but stop concentrating on every shot. 
 

My 1st instructor did me no favors. 

Edited June 20, 2021 by mallrat

[Golf_Goof]

I was searching for related thread so glad this one popped up.

 

Similar lefty here and I'm averaging 1 or 2 shanks per round now but only with the loftier wedges. 7 straight pars last night before tragedy struck and basically ruined every wedge shot from that point. I'm near ready to snap a club and seppuku right on the spot.

 

Also toe leading divots.

 

I know from video that I suffer from inside/open takeaway and worked with instructor to make a more upright/closed takeaway which worked on the range but perhaps not engrained enough on course.