Why do I shank my chips in the simulator?

e-man · February 17

I just don’t get it. I’m a good player, 5.9 index, 56 years old, been playing golf for 40 years. Yet, when I step into a stimulator, I shank every single chip. And I’m not talking about just a little miss hit, I’m talking full on shankapotomus into the right wall. Low, slow, fast, short, straight back, inside path, outside path, doesn’t matter, it’s shank city.

The only way I’m able to chip in the simulator is with a right hand only swing/chipping motion. As soon as I put my left hand on the club, it’s straight sideways.

One other thing, I never ever do this on the course. It’s only indoors off of a mat.

Any ideas?

Edited February 17 by e-man

CasualLie · February 17

Wild guess. Because the mat has resistance/ the sole doesn't settle into the ground. At address you are presenting more "El Hosel".

chollier986 · February 17

I notice the same for me at times. I think it comes from focusing on the ball more so than the target if that makes sense. I’ve noticed that if I chip at a blank screen, it’s far worse than if the sim is up and running. Something to do with lack of depth perception on short feel shots.

stryper · February 17

Bites me in the a** once in a while too, usually if I’m a little careless. And only with my 58*. If I pay attention and set up with the ball off the toe of the club I’m good to go.

Nickb333 · February 17

It happens more to me on the sim, but I’ve done outside too. I can eliminate shanks by focusing on my hands. Through the chip, they must stay as close to my legs as possible.

I can only suspect that something in my head is trying to promote cutting across the ball. Which leads to an outside takeaway.

if you do it all the time, film it. Should be easy to spot the mistake.

JohnnyHangs · February 17

Whats your AOA reading on chips? My guess is maybe your trying to lift the ball off the mat instead of hitting down on it like you would normally outside, or extending early with that same subconscious thought of not 'taking a divot'

Maybe try 'slapping' the mat with the bounce just under the front side of the ball rather than focusing on the ball alone

Whatnogarnish · February 17

lol. I’m like OP. I can’t chip off range mats or range grass either. I’ll head over to the chipping green and it all clicks just fine.

My short game during a round is solid.

Edited February 17 by Whatnogarnish

Pepperturbo · February 17

3 hours ago, e-man said:

I just don’t get it. I’m a good player, 5.9 index, 56 years old, been playing golf for 40 years. Yet, when I step into a stimulator, I shank every single chip. And I’m not talking about just a little miss hit, I’m talking full on shankapotomus into the right wall. Low, slow, fast, short, straight back, inside path, outside path, doesn’t matter, it’s shank city.

The only way I’m able to chip in the simulator is with a right hand only swing/chipping motion. As soon as I put my left hand on the club, it’s straight sideways.

One other thing, I never ever do this on the course. It’s only indoors off of a mat.

Any ideas?

Call Tiger for assistance. On 18 the other day, he shanked a beauty.

Valtiel · February 17

A video of you chipping on a sim vs. chipping on a range would show exactly why if you can get that.

Maine Golfer · February 17

I can't speak to your swing. I find focusing on the target on a screen, its WAY harder for me than outdoor golf.

bcjim · February 18

Are you pushing your trail hand out too much, toward the ball?

e-man · February 18

1 hour ago, bcjim said:

Are you pushing your trail hand out too much, toward the ball?

Thanks for all the helpful replies. It’s definitely this ^^^^^. Now why I don’t do this on the course, well, that’s a different question. But it’s definitely my issue in the simulator. Earlier today I was in the sim, shanking away as always. I decided to line up the ball on the toe of the club, actually half on the toe, half off the toe. And voilah, perfect chips. I must be moving my hands away from my body on the forward swing which introduces the hosel to the ball, unless I line up the ball in the toe to start.

MonteScheinblum · February 18

People don’t want to hear this, but it’s universal.

1 shank like Tiger had is an anomaly.

However, where there is a run of shanks, even if it’s never happened before, it’s there. Different clubs, different turf conditions, summer, winter, etc.

You are delivering the hozel to the ball even on grass and the way the club interacts with the mat is the straw the broke the camels back.

The answer is to address when you are presenting the hozel to the ball in general.

A common issue is excess lower body and/or shift.