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Last Updated on July 13, 2022
If you’re a lefty, you know very well that the modern world wasn’t built with left-handed golfers in mind. From videogames and notebooks to catcher’s mitts and golf clubs, everything tends to be geared towards a right-handed audience. Sadly, only about 10% of the world’s population is left-handed.
In golf, it can seem as if your lefty preferences are holding you back, or as if you can’t match your right-handed counterparts. Fortunately, that’s not true. You just have to do things a little differently.
In this article, we’re going to show you exactly how to do that. Keep reading to see our top 5 tips for left-handed golfers.
Table of Contents
1. Get Left-Handed Golf Clubs
Most beginner golfers just grab any old set of clubs and hit the grass. If you’re a right-hander, that might work, but it’s probably going to make things harder on you as a left-handed player.
The majority of clubs are made for right-handed users, so you need to be sure to purchase a great left-handed golf club set. This will help increase your accuracy, power, and general comfort. You won’t have to mess around trying to learn how to use a right-handed set while learning the game at the same time.
Needless to say, having the right equipment will make every part of left-handed golfing much easier for you to handle.
2. Adjust Your Upperbody Rotation
Golf club manufacturers aren’t the only ones who favor right-handed people. Your own body works against you by favoring a rightward rotation. This is the exact opposite of what you need for a left-handed swing.
This tendency for a rightward rotation will typically make things more difficult for you when golfing and can suck a lot of the power out of your swing.
To remedy this problem, intentionally “over-rotate” slightly when you swing. Since you’ll naturally be under-rotating your upper body, this will balance out your movements and help ensure that you’re rotating fully.
3. Develop Grip Strength
As a lefty, you’re automatically at a disadvantage when it comes to grip strength. That’s just a biological fact. Fortunately, however, you can improve your grip strength with a bit of effort.
Doing daily grip exercises will help speed this process up, but learning to hold your clubs effectively will maximize the grip strength you already have.
Here’s how to grip the clubs properly:
- Ensure all fingers make contact with the handle
- Squeeze firmly, but not hard enough to feel pressure or reddening in the hands
- Keep your hand muscles rigid, but loose enough to allow for fluid movement
4. Focus on the Draw Shot
As a left-hander, you’ll have to adapt to playing on courses that are geared toward right-handers. This means your draw shot is going to be your main swing, so it’s important to get it right.
To work on your draw shot, focus on striking the ball from the inside and gently gliding the club outward. This will create the slight curve you need in your flight path to make your way around right-handed courses with finesse.
5. Adjust Your Swing
Your swing is going to have to be adjusted to match your lefty body movements.
When you’re hitting the ball off the tee, you’ll want to make contact after the lowest point in your swing. This will devote the most power to the swing and will send the ball soaring.
For hitting the ball out of the grass, your pop and loft are more important than sheer power. To do this, you should make sure that your swing makes contact right before the lowest point in your swing. This will essentially scoop the ball up and pop it out of the grass.
Applying These Tips for Left-Handed Golfers When Out on the Course
If you’re a lefty, the 5 tips for left-handed golfers we listed above will quickly bring you up to speed with your right-handed peers. However, remember that nothing beats practice. Be sure to get out there and devote your time to trial and error to get used to your new set of left-handed golf clubs.
Looking for more helpful beginner golf tips? Check out this post to learn more about you can start golfing on a budget.
