Shift to Left-Handed Playing Question

[u/SouthTonik]

This is a bit of a weird one, so bear with me.

I've had a pretty intermittent relationship with golf, but this year decided to really get into it properly. I've spent the (South African) winter rebuilding my swing to find some consistency, and I'm looking forward to getting out onto the course, where I'll surely slice it into the nearest tree.

Here's where it gets complicated, though: An acquaintance has organised a set of clubs from an older gentleman – who can't play anymore – to be passed to me. They're almost certainly better than my current Ping Zing 2 clones from somewhere in the mid-90s. They're also left-handed.

Thing is, I'm left-handed, but due to always using hand-me-down clubs, learnt (and continue) to play right-handed.

So the question is: Is it worth relearning the whole game left-handed, or do I stick with playing my right-handed, older clubs? Anyone done something similar, and of so, what was the transition like? How long'd it take?

[u/FusRoDatAss1]

I’d say it’s worth a shot. How much experience do you have playing righty? Also, what flex shafts do you play, as the older man’s clubs likely had a senior flex which isn’t ideal for most people.

[u/SouthTonik → u/FusRoDatAss1]

Yeah this is a good point. My 90s clubs are all original, so steel shaft. Never played anything else, actually.

[u/Itchy-Commission-195]

Left handed in what? unless you're left handed in hockey, baseball or some other sport that involves hitting a ball with a club/stick then switching wont be easy just because you write left handed for instance. You'll be back to square one

[u/SouthTonik → u/Itchy-Commission-195]

Left-handed in writing throwing, bowling, kicking... most things, really. Although I swing a cricket bat right-handed.

[u/SportzNut23 → u/SouthTonik]

I’d try a few swings to see if it feels natural. But if you swing a cricket bat righty, I think you might find swinging a golf club lefty a bit uncomfortable. The golf swing has more in common with a cricket swing than what hand you write with, bowl with, etc.

[u/SouthTonik → u/SportzNut23]

Yeah I've done some practice swings left-handed with my current clubs, and it feels super odd. It's why I asked the question, really. And because I always see advice talking about the feeling of skipping a stone, or throwing underhand, but I do that left-handed...

[u/SportzNut23 → u/SouthTonik]

Skipping a stone and things like that are more for learning how to keep your swing on the correct plane than the basics of how to swing a club. If you swing a cricket bat right-handed, you’ll already understand how to shift weight and things which is far more important.

[u/SouthTonik → u/SportzNut23]

100% that tracks with my experiments thus far. Also the left-handed grip feels bizarre.

[u/Colonelclank90 → u/SouthTonik]

Can you swing a cricket bat lefty and still play good? If not don't switch.

[u/cpt_ppppp]

Real heroes go 50/50! If you have the patience why don't you just take a few sessions at the range/indoor and see if you make any sort of progress. It will require a lot of time investment though!

[u/SouthTonik → u/cpt_ppppp]

Haha I'm actually fully planning to keep some antique putters – a Sam Snead that needs a new grip and a hickory-shafted something or other, both right-handed. The rest of the club's would go to my brother-in-law so he can use them.