Nina Caldwell
One-handed golf is a challenging but rewarding endeavour that can be taken up by choice or out of necessity. Practising one-handed swings can help golfers understand the relationship between their body and the clubhead, improve their swing, and build strength in their forearms and hands. Biomechanist Sasho Mackenzie, who broke his arm in a basketball accident, decided to use himself as an experiment and played an entire season of golf one-handed. Matt Lees, who was born without a left hand, also plays one-handed golf and has shown that it is possible to succeed and even excel at the sport despite physical challenges. For those interested in trying one-handed golf, there are a few tips and tricks to keep in mind, such as maintaining proper form and grip, and building up the number of swings gradually to avoid soreness.
Characteristics and Values of One-Handed Golfing
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Swing | More compact, fluid, and balanced |
| Grip | Standard size, round grips |
| Difficulty | High |
| Practice | Start with 10-20 swings, increase gradually |
| Benefits | Improved swing sequence, balance, timing, and forearm strength |
| Performance | May vary, some golfers perform better one-handed |
| Rules | One-handed putting is allowed, but certain restrictions apply |
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What You'll Learn
- One-handed swings can help you understand the relationship between your body and the clubhead
- Practicing one-handed improves the sequence of a golfer's swing, balance, and timing
- Tension, especially grip tension, can be a performance killer
- Using a golf prosthetic can help
- One-handed swings are legal, but you must be careful not to push the ball or create an anchor point
One-handed swings can help you understand the relationship between your body and the clubhead
One-handed swings can help golfers understand the relationship between their body and the clubhead. This is because the golf swing is not a simple motion, but a series of movements and countermovements, with a club that is subjected to forces and torques. By practising one-handed swings, golfers can improve the sequence of their swing, as well as their balance and timing.
When swinging with one arm, golfers will notice that their swing is more compact. This is because, without the strength of two arms, golfers tend to make a shorter swing. This can be beneficial for those who tend to overswing. Additionally, one-handed swings can help golfers learn to square the clubface, which can be tricky when swinging with one hand.
To practice one-handed swings, golfers can start by gripping down on the handle of their sand wedge, making the club lighter. They can then take 10-20 swings with their left hand, followed by 10-20 swings with their right hand. When swinging, it is important to allow the chest to turn and finish with the torso and belt buckle facing the target.
One-handed swings can also help golfers build strength in their forearms and hands. Golfers may also find that they can focus more on the clubface, rather than their swing. This can lead to smoother, more balanced swings, and a better overall golf game.
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Practicing one-handed improves the sequence of a golfer's swing, balance, and timing
Practicing golf one-handed can be an effective way to improve your swing, balance, and timing. While it may sound counterintuitive, using only one arm can help you focus on the individual components of your swing and improve your overall technique.
When you swing with both arms, it's easy to rely on the strength of your arms to power the swing. However, when you swing one-handed, you are forced to make a more compact swing, which can help with over-swinging. This can also help you focus on the fluidity of your swing and improve your rhythm and balance.
Additionally, practicing one-handed swings can help build strength in your forearms and hands. You will notice a soft fold in your elbow at the top of your swing, which will give you a more natural and powerful feeling.
One-handed swings can also help you improve your technique with both arms. For example, you can focus on the position of the club relative to the pulling force you apply to the grip, which can help you square the clubface.
Some golfers have even taken this to the extreme and played an entire season with one arm. While this may not be feasible for everyone, it shows that practicing one-handed swings can have a positive impact on your overall game.
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Tension, especially grip tension, can be a performance killer
A loose grip is not the solution, however. If you grip the club too loosely, it can move around in your hands and create inconsistent clubface angles at impact. This can lead to inconsistent ball contact and less accuracy in your shots. Some golfers also experience less power with this lighter grip pressure.
The proper grip pressure allows you to control the golf club without restricting motion. Too much grip pressure restricts the movement of the wrists, especially when related to the release of the golf club.
