Golfing left/right handed

[ScotHill]

Has anyone ever switched handedness in golf, or even doubted that they might be playing the wrong way round?

Being left handed (for writing, which seems to be the main determinator) I do things all different kinds of ways, as opposed to most right handers who generally all do things the same ways. So I bat right handed in cricket but bowl left handed, kick right footed, play tennis right handed but throw a javelin left handed etc.

For the first two years of school I threw discus right handed, but for a laugh tried it left handed and threw about 20% further on the first attempt. With golf it feels similar in that I'm more coordinated right handed, but that I could get more power left handed if I could improve my coordination. When I get it right the ball flies. It could be that I'm just wired like that, or my left handed coordination is just less developed because I've never really used it.

Is it worth exploring both sides, or just sticking with one? Could a coach tell straight away which side I should be playing?

[GT03ROB]

In a group I used to play with regularly, there was a guy who swapped.

He’d played for quite a time & was mid range handicapper. The transition was almost seamless & after a few months was playing better than ever.

So its perfectly possible to swap & find you are better.

[Deesee]

Could well be left side dominant, but right eye dominant..

It’s why you see some left handed players putt right handed.

There are some simple tests.. then hit the range!

[ScotHill]

Deesee said:

Could well be left side dominant, but right eye dominant..

It’s why you see some left handed players putt right handed.

There are some simple tests.. then hit the range!

Yep definitely right eye dominant, discovered that during rifle shooting. Does that make a big difference in golf?

(I'm pretty much a beginner by the way)

[Pando99]

I'm left handed but play right handed, just because thats what i picked up to play with first of all when i started
I don't really believe a person needs to play left handed clubs if left handed, its just what you get used to

[Deesee]

ScotHill said:

Deesee said:

Could well be left side dominant, but right eye dominant..

It’s why you see some left handed players putt right handed.

There are some simple tests.. then hit the range!

Yep definitely right eye dominant, discovered that during rifle shooting. Does that make a big difference in golf?

(I'm pretty much a beginner by the way)

Tennis and cricket batting are very much ball hand led, golf no so much so, but as a beginner if you know your dominant sides it will help you to position the ball in your stance.

Putt right handed if that’s your rifle eye!

Alignment sticks will help you on the range, with the position of the ball.

Get some lessons/coaching and focus on the basics/fundamentals.

Cross dominant people are generally very good at golf as if helps with weight transition.

Enjoy the game.

[SpeckledJim]

I’m a mixture. Generally left handed.

Darts and rounders and tennis left handed
Scissors and baseball and cricket right handed

As cricket shares a lot with golf, I’m right handed for golf too.

My dad is the exact opposite of the above. Medical marvels, we are.

I’d expect one would feel more natural than the other, just go with that. Teaching my kids, they both found right handed natural.

[andyA700]

I bat left handed at cricket, so started off trying to play golf left handed. My first ever round of golf was with my dad at Royal St Georges in Kent. We hired a set of clubs each and mine was left handed. Halfway through I started using his clubs and it felt different and better, so have played right handed ever since.

[ScotHill]

andyA700 said:

I bat left handed at cricket, so started off trying to play golf left handed. My first ever round of golf was with my dad at Royal St Georges in Kent. We hired a set of clubs each and mine was left handed. Halfway through I started using his clubs and it felt different and better, so have played right handed ever since.

Can you describe the difference in technique/feel in batting and golfing different ways round? Batting is all about the strong leading hand on top, is golf different?

[andyA700]

ScotHill said:

andyA700 said:

I bat left handed at cricket, so started off trying to play golf left handed. My first ever round of golf was with my dad at Royal St Georges in Kent. We hired a set of clubs each and mine was left handed. Halfway through I started using his clubs and it felt different and better, so have played right handed ever since.

Can you describe the difference in technique/feel in batting and golfing different ways round? Batting is all about the strong leading hand on top, is golf different?

I really can't put my finger on why it feels so wrong. When I hold a cricket bat left handed, my right hand is on top of the grip, the left nearest the splice. When I play golf right handed, using the interlocking grip, my right hand is further down the grip than the left. When I shot 10m air rifle, I was right eye dominant.

