Shanking Chips and Pitch shots

[dblinden]

For a couple months, I initiated a pattern of total failure with chipping out of nowhere. Shanks and mishits such that I was anxious about even practicing by myself. I've never had the yips about anything, but I did now. Previously, never had any concerns about chip shots or short pitches. Came across one of Padraig Harrington's chipping lessons on his channel. Very easy to follow recommendations that anyone could apply. Since then, I have practiced chipping with various clubs almost daily hitting multiple hundreds of shots. Zero shanks and maybe two thin shots since day one. Confidence now high. Definitely recommend finding this video lesson and giving it a look.   

[GoGoErky]

1 hour ago, Righty to Lefty said:

Hitting the ball off the toe, the shot will still get airborne, hitting it off the low toe in the section where there aren't any grooves on most wedges will behave just like a hosel shank. That is precisely why you have to know which one you are hitting.  

Who cares what it behaves like it’s still not shank. Shank is off the hosel. Off the toe is called toeing it. Not a toe shank or any other name

[Shilgy]

25 minutes ago, GoGoErky said:

Who cares what it behaves like it’s still not shank. Shank is off the hosel. Off the toe is called toeing it. Not a toe shank or any other name

Exactly…did you know a shot that goes right to left is called a hook? But for some it’s called a slice?

 

Or that every unintentionally low shot is not “bladed”?

 

Mind blown!🤯

[Righty to Lefty]

3 hours ago, Hawkeye77 said:

Parroting mistakes only perpetuates them. By definition a shank is off the hosel. 

Whatever you like to call it, it is a valid question to ask when you are diagnosing a "shank" ball flight whether the person hit the ball off the hosel/heel or the toe because the flight will look the exact same. The problem is often the golfer is new to the game and has no clue whether they hit the ball off the hosel or the toe.  

 

I am not the only one that calls them toe shanks by the way: 

 

 

 

@GoGoErky and @Shilgy please get on these videos comments sections asap and get everyone squared away. I will check back to make sure that you corrected them and that they are clear. 

Edited April 8 by Righty to Lefty

[Hawkeye77]

18 minutes ago, Righty to Lefty said:

Whatever you like to call it, it is a valid question to ask when you are diagnosing a "shank" ball flight whether the person hit the ball off the hosel/heel or the toe because the flight will look the exact same. The problem is often the golfer is new to the game and has no clue whether they hit the ball off the hosel or the toe.  

 

I am not the only one that calls them toe shanks by the way: 

 

 

 

@GoGoErky and @Shilgy please get on these videos comments sections asap and get everyone squared away. I will check back to make sure that you corrected them and that they are clear. 

 

Yes, we can all Google.

 

All of those vids have nothing to do with what I posted - just reinforces it.  But if someone finds help however they get it, I'm all for it, but no reason to get lazy with terminology.  

 

"My ball went right in a hurry, did I shank it?" Valid question, of course.  The answer may be, "No, you hit it off the toe."  

 

 

[Righty to Lefty]

As you wish...hit em well.

[Hawkeye77]

2 minutes ago, Righty to Lefty said:

As you wish...hit em well.

 

Hopefully no more shanks on the little wedges.

 

"I hit that off the toe" is a necessary response in the arsenal when someone wants to claim you shanked it and laugh about it --- sort of the "I was in the pool" of golf.

[gripandrip]

21 hours ago, MonteScheinblum said:

Have to get at the root cause.

 

Activating or quieting the wrists could make it worse depending on the issue.

 

Could include but not limited to:

 

Poor setup.

Poor takeaway  <---- Can be a big factor 

Excess shift

Excess lower body movement

Spinning the shoulders 

Excess acceleration

 

 

 

 

[cgasucks]

I've just practiced chipping and pitching yesterday.  During the lockdowns in the early days of the pandemic, my pitching and chipping really improved as the short game area near where I live was not maintained with a lot of bare lies and hardpan.  

 

Because of that, I had to maintain a firm grip on my dominant hand (right) for stability, move my right shoulder letting my hands c0ck naturally and immediately get rid of the c0ck with my right hand hitting the ball first and crisp with a shallow angle of attack.  Think of Mickelson's hinge and hold technique.  I don't lean my weight forward like what is generally taught as the club will go down on a steeper angle defeating the purpose of a shallow strike.

 

I do this all with an open stance.

 

My chips and pitches come off crisp and clean that way on bare lies and obviously will work on fluffy lies.

