One of the most frustrating and certainly one of most detrimental shots to any golfer is a shank or a heel golf shot. Particularly with your irons where the club hits the corner of the hosel here sometimes it hits the heel and the shaft then the face and the ball will shoot sideways so for a right handed golfer.

Heeling golf shots, where you make contact with the ball near the heel of the clubface, can result in shots that lack distance and accuracy. Here are some of the best ways to fix heeled golf shots:

1. Check Your Alignment:
   • Ensure that you're properly aligned with your target. Misalignment can lead to off-center contact.
2. Ball Position:
   • Check your ball position. For most clubs, the ball should be positioned just inside your left heel (for right-handed golfers) or off the instep of your left foot.
3. Grip Pressure:
   • Maintain a consistent and light grip pressure. Gripping the club too tightly can lead to tension in your hands and a heeled strike.
4. Balance and Weight Shift:
   • Focus on maintaining balance throughout your swing. A proper weight shift, where you shift your weight to your right foot during the backswing and then back to your left foot during the downswing, can help prevent heeling.
5. Swing Plane:
   • Work on your swing plane. A proper swing path promotes centered contact. If you're coming too much from the inside (too flat), it can lead to heeled shots. Focus on maintaining a more upright swing plane.
6. Club Length and Lie Angle:
   • Ensure that your clubs are properly fitted for your height and swing. Incorrect club length or lie angle can lead to heeled shots.
7. Tee Height:
   • Adjust your tee height when using a driver or fairway wood. Teeing the ball too low can lead to heeled shots with these clubs. Experiment with tee height to find what works best for you.
8. Maintain Connection:
   • Keep your arms connected to your body during the swing. This helps maintain a consistent swing path and promotes centered contact.
9. Release the Club:
   • Focus on a proper release of the club through impact. A late release can lead to heeled shots. Practice releasing the club with your hands and arms, allowing the clubhead to follow.
10. Practice with Impact Tape:
    • Use impact tape or foot spray on the clubface to help identify where you're making contact with the ball. This visual feedback can be invaluable for making adjustments.
11. Slow Down Your Swing:
    • Sometimes, swinging too aggressively can lead to heeling. Try slowing down your swing tempo to maintain better control and centered contact.
12. Get Professional Instruction:
    • Consider taking lessons from a golf professional. They can provide personalized feedback and drills to help you correct heeling issues.
13. Consistent Practice:
    • Lastly, consistent practice is key to ingraining the necessary changes in your swing. Spend time on the driving range working on these adjustments.

Remember that making swing changes takes time and patience. Be persistent in your efforts, and don't get discouraged if you don't see immediate improvement. It's also a good idea to focus on one or two of these tips at a time, rather than trying to fix everything at once. Gradual improvements often lead to more lasting results in golf.

Shank and heeled golf shots are not the same, but they both represent undesirable ball-striking results in golf. They are two distinct types of mishits with different outcomes:

Shank:

• A shank occurs when the golf ball is struck by the hosel (the part of the clubhead nearest the shaft) instead of the clubface.
• The result of a shank is typically a shot that shoots off to the right (for a right-handed golfer) at a sharp angle and often goes very low and far offline.
• Shanked shots can be extremely frustrating and are often the result of poor clubface control and an out-to-in swing path.

Heel:

• A heeled golf shot happens when the ball is struck by the heel of the clubface (the part of the clubhead nearest the hosel).
• A heeled shot tends to go straight or have a slight fade for right-handed golfers (move from left to right), but it lacks the distance and control of a well-struck shot.
• Heeled shots are often characterized by a loss of power and accuracy, and they can result from various swing faults, including poor weight transfer and improper setup.

In summary, while shank and heel shots both lead to poor outcomes on the golf course, they are distinct types of mishits with different causes and ball flight characteristics. Golfers often work on their swing mechanics and fundamentals to reduce the frequency of both shanks and heeled shots.

Q&A on fixing heeled golf shots:

Q1: What causes heeled golf shots? A1: Heeled golf shots are often caused by several factors, including poor weight transfer, incorrect ball position, an out-to-in swing path, and improper balance.

