Golf is a rewarding game that brings joy when hard work pays off, making the sun seem brighter and the grass looks greener. Yet, anyone who has played long enough knows the embarrassment that golf entails. The ability to navigate situations and understand the causes of a bad shot is crucial for success. Dwelling on embarrassing golf shots can erode confidence, so avoiding them and focusing on improvement is essential. As a coach, I’ve seen many students struggling with consistency throughout their set, and the most popular answers to their struggles often highlight common bad shots like the slice or the shank.
The beauty of golf lies in its enjoyable moments, from escaping the pressures of everyday life to enjoying the great outdoors and connecting with like-minded people. However, it can quickly become frustrating when a debilitating swing fault impacts your enjoyment and causes your game to suffer. Thankfully, guidance from top golf instructors, who have compiled tips to help shake persistent faults, can make all the difference. Whether working to rid yourself of the worst shots or aiming for steady improvement, understanding your faults and addressing them head-on can set you on the path to success
In golf, every bad shot tells its own story. A mishit or bad swing often results in what many players call a duff, shank, slice, or hook. These terms describe the outcome of a poor strike and reflect specific errors during the swing. For instance, a shot that veers sharply to the right is commonly called a slice, while one heading to the left is referred to as a hook. Understanding the specific terminology for these faults can help players identify the type of mistake and improve their approach.
The Hook
Many golfers who struggle with a hook are often told it’s a sign of a reliable and repeatable golf swing. However, if your tee shots are constantly veering into trouble, this advice can offer little comfort. A hook is typically caused when the clubface is closed relative to your swing path, which can send the ball sharply to the left. Eric Cogorno points out several culprits behind this, helping to identify the root cause and offering drills to fix it. With the right feels and techniques, you can work towards a cure for your hook and return to a more controlled, good shot.
Addressing the angle of your clubface and ensuring it’s aligned properly relative to your swing path will cure the issue and create a more consistent game
The Driver Pop-up
When you’re ready to hit a power driver, but instead, you pop the ball up, it feels like a major setback, taking away all the distance you were hoping for. Your playing partner might even joke, “That might bring rain,” adding a bit of insult to the injury. This shot not only ruins your momentum but also leaves you with more demanding shots and a greater distance to cover. One common cause of a pop-up drive is an incorrect ball position in your stance, often with the ball too far back and not aligned with the instep of your forward foot. This makes it harder to strike the ball properly, leading to a weak shot.
To fix this, you need to tilt your shoulders slightly back from the target, allowing the club head to approach the ball at a more sweeping angle instead of a steep one. A simple set-up routine can help: start with your feet together and the club relatively centered in front of your body. Take a baby step with your lead foot and a larger widening step with your back foot, ensuring your back shoulder drops into position. This proper shoulder tilt will help you return to the power-driver swing you’re aiming for, improving your ball position and giving you back the distance you lost
The Fat Shot
A fat shot happens when the club strikes the ground behind the ball, causing you to lose valuable distance. This can be incredibly infuriating, especially when you’re in a prime position to reach the green in regulation. Often, this issue arises when your hips move laterally, throwing off the club and making the hands accelerate too much. As a result, you hit the ground early, causing the fat shot. In some cases, this might even lead to a scooped or skied shot when using the woods.
To fix this, it’s important to focus on the ideal strike, where the club makes contact with the ball first and follows through with a divot. Adam Bazalgette offers great advice and a golf drill to help you adjust your swing. He suggests getting the bottom of your swing arc about 5 inches beyond the ball, helping you avoid hitting behind it and regain that lost distance and cool
The Toe Shank
The toe shank can be one of the most embarrassing shots, often worse than a whiff because the ball travels sideways, potentially even entering the hitting area of the golfer next to you. This shot is not only frustrating but also difficult to manage with grace. When it happens, the best way to handle it is by simply saying sorry and either taking a small step forward to get back on track or moving to the right side if you’re right-handed, avoiding any personal space issues.
Technically, this shot is usually caused by poor setup or posture, like standing too far away from the ball at the address. This makes it difficult to line up the center of the clubface properly. One way to practice and fix this is to place a tee just inside your ball and work on avoiding hitting it, which forces you to extend your arms more and avoid the contraction that occurs during the swing
The Push Slice
The slice is one of the most common complaints among amateur golfers and can sneak up on you at various stages of your golf journey. It can rob you of distance, land you in all sorts of trouble, and even ruin your overall enjoyment of the game. Often caused by a swing fault, the slice particularly plagues beginners but can also affect mid-low handicappers who may need to revisit slice-busting instructional articles and videos now and then.
