The Drill That Fixes the Shanks—Fast

It’s Thursday, and you’ve got this coming,

How to Fix the Shanks in Your Short Game (For Good)

Hey folks, welcome back.

I know—no one likes hearing the word shank. But if you’ve ever hit one around the greens, you know the feeling instantly. The sound, the direction, the embarrassment.

Here’s the good news: it stops today.

In this week’s video, I’m breaking down the two main causes of short‑game shanks and a simple drill you can do right now to fix it.

👉 Watch now

❌ Mistake #1 – Standing Too Far From the Ball

When most players hit a shank, they assume it’s because they’re too close to the golf ball. So they back up.

Big mistake.

When you set up too far away, your body naturally tries to reach for the ball during the downswing. Your pelvis thrusts toward the ball, and that’s what moves the heel into contact.

👉 The issue isn’t being too close at setup—it’s being too close at impact.

So if you find yourself backing away from the ball after a few shanks, stop. In many cases, you actually need to set up closer to the ball to give yourself the space to turn, rotate, and release properly.

⚠️ Mistake #2 – Setting Up on Your Toes

The second big problem I see is setup balance. Too many players start with their weight on their toes, especially when they’re nervous over a chip or pitch.

When you’re on your toes, your body wants to fall forward.

You’ll see your heels lift off the ground. Your hips push toward the ball. And once again—you hit it off the heel.

✅ Instead, feel your entire foot interacting with the ground.

✅ Let your arms hang naturally from your shoulders.

✅ Avoid reaching for the ball or sitting back too far.

That small change in posture can immediately stop the forward thrust and give you the space to swing through cleanly.

🎯 Key Takeaway

If you’re hitting it off the heel, you’re moving toward the ball.

Stop chasing fixes that make it worse.

✔️ Don’t stand too far away

✔️ Don’t lean on your toes

✔️ Stay balanced, let your arms hang, and rehearse “skipping the stick”

Once you feel that space through impact, you’ll start clipping the center again—and the s‑word will disappear from your vocabulary.

Thanks for reading and watching!

—Ryan

🎥 Watch the full video here

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