Left handed but swing righty... pros and cons?

[cstorms]

Figured I'd post this to see if there were any advantages or disadvantages to my swing. I played baseball growing up and my Dad turned me around to bat righty since I am left handed. He always told me it was better to have the power hand on the bottom, so I throw lefty and bat righty. He did the same thing to my little brother, who throws righty and now bats lefty. Funny thing is, I play golf righty, but so does my brother...

I have noticed I am a fairly big hitter, since I can outdrive my stepdad who has almost 100 pounds on me. I was just wondering what the pros and cons are of having a swing like this, and also what you make of the fact that I stick to the righty swing, while my brother bats lefty, but plays golf righty. Thanks!

[Thaddy]

This is interesting, because I'm left handed and I golf right handed. I can't think of any major advantages, but when I'm not drawing the ball I can hit it fairly long (280+) for an amateur.

[DavidFehertysBike]

Im in the exact same boat as you, cstorms. Except for the batting, i switch hit. I played baseball (through college) and im also a natural lefty playing righty. But it my case, it was just ignorance. I thought all golf clubs were right handed, so i learned to play that way. Ironically though, i couldnt play golf lefty now even if i tried.

The big disadvantage to me is that i often pull too hard from the top with my left side (being that its dominant) and it sometimes leads to alot of pull hooks and blocks. Tempo is paramount when you play golf from your weak side, IMO. Years ago, i used to try to combat this by hanging back, which just made my swing worse, lol. But overall, i think tempo is the key.

[Travtex]

Same thing, only from the other side.

I think of myself as right-handed (According to a neurologist I had to spend some time working with, I'm 'true ambidextrous'). I write with my right hand, so... that's about all I base that off. *laugh*

Playing baseball, I threw righty and switch-hit. These days I'll throw with my left about as often as with my right.

I golf left-handed with a surprisingly strong preference -- It feels all sorts of awkward to try and swing right-handed.

I can't say my distance is particularly wonderful, as I'm too noob to hit a solid driver. From what I've read, I'm a solid 'average' in distance. I do think my right hand practice (writing, etc) helps with sensitivity. Easy to feel the orientation of the clubface.

Edit to Add/Relate: Yeah, my side of error is to pull hook. Made a huge difference when I spent some time being mindful of not just TUGGING my right arm through and letting my trailing elbow drop into my hip.

[VOX]

The pros I have spoken with all agree that you should go against your natural "handedness" a la Mickleson, Weir, Price, etc.

I asked my local pro then why doesn't he teach all of the right handed kids to play from the left. He said that right handed equipment is more readily available and that parents would kill him.

[anthony]

Wow, a lot of lefty righties here. I'm write, eat and what not left handed. But, throw and golf righty.

[goblue107501]

If you can play righty keep with it. It won't make any difference with the swing. The game is geared more for the righty anyway. The majority of the equipment that is made and sold is for right handed. It much easier to demo clubs and find deals on right handed equipment. Lefty stuff is more of an afterthought for many things.

[clearwaterms]

i do everything left handed. THe only thing I can do right handed isn't something I feel comfortable about broadcasting in a public forum.

[trog2233]

I'm left handed and do everything left handed except bat and golf. I dont think it would really effect your golf though. Just whatever feels good for ya.

[shortstop20]

I'm left handed and play golf righty, wouldn't have it any other way. I think since I'm more sensitive to the feeling in my left hand I can get a better feeling for what the clubhead is doing.

I've pounded many drives out there 275+ yards(not internet yards either).

[out_in_30]

i dont even know what hand i am... i am righty because i write with my right hand, I use a fork with my right hand, i also snowboard with my right foot back. I golf lefty, throw a BALL lefty but a FRISBEE or DART righty, play pool lefty, bat lefty, shoot basketball lefty. weird eh? i am a true ambiguous..

[misty_mountainhop]

Playing that way has a lot to recommend it. Your dominant hand will be at the top of the grip controlling the club and your dominant side will be in charge of the downswing; ideal. A lot of problems typical for the rest of us are because the stronger hand/side doesn't always adopt the more subservient role it should do in a typical set up.

[jdjanda]

Another lefty that bats and golfs right. Maybe I need to switch, my swing is pretty ugly.

[OnePutt]

I'm also in your situation. Learned how to play golf righty because that's what was around the house when I was younger. I don't see any problems although I still putt better left handed because of the dominant eye. IDK my base of hitting around the back yard for probably 5 years was right handed, maybe I'd be better left handed but I'm pretty satisfied with progress at this point. I also bat right handed in baseball.

i dont even know what hand i am... i am righty because i write with my right hand, I use a fork with my right hand, i also snowboard with my right foot back. I golf lefty, throw a BALL lefty but a FRISBEE or DART righty, play pool lefty, bat lefty, shoot basketball lefty. weird eh? i am a true ambiguous..

Same everything for me, exactly except I've never snowboarded. I believe you meant ambidextrous.

[smithy925]

i write left handed, and play raquet sports left handed but i play bat sports and golf right handed ..... also throw right handed

[noefi13b]

Another South Paw here who plays golf (and other "hitting" sports) Right Handed... Except Tennis where I usually play two forehands!

The only trouble I had was not letting my left hand release properly... It really wanted to stay on top as I swung through.... I also am not the longest hitter of the ball... but that has as much to do with my lack of ability than anything else!

My coach is also a lefty playing righty and when I asked him about it he said it shouldn't make any difference in the long run....

Cheers.

[cstorms]

interesting. good to know im not alone out there, and may even have some advantages...

[uprrmn]

I too am Left handed, or ambidextrous. I can use my right hand for everything except writing or throwing. I drive with either but usually do a little better with my right handed swing. As for all my other golf clubs I am equal in left or right handed use.