Kids: hurling & golfing

BoardsMember

I have young kids starting both hurling. They are interested in anything that can be used as a weapon, so golf is also on the radar. Both are right handed, but interestingly both whack the hurl the same way round as a left handed golfer. Should I get them left handed golf clubs? How does one decide. Ages 6 & 8. Interested to hear peoples' thoughts. Thanks, BM

Sprog 4

Get them to hit a few balls with both right and left handed clubs and ask them what they prefer. Phil Mickelson is right handed but developed his style playing as a left handed golfer so I don't think there are any outsdanding advantages or disadvantages to doing either other than it will be difficult to change once you go down one road. At that young age and especially when just getting into the game it's more about fun than anything else so the less they have to think about the better.

ssbob

Well if you are right-handed, that hand tends to lead more as thats where the power comes from so when playing left handed it encourages a fade or a draw when right handed.

I am not sure I understand how your kids are playing hurling though? Is it left hand above right? Then thats the perfect right handed golf grip?

DipStick McSwindler

This post has been deleted.

Freemount09

Get them to go right-handed ! Those lefties are freaks of nature !

BoardsMember

ssbob wrote: »

Well if you are right-handed, that hand tends to lead more as thats where the power comes from so when playing left handed it encourages a fade or a draw when right handed.

I am not sure I understand how your kids are playing hurling though? Is it left hand above right? Then thats the perfect right handed golf grip?

Kids hurl using the correct hurling grip, but preference is to swing it "left handed" (from a golf perpective).

So am thinking that the best way to get them started in golf is with a correct golf grip and play left handed.

I'm left handed, but play golf right handed.

ssbob

BoardsMember wrote: »

Kids hurl using the correct hurling grip, but preference is to swing it "left handed" (from a golf perpective).

So am thinking that the best way to get them started in golf is with a correct golf grip and play left handed.

I'm left handed, but play golf right handed.

Maybe so, one word of warning though is a few friends of mine play lefty and find club selection is very limited.

BoardsMember

ssbob wrote: »

Maybe so, one word of warning though is a few friends of mine play lefty and find club selection is very limited.

Point taken, and this consideration was part of my decision making process, though when push comes to shove I'd prefer them to be choosing from the collect (if limited) type of clubs available

PARlance

Maybe get the kids down to the local club/range, ask the pro to/or arrange a left and right handed club for them to use, see which one the pick up and start hitting! Problem solved.

Are you guilty of fathering them a bit to much on this one?
When, in fact, you should just let them off and see what club the naturally go to.
(I'd be the same as you btw They're not going to get to world number 1 by themselves )

Martin567

ajcurry123 wrote: »

Maybe get the kids down to the local club/range, ask the pro to/or arrange a left and right handed club for them to use, see which one the pick up and start hitting! Problem solved.

Are you guilty of fathering them a bit to much on this one?
When, in fact, you should just let them off and see what club the naturally go to.
(I'd be the same as you btw They're not going to get to world number 1 by themselves )

From reading the original post, I think it's pretty obvious which club they will naturally go to.

I'm the same as them, I'm right handed but play golf "left-handed". This is entirely due to the left side being by far my stronger (and more natural) side as a hurler. I used the inverted commas above because I've never seen anything left-handed about it. Left-sided yes but the hand/arm controlling my golf swing is very definitely my right. I would compare it to something completely different like table tennis. If I was playing that, I would hold the bat in my right hand but my backhand would be far more reliable than my forehand.

BoardsMember

ajcurry123 wrote: »

Are you guilty of fathering them a bit to much on this one?
When, in fact, you should just let them off and see what club the naturally go to.
(I'd be the same as you btw They're not going to get to world number 1 by themselves )

Never been accused of that, no! I'm just trying to avoid having to buy two sizes of a selection of right and left handed clubs. Being accused of being tight.....now that's a different story!