Forum > Technique, Tips & Tuition

John Flood

I don't know why but just suddenly out of the blue I am shanking bump & run shots. Anything from a 9iron upwards I just don't know why I'm doing it. Full shot, half shot & even 3/4 shots are fine but a little bump & run & the J Arther appears??

Any ideas??

Thanks. 

David Marshall

Patrick Bourke

David Marshall

Patrick, coming across the line, or an out to in swing, would cause a slice and not a shank. Plus it's only the bump and run he is having trouble with, so he wouldn't be using a full swing.

Also, I might be wrong here, I believe John is a leftie. 

John Pettitt

Once plagued with this dreaded disease, it is very difficult to eradicate it due to the affect it has on ones brain. One is always conciously waiting for it to happen on every shot that the affliction has attached itself.

I have gone through this affliction on pitch shots from fifty yards in and came to the conclusion that there was not a cure for me that would be permanent. I have now solved this problem by not attempting shots that could possibly shank and those that I could, I have overcome with the purchase of a club that is completely shank-proof.

This is an affliction that usually only affects the better player. No consolation of course.

Adrian Hope

John Pettitt

If you believe that, Adrian then go ahead and do it. Personally I am not a great admirer of his teachings.

How can anyone teach that the best way to control any shot is to mishit it. Please explain to me how that makes it easier to judge the distance.

Patrick Bourke

Adrian Hope

John Pettitt

Adrian Hope

David Marshall

John Pettitt

Patrick Bourke

 Sorry to disagree David but as a 'sufferer' myself I do have first hand knowledge of this affliction. I'm NOT saying it's not standing too close to the ball, that could be one reason (however note the likes of Furyk... you could say he stands too close to the ball) . If you line in up the centre of the club and strike it in the hosel then you are by definition moving into/ across the line... whateever, however you want to describe it.

 Hi Adrian, I hope you're well. Algarve was  really good though I've been a week back at work and still nowhere near catching up. I might see you doen at NvS?

Dave ley

Common Fault. 

Too active lower half for this type of shot and leaving the club face open at impact.

Minimize the the legs and don't open the club face to much in your backswing.

Steve Cowle

Hey John,

Without seeing it it is difficult to analyse. Could be that you are whipping the clubhead inside too much on way back, and due to it being such a short shot the hands can't square up on way through causing El Hosel!

Place an umbrella on your heel line on the backswing about 3 ft away. This is only good for upto 30 yds max. If you hit the brolley the club is too much inside.

If you continue to struggle I will happily take a look. http://www.stevecowlegolf.co.uk/onlinelesson.html

Good luck!

Steve

John Flood

Cheers for all the advice chaps.

I went in the back garden last night & tried standing further away & it didn't help so I tried closing the clubface slightly & hey presto every single shot perfect. 

I think this may be what Dave Ley & Steve were getting at in that maybe I was leaving the clubface open / not being able to square up.

This might not be the correct way to fix the fault but until I meet up with fellow GS members to take a look I'll stick with for now.

Thanks.

Colin Coote

hi there John

shanking a bump 'n' run should not be difficult to prevent.

basically a bump'n'runs are chips shots with no break of the wrists and very limited movement from the hips and below.  Its just a glorified extended putting stroke.

i don't know how you setup for and execute this type of shot but i keep to the basics.

take a comfortable stance not wider than my shoulders, the shorter the distance the narrower the stance.

position the ball between you stance where you will make the decending contact with your club just back of the lowest part of your intended swing path.

at address lean slightly to the left to place more weight on the ball of your left foot (right handers).  This allows the club head to decend at a steeper swing path and minimises hitting a duffer.

keep weight on your left side through your short back swing and limit lower body movement and do not rotate your lower body at all and keep a good tempo and swing down and through the ball remembering to follow through to finish with your hands around shoulder high.  

as for the type of stroke i use, for short (chips) bump'n'runs around the greens i use an actual putting stroke technique where i roll my shoulders  and that reduces any snappy jerky reflex swings.  

For the longer shots where i need to use a longer than usual putting stroke i rotate my upper body as if it were a normal iron shot, ensuring the club shaft never gets parrallel to the ground as that is the point i naturally break my wrists and that turns the shot into a pitch.  I wonder if you are sometimes playing more of a pitch and run whereby you break your wrists and take a 1/2 or even 3/4 swing and because you slowed your swing speed down your swing collapses and your brain tries to make adjustments.

my advice is go back to basic's and remember how you have always played the shot in the past.  Over a period of time through age etc your swing techniques change from how they were years before, and slight adjustments need to be made to everyones game to keep everything consistent.  That could be what you are finding out.

make sure you are not crouching over your shot, stay naturally upright and comfortable as with any other shot, with a still head with your chin up.  if you drop your head your eyes get closer to the ball and your brain tells you to push the club head away as you risk hitting a fat shot.  

good luck

John Flood

As if by magic there is an article on the Todays golfers home page on this subject!!

Link

Russ Rice

my tip is to move the right foot back a ft (if right handed) and work on hitting it at 1 O'Clock eg pushing your hands towards the target 

most people come inside and then get closed through impact area, moving the foot back promotes me hitting it with a slightly neutral clubface rather than open

also your probably moving just before you hit them also, slight lean towards the target

practice standing still really still feels uncomfy but needed for good short game  

Darren Ramowski

Did you see this John ? Bumpjump Shankproof golf club

http://www.golfshake.com/news/view/1447/Shankproof_Golf_Club_Bumpjump_Chippe
rs.html

Dave ley

Wayne Santorini

Blimey there will be no point for lessons or anything soon!!! the clubs will do the job for you.

20 years from now there will be the youngest player at the masters 10 years old!!!!!!!!

get some skill sorted and the game will be easier.