Golfing is more difficult for left-handed players because most equipment and lessons are geared to right-handers. To master the game of golf, you need to own your southpaw status and avoid trying to play like a right-handed player. Play better left-handed golf by following these tips.
Full Answer
Should left-handed golfers play left handed?
Although a few people who should play left handed golf succeed by readjusting their swings to the right side, most lefties never thrive using their right hand because they’re swinging from the wrong side of the tee. Take the time to practice your swing from the left side.
Why can’t I hit a golf ball with my left hand?
Maybe because your left side isn’t doing anything and if you didn’t use your right side to swing the club – you wouldn’t even move. Try this experiment – try to hit a golf ball with one hand. Put your golf club in your weak hand (for Righties this would be your left hand) and try to hit a golf ball.
Is your right hand ruining your golf swing?
“It’s all in your left arm. I need to stop using my right hand. My right hand is ruining my golf swing!” That’s all we hear from right-handed Golfers coming to see us. Everything these right-handed Golfers have told us is that the power comes from their left side.
How to hit a driver with a left-handed hand?
With left-handed golf, you need to work on your driver at the practice range for accuracy more than distance. Working with the driver at the practice area helps train you to swing in a precise way on the tee. Learn to relax your body when holding and swinging the club. The shot will be more likely to go awry if you’re tense.
Should a right-handed person play golf left-handed?
As GOLF Top 100 Teacher Terry Rowles explains here, there's no right or wrong way of doing it. When a right-handed plays golf left-handed, or vice-versa, your dominant arm becomes your lead arm, which can make it harder to release the club.
Is golf harder as a lefty?
Is golf harder than lefties? I would have to answer yes. While it's better than it was the past 15-20 years, the sport is still more challenging for lefties. In fact, a lot of players are lefty and choose to play right handed just to make the sport easier.
How do you hit a right handed golf club left-handed?
2:183:32Golf Tips tv: How to hit it left handed with a right handed club - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo what we do is we put the club in our right hand. And we stand so I'm now facing you. And what we'MoreSo what we do is we put the club in our right hand. And we stand so I'm now facing you. And what we're going to do is we're going to hit it that way just one arm.
Which is the dominant hand in golf swing?
left handThe left hand and arm must play the dominant role in the swing at all times. If it does not, you have no alternative but to over employ the right hand, The right hand can only dominate if the left hand and arm fails to play its controlling role.
What percentage of golfers shoot left?
Based on figures, about 12 percent of golfers are left handed, and six of the professionals on the PGA Tour are lefties.
Why are left-handed golfers so rare?
But why are there so few left-handed golfers? There are several answers, from a lack of equipment to parents, coaches and pros encouraging young players to switch to the right side. Some lefties even feel the courses themselves are biased against them.
Is Jack Nicklaus right or left-handed?
Although he was right-handed, Nicklaus realized he needed to master the art of shaping the ball from right to left to succeed at Augusta. The result was that he won a record six Masters titles.
Why does Phil play left-handed?
Although otherwise right-handed, he played golf left-handed since he learned by watching his right-handed father swing, mirroring his style. Mickelson began golf under his father's instruction before starting school.
Are there any switch hitting golfers?
Switch-hitting is common in baseball – rare in golf. A teammate of Tiger Woods at Stanford and NBC analyst Notah Begay was a switch putter. He hit right-to-left breaking putts right-handed and he hit left-to-right breakers left-handed. More common are left handed golfer playing right handed.
Which hand controls the clubface?
The left hand (the right for southpaws), is responsible for the rotational movement of the golf club, which, in turn, controls the direction of the clubface.
Which arm is more important in golf swing?
Overview. For right-handed golfers, the left arm is one of the most important aspects of the golf swing. The left arm determines the swing arc for a shot and helps release and rotate the wrists and club on the downswing.
Do you pull down with left arm in golf swing?
You should pull the butt of the club toward the ball. Remember, this pulling down is done by the left arm. It's the controlling agent, and if you let it be you will escape the many troubles that result from trying to push the club down from the top with the right hand and the right shoulder.
How to feel athletic when hitting a golf ball?
It should feel "athletic," as if you could easily squat down. Your left shoulder will be slightly lower than your right. For drives hit from a tee, the ball will be placed forward in your stance, just inside your right heel; for most other shots, the ball will be near the center of your stance.
What grip do you use on a golf club?
Take your grip. Whether you use an overlapping, interlocking or 10-finger grip is your choice. In all of these grips, your left hand will be lower than your right on the club.
How does momentum work in golf?
The momentum of the club will pull your upper body around until your chest and stomach face the target. Your hands and club will end up above your right shoulder. Your weight will be primarily on your right leg, and you'll be in a balanced position you can hold easily. Sorry, the video player failed to load.
Can lefties flip pictures?
Lefties can use computers to "flip" the pictures that make up swing sequences in magazines, but the written instructions pose more of a problem. Fortunately, it's not hard to describe a left-handed swing.
Why is golf so difficult for left handed players?
Golfing is more difficult for left-handed players because most equipment and lessons are geared to right-handers. To master the game of golf, you need to own your southpaw status and avoid trying to play like a right-handed player.
How to get better at left handed golf?
Allow the driver to do the work at a natural pace, with a slow, natural swing. With left-handed golf, you need to work on your driver at the practice range for accuracy more than distance.
How many people are left handed in golf?
About 12% of the world’s population is left-handed, and 5 to 7% of golfers are left-handed. Although a few people who should play left handed golf succeed by readjusting their swings to the right side, most lefties never thrive using their right hand because they’re swinging from the wrong side of the tee. Take the time to practice your swing ...
