Golfing is more difficult for left-handed players because most equipment and lessons are geared to right-handers. To master the game of golf, you need to own your southpaw status and avoid trying to play like a right-handed player.
Play better left-handed golf by following these tips.
Use Left Handed Golf Clubs
Buying a well-fitted set of left handed golf clubs makes playing much easier and helps you achieve a better swing. Avoid buying those ready-made clubs from Walmart to save money. Cheap clubs can ruin your game before you even set foot on the course. Instead, contact a golf retailer that can custom fit a set of clubs specifically for you.
Check specialty golf shops or online outlets if you can’t afford custom clubs. Amazon, eBay, and other sites offer a wide variety of equipment for left-handed golfers.
Avoid Right-Handed Swinging
Some left-handed people take try to play golf with their right hand. Attempting this adjustment isn’t surprising, as it’s harder to find quality coaching or equipment for left-handers than for right-handers.
About 12% of the world’s population is left-handed, and 5 to 7% of golfers are left-handed. Although a few people who should play left handed golf succeed by readjusting their swings to the right side, most lefties never thrive using their right hand because they’re swinging from the wrong side of the tee.
Take the time to practice your swing from the left side. It may be difficult to find a teacher who specializes in left-handed golf lessons, but it will significantly improve your game.
Learn the Proper Grip
Mastering the golf grip left hand is a necessity if you want to succeed on the course. You need to conquer weak grip syndrome, which can ruin your swing. A weak grip often results in a slice (a ball that curves right). Prevent this by gripping the club with a steady hand.
Make sure the club crosses the left palm from the base of the index finger to slightly above the pinkie. Don’t move your grip closer to your fingers, as it can cause a too-fast swing, which results in a hook. If you move the grip too far into the palm, it will result in a slow swing and a slice.
Using a Left Handed Golf Driver
Hitting a driver off the tee is tough for right-handers, but it can be even harder for a leftie. Here’s a rundown on how you can make the most of using a golf driver if you are left-handed.
Use a tee that’s over two inches and tee your ball up high. When you tee a driver low, you increase the chances of hooking the ball into trees or other obstructions.
Your right shoulder should face the target. When you look down, your right foot should be even with your right shoulder. This position gives you an optimal vantage point to the spot you want to hit.
The ball needs to be two lengths closer to the front of your foot than the back. Instead of playing the ball midway through your stance, as you do with most balls, you want to play the ball closer to your right leg to get the shot high in the air.
Keep your swing slow. Avoid swinging hard in hopes of slamming a drive down the middle of the fairway. Allow the driver to do the work at a natural pace, with a slow, natural swing.
With left-handed golf, you need to work on your driver at the practice range for accuracy more than distance. Working with the driver at the practice area helps train you to swing in a precise way on the tee. Learn to relax your body when holding and swinging the club. The shot will be more likely to go awry if you’re tense.
Left Handed Golf Swing Tips
Swing up with your driver for a better shot. Understanding how the swing arc works will give you a more extended drive.
Left-handers need to fully rotate their body and hips as they meet the ball. This rotation maximizes the power of your swing. Lead with the right hip with the hands following. You can achieve a successful hit every by doing this.
Ensure that the right-hand leads and the left-hand finishes the swing. The dominant hand and dominant side should drive the ball with their combined power once you hit the ball. Conclude your swing by following through entirely and landing on the balls of your feet. You need to avoid landing on your heels or flat-footed. Ending in full swing guarantees you hit the ball with enough power.
Golfers also need to study the course they’ll be playing on before the game to get best results. This pre-golfing study is even more critical for left-handers. Most holes on golf courses veer from the left to the right and are called dogleg holes.
Learn to make a draw shot to play dogleg holes. The club should travel on an out to in swing. The clubface is closed to the path of the swing, but open to the target line.
Famous Left Handed Golfers
Don’t feel like you’re in an unsung minority if you play left-handed golf. Many left-handers have won major championships. They include:
Phil Mickelson, who has five major championships, including three Masters. He has won all major championships except the U.S. Open.
Ben Hogan, one of the greatest golfers of the 20th Century, won nine pro championships. He won five of the six tournaments he entered in 1953, including the Masters, U.S. Open and the Open Championship, known as the Triple Crown of Golf.
Bubba Watson won the Masters Tournament in 2012 and 2014 and is one of the longest drivers on the PGA Tour. He boasts an average drive of 315.2 yards.
Do a Wide Takeaway for More Clout
Rotating your body when you swing gives you more power, but the wider the takeaway, the better the shot.
During a wide takeaway, the head of your club stays close to the ground while it separates from the ball and then rises into the air. The club head moves away from the body, and this distance increases until your wrists flex upward. Your shoulders are turned completely at the top of the swing, so you can rotate and turn it into the ball.
Create a wide takeaway during your backswing to give your shot more power. Here’s how to do it.
Grip the club when you address the ball and keep your hands relaxed. A tight grip restricts movement.
Your backswing should be slow and low to the ground. Extend both arms away from the ball when you initiate the takeaway. When the shaft is parallel to the ground, tuck in and bend your left arm. Keep your right arm extended to push your hands and the club away from your head and left shoulder. Your hands should be in a wide stance above the left shoulder.
Improve the width of your backswing if you want to hit the ball, so it flies a greater distance. Combine the width with a firm connection. The arms should stay in place during the backswing. Practice this by keeping a golf glove under your left arm while your hit balls at the range. This exercise enables you to keep your right arm extended and keep your right arm in place.
For more tips on left-handed golfing, watch this video:
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