Lefty playing righty: Should I putt lefty or maybe cross-handed?

[2PuttShakur]

I am naturally left handed (write lefty, throw lefty, etc.) but started playing golf righty when I was young for some reason and that's always how it's been.  I don't know if it's because I was just given righty clubs or I wanted to play righty back then because I felt "left out".  I forced myself to play tennis righty when I was 5 because I felt like I was the odd man out, but a few years ago I went back to playing lefty permanently and it definitely feels more natural.  Anyway, my putting, especially as of late, has been pretty inconsistent.  My backstroke is sometimes wobbly which leads to the putts going off line, and sometimes I even catch ground and the putt goes short.  I don't have a lefty putter but I've been trying some lefty practice strokes and some cross-handed stuff.  I definitely would need some practice, but they feel good and I think the comfortable left arm keeps the putter firm a little better.

Should I try switching to either of these, just to see how it goes?  I'm willing to buy a left-handed putter to practice with.  I'm right-eye dominant by the way.

[mvmac]

Maybe couldn't hurt to get a lefty putter and give it a shot. Whatever you decide, check out this thread for your stroke.

[Sante TwoGloves]

I have been playing with a mixed bag this year. My driver, 3wood, and hybrid are Left handed as are my irons 6 thru sw. I carry a right handed 5 wood and a right handed pw and 7 iron for chipping. I am also right eye dominant and that is why I have been putting and chipping right handed. Seems to be working out

[Sante TwoGloves]

What I was trying to say is that in my opinion it makes more sense to putt the same direction you are chipping since the strokes are the same or similar for best feel for both. I was doing the opposite until just recently. Doh !!

[MEfree]

I'm a lefty (left eye dominant) but my first golf swings were likely with my dad's RH wedge. When I bought my first club around age 9, I got a LH 9i and played LH until I was 17. I felt I had plateaued at close to a 4 HC and switched to the right side for 3 years (as a number of people thought I had a better RH swing) but continued to putt left handed. You could give LH putting a shot and see how you do. Mac O'Grady and a few others have played on tour hitting the ball RH and putting LH. My dad is a righty but has tried putting LH a bit, but seems to go back to the right side after a while. [quote name="Sante TwoGloves" url="/t/83574/lefty-playing-righty-should-i-putt-lefty-or-maybe-cross-handed#post_1178084"]I have been playing with a mixed bag this year. My driver, 3wood, and hybrid are Left handed as are my irons 6 thru sw. I carry a right handed 5 wood and a right handed pw and 7 iron for chipping. I am also right eye dominant and that is why I have been putting and chipping right handed. Seems to be working out[/quote] That's a pretty interesting set, especially the RH 5 W. I sorta get the RH chipping/putting, but what is the RH 5 W for? FWIW, I recall some studies that showed there are a higher % than expected cross eyed dominant baseball hitters in the majors. The thinking was that it is an advantage to have your lead eye (left eye from the right side) being dominant in terms of picking up pitches quicker. Not sure if this means anything as far as golf goes.

[Sante TwoGloves]

My friend gave it to me, a calaway steelhead plus and I hit it amazingly well. I figured it might give me an advantage depending on the lie. I might want to play an uphill right handed shot over a left handed downhill (western pa golf) plus I have a slight fade with my driver and sometimes it gets me in trouble on tight holes. The 5 wood I can use off the tee depending on layout of the hole. I havent scored the best with this idea yet but it's coming :)