Who the HELL actually chips and pitches with LEFT HAND LOW?

[cj4birdie]

I perform one type of SPECIFIC chip left-hand low, so as to mimic my left-hand low putting....when I'm just off the collar up to about 6-8 yards away from the collar, I "putt-chip" with anywhere from a 6i to a GW, according to how much ground time & roll I need for the distance to the pin (as a reference, 9i is the choice if you need a 1:1 ratio, air to roll distance). Probably the most consistent shot in my bag, including the putter, and I'm a decent putter. Just a putting stroke technique w/ the club set on its toe at address so as to get the shaft vertical like a putter (and it deadens impact, which you want). Just pops it over the longer grass and onto the surface, rolling like a putt. Can usually get that shot to within 3 feet to stone dead, 80% of the time. Too bad my iron play doesn't leave me that shot often enough. :russian_roulette:

 

Beyond that shot, it's conventional chipping/pitching for me.

[NevinW]

I've seen several touring pros over the years chip cross-handed. Mostly on the Buy.com tour. Maybe not the most common thing but it definitely exists. There used to be a guy on tour in the 1970's that played everything cross handed.

[slprince67]

Josh Broadaway was on Web.com and maybe had PGA tour status for a year plays crosshanded too.

[Pleasedwith3putts]

The pro at my first club was called Tony Fisher, who was one of the first players on the sunshine tour back in the 60's and had a few high finishes on the European Tour.

 

Fish got the chipping yips and cured it by chipping one handed. He actually led The Open one year after the first round and had chipped one handed then.

 

He was a huge character who knew everyone in the golfing world and through him I got to meet Gary Player and also to drive the cart for Bob Hope when he popped in for a game.

 

When he had retired from tour to become a club pro he would play captain and pro challenge on a Sunday and didn't even bother to take his bag off his shoulder sometimes when he was chipping one handed!

[596]

I actually tried the LHL chipping and putting today while walking 9 and then at the chipping green. Once learning how hard to hit the ball its actually very easy and very accurate. I found I had to hit the ball a tad harder then normal for the same distance. Though I could not use it putting at all. It was just too different then my regular claw putting grip and style. I played the 9 hitting all my chips twice and then at the practice area. At the end of the practice session I hit some chips using my regular grip and the LHL practice seemed to help my regular chipping style.

 

I'm normally a very good chipper and found that I had chipped in a few more practice chips then I normally would have with my regular grip. This will be something I'll be working on and maybe taking to the course after a while. The setup, I found, had to be ball back, hands forward and weight, more then my normal neutral, forward. Resulting in very clean contact.

[mshills]

Years ago I played in a USGA qualifier (can't remember if US Am or Open local) with a guy named Craig Welty who was left hand low for EVERY SHOT! And he advanced. Hit 3 shots from 140+ inside of 5 feet on the last 9 holes.

 

I've played a lot of golf with a lot of people over the years from complete beginners to Tour professionals. One player stands out almost above all others -- he played every shot left hand low, but he was a LONG way from what's mentioned about Craig Welty! The guy I was paired with might have been the single worst player I've ever played golf with. Nice guy, but man, it was painful to watch! He said he got the full swing yips "a few years ago" so he switched. :swoon: I seriously think he shot 150 -- maybe more.

 

I cannot imagine even trying a full swing left hand low, let alone hitting a ball, let alone playing that way!!!

[pappaf2]

Old thread, and as COVID-19 drags on we do crazy things.

I recently started putting cross handed and really have liked how it rolls the ball.

So... I toyed around with cross handed chipping today. It was certainly an interesting experience. Cross handed chipping was really pretty consistent. I was really surprised how well it seemed to work. Directional control was really good. Distance control was pretty good too. I got some comparisons of the conventional grip and the cross handed. Interesting to see how the body positions compare.

please excuse the non golf attire

 

[bdcava]

I find it almost impossible, but then I’m not that athletically gifted.

[dcleftie]

I know this is an old thread but just seen Fitzpatrick using it in Masters! I'm a left handed player but am naturally right handed like Phil Michelson and the majority of left handed golfers. All one armed golfers play backhand not forehand which is why many left handers are right handed. We only play double handed ball games left handed, like cricket or baseball. Tennis, table tennis etc right handed.

I had the yips with long putts and then chipping. I reversed (right hand low for me) and my putting improved tremendously and now working on chipping which gives better strike, just need to practice distance control.

I can barely hit the ball with a right hand club!

[Santiago Golf]

13 minutes ago, dcleftie said:

I know this is an old thread but just seen Fitzpatrick using it in Masters! I'm a left handed player but am naturally right handed like Phil Michelson and the majority of left handed golfers. All one armed golfers play backhand not forehand which is why many left handers are right handed. We only play double handed ball games left handed, like cricket or baseball. Tennis, table tennis etc right handed.

I had the yips with long putts and then chipping. I reversed (right hand low for me) and my putting improved tremendously and now working on chipping which gives better strike, just need to practice distance control.

I can barely hit the ball with a right hand club!

 

There are very good one handed players that play with their trail arm