Too late, worth the hard work or no real difference?

[mikeyp74]

Hi guys,

After years running football teams and neglecting my golf, i finally saw the light in the summer and gave it up.

As usual though, the more you start playing the more you notice the flaws!

I have joined a club and started upgrading my equipment, but i have one major concern....

I play cac-handed, corrie fisted, whatever people call it!

I can hit the ball perfectly well, good distance, etc, just like every other new-start i have my moments!

I was playing on Sunday and the guy i played with kept going on about me changing my grip!

Do you think at this moment, while i'm changing most things, is there any real benefits to me starting from scratch and changing my grip too?

I've been given a handicap of 18 to start with, long term i'd love to be 10 or under, but never making it Pro so don't know if it's worth it?

Thanks.

 

[John_Findlay]

What age are you Mikey? How long have you been playing "the hard way"?

 

[USER1999]

Playing cack handed will only get you so far. I have a mate who plays off ten this way, but I don't think he will ever get better than this, as his length off the tee is the problem, and you cannot generate enough power without a proper swing. That said, he is still two shots better then me.

A good short game can get you down to low teens, and this is not grip dependant.

It depends what your goals are, and how long you are willing to wait to achieve them.

It will be very difficult to find someone who can give you meaningful lessons with this grip, as the whole swing dynamic is different, which could hold back your development.

For anyone who doesn't swing this way, try it, (with an old club, because you will roof it if you hit it at all). It is surprisingly difficult, and requires a diffent shoulder turn.

 

[mikeyp74]

Hi John,

I'm 34 now, started playing around 16, and in my early 20's was a pretty decent golfer(around 10/11 for a few years).
But with the football this is me just relighting the fire! And finding it more difficult-and frustrating than imagined!

But with the time of year i'm going to try play right through - to start next year well! (Hopefully)

 

[John_Findlay]

You're in a similar position to me then, Mikey.

I just took up the game again at 35 after a 10/15 year "break" having played off 10 when I was younger. For years I hardy broke 90/95.

I decided that lessons were the key if I was ever to improve so I took plenty. The handicap is still at 9 but the game has improved immensely. Even had my first ever level par round this year. It's hard work but worth the effort and the enjoyment of being able to play near par some days.

If you have the time and the determination my advice would be to go to a good teaching pro and seek advice. The grip change might be worth it bigtime in the long term.

Best of luck.

Cheers

J_F

 

[mikeyp74]

Hi Murph,

I'm in it for the long haul, hopefully many enjoyable golf years to come!

That's the thing, i was toying with the lessons idea, but figured i'd need to start as a beginner and change the swing.

The one thing i don't struggle with is distance. One of my mates who i play with weekly (plays off 4) is a great striker of a ball, and i am always there or thereabouts him.

 

[mikeyp74]

Thanks John. I'd bite your hand off for a 9 handicap at present!

Think Santa will be bringing golf lessons this year!

Cheers

 

[John_Findlay]

Well worth it, Mikey. With video analysis nowadays you can come on leaps and bounds in a matter of months.

You'd not really be starting from scratch again by changing the grip. You obviously know how to swing a club and get round a course. Might feel really weird at first but after a couple of hundred balls on the range it would become second nature pretty quickly. I know. I putt cack-handed now after 23 years of conventional and I can't imagine putting any other way now.

 

[USER1999]

At age 34, you have another 30 years and more to play the game, so in your position I would change grip, as a couple of years (if it takes that long, which I doubt) is nothing.

The other thing is, your course management, putting and chipping feel won't have changed, so once you master the new swing, you will improve rapidly.

Go for it!

 

[mikeyp74]

Cheers J_F and murph, good sound advice, and i'm going to book in for a few lessons and take the plunge.

Much appreciated.

Michael.

 

[Hurleronditch]

I played cack handed for about 15 years, since i first played a pitch and putt course as a 10 year old up until january of this year, including breaking 80, hole in one on a par 4.

Clubs got stolen in january, took it as my cue to change, took golf a lot more seriously, play of 18, and play to it, good striker of the ball, and it didnt take that much more work. probably 8-10 range sessions before i hit the course, shot over 110 my first round out (117 i think), and my current best round was 90. hoping to break 90 before christmas.

Think about it, no clubs are designed for you, no ball, no grips. You are intentionally making things harder for yourself.

If you plan on having golf as your number 1 pastime, suffer for a couple of months to avoid torturing yourself for 30 years.

Its actually far easier to change than you think. A mate of mine has been very impressed with my change, and he asked me to hit a cack handed drive on the range last week. it felt so wrong, i couldnt even consider it now, tried it 3 times, one hook, one mad slice and one duff 10 yards. and i loved it!!

