random hosel rockets...

Question
I am an avid golfer with a 5 handicap.  Over the past 3 years I have had a serious problem with hitting random hosel rockets (the ball will travel about 60 yards, dead right)!  It actually had me so frustrated about a month ago, that I nearly hung up the clubs for good (at least I told myself I should)  I am generally very good at diagnosing my own problems, but this one has me baffled!  I could be 2 over through 12, and whammo..."where did that come from?"  I have a really hard time forgetting about it and moving on, mostly because I don't know what caused it!  I'm assuming it's beginning with my takeaway (too far outside), but Im not sure.  I find myself hitting more shots off the toe these days, than I ever have, mostly because I am terrified of shanking it right!  I feel like I am too good of a golfer to not be focusing on ball placement, and worrying more about just making good contact.  Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

Answer
Rob:
Sorry to hear about the "S" word.  First of all, what causes it?  Could be a few things, so let's see which one addresses you.  First, let's start with the obvious one:  could you be standing too close to the ball?  Sounds funny, but most people actually are.  Remember, a shank is off the hosel.  How did the club go from behind the ball in the center of the clubface to outside the ball striking the neck?  Check to see you are comfortably away from the ball.  Second, is balance.  Make sure to stay off your toes when making your forward swing.  So often I see golfers make the forward swing and actually press their left toe down into the turf and spin into the finish, losing their balance forward towards the golf ball.  Check to make sure you are balanced at the finish.  Weight is on the outside of the left shoe towards the middle of the foot to the heel, not the toe.  Thirdly, could you be using too much hand action at the ball.  A lot of times, when someone like you starts to hosel it, they begin to think the face is not closing enough.  They then get real handsy in an effort to close the clubface and square it up.  If you are too handsy at the bottom, the arms stop swinging and the hands take over moving the clubhead out and around the ball just enough to hosel it.  Check to make sure you take out most of your hand action through the shot.  You don't need it.  If your grip is good, the face should square up.  And finally, if you take the club too far back on the inside (not outside), the tendency would be to return it too far outside and around the ball.  So which one resembles you.  Get yourself back to basics Rob.  You're a good player and good players take care of fundamentals real well.  Eliminate your bad thoughts and check your fundamentals one by one.  I bet you'll "feel" where your problem is.  

Eddie Kilthau
PGA Member