How to Hit a Shot from your Non-Dominant Side

Golf is tough sufficient however if you wish to make issues even tougher, attempt to hit a shot along with your reverse hand.

As a substitute of going to Google mid-round to go looking “The right way to hit a shot from a non-dominant aspect” be taught the fundamentals in the present day. That manner you possibly can hit a number of of those photographs in follow and hopefully be ready for something you may face on the golf course.

I as soon as had a coach all the time say to make follow as laborious as attainable. That manner if you do play golf it feels simpler and hopefully, have all of the photographs in your arsenal.

The right way to Hit a Shot From Non-Dominant Aspect

Think about hitting a wayward drive to seek out your ball caught subsequent to a tree, cactus, bush, or different impediment. What do you do?

Try and discover a stance and swing? Swap arms and attempt to hit a shot left-handed? Take an unplayable lie and penalty stroke? 

Actually, it relies on the state of affairs as there are such a lot of distinctive situations on this nice recreation. But when you end up with the choice to hit it backhanded and it’s higher than taking a drop, we’ve got you coated.

Key Takeaways

• Hitting a shot out of your non-dominant aspect is difficult however doable when you’ve got the appropriate approach.
• Typically it’s a good suggestion to take a drop and penalty stroke as an alternative of making an attempt to play left-handed.
• It’s advisable to follow some of these tough photographs in follow so that you simply aren’t making an attempt them for the primary time on the course.

Maintain studying to learn to hit a shot backhanded.

Step 1: Totally Assess the Shot

With any method shot or chip out an important factor you are able to do is assess the shot. Too many beginner golfers transfer by means of this course of shortly and lose loads of photographs on strokes gained on this class. 

With any second shot, you wish to have a superb method shot technique. Which means utilizing a rangefinder, GPS, or golf watch to grasp the overall distance, best goal, and one of the best place to overlook. To not point out assessing the lie, wind, and different climate situations.

However that is much more necessary in the case of a shot which may require you to hit it backhanded. In case your ball is up subsequent to a tree or different impediment on the golf course, you wish to first assess the lie of the ball. 

Ask your self questions like: 

• Can I play this usually? 
• The place ought to I attempt to advance the ball?
• Is it higher to take a drop vs. attempt to play a hero shot?
• Is it sitting up within the tough or pine straw? Or, is it sitting down? 

The primary goal with any restoration shot is to get the ball again in play and keep away from a giant quantity. This may imply taking a drop, or if the state of affairs is okay, hitting the ball out of your non dominant aspect.

Step 2: Discover Your Weapon

When you determine it’s time to play somewhat hero golf and escape the difficulty, it’s essential discover the appropriate weapon for the shot. It’s finest to play a mid-iron because it has sufficient loft and it’s straightforward to twist the membership backward to hit the shot with the toe of the membership. I like to make use of a 7 or 8-iron because it’s not too lengthy and has loads of loft to get the ball again in play. 

You’ll additionally have to reverse your grip which can really feel very unusual. With no consideration-handed golfer it’s bizarre to really feel your left hand low on the grip (until you’ve got a cross handed placing grip). Even nonetheless, it’s bizarre with a full membership in hand. 

Step 3: Take Loads of Follow Swings

After getting a maintain of the membership you wish to choose a goal – similar to a standard method shot. Get clear in your thoughts the place you need and don’t attempt to hit this shot too far. 

When you get a superb goal it’s time to take some follow swings and really feel out the shot. Hopefully you should have practiced even a number of instances on the vary or quick recreation space so it’s not overseas on the course. If not, it is best to take much more follow swings. 

You don’t wish to do a lot with this shot because it’s a easy chip out, not a full swing. Attempt to take the membership about knee peak like a normal chip shot and give attention to accelerating by means of the ball. You’ll wish to take a small quantity of grass or grime (relying on the lie) to get the ball again in play.

You gained’t want an enormous stance both. Maintain it slim and place the ball extra in the midst of your stance to get barely steeper by means of the shot. It may also assist to have extra weight in your entrance leg too. 

Step 4: Decide to the Shot

When you’ve gone by means of your follow swings and picked a goal, it’s go time. However one of the vital necessary issues you are able to do is to stay to your pre-shot routine. One of many largest errors most beginner golfers make is slowing down and taking too lengthy on tough photographs. This solely makes issues harder and permits an excessive amount of time to let doubt and worry creep in.

As a substitute, commit absolutely to the shot and follow your regular routine. Research have discovered that nice routines are 8-seconds or much less from the time you’re over the ball in your stance to completion. Lastly, settle for the consequence and transfer on (or possibly chortle off a foul shot).

Step 5: Follow on the Vary

The Golf Gods will throw loads of challenges your manner so it’s necessary to follow some of these photographs in follow. On the quick recreation space or on the vary follow a again handed shot and others like:

• Plugged bunker lie.
• Fried egg bunker photographs. 
• Awkward lies on the quick recreation space. 
• Fairway bunkers (by filling divots with sand and training from there). 

Make follow tough so that you’re prepared for something on the golf course. 

Bonus: Hitting a Toe Putt 

Imagine it or not there are occasions if you may have to do an analogous shot on the greens. 

This is named a “toe putt” the place you hit the ball with the toe of your putter, not the face. You may see Vijay Singh, Kevin Na, and different execs hit this miraculous shot on YouTube.

You may marvel why you would wish this shot?

Sometimes, as a result of the ball is up in opposition to the collar of the tough and the perimeter. It’s laborious to hit a standard putt because the grass is so thick and chipping could be tough too.

This is the reason a toe putt (assuming you’ve got a blade putter) may also help you out. The ball pops out like a chip shot then rolls like a putt – it’s one of the best of each worlds. 

In follow take a look at out this shot too and comply with these steps:

• Preserve the identical grip however twist the putter so that you’re hitting it with the toe not the face. 
• Be sure that to take your regular placing stance so that you’re extra upright over the ball than a pitch shot.
• Get extra weight to your lead aspect so you possibly can hit the ball with a descending blow and have it come out of the grass. 
• Hinge your wrists barely and attempt to “stab” the ball to get it out and roll on the inexperienced. Anticipate the shot to come back out “scorching” and quick so plan accordingly. 

Ideally, this shot ought to solely attempt to go a number of ft within the air then begin rolling like a putt. Perhaps you’ll make it and have a reminiscence for all times! 

My Expertise

I not too long ago performed in a golf match and the 4th gap had my quantity. I missed it proper within the timber a number of instances and one time I used to be confronted with this awkward state of affairs. 

The ball was proper subsequent to a bush and there was no manner I might hit it right-handed. However the lie was good and had a transparent space to chip out plus the drop wasn’t excellent so I made a decision to go left-handed.

My aim was to chip the shot about 30 yards into the golf green so I might try a superb third shot. I adopted the steps above, taking my time and training and executing it. Sadly, I hit it too properly and went by means of the golf green however wasn’t in any hassle.

This gave me a superb third shot into the inexperienced and almost saved par however the putt didn’t drop. Fortunately I had practiced this a number of instances on the driving vary to get the hold of it. 

Closing Ideas 

Golf will maintain testing you till the tip of time so be sure to follow all forms of photographs on the vary. Together with left-handed (or right-handed in the event you’re a lefty) so that you’re prepared to flee hassle on the course.

Whereas it’s a enjoyable shot to tug off, it’s not all the time the appropriate transfer. If the lie or stance is horrible and the drop + penalty shot is best, take it. Use course administration expertise to keep away from blowup holes and large numbers that derail your spherical.

Lastly, don’t neglect to follow this shot on the driving vary alongside others to have extra choices on the course.