A shank feels random. It isn't. It's a heel strike that's gone too far — and it leaves clues long before it shows up.

In this episode, PGA Fellow Coach Steve Thomas breaks down what's actually happening when you shank it, the most common reasons behind it, and how to fix each one. Plus a ten-ball test that tells you whether you're heading towards a shank before you ever hit one.

In this episode: - What a shank actually is — and why "you're standing too close" is usually wrong - The only two things that make it happen: the club moves out, or the club moves down - Why an open clubface on its own doesn't tend to cause it - Three of the most common reasons, each with a fix and a drill: the wall drill, the stop-start swing, and the alignment stick and head-height drills - What to do when it turns up mid-round — and why you can't shank a putter - The Strike Map: ten balls, a sprayed clubface and a score out of twenty that shows you where to start

Want help making the fix stick? Book a Free Online Coaching Introduction Call — fifteen minutes, just you and Steve, talking about your game: Click here

More at stevethomasgolf.com

Follow Divot so you don't miss the next episode.

In this episode of Divot: The Golf Performance Podcast, PGA Performance Coach Steve Thomas explains one of the most important, and most misunderstood parts of consistent iron play: low point control.

Where your club bottoms out affects strike, distance and the quality of your approach shots. If the club reaches the ground too early, the result can be a fat shot, a thin shot or an approach that finishes well short of the target. The problem is that many golfers try to fix it by keeping their head down, hitting down harder or manipulating their hands—often making the fault worse.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• What low point is and why the ball should sit before the bottom of the swing arc • Why fat and thin shots can come from the same underlying fault • How pressure, ball position and body rotation influence strike • Three common low-point faults and practical drills to improve them • Why golfers frequently overestimate their normal iron distance • A simple 10-ball test to measure your low-point control without a launch monitor

You’ll also learn why choosing clubs based on your best-ever strike leaves so many approach shots short—and how using your average distance can immediately improve your course management.

Try the 10-ball test from the episode, then send Steve your score out of 10 and your handicap on Instagram. He’ll help you understand whether low point should be your priority or whether another part of your game is costing you more shots.

Follow Divot: The Golf Performance Podcast for practical coaching that helps you understand your game, practise with purpose and perform when it matters most.

Most golfers choose their target based on the best shot they believe they can hit.

The problem is that their best shot does not represent the full pattern of shots they are likely to produce.

In this episode, Steve explains why better course management starts with understanding your dispersion, not chasing the perfect outcome.

You’ll learn how to:

• Choose targets that account for your normal misses • Avoid bringing unnecessary hazards into play • Make decisions based on probability rather than hope • Lower your scores without needing to change your swing

The goal is not to play negatively. It is to give every shot the greatest possible chance of producing a successful outcome.