Had Another Lesson Yesterday

[Topper]

I apologize for the long introduction but I do end with a question in the last paragraph.

I purchased a new Ping G15 hybrid and wanted to take it to the range and practice.  I have a lot of problems consistently hitting longer clubs but I'm having my usual mixed results (hitting thin or topping, straight, slight pushes - mostly left) but nothing dramatic like slices or hooks.  I know my distance isn't great at 200 yards for this club when I do hit it clean.

Anyway, it turns out the pro give free lessons on the range during Saturdays and asks if I'd like any help.  I'm always open to pointers...especially when they're free.  So here's what I got in about 15 minutes:

1.  I tend to stand too far away from the ball.  I like this pointer because when I stood more upright my back bothered me less.  On the down side I felt "cramped" and my shots got a little wild so this may take several buckets of balls to get used to being closer.  But if it's easier on my back, it may help reduce tension and increase consistency in the long run.

2.  He also advised me to make a bigger shoulder turn.  I wasn't too thrilled with this because I was turning to the point that my back bothered me and I couldn't see the ball below my shoulder no matter how much I lifted my head.  I'm a big guy (6'4" and 270 lbs) and have big shoulders.  It didn't feel comfortable and I had a difficult time returning the club back to the ball.  Shots went all over the place when I mis-hit.  However, when I did hit it the distance was good and it felt like I was hardly swinging the club.

3.  The last pointer was to pull with my left hand versus push with my right.  I know I have a problem casting and have been able to reduce it by  mostly by minimizing tension so I can feel the club head but also by working on better body rotation and follow through and tucking my right elbow on the downswing.  I have been trying to focus on this...especially the tension part.

So here's my closing question.  I wish I could say that I have high hopes of being a "classic" left hand swinger but I'm probably destined to always be a right hand hitter.  It seems that I'm 3 for 4 with golf instructors who emphasize left hand swinging with a big body coil/shoulder turn.  Are there any low-handicap golfers on this forum who consider themselves hitters or am I destined to never really learn how to play this game as a hitter?