Shank Around the Green
The ball squirts sharply right off the hosel on a chip or short pitch shot.
Why it happens
A shank around the green happens when the ball contacts the hosel instead of the clubface, made more likely by the narrower, more upright stance that chipping requires, which leaves less room for error in how close the club sits to your body.
Possible causes in your swing, and how to fix each one
Tap any cause to see its fix. Work through them one at a time, usually one or two are the real culprit.
1Standing too close or reaching for the ball
A cramped setup brings the hosel closer to the ball's likely contact point.
2Weight or upper body drifting toward the ball
Any drift during the stroke has the same effect as starting too close.
3Overactive hands flipping the toe outward
Excess hand action in a shot that should be simple and quiet increases the chance of exposing the hosel.
When to stop self-diagnosing
If you've genuinely worked through two or three of these causes over several range sessions and the miss keeps showing up, that's not a failure since it usually means the real cause is something you can't feel or see in your own swing. A single 30-minute lesson with a certified instructor, who can watch you hit balls, will find it faster than any website. Bring this page along and tell them what you've already ruled out; it'll save you both time.