Right Hand Or Left Hand? #1 Most Popular Golf Teacher on You Tube Shawn Clement

[FullTimeHypocrite]

i can play a flop shot left handed with a right handed club - it adds way more loft so i been thinking of not getting a lobwedge ( using a 56 degree wedge with almost no bounce atm), instead using this for extreme short (3 yards) flopshots. This would enable me of adding a left handed seveniron(comes in handy with shot shaping in bad lies) to the bag still having a free slot for either 48 inch driver, strong sandwedge, 2 iron or hybrid, maaaan i cant make a decision here.

opinions?

[mallrat11]

I have a question about strength and how it relates to a left or right handed golf swing. Im a right dominant person, but have always played golf, hockey, and batted left because it felt most natural. however, other coordinated left handed movements like throwing feels completely foreign and the general strength of my left side feels a lot weaker than my right side. Does a left handed golfer not get the most out of his swing if he's generally weaker from his left side?

[DaHairlessApe]

Your boxing analogy and explanation of the left hand grip/dominant right (backhanding a punching bag) vs. right hand grip/dominant left (striking a hammer), really helped my golf swing. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and an excellent video!

[sandwah9]

the golf swing is a circle, and by definition, in a circle the greatest amount of force you can create is centrifugal in nature. using the radius point as the energy source is the only way to create a centrifugal motion. therefore, the only way to create centrifugal force is to use the lead arm as the principal motor to create the swing. the only way to create power in the left arm is via the left arm only or the entire left side... and the right side only supports.

[hennahairdye]

Great Video, Videos like this are most appreciative. I am right handed, (throw and write right handed) I have a rib injury that is keeping me from playing and a left handed friend let me try his club and it felt more natural than my regular right handed all though balls went all over. Do you think I will be able to do ok left handed with practive even though I am right handed? I love golf so very much, I miss golf so much it is crazy.

[clemshaw]

@hennahairdye Of course you will be able to do OK...:)

In tennis, you practice and become proficient with both backhand and forehands; this is simply a backhand to develop! I would get my DVD series and get cracking; in the meantime, see my "#1 most popular teacher feel and let the hammer through" video

All the best! Shawn

[hennahairdye]

@clemshaw I will do just that, Thanks! That is awsome information! My backhand in tennis was better than my forehand! It actually feels better to swing lefty!

[foojuklin]

Hi Shawn, I'm a big fan. I have a question, you can swing both Left and Right, just like myself. But which one is better, that you would like to stick to in the long run?

[clemshaw]

@foojuklin Both!!! I will always do both and I am just as comfortable with each one; I could not imagine going to one side now; for me, this would be crazy! I think we are due for another right and left video here; give me a few days and I will get another out to answer the questions below as well;

Shawn

[wrxjunki]

Any tips on how you went on to teach yourself the left handed golf swing? Besides the obvious.

[parttroll1]

Hiya Shawn,

I wanted to see if there where any pit falls as I'm left handed yet feel more comfortable playing golf right handed. As my left hand is prob more dominant I wonder if it sometimes resists the right arm rotation in order to draw the ball as some shots do tend to fade or be pushed right or I am perhaps still coming over the top?

[joshaggie02]

Shawn - I absolutely LOVE your lessons!!!! I went to the range today working only on swinging the club naturally and using gravity to apply the club to the ball, and I hit some of the best shots I have hit in a long time. For mid to high handicappers (I am about a 16), this should be the only kind of principles we should be focusing on. Please keep up the great work!

[jkiene]

By the way that's impressive you swinging Left and Right...

[clemshaw]

Thanks jkiene and sorry I missed this comment!