What is a dogleg hole in golf?
This pre-golfing study is even more critical for left-handers. Most holes on golf courses veer from the left to the right and are called dogleg holes.
How to get a good grip on a golf club?
Grip the club when you address the ball and keep your hands relaxed. A tight grip restricts movement. Your backswing should be slow and low to the ground. Extend both arms away from the ball when you initiate the takeaway. When the shaft is parallel to the ground, tuck in and bend your left arm.
How to use a golf driver if you are left handed?
Here’s a rundown on how you can make the most of using a golf driver if you are left-handed. Use a tee that’s over two inches and tee your ball up high . When you tee a driver low, you increase the chances of hooking the ball into trees or other obstructions. Your right shoulder should face the target. When you look down, your right foot should be ...
How to keep your arm in place while hitting golf balls?
Combine the width with a firm connection. The arms should stay in place during the backswing. Practice this by keeping a golf glove under your left arm while your hit balls at the range. This exercise enables you to keep your right arm extended and keep your right arm in place.
Left Handed Golf Tips For Driving: Learn The Left-handed Golf Drivers Basics
Apart from using a left-handed golf driver and practicing slow motion golf swing driver, there is also a need to learn more about tee height, golf ball position, player posture, and movement. Before practicing how to deal with a golf ball with a driver, you should learn the following basic knowledge.
Left Handed Golf Tips For Driving: Hit Driver Shots For Left-handed Golfers
Few things get the golfer as pumped up as hitting the driver off the tee. It’s also a task that’s loaded with opportunities for the golfer to make mistakes. This is especially true of the left-handed golfers, who have to process instructions and teachings designed for right-handed golfers and turn them around.
Final Words
Each club has a slightly different arc that needs to be taken into account when set up or during the swing. With the driver, left-handed golfers should try to ensure an upward strike to achieve the correct amount of start and distance.
How to hit a golf ball with your right hand?
Put your golf club in your weak hand (for Righties this would be your left hand) and try to hit a golf ball. After you whiff on that swing – put the club in your right hand and try to hit a golf ball. The ball you hit with your right hand might not be a good shot – but at least you were able to control the club enough to make contact with ...
What does it mean when a golfer says they are right handed?
Everything these right-handed Golfers have told us is that the power comes from their left side. And the sad part is that a right handed Golfer saying they’re using too much right hand is a statement that is way off-base and just underlines and boldfaces why Golfers continue to struggle. If you’re right handed and everything you do in your everyday ...
What do you do with your right hand?
If you’re right handed and everything you do in your everyday life is done with your right side of your body – using your fork to eat, throwing a ball, opening a door and all the little things you do with your right hand that you don’t even realize you’re doing. What makes you think your left side has the coordination to provide power in your golf ...
Is it better to hit a golf ball with your right hand or left hand?
The ball you hit with your right hand might not be a good shot – but at least you were able to control the club enough to make contact with the golf ball. The uncoordinated feeling you felt with your left hand is what’s happening with every swing you make when you try to use your left side for power – the reason it might not feel as uncoordinated ...
Which side of the downswing should you pull with your hands?
If you can manage to keep your hands passive during the start of the downswing, while pulling with your left side (see video), the angle between the left arm and the shaft will get smaller.
How to do a downswing?
Start the downswing as described above – passive arms and hands wile pulling/rotating with the left side. Your hands will automatically fall into the spot. Now use your dominant hand through impact. Don’t be scared to utililize your entire right side too.
villa
Interested to hear how many people play golf the opposite way to their dominant hand.
villa
That's interesting. I've always wondered if there's an actual reason for it.
villa
kind of. being left eye dominant and setting up right handed messed with me a bit. it seemed like i was looking "in front" of the ball and had a hard time staying behind it. it basically had me setting up open unintentionally.
littlepingman
My father sometimes thinks this is the main cause for his lack of distance and his inability to create very much lag or speed during his downswing. But he does hit the ball strait as an arrow. :)
scotty01292
My father sometimes thinks this is the main cause for his lack of distance and his inability to create very much lag or speed during his downswing. But he does hit the ball strait as an arrow. :D
chasm
I am right handed (bowl/throw a ball, play tennis, write etc) and originally played golf right-handed as I used a set of my Mum's old clubs when hacking around as a child. However, I batted left handed as a cricketer and always had a stronger backhand at racket sports. So, four years ago, I turned round and decided to play golf as a lefty.
gatorsteve
I'm right handed but play left handed. When my dad played baseball he swung right handed but got more power swinging lefty so he switched and never went back and for some reason he just taught me to swing a baseball bat and club lefty.
What percentage of hockey players are left handed?
In hockey, about 70 percent of NHL players are left-handed shots. In golf however, the numbers are skewed in the wrong direction for the left-handers. The most recent estimates say lefties make up five-to-seven percent of the North American golf market, with a majority of those hailing from north of the border.
What is a golf glove?
Golf gloves are a streamlined experience. When you walk into most pro shops, you’re greeted by dozens, if not hundreds of glove options. But if you’re looking for the all-important right-hand glove (for a left-handed golfer), you’ll be lucky to have three choices to choose from.
Is it bad to lie to a lefty?
As a lefty, you quickly learn that when a right-handed playing partner tells you your lie “isn’t too bad,” it’s worth a double-check to make sure they didn’t unintentionally mean “not too bad for a righty. ”
Is it hard to teach yourself the inverse of everything you're reading?
It’s hard enough to teach yourself the inverse of everything you’re reading, and even more so when your instructor starts throwing around terms like “left” and “right.” If we could, as a golf community, alternate to the terms “lead” and “trail,” it’d make things immeasurably easier on the lefties.