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WHAT IS A SHANK?

A shank is a shot where the ball is struck with the shank ( or the neck ) of the club and makes very little or no contact with the club face.

This is caused by having an excessively open club face at impact and usually your hands are well ahead of the ball also. This leaves the neck as the only part of the club able to make contact with the ball.

The shank is closely related to a slice as it to has an open club face at impact.

In my experience there are two common reasons why people shank.

Excessive tension in the left hand, particularly at about hip height in the downswing.

Failure to uncock or late uncocking of your wrists during the down swing.

At some point during your back swing you must cock your wrists in order to get the club above your shoulders. Therefore at some point during the downswing you must uncock your wrists if you are to get back into the same position as you started.

Unfortunately most people fail to do this and in fact keep their hands locked through most of the hitting area of the downswing. This produces a fade or slice at best or at worst a shank.

THE CURE

Keep your left hand relaxed during the downswing, particularly in the last three fingers.

Uncock your wrists as early as you can in the down swing.

Ensure your hands don't get ahead of the club face in the down swing.