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Switching sides - advantages/disadvantages?


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I understand a number of pros through history (Hogan for example) played from their non-dominant side (mostly because left handed clubs used to be hard to come by.) Has anyone else done this (switched sides)?

Are there any advantages as far as the swing to doing this?

Other than the cost of a new set of clubs, what are the disadvantages?

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I have a playing partner who is left handed but plays right handed. I do not know how this came about, I belive he was given a set of right handed clubs when he first started playing & has just continued with it.

The disadvantage (according to him) is the lack of power he can get in his swing. Although how much of that is to do with a poor swing/technique rather than playing the "wrong way" I don't know.

I have played with another person (right handed) who carries a left handed PW for when he gets stuck by a tree or bushes, he hits almost as well as with the right handed PW.

I have also seen tiger woods, when stuck against a tree, play a left handed shot (with a right handed club) there was certainly no lose of power, in fact it was amazing to see the power & accuracy he got hitting it off the toe of the club.
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There is still a difficulty in getting clubs, but not nearly as much as in the past. I don't really see any downside, if you think you'll play better from the left side then go for it! I used to play lefty for the fun of it and a change of pace. At one point I was able to break 90 every time shotting from the left, which provided me with many bet-winning opportunities!

I used to do a lefty/righty bet with people. It's great fun to play 9 holes lefty, shoot 44 and then double down on the back and shoot 34 right handed!

In my Srixon staff bag:

Driver: Titleist 909D2 8.5 - Grafalloy Epic X
Fairway: Adams RPM LP 13 degree - Grafalloy Epic X
Hybrids: Adams Idea Pro 18 degree - DGSL X100Irons: MacGregor 1025M 3-PW - DG X100SW: Titleist Vokey Spin Milled 54 - DG X100LW: Titleist Vokey Spin Milled 58 - DG X100Putter...

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My Dad (a longtime PGA Pro and used to play to scratch) is right-handed and plays left-handed because of the opposite of most people. His Dad got a set of left-handed clubs when stationed in Europe during WWII and that's what my Dad learned to play with. He has always said that he believes it makes him hit the ball further and more consistently because he is 'pulling through' the ball with his stronger hand. Just for the heck of it he decided to switch to right-handed, partly for teaching purposes and partly because of equipment issues. He played this way for most of a summer and got to point of being about a 10-12 handicap or so before just going back to left-handed. He said the biggest problem was just retraining the body. He has always putted right-handed though (the first putter was one of those old styles that can be used either way so he learned right-handed).
Driver: SQ DYMO STR8-Fit
4 Wood: SQ DYMO
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Irons (5-6): MX-900; (7-PW): MP-60
Wedges (51/6*): MP-T Chrome; (56/13): MP-R ChromePutter: White Hot XG 2-Ball CSPreferred Ball: e5+/e7+/B330-RXGPS Unit: NEOPush Cart: 2.0
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He has always putted right-handed though (the first putter was one of those old styles that can be used either way so he learned right-handed).

I learned to play righty but putted lefty. My first set didn't have a putter so I borrowed my Dad's. He just happened to play from the wrong side (wink), so I learned to putt left handed. I did pretty well lefty because my dominant eye (right) was always looking down the line, but the stroke wasn't there. Eventually I switched to a right-handed left hand low stroke and have stuck with it for the last 12 years.

In my Srixon staff bag:

Driver: Titleist 909D2 8.5 - Grafalloy Epic X
Fairway: Adams RPM LP 13 degree - Grafalloy Epic X
Hybrids: Adams Idea Pro 18 degree - DGSL X100Irons: MacGregor 1025M 3-PW - DG X100SW: Titleist Vokey Spin Milled 54 - DG X100LW: Titleist Vokey Spin Milled 58 - DG X100Putter...

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I am left handed(kinda ambidextrous though too) and play right handed. I do not view it as a disadvantage, I view it as an advantage if anything. It makes my right hand more passive(so I don't try to "hit" with my right hand) and I have great feel with my left hand through the ball obviously. I have no problems with distance, I hit my 5 iron 185 yards more times than I can count today and I'm a mid 90's shooter. Just can't seem to figure out the driver!!!

I have often entertained the thought of trying to play left handed a little or carrying one left handed club. I am confident that I could play decent lefty too(I used to switch hit a little bit in baseball).

 - Joel

TM M3 10.5 | TM M3 17 | Adams A12 3-4 hybrid | Mizuno JPX 919 Tour 5-PW

Vokey 50/54/60 | Odyssey Stroke Lab 7s | Bridgestone Tour B XS

Home Courses - Willow Run & Bakker Crossing

 

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I'm also a lefty that plays righty. I was a switch hitter in baseball but chose to play golf righty. Can't give you a reason why though. Not sure if I'd be better lefty.
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Note: This thread is 5430 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

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