Left Handed Golf Clubs

In 1963, Bob Charles, from New Zealand became the first left-handed golfer ever to win a major championship. Since then, the number of left-handed winners has remained very small, mainly because there just aren’t that many left-handed golfers on the pro tour. Although recent pro tour events have brought the topic of left-handed golf to the forefront. Mike Weir, a lefty from Canada won the 2003 Masters and the U.S southpaw, Phil Mickelson, won the Masters in 2004. Currently, there are many other left-handed people on the tour, but only four others actually play left handed and use left-handed golf clubs. Left-handed women golfers are even more rare. There are none on the LPGA Tour.

Lack of Left-handers
There are several reasons for the lack of players who hit left-handed. In past years, there were not many golf club manufacturers making left-handed golf clubs. Only 10-15% of the population is left-handed and not all of them play golf, so the demand for left-handed clubs is small. It has not been profitable for companies to offer clubs for lefties.

Another reason is that many golf instructors find it difficult to teach left-handed golfers because everything is in reverse. Some instructors say that lefties have a better swing and seem to catch on to instructions better because they are seeing a mirror image when they look at a right-handed instructor. But it can be a difficult adaptation from a teaching perspective, so many golfers learned right-handed even though they did everything else left-handed. And many lefties say it feels more natural to golf right-handed because they lead with their left side and turn counter-clockwise.

But for some golfers, the opposite is true. Both Weir and Mickelson are right-handed in everything else they do. They just golf with left-handed clubs. Both say it feels more comfortable and natural for them.

Which Are You?
Experts say that the way to determine which way is best for you is to look down at a ball and see which way you visualize it leaving your body. Try it from both sides and see which appears more comfortable. If left-handed feels best, take a few swings with left-handed golf clubs and see what happens. If you find that you are a lefty when it comes to golf, don’t be too concerned. These days, most major golf club manufacturers now offer left-handed golf clubs and there is a nice selection to choose from. Whether you prefer steel shaft or graphite, traditional putters or specialty designs, with top manufacturers like Callaway, Nicklaus, Taylor Made, Titleist, Cleveland, Hogan, La Jolla, King Cobra, Mizuno, Square Two, Tour Edge, and Wilson in the game, lefties should find the right left-handed golf clubs to fit their particular swing, build and playing style.

There are also organizations around the world dedicated to left-handed golfers. The World Association of Left-Handed Golfers, has good information and links to specific sections for left-handed golf events and organizations in different countries across the globe.