A new study has shown that the best golfers are those who learn to reverse the game by changing their hands while holding the clubs.
Researchers have discovered that successful golfers tend to adopt a reversed position when holding their clubs.
Traditionally, people who are right-handed would position their righthand at the club’s bottom when gripping.
A right-handed person would place their left hand on the bottom, but this is a reversed stance.
Left-handed people who play right-handed – or vice-versa – could have a better chance of excelling in the sport, as major championship winners Phil Mickelson and Jordan Spieth have demonstrated.
American golfer Phil Mickelson, pictured, is right-handed, but holds his club as a left-handed person would traditionally do – with the left hand nearer the bottom
Adopting this reverse technique may help players hit the ball further and with greater accuracy according to the research team, led by Dr Oliver Runswick, lecturer in performance psychology at King’s College London and a golf player himself.
This study is inspired by golfers who have a different stance than their hand in writing.
Phil Mickelson in the USA is an example of a right-handed golfer. However, he holds his club like a traditional left-handed player.
Dr Runswick reported that “four men have won one golf’s major championships by using a left handed stance.”
‘Of these men, three prefer their right-hand when writing – Phil Mickelson (ironically nicknamed ‘Lefty’), Mike Weir and Sir Bob Charles, with only Bubba Watson preferring his left-hand for other everyday activities.
Jordan Spieth is a three-time major champion who can throw and shoot lefthanded, but plays right-handed golf.
Dr Runswick had asked why “most golfers” learn the game from a position that could limit their ability to improve.
“I believe this could have significant effects, even though it’s only getting children to play both sides of the ball, instead of just telling them, “Here are some golf clubs. What hand do I write with?”He said.
This is not only for young children but anyone who’s new to the game. You can always question the status quo and improve upon them.
Dr Runswick picked 150 players of different abilities to participate in the study. Each player was divided into one of five handicap groups (30).
This category included club professionals and members of England’s Men’s As Squad.
Club golfers were also included in the four other categories.
In all, nine of the 30 golfers in the category one – the top group – were playing in a reversed stance, whereas there were only five reversed stance players in the other four groups combined.
Want to win trophies like Phil Mickelson? According to the study, budding golfers might consider the reverse stance. Mickelson is pictured here holding the trophy on the 18th green after the final round of the PGA TOUR Champions Constellation FURYK & FRIENDS on October 10, 2021 in Jacksonville, Florida
Dr Runswick stated that there was a large overrepresentation in category one, with professional golfers taking a different stance.
Most golfers who chose to reverse their swings said that they wanted greater accuracy and more distance.
According to the researchers, a “reversed-stance” may not distinguish top players but may help them reach that level.
Also, for learner golfers, it may initially be easier to pick up a club and hit the ball with a traditional grip, but swapping the hands around may be beneficial in the long run, Dr Runswick believes.
Traditionally, the right-handed person would position their left hand towards the bottom in order to play. If a right-handed player places their left-hand at the bottom, they are playing in what is known as a’reversed’ position (stock image).
While having your preferred hand on the bottom of the golf grip may make it easier to hit the ball, this does not translate into long-term benefits, according to Dr Runswick.
He stated that a stronger grip from the striking side would allow for more power and control.
“There could be an advantage to golfing with your preferred hand placed at the top. It could make a big difference in how you play the game.
Future research could use a greater data base; the study used only 150 golfers.
‘I would like to get a few thousand golfers through and see how they play,’ Dr Runswick said.
This study was published in Journal of Sports Sciences.