12 Dec How To Be A Switch Hitter
Every now and then, to see a result or find a new feeling, it’s worthwhile completely stepping outside the box of normal thinking. Sometimes it takes trying something from way out of left field (or in this case ‘right’ field) to achieve this, but that’s exactly what happened when I started putting right-handed nine months ago.
Obviously I’m a left-handed golfer, and have used a broomstick putter throughout my entire playing career. I first saw the long putter when a short, stocky golfer named Peter Senior wielded one throughout the Australian Pro Circuit in the late ‘80’s/early ‘90’s to devastating effect. At the time I thought, “What the heck, I’ll give it a try!” As soon as I stroked a few putts with Ping’s B90 broomstick model I was hooked, and it became a serious weapon in my arsenal for most of my career.
During the last couple of years on Tour, my putting stats began to dwindle, so I started tinkering with the shorter version again. The USGA and R&A’s anchoring ban was soon coming into effect, so I figured I might as well get comfortable with the short putter again, but I was struggling with it. My coach, Neil Simpson, said, “Why don’t you give right-handed a go?” (His reasoning being I’m actually right-handed when doing things one-handed, such as writing, throwing a ball, playing tennis and so on. Everything I do with two hands I do left-handed. Golf, hitting in baseball and batting in cricket etc.)
‘Don’t be daft’ was my first thought. But after playing nine holes right-handed for a bit of fun one day, I found I putted really well from that side. I had no clue where I was aiming, but my stroke was carefree and there were no thoughts or expectations going through my head. I just saw the ball and reacted. I’d always putted my best when my mind was in this type of space, so I thought, ‘Hmm… there might be something in this!’
In the beginning my biggest problem, apart from aiming, was distance control, so I had Ping make me up a double-sided putter. Anything outside 15 feet I’d putt lefty, anything inside that I’d go righty. Early on I got some strange looks from my playing partners until they got used to me putting both ways. Eventually, I solved the aiming problem by putting a line on my ball after a suggestion from my old caddy Wilbur.
I’ve since gone fully right-handed with all putts and recently played my first pro tournaments using the method down in Australia. It felt great, although on the opening hole of my first tournament, I proceeded to flub my first putt from 20 feet, leaving it seven feet short. “Great start!” I said laughing to myself, but managed to roll in the seven-footer and I was away. The crowds were a bit shocked too, seeing me do the extreme opposite of what I’d always done. It’s fun messing with people’s minds sometimes!
So, if you’re struggling with your putting and are a lefty that plays righty or vice versa, give it a go for a bit of fun, and you might just surprise yourself. It works all the time in baseball and it’s working great for me on the greens. I did, however, have to step outside the box to be a switch hitter!
Cheers,
Nick
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