Playing golf cack-handed, or with a cross-handed grip, might seem like a sure-fire way to get strange looks on the first tee, but it's absolutely possible to play - and even thrive - with this unconventional style. This guide will break down what a cack-handed grip is, weigh its pros and cons, and walk you through the exact steps to build a solid, repeatable swing if you choose to go against the grain.
In golf, "cack-handed" simply refers to a cross-handed grip. For a right-handed golfer, this means your right hand is positioned above your left hand on the club shaft - the reverse of a conventional grip. Your right hand takes the spot where your left hand would normally be, and vice versa. It's also commonly called a "left-hand-low" grip, which you'll often hear when discussing putting.
Think of how you hold the club as the steering wheel for your golf shots. The way you hold the club has the single biggest influence on the clubface's direction at impact. In a conventional grip, the left hand (for a righty) guides the club through the backswing, while the right hand largely supplies the power and feel through impact. With a cack-handed grip, these roles are slightly altered. The right hand takes on more of a guiding role at the top of the grip, while the left hand has a more direct influence on the club's path and face angle coming into the ball.
While extremely rare for the full swing on professional tours, notable golfers have used it to great success. Josh Brodine is a professional who plays and competes with a full cack-handed swing. Furthermore, countless pros, including Jordan Spieth, have used a cross-handed grip for putting to become some of the best in the world on the greens.
Most players who adopt a cack-handed technique do so to fix a specific problem. But in fixing one issue, they often discover some unique benefits that can enhance their entire game. Here are a few reasons why it might be a smart move for some golfers.
One of the most common faults among amateur golfers is becoming too "handsy" or "flippy" at impact. This happens when the wrists break down and scoop the ball, trying to lift it into the air. This flipping motion robs you of power and consistency.
A cack-handed grip makes it physically harder to flip the club. With the left hand below the right (for a righty), the left wrist is naturally put in a flexed or "bowed" position at impact, which is a hallmark of great ball-strikers. This setup encourages you to rotate your body through the shot to deliver the club, rather than relying on a last-second flick of the hands. It forces the big muscles of your torso and hips to be the engine of your swing, which is a foundation for consistency.
Have you been told you need to "keep your left arm straight" in your backswing? For many golfers, this is a constant battle. Bending the lead elbow (the left elbow for a righty) causes all sorts of problems, from a loss of swing width and power to an inconsistent swing path.
The cack-handed grip provides a brilliant fix. With your strong, right hand on top of the grip, it acts as a brace, naturally preventing the left arm from collapsing at the top of the swing. It helps you maintain a wide, powerful arc without even consciously thinking about it. This connection between your arms and chest is promoted automatically.
This is where the cack-handed grip is most widely accepted and practiced. For chipping and putting, excessive wrist action is a killer. It leads to chili-dips (hitting far behind the ball) and bladed shots (hitting the ball with the leading edge).
Gripping it cross-handed locks the wrists out of the stroke. The arrangement effectively forces your shoulders to create a more pendulum-like swing, moving the arms and club together in one solid unit. This removes many timing variables and makes it much easier to make solid, crisp contact every time, especially under pressure.
It's not all sunshine and roses. The cack-handed grip comes with a few challenges you should be aware of before committing to it.
If you've weighed the pros and cons and want to give it a try, this step-by-step guide will help you build your cack-handed swing from the ground up, based on sound fundamentals that work for any style.
Getting the hold right is the most important part. We want a neutral grip that allows you to control the clubface without having to make mid-swing corrections.
The good news is that posture principles remain the same. The setup is designed to have you in an athletic position ready to rotate and generate power. Bend forward from your hips, not your shoulders. Get your bottom stuck backward as if you were going to sit in a chair and let your arms hang naturally relaxed down from your shoulders. If you have your arms hanging naturally, your hands should be directly beneath your shoulders. Ensure your weight is balanced 50-50 between your feet for an iron shot, and make sure your stance is roughly shoulder-width apart to provide a stable base for rotation. The ball position also remains the same: in the middle of your stance for short irons and slightly forward in your stance as the clubs get longer.
The goal of the backswing is rotation - not lifting. Imagine you're inside two vertical poles, like in a barrel, and your job is to turn within that space. Rotate your shoulders and your hips, feeling your shoulder pressure building on your back hip while your head stays relatively still. The cross-handed grip will naturally help you maintain the width in the swing, as your right hand acts as a brace to keep your left arm from collapsing. This is a huge advantage.
This is where the cack-handed grip really shines. The first move from the top of the backswing should be a slight shift of your weight and hips toward the target. This ensures that the low point of the swing will be in front of the ball, resulting in crisp, compressed iron shots. As you finish up on the left side, fully unwind your body with power. The cross-handed drag promotes an inside-out track, as the rear hand is in a position to allow the club through on the correct plane. The feeling should be the same as throwing a ball: the body unwinds first and the arms and club follow along for maximum force.
Don't stop your rotation at impact. The goal is to fully rotate through to a good, balanced finish. Feel your hips and your chest turn to face the target. As this happens, your weight should now be almost entirely on your left foot, and you ought to be able to lift your right heel off the ground onto the toe naturally and without losing your balance.
Hold your finish. A full rotating swing that ends in a balanced position will lead to a solid, repeatable game.
Ultimately, playing cack-handed is a choice that comes down to what makes you hit the ball more consistently. While it's unconventional for the full swing, it can offer transformative benefits by promoting a body-driven swing, keeping the clubface stable, and simplifying the short game. It isn't a magical cure, but if it solves a persistent problem and makes the game more enjoyable, it's worth embracing.
Experimenting with a fundamental change like your grip can mean a lot of uncertainty on the course. With our Caddie AI, you have an expert opinion right in your pocket. As you're learning, if you get into a tricky situation because your cack-handed swing feels off, you can snap a photo of your ball and lie to get simple, scannable advice on the best way to play the shot. We are also here 24/7 to answer any questions you have about a grip change - from how it impacts club selection to the best drills - giving you a dedicated coach to guide you confidently through the process.
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