I have since progressed into an "arm club" unit where the grip is so well put together that it forms a complete unit with the arms and the club and the body gets out of the way of this unit; see "golf pro lesson timing and tempo update" as well as the "golf pro lesson the insanity of golf"

Shawn

[jkiene]

Shawn, for the right handed player, can you comment on right hand resisting (in the opposite direction) the left hand. In other words pulling down with the left hand at the same time pulling up with the right hand during the back swing which is created with your arms/shoulders. I think Hank Haney had mentioned this technique? Thx

[MYJEOB]

I've noticed that my six year old daughter writes and draws with her left hand. However, she has always done everything well from both sides. For example, at five she was hitting wiffle balls over a fence for homes runs from the right side. I recently bought her golf clubs for a right-handed player. Was that a mistake? Would left-handed clubs maximize her potential more? Confused, Stephen

[clemshaw]

Perfect! She is using her strong side to pull through just like my Daughter! Mine is right handed playing left handed and is a very long hitter for her size and age; hits 7 wood 180; and driver 220 at age 13; so stay the way you are and enjoy! Tom Watson, Johnny Miller, Paul Azinger, Sergio, Mike Weir, Phil Mickelson, and the list goes on and on of "backhanders" playing great golf! Shawn

Shawn

[sko6]

Shawn, thank you for the interesting response. I feel much better about those clubs I bought.

Stephen

[ardmacworker]

Hi Shawn, Big hand for the 140 or so video's to date. This 1 in particular pricked my conscious. I play right handed but am predom left handed. Reason for right handed was prob cause left felt weird + right arm stronger. notwithstanding I use my left for all precision tasks from writing to diy etc. I'm wondering whether it would be worth in effect "starting again"? Your comments would be appreciated. regards, Martyn

[clemshaw]

Are you struggling? See response above for MY JEOB;

Shawn

[jeetang]

Hey Shawn. Thank you for all of your amazing videos. I'm watching your DVD everyday to get the fundamentals down firmly. one question. I'm a right handed golfer but whenever I try to swing with the motion of skipping stones on water, I don't find much consitency. I was never good at skipping the stone. Also, I can see now that I'm lefthand dominant because I feel like power comes from my left. But I never use my left hand for anything. Is this bad? help!! What must I do to correct it?

[clemshaw]

No worries jeetang;

Have a look at my new video called "Clay pigeon shooting" and you will see what I mean; then to make sure you are using your arms properly, have a look at the "Arm Motion" and the "Elbow Close" videos...all are on my website's "you tube Shawn" page;

Great question! Shawn

[theconstitution2]

To better clarify my last comment, I am currently better LH because I've practiced that for years. I think maybe the "skipping the stone" analogy you gave resonated with me, but maybe it is better suited for RH dominant, RH swing. My RH dominant, LH swing should probably be more like your "backhand" analogy, but I need a swing thought for release. I don't completely understand the feeling of release LH. When I tried RH, I finally thought, there is a feeling of release!

[clemshaw]

Hello to you the Constitution!

The analogy you are looking for is a full throw of a frisbee; you turn the body away from the target to gather and then release the frisbee out to the target on the arc that you visualized...Thanks for the question! Shawn

[theconstitution2]

Shawn, I am right dominant, lefty golfer. I've hit a plateau without improving my consistency in ball striking in a while. Was messing around with a RH 7-iron and it really seemed smooth with the skipping a stone feeling. My balance seemed better too. LH, I always felt more powerful but seem to not have a solid feeling of release. RH, I feel the release better. Should I switch to RH? Any other test I could do to determine which side is my best?

[clemshaw]

It sounds to me like you could very very easily make the switch; I would at least recommend you keep a rh 7 iron in the bag at all times and give yourself about 20% of your practice time on the feel of the release as well as the braced sensation you will feel into the forward leg as you release...it should feel very similar on your left side but with the frisbee analogy I gave you above;

Shawn

[997C4S]

Shawn: I appreciate the video. I'm a right handed golfer but write and throw with the right (dominant). I'm struggling with my swing b/c I get conflicting messages as to which hand should be the "lead" or "power". Do you have any specific articles or DVD suggestions.

thanks,

fustrated lefty

[clemshaw]

I think what you are saying is that you are a left handed golfer with a dominant right hand right?

First off, you want to get my dvd!!:) really! 4 hours on 3 discs all in priority sequence to make sure you don't miss anything important; lots of analogies in there! My favorite for the backhander is the frisbee throw with a steady head; you can just whip the snot out of the club that way!

Thanks for the comment! Shawn

[Danapmu]

Hi Shawn,

Does the Hogan power move that you describe apply only to the back handed slapping swing ? The hammer swing looks like the hip turn is reacting and the back hand slap the hip turn is leading.

Thanks for sharing all your teachings online!!!!!