Edited April 8 by cgasucks

[GoGoErky]

2 hours ago, Righty to Lefty said:

Whatever you like to call it, it is a valid question to ask when you are diagnosing a "shank" ball flight whether the person hit the ball off the hosel/heel or the toe because the flight will look the exact same. The problem is often the golfer is new to the game and has no clue whether they hit the ball off the hosel or the toe.  

 

I am not the only one that calls them toe shanks by the way: 

 

 

 

@GoGoErky and @Shilgy please get on these videos comments sections asap and get everyone squared away. I will check back to make sure that you corrected them and that they are clear. 

Multiple wrongs don’t make a right 

[Righty to Lefty]

1 hour ago, GoGoErky said:

Multiple wrongs don’t make a right 

I agree....you are so right. Man I'm glad that we got this cleared up and that you guys got me squared away so that we can move on with the real root of the issue. Which I will not comment on because surely I will be wrong and you can then chime in again about just how wrong I am about everything related to golf. I will anxiously await the solution to the OP question from the forum elders with bated breath. 

Edited April 8 by Righty to Lefty
Correction from Ripper212 on "bated breath! spelling because I'm wrong a lot!

[Ripper212]

52 minutes ago, Righty to Lefty said:

I agree....you are so right. Man I'm glad that we got this cleared up and that you guys got me squared away so that we can move on with the real root of the issue. Which I will not comment on because surely I will be wrong and you can then chime in again about just how wrong I am about everything related to golf. I will anxiously await the solution to the OP question from the forum elders with baited breathe. 

Well actually that's "bated breath" so you're wrong again😁

[Pepperturbo]

On 4/7/2024 at 9:08 AM, 19Putter said:

OK. So do not get wristy at all during chips. Agree with that.

For pitch shots of 10+ yards, you need some right-hand hinging and unhinging though, right? But, the lead wrist during these pitches needs to remain quiet, right? 

Not while chipping.  Chipping is from off the green inside approx. ten feet of green edge, where I run the ball further than I  actually carry the ball, and read it like a putt.  Pitching is 20+yrds off the green to a pin in the middle or back of the green, making it a 50+/- yard shot.  My wrists seldom hinged during chips or baby pitches.  Again, the only time I might hinge during a chip or baby pitch is when adding more spin to the ball.  Other than that, my wrists typically hinge during full shots.

 

Example: Greens running about 10.5 stimp Sunday.  Hit a crappy shot missed elongated 175yd Par 3 green, about 35yds to pin, all carry over high-grass-filled depression, pin in back right on perpendicular elongated green.  Using open face SW from rough, pitched a high lob, landing on apron, ball ran past pin to back elevated edge, ball rolled backwards towards pin to 4', made putt to save par.   Playing partners thought they had me; they didn't see the shot that I made.  😛

Another Par 189yd par 3, pin in front, on 10yds.  I hit short of green 8', using LW, chipped the ball on, it rolled to 6", tap in. 

On a Par 5, my 3rd shot was crappy short.  Leave of 40yds to a back middle pin, using 52' low pitch to 8' short, ball released and rolled up to pin, 1' tap in saving par.

[virtuoso]

1 hour ago, Righty to Lefty said:

I agree....you are so right. Man I'm glad that we got this cleared up and that you guys got me squared away so that we can move on with the real root of the issue. Which I will not comment on because surely I will be wrong and you can then chime in again about just how wrong I am about everything related to golf. I will anxiously await the solution to the OP question from the forum elders with bated breath. 

Hey R2L, would you rank me as a Forum Elder? 

[kiwigolf72]

2 minutes ago, virtuoso said:

Hey R2L, would you rank me as a Forum Elder? 

Do you have bated breath ?

[virtuoso]

Just now, kiwigolf72 said:

Do you have bated breath ?

Well my understanding is that as a Forum Elder, others would have bated breath waiting for my response.

[kiwigolf72]

3 minutes ago, virtuoso said:

Well my understanding is that as a Forum Elder, others would have bated breath waiting for my response.

my bad I thought all forum elders must have bated breath.😆

[Nels55]

18 minutes ago, kiwigolf72 said:

my bad I thought all forum elders must have bated breath.😆

I believe that forum community awaits the proclamations of the forum elders with bated breath.  The elders themselves do not have bated breath but may have bad breath.  No way to tell on social media.

[Righty to Lefty]

44 minutes ago, virtuoso said:

Hey R2L, would you rank me as a Forum Elder? 

Yup...CERTIFIED!! 

