How to Eliminate Shanks with the Strike Wedge

How to Eliminate Shanks with the Strike Wedge

The dreaded shank—just hearing the word can make any golfer uneasy. It’s the frustrating shot where the ball strikes the hosel or heel of the club and veers sharply off course, often to the right for right-handed players.

In this blog, we’ll explore why shanks happen and how the Strike Wedge, specifically using the Side Wall attachment, can help you avoid them by improving your awareness and skill in making clean contact.

What Is a Shank?

A shank occurs when the ball makes contact with the hosel, where the clubface meets the shaft, rather than the center of the clubface. This mis-hit sends the ball off at a sharp angle, often far from the intended target.

Shanks can be caused by a number of factors. Sometimes they’re a result of poor setup, while other times it could be due to swing mechanics. But often, they stem from a lack of awareness or skill in hitting the center of the clubface consistently. Striking the ball cleanly with the middle of the club requires a great deal of skill, and this is where the Strike Wedge comes into play. By offering task-based drills and external feedback, it helps golfers fine-tune their ball striking skills without the need for overthinking their swing.

How the Slice Wall Attachment Can Help Fix Shanks

The Slice Wall attachment is an effective tool for preventing heel strikes, which often lead to shanks. Here’s how it helps:

• Creates a Physical Barrier: The Side Wall is positioned just outside the heel of the clubhead. This barrier encourages you to avoid striking the ball with the hosel by forcing you to hit the ball with the center of the clubface. It’s a simple yet powerful way to develop better contact.

• Improves Focus and Awareness: The Side Wall provides instant feedback, helping golfers improve their awareness of where the clubface is during the swing. This task-based training allows you to focus on the objective of avoiding the barrier, which enhances your ability to strike the ball cleanly without having to overanalyse swing mechanics.

• Promotes Task-Based Learning: Instead of worrying about internal swing thoughts, the Side Wall focuses your attention on a clear, external task—avoiding the obstacle. This type of feedback helps develop muscle memory and improves overall skill in ball striking.

Drill: Eliminate Shanks with the Side Wall

Here’s a simple drill using the Slice Wall attachment with the Strike Wedge to help you avoid shanks:

1. Set Up the Side Wall:

   • Attach the Slice Wall to the Strike Wedge and position it outside the heel of the clubhead. The goal is to avoid hitting the Slice Wall while making clean contact with the ball.

2. Start with Slow, Controlled Swings:

   • Begin by taking slow swings, focusing on hitting the center of the clubface while avoiding the Side Wall. This helps you build skill in controlling your contact point.

3. Increase Swing Speed Gradually:

   • As you gain confidence, gradually increase your swing speed while maintaining focus on avoiding the Side Wall. This will help develop muscle memory for consistent, centered contact.

Why Task-Based Training Works

Fixing shanks can be challenging because golfers often get caught up in overanalysing their swing mechanics. The Side Wall simplifies the process by shifting your focus to an external, task-based goal—avoiding the barrier. This method of feedback allows your brain to process the movement more naturally, helping you improve your swing without needing to think through every step.

The Importance of Centered Strikes

Consistently hitting the center of the clubface is crucial for control, power, and accuracy. Heel strikes lead to erratic ball flight and loss of distance. By using the Side Wall, you can develop the skill needed to avoid the heel and make solid, centered contact with the ball, leading to more reliable and effective shots.

Fix Your Shanks with the Side Wall

Shanks can be a frustrating challenge, but with the right tools, they can be corrected. The Strike Wedge, particularly with the Side Wall attachment, offers a simple, effective solution to help golfers eliminate heel strikes and develop better ball striking skills. With consistent practice using the Side Wall, you’ll see improvements in your contact and control, and shanks will become a thing of the past.

Ready to sharpen your skills and eliminate shanks? Start practicing with the Strike Wedge and Side Wall today.