[go4birdie]

Hi Shawn.I have viewed all of your videos multiple times and have your DVD. Great stuff. I swing from the right side and am right-side dominant but prefer the backhanded concept. I learned golf from writings by arm-swinging teachers and powered my swing using my left arm for many years. I am now more of a body swinger. Now I am looking to gain more distance by using the right-handed hammer concept you describe but tend to use it too early and release early. Any suggestions?

[clemshaw]

The focus need to be THROUGH THE BALL; Have a look at my new vid called "Bridging the Flat Wrist with the hinged wrists" and combine this with the "Through the ball" vid; my website's "You Tube Shawn" page has them all;

Shawn

[extreemII]

Thanks for the video! I golf left handed, but am right hand dominant. Just thought I was mixed up when trying to swing. I like the analogy of the right hand punch on the backswing and the punching bag on the downswing.

[lkomar]

Great video. I am left handed and have been playing golf right handed since age 12. I have been messing around with playing left handed and feel at the top of the swing much better than right handed. My right handed swing is restricted and I can't get on my right side as well as my left. should I play left or right? thanks.

[clemshaw]

You will learn so much by doing it from both sides; plus it is better for your body and mind; Just be aware of the positive things you do on each side and reinforce the other side with it; your brain will find it much easier to learn from itself! :)

Thanks for the comment and question, Shawn

[pecky1234]

and also, why do you have a longer swing left handed then your right handed swing?

[clemshaw]

Because my left handed swing feels like a backhand, I feel better getting that little bit extra range of motion which gives me the feel of effortless power through the ball... like Phil! :)

Shawn

[pecky1234]

are you a better player left handed or right handed? is it advantageous to be ambi-dexturous? your left handed swing looks slightly restricted towards the finish, is this due to you being right hand dominant?

[clemshaw]

No; it depends on the day; I tend to underpractice left handed sometimes when I have not seen a left handed student in a while...just the way I clear left handed is sometimes less assertive than right handed;

Both sides are as effective on course; have been under par regularly on both.

Shawn

[jkiene]

that's impressive...

[baseballkid3307]

this helped thanx! post more videos or golf lessons.

[clemshaw]

All my videos start in "Golf Pro Lesson..." just so you know how to find them...

Thanks for the comment, Shawn

[bertino12]

when im hitting my best i dont feel like my arms do much until i get slotted. i feel like my hips initiate the swing and that move pulls my arms into the slot with a loaded shaft, then from there i just kill it. i have a tendency to get very armsy sometimes. thinking about hitting it with my left arm(im right handed) messes me up and makes me armsy.

[googoogooga]

Hi Shawn, thanks alot of posting your videos. I have found them very useful and they have helped improve my game. After watching this lesson, it has made me want to try playing as a left hander. I personaly use my left hand to write / use scissors etc.. but since I bowl and throw with my right hand, I had only ever played golf as a right hander. But after watching this video and what you have said and commented, I am going to give it a go.

Thanks again for the videos!

[clemshaw]

Having a go at it from the other side will have many benefits for you; it will help you understand some of the things that are not quite in place for your right handed swing and balance your body and mind quite well! Have fun! Shawn

[itubeutude]

Does it matter if your dominant left or right handed? (for the right handed player). BTW, excellent job doing the left handed swing. Impressive video as always. Thanks shawn.

[clemshaw]

No, as a matter of fact, many players on tour are back-handers; i.e. left hand dominant playing right handed golf. The fact that I break par from both sides is not as big a deal as you think...a good tennis player always has a good back-hand and many players on tour practice from the other side to balance things out...

Thanks for the nice comment! Shawn

[itubeutude]

Interesting. Makes the talent even more impressive when you can do it both sides. Here is a question for you. Do you think that good players (not just the pro's) are born good with a natural instinct or can bad players become good with lots of work?

[clemshaw]

The tour is full of both, the mind and body can overcome anything when you have the will and unwavering faith!

[intef2]

Thanks Shawn! I find these videos very helpful. Hope to see more of your lessons soon!

[maxxsee]

Hey! Thankyou it helped. I understand that you can use your right arm actively in the downswing, and in the backswing if that's what feels most comfortable. Previously I thought it should basically just be the left arm and shoulder doing the job. Perhaps I will gain some more power in my shots now after starting to use my right arm more.