I’ve had a few rounds where I’ve been hitting some really bad shots with my short irons and wedges. The ball comes off super low and to the right, then slices even further right. They usually only go about 30-50 yards and rarely get more than 15-20 feet off the ground. This happens most often when I’m under 120 yards and on the fairway, but I rarely have these issues in the rough.
The last time I spent a good amount of time on a simulator, I noticed that my miss with irons was always toward the toe. However, on the course, I struggle with thin shots and tops quite a bit. I’m really frustrated that I can’t feel where I’m striking the ball. Does that flight pattern I described sound more like a ‘toe shank’ or a thin extreme toe strike?
I’m a shank expert; it happens to me a lot. You need to find out if you’re coming over the top or too far from the inside. Either way, check your alignment and how far you are from the ball. Try hitting some half shots with a towel or headcover under your arm.
A cheaper version of this is dry foot spray. Just spray a light layer on the club face and let it dry, gives just as clear a picture as the stickers and wipes right off when you’re done.
A consistent ‘low and right’ shot is almost always a hosel shank. A toe shank can also go low and right, but the angle it comes off will be much less consistent because you’re hitting off the corner. The hosel funnels the ball in the same direction every time.