Curing the Shank
by Anne Cain, Anne Cain Golf Academy The most dreaded shot in golf is a shank! On tour, the word is forbidden – we would often substitute the word “shark” just to avoid saying it! All shanks result from the hosel of the golf club striking the ball instead of the sweet spot. In essence, it means you are not swinging your club on plane. The most common shank occurs on short wedge shots. In this case the golfers is usually taking less than a full swing, and does not have time to re-route the club as in a full swing motion.
As you make your swing, the two flashlights should alternate tracing the target line. If you are shanking, it’s likely your flashlight is veering offline in the backswing and downswing. In other words, the tilt of the clubshaft must always be pointing down at that target line. If your flashlight veers “inside” the target line, you are under plane.
LPGA instructor Anne Cain is one of Golf Magazine’s Top 100 Teachers in America. She was a finalist for LPGA Teacher of the Year in 2002 and 2005 and was named a “Favorite Instructor” in Golf for Women magazine (readers’ survey). As a player, Cain won two professional titles and was an All-American selection at the University of Georgia . Located at the serene Golf Club of Amelia Island within walking distance of Summer Beach Resort and The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island , the Anne Cain Golf Academy provides students with a variety of golf lessons. Private, individual training is offered as well as luxurious vacation packages that include accommodations and rounds of golf. The academy's ability to customize a program for an individual golfer or small groups up to 4 people makes the academy unique in the industry. The Anne Cain Golf Academy is conveniently located less than thirty minutes from the Jacksonville International Airport Anne's Professional Accomplishments
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TESTIMONIALS I have played golf for 30 years; the last 10 years as a 5 handicap. I have taken over 50 lessons with golf professionals. Half of these lessons used videos and computers. I am just now TRULY learning to play "The Greatest Game Ever Played" thanks to the Anne Cain Golf Academy. Prior to taking a lesson with Anne, I was concerned that her use of video and computer technology would be too technical and rob me of my "feel". I could not have been more mistaken! Anne combines this advanced equipment with her personal instruction skills and uniquely incorporates proper mechanics into your very own "feel". On a scale of 1 to 10, comparing Anne's instruction methods versus other instruction with video and computers, the other lessons ranked a 4 and Anne's lessons rank an 11!Chris Stone, Jacksonville, Florida  GOLF SCHOOL VACATIONS
The Anne Cain Golf Academy offers a wide array of packages from luxurious onsite hotel accomodations to Beach Front condominiums at the adjoining Summer Beach Resort.
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Let’s first remember that 2 fundamentals take precedence before working on the plane. If you are making an off plane swing, it may likely be because you:
Assuming those two things are okay, then you should proceed with this drill. Clamp two flashlights on either end of a wooden dowel rod. Find a long line on the ground to simulate the target line. 
On the downswing, if your flashlight veers outside the target line you are over plane. Either one can cause a shank! Practice SLOWLY indoors to get the feel for this. WARNING: swing the flashlight club slowly to avoid the flashlights and/or batteries flying off as projectiles!! 