To find the right grip pressure for you, try this drill: hold the club just in front of you, above the ground. If you can’t feel the clubhead, your grip pressure is too tight. Release some tension until the clubhead feels heavy. If you know your tendency is to grip the club too tightly, try gradually releasing pressure in your hands. Start by gripping as tight as you can and then slowly ease up on that pressure.
When practicing one-handed swings, grip down on the handle. This will make the club lighter.
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Using a golf prosthetic can help
Golfing with a prosthetic can be a great way to improve your game and continue enjoying the sport, even if you have a disability or injury. Here are some ways that using a golf prosthetic can help:
Improved Swing Mechanics
Increased Strength and Flexibility
Golf prosthetics encourage the use of your residual arm and hand, building strength and flexibility in those areas. By relying on your forearm and hand muscles more, you can increase your overall upper body strength, which can benefit your golf game and general fitness.
Customised Solutions
Prosthetic devices can be customised to your specific needs and abilities. Rehabilitation professionals can design and adapt prosthetics to suit your unique requirements, ensuring optimal comfort and performance. This includes creating devices that improve walking ability on golf courses, which often feature uneven terrain and inclines.
Enhanced Grip and Club Control
Golf prosthetics are designed to provide a secure grip on the club, improving your control and swing accuracy. This can lead to increased distance and better shot placement. A stable grip also helps reduce tension in your swing, improving your overall performance and minimising the risk of injury.
Overcoming Disabilities
Golf prosthetics empower individuals with disabilities to participate in the sport. Whether you were born with a disability or acquired one through an injury, prosthetics can help you overcome physical challenges and pursue your passion for golf. They enable individuals with disabilities to compete and even excel in the sport, as demonstrated by young golfers like Leo Millar, who achieved impressive distances with the help of a prosthetic device.
While golfing with a prosthetic may present unique challenges, it offers a range of benefits that can enhance your overall golf experience and performance. With customised solutions and dedicated practice, golfers can improve their swing mechanics, strength, and flexibility, all while enjoying the game they love.
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One-handed swings are legal, but you must be careful not to push the ball or create an anchor point
One-handed swings are indeed legal in golf, and they can even help you improve your regular swing. However, there are some things you should keep in mind to make sure you don't push the ball or create an anchor point.
First, when swinging with one hand, you won't feel as strong, so your swing will likely be more compact. This can be beneficial if you tend to overswing, as it will help you find a better checkpoint for the top of your swing. It's important to start with a small number of swings, around 10-20, to avoid soreness in your arm the next day.
Second, when practising one-handed swings, you should focus on letting your body rotate so that your chest and belt buckle face the target. This will help you achieve better balance and tempo in your swing. Additionally, you can try hitting one-handed shots with your front arm locked straight and then again with your elbow bent. You will likely feel more natural and powerful with a slight bend in your elbow at the top of your swing.
Finally, when swinging with one hand, it can be tricky to square the clubface at high speeds. To help with this, you can position the balance point of the club below the pulling force you apply to the grip early in the downswing. This will help you square the clubface more easily.
While one-handed swings can be a great way to improve your regular swing and build strength, it's important to be mindful of your technique to avoid pushing the ball or creating an anchor point.
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Frequently asked questions
Practising one-handed swings will help you understand the relationship between your body and the clubhead. It will also help you build strength in your forearms and hands. When you begin, hitting one-handed shots will be difficult, but with some practice, you can do it.
When practising, allow your chest to turn back and through and finish with your torso and belt buckle facing the target. Practise with your left hand, then with your right hand, and then try to replicate the same balance and tempo when addressing the ball with both hands.
One-handed swings can help improve the sequence of a golfer's swing as well as balance and timing. It can also help with over-swinging, as the swing will be more compact.
It can be difficult to square the clubface without the trail hand on the club. Tension, especially grip tension, can also be a performance killer.
There is no rule that requires you to swing with both hands. However, you must not anchor, push, scrape, scoop, or stand astride the line of play or its extension behind the ball.
