What You'll Need
If you are a southpaw, shopping for just the right clubs can be more challenging. Most sporting goods stores, golf stores and pro shops have much smaller left-handed inventories because only roughly 5 percent of golfers play left-handed. Many natural lefties opt to play right-handed—though pro Phil Mickelson is a natural right-hander playing left—in part because many courses are set up for right-handed swings. So, it's easier to find clubs and instruction for right-handed swings.
Manufacturers often release left-handed versions of their products months after their right-handed models hit the market, and in some cases, there are no left-handed versions at all. Locating left-handed drivers, irons and putters can be frustrating, but there is no reason to settle for clubs you don't really like. Many online stores offer a full array of left-handed equipment.
Step 1: Get comfortable with a club before buying it. What shaft and length is right for you? How much flex is ideal for your swing? This is easy for right-handed golfers, since they can test equipment at their favorite pro shop or golf store before shopping for the best price on that product. Testing clubs is more difficult for lefties, but you need to swing clubs before buying them.
Step 2: Buddy up with other left-handed golfers. Ask a fellow southpaw where he shops for clubs and how he tested them before making a purchase. Ask to try out his clubs during a friendly round of golf, or treat him to a bucket of balls at the driving range and test a couple of his clubs.
Step 3: Peruse multiple online stores to compare prices and selection once you've decided on a particular club. You will find plenty of name brand merchandise for sale on websites. For instance, the website Golf Discount offers left-handed versions of most of the right-handed clubs it sells. Websites Global Golf and Golf Smith are among the many sites that offer a separate section for left-handed equipment (see Resources below).
Step 4: Check the major golf outlets in your area to see if the clubs you want are in stock or can be ordered—and if the prices are competitive. Make sure you check an outlet's prices against the prices from online retailers, which are often hard to beat.
Tips
As your golf game progresses, purchasing custom-fitted clubs makes more and more sense.
When you know exactly what you want, eBay can be a great place to get a good price on clubs.
Snoop around garage sales and auction sales for bargains.
Warnings
When buying products online, use outlets recommended by satisfied shoppers that you trust.
Resources
- — National Association of Left Handed Golfers
- — GolfDiscount.com
- — Edwin Watts Golf Outlet
- — Golfsmith.com
- — Lefties Only
- — Brand Left-Handed Clubs
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