[rallye101]

I'm a proper weirdo..golf, darts?, writing, shooting all right. Throwing, cricket, baseball, tennis, football all left

[Ashfordian]

ScotHill said:

Has anyone ever switched handedness in golf, or even doubted that they might be playing the wrong way round?

Being left handed (for writing, which seems to be the main determinator) I do things all different kinds of ways, as opposed to most right handers who generally all do things the same ways. So I bat right handed in cricket but bowl left handed, kick right footed, play tennis right handed but throw a javelin left handed etc.

For the first two years of school I threw discus right handed, but for a laugh tried it left handed and threw about 20% further on the first attempt. With golf it feels similar in that I'm more coordinated right handed, but that I could get more power left handed if I could improve my coordination. When I get it right the ball flies. It could be that I'm just wired like that, or my left handed coordination is just less developed because I've never really used it.

Is it worth exploring both sides, or just sticking with one? Could a coach tell straight away which side I should be playing?

I write left handed, and am left handed with racquet sports (control) but throw right handed (stronger), bat right handed and play golf right handed (although putt left handed). (although I feel at home in this thread)

As you have said you are new I would say it may be worth exploring playing left handed more in your situation. I would start with shots off the tee (driving) as these can easily be practised at the range before heading out onto the course (this winter is a good time for doing this). You should find out if this is working or not quite quickly.

Jack Nicklaus is known for saying that if he started golf again he would learn to hit it far and then learn to hit it straight. This sounds like you playing left handed. It is whether you have the time and patience, and only you know this.

[pitboard]

Cricket legend Brian Close was a single figure handicap golfer both left and righ-handed

[Challo]

Ashfordian said:

ScotHill said:

Has anyone ever switched handedness in golf, or even doubted that they might be playing the wrong way round?

Being left handed (for writing, which seems to be the main determinator) I do things all different kinds of ways, as opposed to most right handers who generally all do things the same ways. So I bat right handed in cricket but bowl left handed, kick right footed, play tennis right handed but throw a javelin left handed etc.

For the first two years of school I threw discus right handed, but for a laugh tried it left handed and threw about 20% further on the first attempt. With golf it feels similar in that I'm more coordinated right handed, but that I could get more power left handed if I could improve my coordination. When I get it right the ball flies. It could be that I'm just wired like that, or my left handed coordination is just less developed because I've never really used it.

Is it worth exploring both sides, or just sticking with one? Could a coach tell straight away which side I should be playing?

I write left handed, and am left handed with racquet sports (control) but throw right handed (stronger), bat right handed and play golf right handed (although putt left handed). (although I feel at home in this thread)

I think you might be my twin as I do everything the same as you apart from putt right handed.

[ScotHill]

Thanks all, I've got an identical pair of LH/RH irons in the loft (either 3i or 7i, can't remember) so will take them both down when I take my son to the range and have a play around with them.

[Pinkie15]

I'd say go with whatever feels most natural.

I'm the other way round to you, as it were, right-handed for most everything (writing, scissors, throwing, racquet sports), but LH for golf, batting, shooting & archery (left master eye).

Have tried a few times to hit the ball RH & everything just feels backwards & awkward.

Only thing I could ever manage ambidextrously was rounders.

[AB]

I'm right handed and right footed. Play snooker/pool and shoot left handed. No idea why,

[rallye101]

andyA700 said:

I bat left handed at cricket, so started off trying to play golf left handed. My first ever round of golf was with my dad at Royal St Georges in Kent. We hired a set of clubs each and mine was left handed. Halfway through I started using his clubs and it felt different and better, so have played right handed ever since.

Same here, Hope you've continued the rsg membership ?

[LunarOne]

I'm curious if any of you mixed people have ever skateboarded. Which foot leads (is at the front of the board), and which foot do you push off with? I'm right handed and lead with my left foot, pushing off with my right. But I have seen people who push off with their leading foot.

[ScotHill]

Not skateboarding but on a scooter I’m left foot forward and pushing with the right. I try it the other way around for a break and again I could probably push harder with my left foot but there’s less coordination so I tend to switch back very quickly.