Lefty Golfer Phil Mickelson Celebrates Master's Win

Miami Beach Chiropractor - Dr. Todd Narson,

Phil Mickelson pulls off a big win at The Masters and the lefties of the world celebrate.

Why being a lefty golfer is considered such a taboo I don't know. I've never understood it. From a bio-mechanical standpoint, it doesn't make sense that there are any fewer lefty golfers in the world than there are 'lefties" in a normal population. Last time I golfed, we had an entire foursome of lefties. For once, I didn't look like the guy with the weird club in the group photo.

My grandfather, Benjamin Narson taught me how to play baseball. He always taught me both lefty (which was my natural inclination) and right handed. I got pretty good at both. My grandfather was amazing. He'd use a baseball bat like a tennis racket & hit anything that was thrown at him. Yes, backhand with a baseball bat, balls thrown in the dirt, etc...

Now as an adult, I play golf and do so as a lefty because it feels more natural. The 99.8% of the time playing baseball, I batted left handed. But for some reason, when I went to my first driving range, I was told "because you play baseball left handed, you should play golf right handed because your left hand is your lead hand in golf and would give you more control"..... All I could say was....."Huh?"

Because I know stupidity (and a chance to prove it) when I see it, I asked him "then why aren't all those who played baseball right handed playing golf left handed? It only makes sense according to your reasoning..... Obviously the question stumped him. The real answer is, most people are right handed and therefore, most places don't have much of a selection left handed golf equipment. Secondarily, I've heard many golf pro's couldn't figure out how to teach a lefty student. Which had to be more "B.S." because you simply mirror your golf pro with your stance, your grip and your swing. Just like many golf pro's tell you to go home and practice in front of a mirror....well, a right handed pro teaching a left student simply stands across from one another and functions as a "live mirror". c'mon, let's think a little outside the box....

The fact of the matter is, you play golf with a left or right handed approach because of natural feel. Trying to change something from natural to unnatural doesn't make sense in any sport, unless it's causing the athlete physical harm or their 'natural way' is hindering their performance. Let's face it, many of us learned bad mistakes and continue to perpetuate them in our current sports and this is what needs correcting. Not someone's left or right handedness.

But the fundamentals of playing a sports left handed or right handed should be left up to the individual and their own natural inclination. And for all those golf pros and coaches that make up some bio-mechanical 'B.S.' about why golf should be played right handed and not left - it's time to wake up and smell the fertilizer.

I hope this 3rd Masters win (on top of all other career wins) for Phil Mickelson puts to rest the myth that Lefties aren't real golfers.

Lefty golfer's of the world rejoice!

Congrats to Phil & his family for showing us the complete package. Professional success & a successful family life. Standing by your wife and she goes through cancer treatment. Maybe Phil should run for President.

'nuff said

Dr. T


Dr. Narson is a 2-term past president of the Florida Chiropractic Association’s Council on Sports Injuries, Physical Fitness & Rehabilitation and was honored as the recipient of the coveted Chiropractic Sports Physician of the Year Award in 1999-2000. He practices in Miami Beach, Florida at the Miami Beach Family & Sports Chiropractic Center; A Facility for Natural Sports Medicine.