Can You Play Golf Cross-Handed?

Playing with a cross-handed golf grip - where a right-handed player places their left hand below the right - is one of the most unconventional things you can do in golf, but it's absolutely possible to play, and in some cases, play very well. We’re going to break down what this grip style is, cover the pros and cons for both your long and short game, and give you actionable advice on how to try it yourself.

What is a Cross-Handed Grip, Anyway?

Let's get the definition straight. For a right-handed golfer, a traditional grip has the left hand on top of the club and the right hand below it. A cross-handed grip simply flips that. The right hand sits on top (closer to the butt end of the grip), and the left hand is positioned below it (closer to the clubhead).

For left-handed golfers, it’s the reverse: your right hand would be below your left. It’s often called "left-hand low" for righties or "right-hand low" for lefties.

While this sounds strange for a full swing, it gained an incredible amount of popularity in putting, thanks to players like Jordan Spieth who have used it to become some of the best putters on the planet. But using it for full swings? That’s a different story with its own unique set of benefits and challenges.

The Surprising Benefits of a Cross-Handed Swing

Before you dismiss it as just a quirky idea, there are legitimate biomechanical reasons why playing cross-handed could help your game. Many golfers try it as a drill, only to find the "feel" so beneficial they make a more permanent switch.

It Helps Keep Your Shoulders Square

One of the most common setup faults for amateur golfers is open shoulders. A right-handed player will often aim their shoulders left of the target line. This promotes an "over-the-top" swing path, which is the number one cause of the dreaded slice. Hanging your left hand lower makes it much easier and more natural to keep your shoulders square to the target line, setting you up for a better swing path before you even take the club back.

It Quiets Your Dominant Hand (Especially in the Short Game)

This is the big one, especially for putting and chipping. Most right-handed golfers have a tendency for their right hand to get too active in the short game. This leads to twitchy, inconsistent strokes. The right wrist breaks down, trying to "scoop" the ball, resulting in fluffed chips and pushed or pulled putts. By placing the left hand lower, the left arm and shoulder are forced to lead the stroke. The right hand becomes passive, just going along for the ride. This creates a much more stable, repeatable pendulum motion - the bedrock of a great short game.

It Promotes a Better Swing Path

An over-the-top swing happens when the right shoulder and hand initiate the downswing, throwing the club outside the proper path. With a cross-handed grip, your right shoulder is in a much less dominant position. It’s almost physically restricted from lurching forward. This forces you to initiate the downswing with your lower body and allows the club to drop more naturally onto an inside-to-out path - the kind of path that produces powerful draws, not weak slices.

The Obvious Challenges of Going Cross-Handed

Of course, if the cross-handed grip was a magic pill, everyone would use it. The full swing presents some serious obstacles that you need to be aware of.

Power Generation Can Be Difficult

The primary reason a traditional grip works so well is that it allows your wrists to hinge and re-hinge naturally. This wrist action generates a tremendous amount of clubhead speed, often called "lag." In a cross-handed grip, this natural wrist hinge is severely restricted. It can feel clunky and unnatural to set the club properly at the top of the swing. As a result, many players who switch find they lose a significant amount of distance because they can’t generate the same clubhead speed.

Releasing the Club Becomes Unnatural

A proper release involves the forearms and hands rotating through impact to square the clubface. A right-handed player’s right hand naturally wants to roll over their left hand. When you play cross-handed, this motion is biomechanically awkward. The hands can feel like they are fighting each other, making it difficult to turn the clubface over. The result is often a shot that hangs out to the right (a push or a slice) because the face is left open at impact.

You Look... Different

Let's be honest, golf has a traditionalist streak. Standing on the first tee with a cross-handed grip will almost certainly draw comments and questions from your playing partners. While this has zero effect on physics, it can be a mental hurdle. You have to be confident enough to block out the noise and trust what you're doing.

How to Try a Cross-Handed Grip: A Practical Guide

If you're curious, the best approach is to experiment without pressure. Don’t take it to the first tee of a tournament. Head to the driving range or a practice green with an open mind.