Edited April 8 by Righty to Lefty
Needed to Certify Virtuoso

[Sean124]

I see this now and just assume a thread has gone to complete sh!t

 

[betarhoalphadelta]

On 4/7/2024 at 11:20 AM, MonteScheinblum said:

Have to get at the root cause.

 

Activating or quieting the wrists could make it worse depending on the issue.

 

Could include but not limited to:

 

Poor setup.

Poor takeaway

Excess shift

Excess lower body movement

Spinning the shoulders 

Excess acceleration

 

 

 

 

Tell me you have PTSD from my last lesson without telling me you have PTSD from my last lesson 😂

[virtuoso]

2 hours ago, Righty to Lefty said:

Yup...CERTIFIED!! 

Sweet!

[Valtiel]

1 hour ago, betarhoalphadelta said:

 

Tell me you have PTSD from my last lesson without telling me you have PTSD from my last lesson 😂

Monte afterwards like...

[MonteScheinblum]

4 hours ago, Nels55 said:

I believe that forum community awaits the proclamations of the forum elders with bated breath.  The elders themselves do not have bated breath but may have bad breath.  No way to tell on social media.

Since I have the most posts, I guess that means I have master bated breath.

[Hawkeye77]

12 minutes ago, MonteScheinblum said:

Since I have the most posts, I guess that means I have master bated breath.

 

As long as toes aren't involved . . . . . 😂

[19Putter]

15 hours ago, Pepperturbo said:

Not while chipping.  Chipping is from off the green inside approx. ten feet of green edge, where I run the ball further than I  actually carry the ball, and read it like a putt.  Pitching is 20+yrds off the green to a pin in the middle or back of the green, making it a 50+/- yard shot.  My wrists seldom hinged during chips or baby pitches.  Again, the only time I might hinge during a chip or baby pitch is when adding more spin to the ball.  Other than that, my wrists typically hinge during full shots.

 

Example: Greens running about 10.5 stimp Sunday.  Hit a crappy shot missed elongated 175yd Par 3 green, about 35yds to pin, all carry over high-grass-filled depression, pin in back right on perpendicular elongated green.  Using open face SW from rough, pitched a high lob, landing on apron, ball ran past pin to back elevated edge, ball rolled backwards towards pin to 4', made putt to save par.   Playing partners thought they had me; they didn't see the shot that I made.  😛

Another Par 189yd par 3, pin in front, on 10yds.  I hit short of green 8', using LW, chipped the ball on, it rolled to 6", tap in. 

On a Par 5, my 3rd shot was crappy short.  Leave of 40yds to a back middle pin, using 52' low pitch to 8' short, ball released and rolled up to pin, 1' tap in saving par.

I get what a chip is. My question or seeking confirmation statement was that for pitches, you need some wrist hinge.

[Righty to Lefty]

13 hours ago, Sean124 said:

I see this now and just assume a thread has gone to complete sh!t

 

Well you assume wrong then.... I am awaiting the responses from the forum elders (mainly @virtuoso because he is certified!!) so that I can know exactly what to do when I hit a shank. I will soon make a thread on my putting strategy and everyone can go in that one and tell me just how wrong I am so wait for that with "bated breath (see how I did that @Ripper212!)  

[Superbrit]

I tend to start hitting shanks, specifically with chipping, when my shoulders are too open at address

 

If i hit a shank in a round i default to closing my shoulders and "keeping" them closed throughout the chip, my right shoulder stays much lower (or feels like it) and i really dont hit another, closing my shoulders is part of my pre shot routine now

[Hawkeye77]

1 hour ago, 19Putter said:

I get what a chip is. My question or seeking confirmation statement was that for pitches, you need some wrist hinge.

You may need or have wrist hinge on chips - don’t think you are out of the woods just because you are focused on pitching, Shankapotomous! (I’m going straight to hell). 😀

 

Work the problem, find the root cause. Trust me you can come from the inside and shank it. 
 

Sounds passé, but if you post a couple views of your pitching motion I guarantee Monte can diagnose the issue immediately (if he’s not having alone time).  

Edited April 9 by Hawkeye77

[GoGoErky]

55 minutes ago, Hawkeye77 said:

You may need or have wrist hinge on chips - don’t think you are out of the woods just because you are focused on pitching, Shankapotomous! (I’m going straight to hell). 😀

 

Work the problem, find the root cause. Trust me you can come from the inside and shank it. 
 

Sounds passé, but if you post a couple views of your pitching motion I guarantee Monte can diagnose the issue immediately (if he’s not having alone time).  

Yup and inside to out or outside to in both can catch El Hosel.