| There is no reason why golf cannot be played | | | | they changed and played righthanded. This is |
| left-handed just as well and efficiently as it can be | | | | understandable. In fact, in righthanded golf a good |
| played righthanded. | | | | strong active lefthand and arm are most |
| We have emphasized the fact that a golf stroke is | | | | necessary-and in lefthanded golf a good strong right |
| an ambidextrous action-that the first lesson in golf, | | | | arm and right hand are most helpful, but in each case |
| footwork, is a lesson that will teach a person to | | | | both hands must be used. |
| become right-handed. He must learn to balance | | | | There is, in other words, an ambidexterity that must |
| himself on his right foot so that he can raise the club | | | | be developed in both instances, in righthanded or in |
| using the right side and the right arm. | | | | lefthanded golf. |
| To bring the club through he has to train himself to | | | | A most remarkable performer in this respect is my |
| become lefthanded, to shift his weight to his left | | | | long-time friend, Johnny Bulla, of Phoenix, Arizona. |
| foot, so that he can use his left side and his right | | | | Bulla started as a lefthanded player but was |
| arm to bring the club down and through the ball. | | | | persuaded that golf should be played righthanded, so |
| Actually a good golf swing requires an equal ability on | | | | he switched sides. |
| both sides of the body. There are switch hitters in | | | | And he played it well. Competing in the Los Angeles |
| baseball like Mickey Mantle, and there could be switch | | | | Open, Bulla once registered an unbelievable score of |
| hitters in golf. But everybody does not feel this way | | | | 29, seven under par for the first 9 holes on the |
| about lefthanded golf. | | | | difficult Riviera Golf Course. He started this round |
| Some years ago while visiting in a neighboring city, a | | | | with 5 straight threes, and finished the 9 holes with 7 |
| friend of mine and I, dressed in street clothes, found | | | | threes showing on his card. |
| ourselves in front of a golf school. It was a canvas, | | | | Bulla is now playing golf lefthanded again. Recently he |
| tent-like enclosure where golf was taught by driving | | | | turned in a remarkable performance at the Paradise |
| the balls from cocoa-mats against a loose canvas | | | | Valley Golf Club in Phoenix, Arizona. Playing |
| backdrop. | | | | righthanded, he established a new course record of |
| "Let's go in," I suggested. Upon entering we were | | | | 60, and shortly thereafter, playing lefthanded, he |
| cordially greeted, whereupon I said, "I'm sorry, I | | | | scored a 64. |
| guess we got into the wrong place. We thought this | | | | Who says you can't switch hit in golf? Early in this |
| was a tent show of some sort." "This is no show," | | | | book we indicated that ambidexterity was the |
| came back the answer, "this is a golf school." | | | | exception rather than the rule, and that the average |
| With that I picked up a righthanded #5 iron and | | | | person was more or less physically lopsided-he was |
| approached a ball on the mat with a lefthanded | | | | either predominantly righthanded or predominantly |
| stance. As I placed the back edge of the righthanded | | | | left-handed. Medical authorities confirm this fact; |
| club to the ball, I said, "This is about the most | | | | however, there is nothing serious or detrimental |
| awkward tool I ever saw-how can anybody play | | | | about this situation. Everyone has the latent ability to |
| with this thing?" | | | | be ambidextrous, but the inclination or tendency is to |
| "You are going at it incorrectly," volunteered the | | | | the contrary. |
| in¬structor. "You are going at it lefthanded, and | | | | In many cases simple exercises will rectify and cure |
| that can't be done." "What do you mean that can't | | | | this tendency or condition, and there is no finer |
| be done, this is the only way I could play," was my | | | | exercise than a golf stroke that is properly executed |
| response. | | | | to cure this lopsidedness. For this reason, I |
| "Well, it's wrong," said the instructor, "you can't play | | | | recommend and urge most strongly junior golf |
| golf lefthanded." "What do you mean, I can't play | | | | activities and junior golf instruction. Properly coached, |
| lefthanded?" I asked. "Why can't I play lefthanded?" | | | | the junior golfer will develop a balanced physical |
| "It just can't be done," the instructor replied, | | | | setup, one in which he will be able to use his right |
| "because golf courses are not built for lefthanded | | | | hand as well as the left or vice versa, an ability that |
| players." | | | | will be most helpful in any game and all future |
| With that remark I turned the club upside down (I | | | | activities. |
| made a lefthanded club out of a righthanded one), I | | | | In the junior golf classes which I conduct at Bel Air, |
| raised the club with my left side and I smacked the | | | | after teaching the youngsters the double 4 routine of |
| ball against the canvas with a resounding bang. | | | | the golf swing, I make them do it lefthanded. |
| I placed the club back in the rack and we left | | | | This is done long before they are permitted to hit |
| without saying a word. Incidentally, this trick of | | | | golf balls. The purpose, of course, is to have them |
| making a lefthanded club out of a righthanded one is | | | | actually know the golf swing, and be able to do it |
| very useful should you get up against a tree or a | | | | forwards and backwards- just as is often done in |
| fence from where you must play left-handed. | | | | school when learning the alphabet. |
| Curiously, each iron as it is turned upside down | | | | To return to the original discussion, I would again like |
| provides exactly the same angle of loft as it does in | | | | to state that golf can be played righthanded or it can |
| its righthanded position. | | | | be played lefthanded, but whatever way you play, |
| There are many stories of players who started | | | | don't try to do it one-handed-learn to use both |
| playing golf lefthanded and improved their game after | | | | hands-it will be easier, more effective and more fun! |