Shank
The shank is the mishit off the hosel — the point where the shaft joins the clubhead.
The shank is the most feared mishit in golf. The ball is struck not by the clubface but by the hosel, the connection between shaft and clubhead. As a result, the ball shoots off almost at a right angle to the right, for right-handers. In players' slang it is therefore also called a "hosel rocket". The shank comes without warning and can occur in streaks. Even professionals experience it under pressure.
The causes are technical: you stand too close to the ball, your swing pushes outward or your weight shifts onto your toes. An example: you play a wedge from 60 meters onto the green. Your swing comes from outside, the ball meets the hosel and flies right into the bunker or out of bounds. The shock runs deep, because the shank feels and looks fundamentally different from a normal shot.
The good news: the shank can be fixed. Drills with an obstacle next to the ball help, such as a second ball or a box just outside the target line. If you do not hit the obstacle, the swing comes from the inside again. The mental side matters: after a shank, consciously and calmly strike the next ball right away. The longer you brood, the deeper it sits. If in doubt, an hour with a pro helps more than any self-analysis.
FAQ
What do I do if a shank strikes me in the middle of a round?
Strike the next ball consciously and calmly right away instead of brooding for a long time — the longer you wait, the deeper the shock sits. Then check your distance to the ball and keep your weight in the middle of your feet instead of on your toes. On the range, the classic drill helps: place a second ball or a box just outside the target line and swing past it.
Is a shank the same as a slice?
No, even though both balls fly to the right. With a slice, the clubface strikes the ball and gives it sidespin, with a shank the hosel strikes the ball and flings it away at almost a right angle. That is why slice drills do nothing against the shank — the cause lies in the point of contact, not in the spin.
When should I see a pro about my shanks?
If the fault keeps occurring in succession and your setup check alone does not help, an hour with a golf instructor is a good investment. A pro can usually tell within a few minutes whether you stand too close to the ball, your weight shifts onto your toes or your swing path comes too much from outside. The shank is almost always fixable, but rarely through self-analysis.