If you’re looking for a way to cure your slice, the team at MeAndMyGolf offers a trio of great golf tips to help with this challenge. They emphasize that clubface control is key, and offer advice on improving your grip, maintaining a neutral clubface, and the importance of rotating the club correctly after impact. With these tips, you can turn your slice into a distant memory and improve your game
The Classic Shank
The classic shank is a miserable shot, usually caused by contact made with the heel of the club at a poor angle. This leads to the ball going way off-target, often with a strong vibration that travels up the shaft into your hands, which makes it feel like the shot was a total mistake. The problem with a shank is that it can lead to more misses, as tension builds up in response. This problem often starts with poor posture, such as being too bent from the hip joint, where your hands don’t have enough room between your thighs and shoulders.
It’s essential to check your grip as well; a weak grip can cause the clubface to open, making it more difficult to square it at impact. Another mistake is letting your underarms drift away from your body during the swing, which takes the club off the ball. To fix this, try using an alignment stick or a head cover outside the ball to give you feedback about your swing path. If you still struggle, switching to a hybrid or fairway wood might help, as these clubs are more forgiving, producing a less frustrating result even if you hit it low
The Thin Shot
A thin shot often happens when the hips lead the downswing and slide too much, causing the left shoulder to pull up. This movement forces the club to miss the equator of the golf ball, making contact too high on the ball. Instead of a solid strike, you end up with a weak, thin shot that lacks power and accuracy. This is a common mistake that many golfers, especially beginners, make when their hips move without the proper rotation. To avoid this, focus on keeping your shoulder motion controlled and maintaining the right club path to ensure a better strike
The Banana Slice
A banana slice is one of the most embarrassing and frustrating shots in golf, and it can feel like a robber of distance, especially when you’re trying to hit that perfect drive. It often makes certain holes feel endless, as the ball veers far off course. The main cause of this miss is usually an open clubface, which can happen when your grip is in the wrong position, making it hard to get square contact with the ball. To fix this, the first step is to check your grip.
A simple grip change can feel uncomfortable at first, but it will help you achieve better results. For right-handed golfers, turning both hands to the right and placing your thumbs more to the right side of the grip will help keep your clubface more square during your backswing. This allows the clubface to naturally release during your forward swing, leading to better impact and ultimately hitting the ball farther and on the correct swing path. The ball will now start to travel in the same direction as your natural reaction, rather than curving away
How Do We Fix These Problems?
The Slice: To fix a slice, start by adjusting your grip. For a right-handed player, turn both hands slightly to the right, so your thumbs are more on the right side of the grip. This will help square the clubface at impact. You should also focus on a more neutral swing path that doesn’t cut across the ball. Practicing release through the ball will help to keep the face square longer during your forward swing.
The Hook: To correct a hook, check your grip first. A too-strong grip can cause the clubface to close at impact. Try a more neutral grip to allow for better control. Focus on a smooth, controlled swing path and avoid over-rotating your hands during the backswing and follow-through. Also, consider adjusting your stance and making sure your hands stay close to your body during the swing to prevent the club from going too inside.
The Shank: To fix the shank, focus on your setup and posture. Ensure you are standing correctly to the ball with your hands directly under your shoulders and your weight balanced. Practice swinging the club on a more natural path, avoiding any lateral movement of your body. Using an alignment stick or a head cover outside the ball can help you maintain the correct swing path and avoid hitting the heel of the club.
The Fat Shot: To correct this, make sure you maintain proper posture with your weight balanced on the middle of your feet. Focus on keeping your hands ahead of the ball during your downswing, and avoid sliding laterally during your swing. Practicing with a drill to help you sweep the ball off the ground can also improve contact.
The Pop-Up Shot: To fix a pop-up, make sure your ball position is correct. It should be closer to the center of your stance, not too far forward. Focus on keeping your shoulders and hips in proper alignment and avoid tilting excessively at address. Ensuring you have the right setup will help you strike the ball cleanly and with the proper angle.
The Thin Shot: To fix the thin shot, focus on keeping your hands in line with the ball at impact, not too far ahead. Ensure you are maintaining a proper swing arc and not overreaching for the ball. It’s important to stay balanced and avoid excessive force. Practicing with drills that promote proper weight transfer and smooth club movement can help prevent thin shots.
The Toe Shank: To fix this, focus on improving your setup. Make sure you’re standing the right distance from the ball and that the club is aligned properly at the address. Practice keeping your hands relaxed and avoiding any tension, as it often leads to a swing that moves too far outside, causing the club to strike the ball with the toe
Conclusion
In conclusion, common bad golf shots like the slice, hook, shank, fat shot, pop-up, thin shot, and the shank can be frustrating, but with the right understanding and fixes, they are completely manageable. By focusing on the basics, such as grip, stance, posture, and swing path, you can correct these issues and improve your game. Remember, golf is a journey, and with consistent practice and attention to detail, you’ll be able to hit more accurate shots and enjoy the game even more. Keep working on your technique, and soon, these bad shots will become a thing of the past.
