Are Golf Clubs Right Or Left Handed?

Success with golf, as with any other sport, requires good hand-eye coordination. Aside from working on your fitness levels, you need to be comfortable with the golf club. 

Since golfers are required to stand on either side of the ball, the clubhead needs to be shaped for a left-handed or right-handed player.

Golf clubs can be made to be both right and left handed. If you are right handed, then buy right handed clubs. If you are left handed, then buy left handed clubs. 

Most beginners don’t decide to play as a left-handed or right-handed player for themselves. They arrive at it rather spontaneously, and once their muscle memory is created for this task, it will be executed with almost no conscious effort. 

This means if you played as left-handed (and got comfortable with it), it would be a difficult task to retrain your mind for a right-handed golf club.

Knowing Which Golf Club to Pick

Golf clubs are specifically designed for either right-handed or left-handed players. If you are a left-handed player, you should ask for left-handed clubs. If you’re not sure which hand the golf club is designed for, hold it in front of you with the clubhead on the ground. 

If you’re left-handed, the clubhead’s grooves should point to your right. If you’re holding a putter, the smoother side should face right.

However, if both sides of a putter are smooth, look at the angle of the clubface.

Components of a Golf Club

The main difference between left and right-handed golf clubs – aside from putters – is the clubhead. Neither grips nor shafts are designed specifically for left or right-handed players. This means that a left-handed clubhead may be attached to any shaft to create a left-handed club. 

An exception to this rule is putters because putter shafts may be slightly curved at an angle.

This curvature is designed to facilitate either left-handed or right-handed players. 

Clubheads

If you place a left-handed clubhead on the ground, with the lower portion of the clubhead lying flat against the surface and the clubface facing you, the hosel (a portion of clubhead into which the shaft is inserted) will be angled to the left.

In a right-handed club, the hosel will be angled to the right.

In order to hit the ball with the clubface, the player wielding the left-handed club will stand to the left of the ball, from the perspective of the target. This is very similar to baseball where the left-handed baseball player stands to the left of home plate from the pitcher’s perspective.

Are There Any Differences In Prices For Left And Right Handed Players?

Even though there is less demand for left-handed golf equipment, the prices are very similar. You’ll notice that the price for left-handed clubs is mostly the same as right-handed ones.

Variety of Golf Clubs

Although there is a massive variety of golf clubs in the market, finding the right selections for left-handed players is still challenging. Big brands may carry options for left-handed players, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find anything from smaller brands. 

Even the big brands only carry a small fraction of the products specifically designed for left-handed players.

Course Layout

Most golf courses are designed for right-handed players. This means left-handed players have to think more creatively to get rewarded. 

Try to visualize the shot in your mind before hitting the ball. For these reasons, it isn’t uncommon for left-handed players to get stuck around the trees. 

But once you get past these minor issues, the playing field should be equal – for the most part.  

Finding Custom Made Left-Handed Golf Clubs

Some left-handed players find it worthwhile to invest in custom-made left-handed golf club sets. The manufacturer will use details such as the golfer’s height, weight, gender, and distance from the wrist to the floor. 

For obvious reasons, custom-made golf clubs are much more expensive, but they can significantly improve your performance.  

Most Golf Clubs are Right Handed

The vast majority of the population is right-handed, and it comes as no surprise that manufacturers would make more right-handed golf clubs. With that said, most major manufacturers also make left-handed versions of golf clubs. 

You’ll also notice that instruction manuals for golf clubs are written for right-handed players. This means that left-handed players will have to reverse the directions.

Most Teaching Materials are for Right-Handed Players

One big disadvantage for left-handed players is the absence of teaching materials aimed at them. While most instructors are trained to teach both left and right-handed players, the quality of training for left-handed players is average in most cases.

If you’re a left-handed player and are working with someone, make sure to ask them about their experience with left-handed players. It is good to find an instructor who has the same build as you to improve your performance.

It’s worth noting that some of the best golf books are directed towards right-handed players. It can be challenging for left-handed players to benefit from these tips – reversing the tips isn’t always straightforward.  

Exceptions to the Norm

It isn’t uncommon for balls to hit an obstruction that prevents players from hitting normally. In this case, a left-handed golfer might benefit by swinging from the right, or vice versa. 

If you’re a right-handed player and find yourself in this type of scenario, stand to the left of the ball and flip the club so that its clubface is facing the ball. Hold the club as a left-hander, and take your best swing with your right hand on top.

Buying Equipment for Lefties is a Challenge

It can be difficult for left-handed golfers to find equipment geared for them, especially when it comes to gloves. Most major stores for golf will only carry gloves for right handed people. 

So, if you forget to bring a glove, you’ll have difficulty finding someone with a spare glove for you.

This is why I would recommend buying several gloves at a time and keeping them with you in your bag just in case something happens. If you mostly play with gloves and are forced to play without them, it will be much more difficult to enjoy the game.