Figuring out which way your kid shoots

[nfotiu]

So, watching my 2 year old play in the yard with various sports equipment, it seems pretty obvious that he likes to throw with his right hand, and is right handed for other things like eating,etc.

He has some right handed golf clubs. I'll guide him on how to swing the club, but as soon as he's left alone he switches to left handed. I assume he'd do the same with a hockey stick too, like he'd know the difference!

So, does that mean he's a natural left handed shot for hockey, golf? Or is it too early to mean anything?

My dad and I were both left handed hockey shots, but golfed and batted right (probably because right handed clubs were all we had access too.)

On a related note, does it make sense to golf one way and shoot hockey the other way, or were most people who golfed different than they shot socialized to golf right handed?

[Sample00]

Kids wont typically resolve to one way or the other for a bit yet.
dont worry bout it too much.
it took my son til about age 5/6 to resolve to shooting right.
but if you can make them learn both ways..thats the best!!

[fredr123]

Originally Posted by nfotiu

So, watching my 2 year old play in the yard with various sports equipment, it seems pretty obvious that he likes to throw with his right hand, and is right handed for other things like eating,etc.

He has some right handed golf clubs. I'll guide him on how to swing the club, but as soon as he's left alone he switches to left handed. I assume he'd do the same with a hockey stick too, like he'd know the difference!

So, does that mean he's a natural left handed shot for hockey, golf? Or is it too early to mean anything?

My dad and I were both left handed hockey shots, but golfed and batted right (probably because right handed clubs were all we had access too.)

On a related note, does it make sense to golf one way and shoot hockey the other way, or were most people who golfed different than they shot socialized to golf right handed?

Swinging right golf is by far more common than swinging left. On the other hand, shooting left in hockey is much more common than shooting right. I follow this pattern myself. Everything else I do right handed. Come to think of it though, I can probably throw better left handed than half the SW team can with their best hand.

[habernac]

I'm left everything and I'm right handed. No idea how I figured it out, I just did. My Dad is the exact opposite. He's left handed but bats, shoots and golfs right.

[ken0042]

I golf right, shoot left.

However since learning to golf at so late in life (age 28 when I started) I now find that in hockey I can handle the puck better left handed, but have a more accurate slapshot right handed.

[Berger_4_]

Originally Posted by nfotiu

So, watching my 2 year old play in the yard with various sports equipment, it seems pretty obvious that he likes to throw with his right hand, and is right handed for other things like eating,etc.

He has some right handed golf clubs. I'll guide him on how to swing the club, but as soon as he's left alone he switches to left handed. I assume he'd do the same with a hockey stick too, like he'd know the difference!

So, does that mean he's a natural left handed shot for hockey, golf? Or is it too early to mean anything?

My dad and I were both left handed hockey shots, but golfed and batted right (probably because right handed clubs were all we had access too.)

On a related note, does it make sense to golf one way and shoot hockey the other way, or were most people who golfed different than they shot socialized to golf right handed?

Give him a stick with a flat blade. He'll figure it out on his own. Nobody at that age needs a curve anyways.

And I'm like you and your dad. Shoot left in hockey, golf and bat right.

[Kidder]

I'd suggest getting him a mini-stick and a ball and just letting him have at 'er.

After a while it will become pretty clear which side he feels more comfortable with, and the results should be obvious too, he'll be able to raise shots from one side easier, stick handle better, etc.

I shot the same way I swung a club, left, but I started out in hockey and didn't start up golf until nine or ten. It felt like a more natural transition from the same side. Apparently, Canada has a much higher ratio of left handed golfers than the US mainly because there are a high number of golfers who make the transition from hockey (see Mike Weir, who has suggested allowing kids to do what feels natural.)

Funny enough though, up until my mid-teens people would tell me my swing resembled a slap shot. I made some reformations to it, mostly to add more power, and now I have trouble letting go a decent slap shot.

But just let your kid work out what feels natural to him. And if he turns out to me a left handed golfer, embrace it, you can get clubs for a lot cheaper.

I should add that I bat from the right side. I don't think there's any standard or set dexterity between sports. Just use what works for you.

[Hack&Lube]

Most right handers shoot left in hockey.

It depends on which hand you want emphasis on. In golf it's just an accuracy swing. In hockey, you need to stick handle too so shooting left makes more sense because your right hand gives you more control.

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by Sample00

Kids wont typically resolve to one way or the other for a bit yet.
dont worry bout it too much.
it took my son til about age 5/6 to resolve to shooting right.
but if you can make them learn both ways..thats the best!!

