Few shots in golf destroy confidence faster than the shank. A shank happens when your hands and clubhead drift outward away from your body during the downswing, presenting the rounded hosel of the iron directly to the golf ball instead of the center of the clubface.
Minnesota and North Dakota Golf Hall of Fame instructor Mike Barge (Director of Instruction at Hazeltine National Golf Club) sets a 50-degree alignment rod in the pathpal outside the ball pointing back toward the golfer to train the arms and clubhead to stay closer to the body through impact.
See the full step-by-step station on the Shank Prevention page, or watch Mike demonstrate the setup below.
The drill
Mike Barge (Director of Instruction at Hazeltine National Golf Club; 2012: North Dakota Golf Hall of Fame Induction, 2019: Minnesota Golf Hall of Fame Induction, 1991: Teammate of Payne Stewart at Southern Methodist University) uses the pathpal training system to give golfers immediate physical and visual feedback on every repetition.
This drill uses the pathpal to guide your swing path closer to your body, preventing shanks and heel strikes by forcing a more inside-out motion.
Setup
- Place an alignment stick in the 50° angle
- Place a headcover on the alignment stick for protection. (optional)
- Position the pathpal in front of you, outside the ball, such that the alignment stick is pointing towards you
How to run the drill
- Start with short shots, working up to a bigger swing.
- Focus on swinging the club closer to your body to avoid hitting the alignment stick.
- Gradually increase your swing length while maintaining the proper path to prevent shanking.
When the 50-degree rod points over the outside of the golf ball, any outward drift of the hosel hits the barrier. To miss the stick, your hands and clubhead must stay connected and travel through the center of the face.
Watch the drill
View the full guided drill on pathpal →
Why it works
Golfers who shank the ball almost always extend their arms or lunge their upper body outward toward the toe line on the downswing. Even a half-inch of outward hand drift moves the strike point from the sweet spot right onto the neck of the club.
Guard the space outside the toe of the club, and your hands instantly learn to track closer to your body.
By placing the pathpal in front of you and outside the golf ball with an alignment stick in the 50-degree slot pointing back toward you (optionally topped with a headcover or using The Arrow padded stick), Mike Barge creates an unmistakable spatial boundary that cures hosel strikes fast.
Who this is for
- ✓Golfers who suffer from sudden shanks or chronic heel strikes with wedges and irons
- ✓Players whose hands and arms drift outward away from their thighs at impact
- ✓Anyone who loses posture and lunges toward the golf ball on the downswing
- ✓Golfers who want an immediate confidence-restoring drill on the range or indoors
Try it
Insert a padded Arrow stick (or an alignment stick topped with a headcover) into the 50-degree slot of your pathpal and position it outside the golf ball pointing back toward you.
- Insert an alignment stick (with an optional headcover or using The Arrow) into the 50-degree slot on the pathpal
- Position the pathpal outside the golf ball so the 50-degree stick points back toward your body over the outer edge of the ball
- Hit 10 short chip-and-pitch swings keeping the clubhead closer to your body to clear inside the stick
- Gradually lengthen to 10 three-quarter swings and 5 full swings while maintaining center-face contact
This drill uses the pathpal magnetic 14-angle training station and alignment sticks. Shop pathpal, pair it with The Arrow padded alignment sticks, or explore the Complete Training System with Free U.S. Shipping.
Related drills
If this drill matches what you are working on, these three guided drills build on the exact same movement pattern:
Heel-drag exit drill
Taught by Jacob Tilton. Eliminate Early Extension and Improve Club Delivery. View drill →
Ball position and low point drill
Taught by Shawn Koch. Optimize Ball Position and Improve Downward Strike for Consistent Contact. View drill →
Shallow the downswing plane with chipping
Taught by Shawn Koch. Ensure a Proper, Shallow Downswing Plane with your wedge. View drill →
About Mike Barge
Frequently asked questions
What causes a shank in golf?
The vast majority of shanks occur when the golfer's hands and clubhead move outward away from their body during the downswing (often from early extension or an over-the-top cast), causing the hosel to strike the ball.
How do I set up Mike Barge's Shank Prevention Drill?
Insert an alignment stick into the 50-degree slot on the pathpal (optionally placing a headcover over the tip or using The Arrow padded stick) and set the unit outside the ball so the stick angles back toward you.
Why should I start with short shots when running this drill?
Starting with short pitch-length swings lets your nervous system feel the clubhead tracking closer to your body without hitting the stick before you build up to full-speed iron swings.
Does this drill also help with heel strikes that aren't full shanks?
Yes. Heel strikes and shanks are on the exact same spectrum of outward clubhead drift; keeping the club inside the 50-degree barrier shifts contact back to the sweet spot.
Can I use this drill for wedge shanks around the green?
Yes. Wedge pitches and chips are one of the most common places golfers experience hosel contact, and this setup works on any short-game area or range mat.
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