What Causes Shanks? Why Golfers Shank the Ball & What to Do About It

Few shots in golf are as jarring as a shank. One moment you're making what feels like a normal swing, the next the ball rockets sideways at a 45-degree angle, nowhere near your target.

Shanks are one of the most dreaded mishits in the game, but they're also one of the most fixable once you understand what's actually going wrong.

This guide breaks down the main causes of shanks, and walks through practical fixes and drills to help eliminate them from your game.

What Is a Shank?

A shank occurs when the ball strikes the hosel of the golf club instead of the clubface. The hosel is the small, rounded neck where the shaft connects to the clubhead.

When contact happens here rather than on the center of the face, the ball can veer sharply to the right (for right-handed golfers), often at a 45- to 90-degree angle from your intended target.

The sensation can be especially jarring because the swing often feels completely normal. You make what seems like solid contact, then watch the ball shoot sideways into the rough, a bunker, or worse.

What Causes Shanks?

Shanks are generally caused by the club heading moving away from the body in relation to the ball during the downswing, positioning the hosel where the clubface belongs at impact. Five main factors contribute to this: 

• Setup distance

• Early extension

• Weight shift

• Swing path

• Grip issues

Let's walk through each one.

Cause #1: Standing Too Close to the Ball at Setup

When you stand too close to the ball while setting up your swing, aligning the clubhead with the ball during your swing can be difficult without unnaturally cramping your arms close to your body. During the downswing, your hands naturally push outward to create space, and that outward movement shifts the hosel directly into the ball's path if you haven’t anticipated this when setting up your swing.

Cause #2: Early Extension During the Downswing

Early extension is the most common cause of shanks. It happens when your hips thrust toward the ball during the downswing instead of rotating around your spine.

When your hips move forward, your hands and club will also be pushed outward changing where your club makes contact with the ball. Instructors often call this "losing your tush line". If your backside moves toward the ball during the swing, you're extending too early.

Cause #3: Shifting Your Weight Forward

Weight distribution matters too. If your weight shifts onto your toes instead of staying balanced on the balls of your feet, you’ll lean toward the ball. Even an inch of forward movement can turn a solid strike into a shank.

Cause #4: An Inside-Out or Over-the-Top Swing Path

Both swing path extremes can produce shanks, though the mechanics differ:

• Inside-out path: The club approaches too far from inside, and the hosel leads into the impact before the face squares up

• Over-the-top path: Your hands move outward from the top of the swing, pushing the heel of the club toward the ball

Either way, the club head ends up farther from your body at impact than it was at address.

Cause #5: Grip Pressure & Hand Position

A grip that's too tight restricts your wrists from moving naturally through impact. That tension can cause your hands to push outward, moving the hosel into the hitting zone.

Excessive grip pressure also creates tension throughout your arms and shoulders, making it harder to maintain a smooth, consistent swing path.

Common Types of Shanks in Golf

Most golfers think of shanks as one thing, but two distinct types exist:

Heel shanks are far more common and produce that classic sideways rocket. Toe shanks are rarer and usually result from standing too far from the ball or pulling your arms inward during the swing.

Knowing which type you're hitting helps you apply the right correction.

Why You Might Suddenly Start Shanking the Ball

Shanks often appear out of nowhere, even after you've been hitting the ball well. The most common trigger is a well-intentioned swing change.

You might be working on keeping your head down, swinging more inside-out, or shifting your weight differently. Any of those adjustments can inadvertently create the conditions for a shank if they alter your distance from the ball or your swing path.

Tension and fatigue also play a role. Late in a round, when your muscles get tired and your focus starts to drift, small mechanical breakdowns can happen. Your posture might slip, your grip might tighten, or your weight might drift forward without you noticing.

How to Fix Shanks

Once you understand the causes, the fixes become straightforward. Work through the following five adjustments to get your swing back on track.

1. Check Your Distance From the Ball

Here's a quick way to check that your stance is correct when addressing the ball. Your hands should hang naturally beneath your shoulders, with roughly a fist's width between the butt of the club and your thighs when your club is lined up on the ball. If you feel cramped at all, step back an inch or two.