 

[HomerJSimpson]

The simple answer in my humble opinion is to go and get it changed to a conventional grip over the winter. There are very few competitions aside from monthly medals/stablefords and are normally played off mats or forward tees so your not actually missing that much. Use the next three months to break everything down and start again. With a good pro and the enthusiasm to practice you clearly show in your posts you can come out firing next season with a better swing that has been grooved and you can trust. Enjoy the hard work. It is actually great fun when the handicap tumbles and you know its because you put the work in

 

[Herbie]

I would get someone who knows their stuff to have a good look at you, If you have always played cac-handed as they say why change?, with the right advice you should be able to improve using that grip.

You might be a closset left hander lol.

Dont do anything drastic till a good teaching pro has seen you. they may well recomend it but they may also opose it.

 

[TonyN]

Mikeyp74- I was in your position about 7 months ago. I always played golf (pitch and putt, on the field or wherever but not seriously) cackhanded.

I took up golf full time about 12 months ago. I could hit the ball reasonably well but as a new player I was only as good as a 25 H/Cer. With a PW i could drop the ball on a six pence, but most other thingss I struggled with realy.

I bit the bullet, went for lessons. The pro suggested changing straight away because I hadn't been playing full time for long and had many moons ahead. So I did.

I hated it at first but knew it would be a struggle. So much so I decided I wouldn't visit a course for 6 months because thats how long I felt it would take me to get to a decent standard. After my first lesson I hit 50 balls, It took me 2 hours and by the end of it I was almost crying with frustration. People were looking and must of thought, jesus, just give up your so bad. But I persisted with the much appreciated advice of the guys/gals on here.

AND after only 2 weeks/6 range trips I could hit the ball pretty well all things considered. I honestly couldn't beleive how quickly I adapted but I just kept thinking about the muscle memory theory (1000 actions) so effectivley It should of only taken about 1000 balls top get used to it. Not very many at all. Once I started hitting really well I was so glad I changed and couldn't belive/was gutted I never changed sooner.

After that, It was so much easier to be taught, fix faults, read tips in magazines etc.

Go for the change, it wont take long to bed in and beleive me, you will be so glad you did. I actually played my first round after 3 weeks of the change and played pretty well (broke 80 IIRC)

Once you make the change, chipping, pitchimg etc becomes sooo easy.

The one thing the pro may suggest is to still put cack handed as a lot of pro's fo this, me personally didnt want to confuse my self.

I find It helped to pick up a club in the garden when I had spare time and just do some fresh air shots to get used to the new set up. The lads in work thought I was going mad with a broom!

Good luck whatever you decide, keep us posted wont ya!

 

[mikeyp74]

Cheers Tony,

I'm going to bite the bullet and get a lesson, and if they say change i'll go for it.

At the end of the day i just want to improve and enjoy my golf.

I will keep you posted for definite!

Cheers

 

[TonyN]

I honestly think your pro will say change, It will be easier to teach you and if he/she doesn't then I would suggest it yourself.

Have fun!

 

[RGuk]

I'd do it! If I've learnt anything in my life, it's that making a BIG change feels horrible, but the fact that it feels you are starting from scratch actually allows you to re-assess everything.
My "old, old" pro went from right to left handed. He was naturally left handed and wanted to build a swing from a-b-c etc. with the help of a top coach. Did it work....?
He turned pro off 2 (not good enough for the tour) and then made it to +1.5 (so still not good enough!!) but good for him. He teaches both now.

 

[Leftie]

Totally agree with the others about getting lessons.

I assume that when you say you are cack handed you mean that you use right handed clubs but with your left hand beneath the right. Just as a matter of interest, which is your dominate or more powerful side. Are you naturally right or left handed. Do you play any other sports (using your hands) and if so, which way round do you play them? Do you for instance play tennis, squash etc left handed,
cricket left or right handed?

The reason I ask is that a good proportion of lefties that I meet are, like me, predominately right handed/sided people and are convinced that playing "left handed" is the correct way for them to play.

Could be however that we are just crazy mixed up people who will never be good at any sport

 

[mikeyp74]

Thanks guys, appreicate all the advice.

Leftie - i am right handed, but left-footed! Just a bit messed up in general! Playing any other racquet sports i would play right handed without question.

Work has changed and i have a window today so I have a lesson booked in for an hour with my local pro, and if he says change well i damn well will!

Just think it's the perfect opportuntiy to do so!

As i say i've joined a local course, so as well as justifying my membership expense to my soon to deliver preganant wife, i'd like to still go up and play through winter, with the hope that come March/April i'll be ready to take on the world! Is this advisable or would you all hit the range before doing so? Didn't know if a work-in-progress round would help, or destroy me!

Cheers guys, and i'll be back on this afternoon!

 

[andiritchie]

I would do both range and course once you get used to your new grip or you will forget how to play golf(story of my life)i spend more time on the range than the course