Shank
The ball shoots sharply and low to the right, hit off the hosel instead of the clubface.
Why it happens
A shank happens when the ball contacts the hosel (the neck where the shaft meets the clubhead) instead of the face, usually because the swing moves too close to the ball, either from setup or during the downswing.
Possible causes in your swing, and how to fix each one
Tap any cause to see its fix. Work through them one at a time, usually one or two are the real culprit.
1Standing too close to the ball, or drifting closer
Either at setup or during the swing, moving closer to the ball brings the hosel into play instead of the face.
2Weight or hands drifting toward the ball ("swaying in")
3Steep, out-to-in path with an early release
This combination can push the hosel into the ball's position at impact.
4Overactive hands pushing the toe outward
A grip that's too strong or overly active hands can flare the toe of the club out and expose the hosel to the ball.
When to stop self-diagnosing
If you've genuinely worked through two or three of these causes over several range sessions and the miss keeps showing up, that's not a failure since it usually means the real cause is something you can't feel or see in your own swing. A single 30-minute lesson with a certified instructor, who can watch you hit balls, will find it faster than any website. Bring this page along and tell them what you've already ruled out; it'll save you both time.