Grouchy Golf Blog

Monday, August 16, 2004 at 1:49 PM

SwingVision - Clarke Shank

I have enjoyed countless servings of bangers, haggis and pints O'Guinness at my favorite Irish pub, Lucky Baldwin's. Sadly, I have now decided never to venture there again.

Why? Well, it's not the food or the service. They have some of the best Irish food and drink outside of Dublin and everyone knows that the Irish are some of the nicest people around. No, it's a much more serious concern: the Shanks.

I have begun to suspect that my long bout with this dreadful affliction is a result of my exposure to anything Irish. My hypothesis was confirmed last weekend during the 3rd round of the 2004 PGA Championships at Whistling Straits. Darren Clarke, the top Irish golfer, cold shanked his iron on the par-3 17th hole. Not only is it shocking that a professional could hit such a horrendous shot, it continues a remarkable trend:

• It all began 7 years ago during the final round at the 1997 Open Championship at Royal Troon when Clarkey shanked a three-iron tee shot at the 2nd hole.
• Then, at this year's 68th Masters, Clarke did it again on the par-4 9th hole.
• The trend only accelerated as Clarke shanked the 5th hole tee shot at the 2004 Scottish Open at Loch Lomond.
• Just one week later, Clarkey did it again with a chip shot at the 133rd Open Championship at Royal Troon.

Is it just a coinidence that this guy also part-owns a racing horse named "Shank On Fourteen?" No, it is quite clear that this man is the Lord of the Shanks.

Interestingly, CBS happened to capture Clarke's latest debacle on super-slo-mo "SwingVision". Check out the ugliest shot in golf:



Key screen shots:

Labels: Shanks, SwingVision, Videos

 Tom G. said...

Interesting, you can actually see how he was trying to shut the clubface down to prevent the shank...

...But I had no idea he had such a long history of shanks...  

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 Jat said...

what a shankaholic.

the haggis cant be too good for the swing anyway.  

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 3-putt said...

I saw Clarke's latest shot as it happened, and was mesmerized by the super-slo-mo camera angle of it. I couldn't take my eyes off it, like watching a car wreck, or an autopsy. Watching that shot renewed my respect for the "golf gods" that are looming out there. you never know when they are going to strike, either for the good, or the not so good. Just to be safe, though, I'm only going to drink domestic beer on St. Patrick's Day from now on.  

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 Erik @ The Sand Trap said...

Tom, he wasn't shutting the clubface to avoid it. The clubface was twisting because of the shank.  

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 socketome said...

Two points:
1. Haggis is a Scottish not Irish dish ( although there is a great affinity between Scotland and Ireland as they are only a few miles apart across the water)
2. I am 65 and have shanked the ball since I started playing at age 12. At one stage when I was playing of 9 handicap age 21 I thought of getting a whole set of woods made just to avoid hitting an iron. Now at age 65 I have found out why I have been shanking.

Despite the fact I know what causes me to do it and what to now do to prevent shanking I still occassionaly hit one because my concentration lapses and I go back to my natural shanking type swing. Two days ago I hit a perfect drive on a narrow par four to within wedge distance of the green , one shot later I was trying to extract myself from the trees after another high 90 degree shank.

Until I discovered the problem recently that would have been the trigger from a whole round of shanks ( I can easily shank all irons in a round) but now with the mental system on red alert and the defence in place I never hit another one and had a very good round.

Clarkey needs to contact me for advice, I will trade with him.

Dave  

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