Agreed. I remember being 7 or 8 and my dad wanted to get me a stick and asked which way I shoot. Both ways felt comfortable, but I ultimately went left because that's what all his sticks were(so he could cheap out and just carve one down instead of buying me a new one). Now that's all I can do is left. Baseball same, golf same(despite being a righty with a pen). Then in tennis I noticed I was ambi as well, but was sick of being a lefty with everything, so I just chose to be a righty, and now all I can do is righty with that.

Looking back on it, I wish I would've kept up with being ambi(especially for baseball). If your son seems comfortable shooting both ways, I say encourage it.

[Sample00]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

Agreed. I remember being 7 or 8 and my dad wanted to get me a stick and asked which way I shoot. Both ways felt comfortable, but I ultimately went left because that's what all his sticks were(so he could cheap out and just carve one down instead of buying me a new one). Now that's all I can do is left. Baseball same, golf same(despite being a righty with a pen). Then in tennis I noticed I was ambi as well, but was sick of being a lefty with everything, so I just chose to be a righty, and now all I can do is righty with that.

Looking back on it, I wish I would've kept up with being ambi(especially for baseball). If your son seems comfortable shooting both ways, I say encourage it.

just thought of this, but in baseball, my son can bat both ways. He is naturally left handed, but shoots right, golfs right and then can bat both ways.
it suck for hockey though, cause he catches with his left and shoots right. I call it the Curtis Joseph syndrome. but he is learning now to shoot the puck left. it just takes a lot more concentration and effort.

[photon]

I don't know why but this thread title reminded me of this photoshop I did a while ago (well more of a caption than a photoshop).

[Flames89]

I am right everything. Handed, golf, hockey.

I can shoot pool pretty much either way - but I am getting worse and worse overall each year.

[Gozer]

Originally Posted by Berger_4_

Give him a stick with a flat blade. He'll figure it out on his own. Nobody at that age needs a curve anyways.

Echo.

[FlamesKickAss]

good idea to just give him a curveless blade and let him figure it out.

I do everything right handed except for pool, i shoot lefty.

[arloiginla]

I remember shooting right-handed as a little kid because I did't even realize some people shot the other way (although my dad did he never really explained it to me). By the time I realized I had a choice it was too late, I couldn't get out of the mold anymore.

Funny stat is (dont remember the site) that most right-handed people shoot left in hockey and most right-shooters in hockey are left-handed I am right everything so I guess I'm weird. Although what kills me about my dad is that he shoots left in hockey, but golfs right-handed.

The curveless stick blade is a great idea, but where do you get those? I don't remember ever seeing them at placees like Canadian Tire.

[Sainters7]

Originally Posted by arloiginla

I remember shooting right-handed as a little kid because I did't even realize some people shot the other way (although my dad did he never really explained it to me). By the time I realized I had a choice it was too late, I couldn't get out of the mold anymore.

Funny stat is (dont remember the site) that most right-handed people shoot left in hockey and most right-shooters in hockey are left-handed I am right everything so I guess I'm weird. Although what kills me about my dad is that he shoots left in hockey, but golfs right-handed.

The curveless stick blade is a great idea, but where do you get those? I don't remember ever seeing them at placees like Canadian Tire.

Jack one from any local elementary/junior high school, they have huge bins full of em(Toys R Us or Zellers may too, if you're a wuss and not into theft). I remember making the absolutely wicked curve in those back in the day during gym class. You'd fire it and would have absolutely NO idea where it was going to go.

[arloiginla]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

Jack one from any local elementary/junior high school, they have huge bins full of em(Toys R Us or Zellers may too, if you're a wuss and not into theft). I remember making the absolutely wicked curve in those back in the day during gym class. You'd fire it and would have absolutely NO idea where it was going to go.

Oh the plastic sticks. That makes sense then. Ya I remember making the banana curves as well....those shots were always scary

[Buff]

Originally Posted by arloiginla

The curveless stick blade is a great idea, but where do you get those? I don't remember ever seeing them at placees like Canadian Tire.

Canadian Tire still sells wooden sticks without a curved blade. Only one stick though, so it may be hard to notice. I remember seeing one at the northside Canadian Tire in Lethbridge this past season.

[Kybosh]

As the old saying goes: "If you're only swinging one way, you're missing half the fun."

[edn88]

I say let him figure it out on his own with a straight stick... I am pretty I started with a straight stick and went from there

I am one of those messed up ones that play golf right, and shoot left in hockey - (wish I played left in golf - much better deals on golf gear, and shot right in hockey - better stick selection)