Start with Putting and Chipping

This is where the cross-handed grip offers the most immediate bang for your buck.

• For Putting: On the practice green, address a putt with your normal grip. Now, simply slide your left hand down below your right, keeping your right hand in place. Acknowledge the initial weirdness. Hit a series of three-foot putts. Your only thought should be: "Control the stroke with your left shoulder rocking back and forth." Feel how passive the right hand becomes. You may instantly notice a smoother, more stable stroke.
• For Chipping: Grab a pitching wedge and move to the chipping green. Set up for a basic chip shot. Take your cross-handed putting grip. Focus on using your body turn to move the club, just like a longer putting stroke. The goal here is to eliminate any wristy "flicking" motion. This is a phenomenal drill for golfers who struggle with chunks and blades around the green.

Experimenting with the Full Swing

If the short game trial feels promising, you might be tempted to try it with a full swing. Brace yourself, because this is a far bigger change.

1. Begin with a Short Iron. Don’t grab your driver. Take a 9-iron or a wedge and set up to a ball on the range.
2. Get the Grip Ready. Place your right hand on the club normally. Then, place your left hand underneath it. Most players find a Vardon overlap or interlock still feels best, just with the hands flipped.
3. Make Half Swings. Start with small, waist-high-to-waist-high swings. Don't think about power at all. Your one and only focus should be on body rotation. Because your arms and hands are less active, your big muscles - your core and hips - must power the swing.
4. Feel the Takeaway. The takeaway will feel very connected. You won't be able to just "pick up" the club with your hands. Instead, you'll feel your chest and shoulders start the movement, with the arms and club just following along.
5. Anticipate a Different "Release." As you swing through, resist any urge to consciously "flip" your hands. The release will feel different. It's more of a "body release," where your continued body rotation pulls the arms and club through. The ball will likely want to go right at first. That's normal as you learn the new feel.
6. Be Incredibly Patient. You are fundamentally changing your swing's engine. It will take hundreds, if not thousands, of balls to build a semblance of consistency. Success requires finding a new way to generate speed and square the face without the traditional hand and wrist action you're used to.

Is a Cross-Handed Grip Right For You?

Ultimately, a cross-handed grip can be a powerful tool or a frustrating experiment. Here's how to decide if it's worth exploring:

• Adopt it for Putting if: You have the yips or your putting stroke feels jerky and inconsistent. If your right hand is too dominant, this is one of the best fixes you can try.
• Adopt it for Chipping if: You frequently chunk or blade chip shots. It forces you to use the bigger "body" muscles and removes the destructive handsy flick from the motion.
• Try it for the Full Swing if: You have a chronic, seemingly incurable over-the-top slice. A short period of hitting cross-handed can rewire your takeaway and downswing path by forcing you to use your body correctly. Some golfers even find it sticks for good, but know they are in the minority. It can also be an option for brand-new golfers who have no bad habits to unlearn.

Josh Broadaway is a great example of a professional who has competed on the PGA Tour using a full cross-handed swing, proving it is possible to play at a very high level this way. However, for every Josh Broadaway, there are thousands of pros who use a conventional grip. It’s certainly the road less traveled.

Final Thoughts

Playing golf cross-handed is a legitimate choice, not just a gimmick. It excels in the short game by promoting a stable, pendulum-like motion for putting and chipping, but presents real hurdles in the full swing concerning power and clubface control. The key is to start small, manage your expectations, and focus intently on solid body rotation.

When you're making a fundamental change like this, getting consistent feedback is incredibly important. At Caddie AI, we developed our app to serve as that constant, simple advisor for your game. You can ask us for specific drills to improve body rotation - which is essential for a cross-handed swing - or even snap a photo of that weird, awkward lie you're facing and get instant advice on how to play it. Instead of guessing, you get a clear plan, allowing you to focus on the new feel of your swing. Try asking questions and getting real-time strategy from Caddie AI next time you're working on a change.