Shank

A shank is a mishit where the ball is struck by the hosel rather than the clubface. The hosel is the neck of the club, where the shaft connects to the head. The ball shoots sharply to the right (for a right-handed golfer) at roughly a 45° angle. There is often a distinctive metallic clang that differs from any other golf mishit. The shank is widely considered the most dreaded shot in golf. It is startling and visible to everyone on the course. It also tends to come in clusters once a golfer becomes aware of it and starts trying to avoid it. Paradoxically, that makes it more likely.

Shanks occur when the hosel arrives at the ball rather than the clubface. This usually happens for one of two reasons. In one, the club path moves too far "out" (from inside to outside, through the ball) while the golfer stands too close to the ball. In the other, the upper body lunges toward the ball at impact, moving the hosel into the ball's path. The second pattern, the upper-body lunge, is the most common cause. It is triggered by early extension (hips thrusting toward the ball) combined with a loss of balance onto the toes during the downswing.

The psychology of shanking creates a unique challenge. Consciously avoiding the shank ("don't hit the hosel") usually increases the shank rate. That is because attention goes to the exact movement pattern to be avoided. The most effective mental approach is to focus on a specific alternative instead of trying not to shank. For example, aim to hit the inner groove of the face, or the toe of the club. Physically, the most reliable cure is to check balance and eliminate any lunge toward the ball in the downswing. Weight should move to the heels through impact, not forward to the toes.