If you've been standing too close, this simple reset often solves the problem immediately.

2. Reset Your Posture Before Each Swing

Good posture means hinging from your hips (not your waist), maintaining a slight knee flex, and keeping your weight balanced through the middle of your feet.

Before each swing, run through a quick mental checklist: hips back, spine tilted forward, weight centered. Then focus on maintaining that posture throughout the swing.

3. Loosen Your Grip Pressure

Think of holding a tube of toothpaste without squeezing any out. That's roughly the grip pressure you want—firm enough to control the club, light enough to let your wrists hinge and release naturally.

Tension in your hands travels up through your arms and shoulders, restricting your swing. A softer grip promotes a smoother path through impact. Your grip style—whether strong, neutral, or weak—also influences how the club releases through the hitting zone.

4. Correct Your Swing Path

If you've been swinging too far inside-out, focus on keeping your hands closer to your body on the downswing. Focus on swinging more toward the target rather than out to the right.

If you've been coming over the top, work on dropping your hands straight down from the top of the backswing before rotating through. Avoid the urge to throw the club outward.

5. Keep Your Hips Back Through Impact

This fix directly addresses early extension. Instead of thrusting your hips toward the ball, focus on rotating them around your spine.

A helpful cue: imagine your belt buckle turning toward the target while your backside stays in place. 

Simple Drills to Stop Shanking the Ball

Practice the following drills at the range to reinforce the right mechanics and build confidence.

The Two-Ball Drill

Place two balls on the ground—one where you'd normally address the ball, and one about two inches farther from you. Your goal is to hit the inner ball while missing the outer one. Address the balls as if you are planning to hit the outer ball, and then as you begin your downswing, try to hit the inner ball.

This drill forces you to keep the club closer to your body through impact, training a path that avoids the hosel.

The Headcover Barrier Drill

Set a headcover next to the ball on the outside, inline with the target so that you can just hit the ball without striking the headcover.

If you hit the headcover, your club is moving outward during the downswing. The immediate feedback helps you feel the difference between a good path and a shank-prone one.

The Wall Drill for Early Extension

This is one you can practice at home—stand with your backside lightly touching a wall and take your golf posture. Make slow-motion swing movements while keeping contact with the wall throughout.

If your hips thrust forward, you'll feel yourself pull away from the wall. This drill builds awareness of early extension without needing a ball or club.

Can Your Golf Clubs Cause a Shank?

In most cases, shanks come from swing mechanics rather than equipment. However, ill-fitted clubs can contribute to the problem.

A lie angle that's too upright positions the heel closer to the ground at impact, making hosel contact more likely. Clubs that are too short might cause you to stand too close to the ball, while clubs that are too long can throw off your posture.

Forgiving clubs with larger sweet spots won't eliminate shanks entirely, but they do make consistent contact easier to achieve. When your clubs are properly fitted and designed for forgiveness, you have more margin for error on slightly off-center strikes.

Build Confidence With Clubs Designed for Forgiveness

Shanks are frustrating, but they're fixable. With attention to your setup, posture, and swing path, you can eliminate them from your game.

The right equipment supports that process. Clubs designed with forgiveness in mind help you build consistency and confidence at address—so you can focus on your swing rather than worrying about mishits.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Shanks in Golf

Can a lie angle cause shanks in golf?

Yes, an incorrect lie angle—especially one that's too upright—can position the heel closer to the ball at impact, contributing to shanks. However, most shanks stem from swing mechanics rather than equipment issues.

Are shanks more common with wedges or irons?

Shanks tend to happen more frequently with shorter clubs like wedges and short irons. Because you stand closer to the ball with shorter clubs, there's less margin for error if your path drifts outward.

How long does it take to fix the shanks in golf?

With focused practice on setup and swing path, most golfers can reduce or eliminate shanks within a few range sessions. Building lasting habits takes consistent repetition, but improvement often comes quickly once you identify the root cause.

Do professional golfers ever shank the ball?

Even tour players occasionally shank. It's a universal golf mishit that can happen to anyone when mechanics drift slightly off. The difference is that professionals recognize the cause immediately and correct it.