Becoming a lefty!

[pipster11]

I have played golf for the last ten years as a right hander getting lessons the whole deal, I managed to get myself down to a seven handicap. However being a natural lefty I have always flirted with the idea of changing side, so to speak. Well today I came out of the golfing closet and announced that I would be starting from the beginning as a lefty and I have to say that I think it's the best move I could have made. Already my swing feels more natural and fluid, my spine and hips align much better and my contact with the ball was actually rather good. As with most left handed people who take up golf right handed I did so because I was given a right handed set and some lessons and it's all too easy to stick with it since golf is supposed to be difficult and awkward when you start. Here's to the next 18 months of blood sweat and tears.

Does anyone have any advice or tips they can help me with?

Cheers

[Mrd19abhs]

good luck and keep us updated. My step dad actually plays to a 15 hc and played his whole life right handed and recently switched to lefty and he is having a little trouble but he doesnt have alot of time to dedicate to practicing. but good luck and hope all goes well

[newtogolf]

From an equipment side, I wouldn't rush to be a lefty because;
1) Most stores have very limited selections for left handed so trying out clubs you're interested in isn't easy.
2) Alot of manufacturers don't offer left handed versions of all their clubs or offer limited lofts, and shafts.
3) Limited selection of gloves in retail stores, usually the entry level gloves from Footjoy and Nike only, with limited quantity and sizes.
4) Most used clubs, sales and clearance items are right hand only.

[adamgoodman]

May I ask why?

[tsdnorton]

Why though?

I mean look at Phil. He's right handed, and plays lefty. Because his power arm is in front.

If you're a lefty and have the ability to play right handed.... your power arm is your leading arm..

To each their own, but if I had the ability to play left handed (and I'm a righty) I would.

[Shripe]

I write with my left hand, but that's it. Played softball as a righty, so I'll keep that position for golf as well. :)

[pipster11]

The main reason I'm making the change is a biomechanical one. If I bend from the hips and get into the setup position my hips push out to the right a little. This means my spine leans slightly to the left and if I play right handed my shoulders are level. It explain why I have always hit the ball left and why used to collapse slightly on my back swing. Now as a lefty my hips are now slightly forward, spine leans away from target and my left shoulder is lower than my right. It looks like a text book set up and feels much more natural and powerful. I will keep adding weekly updates. I will be practising every day and plan to play a round on thursday just to see where I am with it. I managed to borrow a full set of left handed clubs so I'm good on that front.
Thank to everyone for the support.
Phill.

[senorchipotle]

i'm a natural lefty who plays righty. i feel like playing righty feels more natural and i have more control with my left hand. but my right is my power so it kind of works out nicely.

[mdbuschsr]

From an equipment side, I wouldn't rush to be a lefty because;

I agree with the first three points in this list. To me it seems every closeout/clearance event I hit has a plethora of lefty clubs, and very few righties.

I once went to the driving range before I was playing often. The only club available was a left handed 7 iron. We were just a bunch of 20-year-olds messing around, but after a handful of whiff's I started making decent contact with the ball. I can switch hit in baseball/softball so why not golf. At this point I still stink bad enough playing from the right side that I wouldn't make the switch. But it would definitely be a fun challenge, and if it feels more natural at setup then I say run with it!

[Leftygolfer]

I played with a guy who did the same the same thing. He played right handed and then just switched to his natural side. There is no way I could play right handed, I am very left handed. I think Phil is a freak and don't buy that it is better to play opposite so the lead arm is your dominant hand. In terms of equipment, deals are everywhere for left handed stuff. The only drawback for lefties is courses in that they set up bad for the left handed draw. Most course designers punish the slice for rightys and a draw works best of most tees.

[dunstert]

Didn't Phil start playing lefty because he was using a mirror to mimic his dad's swing?

[senorchipotle]

i'm a natural lefty who plays righty. i feel like playing righty feels more natural and i have more control with my left hand. but my right is my power so it kind of works out nicely.

but then again, i've never seriously tried to hit lefty.

[RC]

I am right handed, but started out golf playing left handed. Played a few years and got into the seventies pretty quickly. My problem was the short game. A golf pro suggested I give right handed a try, thinking those pesky 30-70 yard shots might be easier. I have no idea if that is correct but I did gain more variety of pitch trajectories when at about 15 years old I switched to right handed. It is easier to get clubs, etc., and I now use a right sided natural extension or release and was already pretty developed on the left side from batting left handed in baseball. The good thing about having played both ways is that hitting recovery shots is easier when I have to switch to left handed swings. In retrospect, there were good things about having either hand as the lead hand, but whatever you do, golf works best for most people with both sides doing their job.

I am amazed at amputees and handicapped golfers that can play with only one arm... pretty humbling.

[jamo]

Well, you can't be worse than Charles Barkely lefty.

[Ash1974]

Why though?

My father is a retired PGA pro and has always said that right handed golfers should play left handed and visa versa for lefty's, as your dominant hand then leads your swing. Most righty amateur golfers suffer from the fact they try and force their swing with their right hand (my self included in this) as your right side dominant. Just a thought.

[pipster11]

Well today I played my first holes of golf as a lefty. A par 3 course 9 holes, average of 140 yrds hole length. 6 bogeys 3 pars. 33. Very very happy. The real test is a full proper 18 holes later in the week. Early signs though are good. Ball flight is good and distance isn't too bad. Regarding the comments about arm dominance in a right handed swing the left arm is really just a lever for the club, the power and club head speed comes from the burst of right hand at the last action before stoking the ball. No way can you generate 120 mph club head using just your shoulder turn/ arm turn. That dominant hand HAS to throw the club head down the line just before impact.

Or at least that's my opinion.

Phill.

[BMac0223]

I've always wondered in golf and baseball who decided which side a righty should play. If you think about it setting up "lefty" you stand on the right side of the ball, your right hand is your power hand, and a strong pull will go right. To me it has always sounded backwards for a righty to set up the the left side of the golf ball. My grandfather was an accomplished golfer who played twice in the masters and always said it was better to play from the opposite side as your strong hand. I've thought about completely decontructing my swing, reinventing it without the biases I have developed, and switching sides but I doubt I'll ever do it.

[Game]

I'm lefty in most everything but golf. I was given lefty clubs and righty clubs to try and righty just felt better. My golf pro says it's the ideal way to be and no way in hell am I starting back from scratch haha.