This cardboard trick is a quick way to heal your lower legs

For golfers, hitting a ball from the hosel tops the list of humiliating experiences. As soon as your hosel touches the ball, you’re embarrassed. How do I know? Well, I’ve had my fair share of Shanks.

Perhaps even worse than the first shaft is the next shaft. And the next. And the next. You see, once you start hitting the ball, it’s hard to stop. All you can think of is the dreaded Hosel missile. And even if you manage to miss the hosel on your next shot, it’s almost impossible to hit the ball solidly with the thigh fear in the back of your mind.

Most people have no idea why they hit the ball. One second they’re washing the ball away, the next they’re missing the face to save their lives. It can be debilitating if you don’t know the root cause of the disease. Luckily, GOLF Top 100 Instructor Trillium Rose is here to share why we quit – and how to stop.

A shank occurs when your club shoots away from you on the downswing. This can be caused by a hand path that is too far to the outside or by stretching early on the downswing. To fix the problem, you need to keep the clubface closer to your body when making contact with the ball.

“Put a box outside of the ball,” says Rose. “This will help you on your way so you don’t swing too much to the right.”

With that tiny cardboard box just outside the ball, you have no choice but to keep your path neutral. If you start putting the hosel too close to the ball, you’ll hit the penalty area knowing you’re not going in the right direction.

The next time you start hitting some shanks during your round, try imagining the box that’s out of your way and focus on not hitting it. If you can dodge the box, say so long to your lower legs.

Zephyr Melton

Golf.com Editor

Zephyr Melton is an editorial assistant at GOLF.com, where he spends his days blogging, producing and editing. Before joining the GOLF team, he attended the University of Texas, followed by stints with the Texas Golf Association, Team USA, the Green Bay Packers and the PGA Tour. He helps with all lesson topics and covers amateur and women’s golf. He can be reached at zephyr_melton@golf.com.