Heel
The heel is the heel of the clubhead — the part of the clubface closest to the shaft.
The heel lies at the inner edge of the clubface, exactly where the head merges into the shaft. The transition is called the hosel, its counterpart at the outer edge is the tip, called the toe. The strike point is decisive for the ball flight: balls struck off the heel lose energy and usually drift to the right. The clubhead twists at contact and the face opens. In the extreme case you hit the ball with the hosel itself, producing the dreaded shank.
On the range you recognize heel strikes by the feel and the imprint. An example: you apply a test film with chalk or foot powder to your 7 iron. After ten balls, eight imprints sit towards the inside. Your swing comes from outside over the ball, or you stand too close to it. The countermeasure is simple: a hand's width more distance and a check of your alignment are often enough.
A typical misconception is panicking at every heel strike. A ball struck slightly off the heel is not a shank and not a disease, just normal dispersion. Only when the strikes regularly wander towards the hosel do you need to act. It is also worth looking at club length: irons that are too short encourage steepness from the outside. Anyone who strikes towards the inside more often should check stance, distance and swing plane before buying new clubs.
FAQ
How do you recognize that you are striking the ball off the heel?
By the feel and the imprint on the clubface. On the range, apply chalk or foot powder to the iron as a test film and look after ten balls where the imprints sit. If they regularly wander towards the inside in the direction of the shaft, your swing comes from outside over the ball or you stand too close to it.
Is a heel strike already a shank?
No, a ball struck slightly off the heel is normal dispersion and not a disease. The dreaded shank only occurs when you hit the ball with the hosel itself, that is the transition from head to shaft. Only when your strikes regularly wander there do you need to act.
What helps against regular heel strikes?
Usually a hand's width more distance to the ball and a check of your alignment are enough. It is also worth looking at club length, because irons that are too short encourage a steep swing from the outside. Check stance, distance and swing plane before buying new clubs.