Lefty Golfers

[iFroggy]

I read an article in some magazine in which Johnny Miller (Past Major Winner, Flash in the Pan, and a moron in my opinion lol) wrote that if he was teaching a young person the game and the person wanted to swing the club and play lefty, he would convert him to righty right away. Miller is a righty who was converted from lefty as a kid himself. He cites various reasons, including that its easier to get equipment, etc. I think this may be the stupidest thing I have ever heard. lol :) This doesn't even make sense and although it may make the person's life easier to get equipment if he is righty, you can get lefty equipment and its not the end of the world. Just because something is easy, doesn't mean its correct.

Also, Miller doesn't think that lefties are no less talented, he never said that. We all know that Phil Mickelson and Mike Weir (Lee... :)) are lefties and they are both performing well.

What do you guys think about what Miller said?

[iFroggy]

Just wanted to re-up this here again: Lee, Marc - Why haven't you commented? :mad: lol

[Marc]

I guess this shows if you really want to convert from left to right-handed, you can. The main reason for this is there isn't as much equipment for lefties.

[lmanchur.]

Sorry... must have not seen the light be lit up on the forum page the day it was posted! :)

This Xmas, I wanted to get dad a book about lefty golfing since he's a lefty... i couldn't find ANYTHING... Mike Weir, however, is publishing a book soon about it.

You can't, and shouldn't, change a person's proper way to hold a golf club or ANYTHING.

It's like saying, "Patrick, from now on, you will write with your left hand" (or vise versa if you are left handed).

Sure, it's hard to get equipment or instruction about it, but it's impossible to change hands... I tried it in hockey, and I can't... it's uncomftorable and your mind and hands just don't function that way. Why would you want to change someone!?

[RaviPachai]

I disagree SC-Lee...:) is that unusual?

I actually like this thread, because, I am left handed (in writing) but I have ALWAYS been taught to play sports with my right hand (golf & tennis) and right foot (soccer and stuff)...has it affected my playing ability? I don't know because I've never tried left handed so I'll never know how well I could have played being a lefty.

but I do agree. equipment is harder to get for amateurs (pro's get tailor made equipment anyway)

ah well...

Ravi

[lmanchur.]

Originally posted by RaviPachai
...I have ALWAYS been taught to play sports with my right hand (golf & tennis) and right foot (soccer and stuff)...has it affected my playing ability?

Being TAUGHT one thing and trying to CHANGE after you've already started are two completely different things.

Try changing your dominant foot in soccer to your left... you can't -- well, it would be very difficult... or try changing to a lefty in golf and tennis...

However, if you're taught from the beginning to play righty, then no problemo!... if you were taught both ways, then you could probably play both ways equally well (e.g.: Bobby Hull in the good ol' days in hockey played both hands)

...it's like they say -- if you talked to a new born baby in three different languages, s/he could probably learn all three.

[RaviPachai]

the article was about kids being taught taught right if they "naturally" swung lefty..it doesnt say anything about CHANGING them after they have been playing for a certain period. Has anyone said that in this thread? that seems kinda silly? Notice the keywords that if miller was teaching a young person and they chose to swing lefty he would convert that. I'm not sure where you're getting this change thing from.

anyway, it does kinda make sense iFroggy. In the past teachers, parents, adults as a whole forced many left handed kids to use their right hand. I'm sure Miller was only following in that trend, I'm also sure one of the reasons was for equipment as its hard enough trying to find the right equipment today as it is (for a lefty).

Ravi

[Edited by RaviPachai on 02-09-2001 at 05:49 PM]

[iFroggy]

Yes, that is basically what the article was about. But, if a kid swings the club naturally lefty, then you are changing him from his natural preference.

[RaviPachai]

most kids dont get a chance to swing naturally, they are handed a right hand club and put in the position to swing which is a right handed swing..well at least thats how it use to be.

Ravi

[Rick Dogg]

I know this may sound wierd, but golf courses are actually designed for right handed people.

[lmanchur.]

That doesn't sound weird... I've heard that before...

...there are times on the PGA Tour where they say, though, that "the left handed golfer really has an advantage on this hole".... so not all courses are designed for righties! :)