Q2: How can I fix heeled golf shots? A2: To fix heeled golf shots, consider the following:

• Check Your Setup: Ensure that your ball position is correct. For most clubs, the ball should be just inside your left heel (for right-handed golfers).
• Weight Transfer: Focus on transferring your weight properly during the swing. Shift your weight to your right foot during the backswing and back to your left foot during the downswing.
• Balance: Maintain good balance throughout the swing. Avoid swaying or moving excessively off the ball during your backswing.
• Swing Path: Work on your swing path. Ensure that you're swinging the club on the correct plane. An out-to-in swing path can lead to heeling.
• Grip Pressure: Keep your grip pressure light and consistent. A tense grip can affect your control and lead to mishits.

Q3: Can using an alignment aid help fix heeled shots? A3: Yes, using alignment aids like alignment sticks or training aids can help you work on your setup, alignment, and swing path. They provide visual feedback and can aid in making the necessary adjustments.

Q4: Are there specific drills or exercises to address heeled golf shots? A4: Yes, there are drills and exercises that can help fix heeled shots. One common drill is to place a tee just outside the target line and focus on missing it during your swing. This encourages center-face contact.

Q5: Is it advisable to seek professional instruction for heeled shots? A5: Seeking professional golf instruction can be highly beneficial for fixing heeled shots. A golf instructor can assess your swing, identify the specific issues causing heeled shots, and provide personalized guidance and drills for improvement.

Q6: Should I practice with a specific club to address heeled shots, or should I work on all clubs equally? A6: While it's beneficial to work on all clubs, you can start by focusing on the club you tend to heel the most. Once you make improvements with that club, the changes can often translate to better performance with other clubs.

Q7: How long does it typically take to see improvement in heeled shots with practice and corrections? A7: The time it takes to see improvement in heeled shots varies from golfer to golfer. It depends on your current skill level, the consistency of your practice, and how well you implement the recommended changes. Patience and regular practice are key to long-term improvement.

Q8: Should I record my swing to analyze my heeled shots? A8: Recording your swing can be a valuable tool for analyzing your heeled shots. It allows you to visually assess your swing mechanics and identify any specific issues that need correction.

Remember that fixing heeled shots often involves making adjustments to your setup, swing path, and balance. Consistent practice, feedback, and, if needed, professional instruction can lead to significant improvements in your golf game.

Update:

There are a few things you can do to fix heeled golf shots:

• Check your alignment. Make sure that your clubface is square to the ball at impact. You can use alignment sticks to help you check your alignment.
• Adjust your ball position. If the ball is too far back in your stance, you are more likely to hit the heel of the club. Try moving the ball slightly forward in your stance.
• Grip the club correctly. A strong grip can cause you to slice the ball, and a weak grip can cause you to hook the ball. Make sure that you have a neutral grip on the club.
• Make a smooth, fluid swing. A jerky or rushed swing can cause you to hit the ball off-center. Focus on making a smooth, fluid swing with your arms and shoulders.
• Use a wider stance. A wider stance can help you to keep your balance and hit the ball with the center of the clubface.
• Hit the ball with the center of the clubface. This is one of the most important things you can do to improve your accuracy and distance. To do this, you need to make sure that the ball is centered on the clubface at impact.

Here are some additional tips that may help you to fix heeled golf shots:

• Focus on keeping your head still during the swing. If your head moves during the swing, it will be difficult to hit the ball with the center of the clubface.
• Make sure that your weight is shifting correctly during the swing. Your weight should shift from your back foot to your front foot as you swing through the ball.
• Don't be afraid to experiment with different things. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to fixing heeled golf shots. Try different things and see what works best for you.

It is important to note that it takes time and practice to fix heeled golf shots. Don't get discouraged if you don't see results immediately. Just keep practicing and you will eventually start to see improvement.

If you are struggling to fix heeled golf shots on your own, you may want to consider taking lessons from a qualified golf instructor. A good golf instructor can help you to identify the cause of your problem and develop a plan to fix it.