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