John Gallagher Cack-Handed Professional Golfer – Episode #17
Posted on 16. Nov, 2009 by Andy Brown in Golf
In this episode I visit Scottish professional golfer John Gallagher at Swanston Golf Club, just South of Edinburgh. He is unique in that he plays “cack handed” (cross handed), meaning for a right handed golfer his right hand is above his left one. Watch the video to see this self taught method in action and how we may all be gripping the golf club the wrong way!
John currently plays on the EuroPro Tour, though successful qualification in the final stage ( top 35 and ties over 54 holes from 16-18th Nov) of the Alps Tour this week will mean a full schedule next year playing in Austria, Belguim, France, Italy, Morocco, Spain and Slovenia.
John has been a professional for 9 months, following a successful amateur career including winning the 2007 Scottish Amateur Championship at Prestwick Golf Club, where he beat Keir McNicoll in the final 4&3. Prior to this in 2005 he reached the final of the 2005 Amateur Championship at Royal Birkdale, beating Lloyd Saltman in the semi-final.
John is sponsored by:
Swanston Golf Club – Swanstongolf.com
Ping Golf (equipment) – Ping.com
Bunker Mentality (clothing) – Bunker-Mentality.com
Morisons Solicitors – Morisonsllp.com
He is is very grateful for their financial assistance and support, along with other private individuals. This certainly alleviates some of the stress of being on tour and allows him to concentrate more on his game.
John and everyone at Swanston Golf Club made me feel very welcome and I wish him and the club every success over the coming months.
Finally, the Question of the Day:
At what age did you start playing golf? Please leave your comments below and we’ll have fun reading them!
Gordon
20. Jan, 2012
Started playing golf at age 19 (now 77) in Egypt on Brownie greens. Was lucky to have two pros doing national service so instruction was free as was a new set of Clubs. Have been playing ever since – been down to 9 now 16. Played with cackhanded players who always seem to strike the ball wall. Have been putting cack handed for a while might try it with my other clubs using the the system I bought from you.
Am an hynotherapist and thought field therapist and produced a CD for golfers which was receommended by Todays Golf Magazine in June 2007. Have even wrote an ebook, yet to be published one how to prepare and be consistent at golf.
Mike
06. Apr, 2010
I started golf at age 15 – joined a club at 15 and my first ever handicap was 6 before I was 16
Lowest ever was +2
I am now 51 and know John very well and I also play cack-handed !!!
Jon
07. Feb, 2010
Ah us cack handed golfers are a rare breed, most people i play with just can’t understand how i manage to play the way i do. Most people say have you tried playing with lefted clubs but yes i have and i was useless the cack handed grip with right handed clubs just feels right to me and i play all other sports this way ( Cricket,Hockey etc) if i change it around the other way to a normal grip i can’t even hit the ball. The only problem i have with my cack handed grip is i can’t seem to pull the club as far back as i would like to due to the grip so i do lose a little distance. I have came down from a 28 to 14 handicap and will never change. I even love putting this way as this seems to be the best part of my game, the only other draw backs are you can’t really read up on how to play properly in magazines as the grip is back to front so most advice is useless, and the other draw back is people always wanting to talk to you about your shall we say funny grip anyway keep it up all you cack handers out there. Jon
Tom
02. Feb, 2010
Hi Andy,
I started playing golf 25 years ago when I was 37 …I am as good as ever off 10 handicap – thanks in part to your stuff..
I play with a lot of Irish guys who played GAA Hurling. Most of them play ‘cack handed’ and some are really great golfers..so nothing wrong with it.
I enjoy the rules of golf too…Keep up the good work..
Best Regards
Tom.B
Doug Kappel
28. Jan, 2010
Started playing golf in North Dakota when I was about 17 yrs old. When I joined the Navy I gave it up for about 8 yrs. What a mistake that was because there were alot of great courses I could have played when traveling the Pacific. My mistake. I now play in a group here in Texas where golf and having a good time is what it is about. Golf is a good relief from the real world! Thanks for your series and all you do for golf,Andy.
Bill Heasman
26. Jan, 2010
HI Started playing when 60yrs old love the game It is good to see someone who does not conform to the accepted style of playing Keep doing it John
Val Mellish
13. Jan, 2010
Hi,
I’m so pleased to have found your site. Many hours have beeen spent reading and watching your videos. Hopefully, with all the practice I am now aiming to lower the dreaded h’cap. to 12 or maybe lower this year. A family member has started last year at the age of 7yrs and hits the ball so well, lucky girl. So off to the range with her. She is as keen as I. Such a great sport for all ages.
Mavis Joiner
02. Jan, 2010
Hi,
I first took up golf when my eldest son took it up, I walked round with him then caught the bug myself that was in the early eighties, I now love the game I joined Harpenden Common Golf Club ( Ken Brown the Pro & commentater’s club) Two years ago I had the honour of being the ladies captain.
Mavis
Mavis Joiner
02. Jan, 2010
Hi andy
I first took up golf when my eldest son took it up, I walked round with him then caught the bugmyself that was in the early eighties, i now love the game I joined harpenden common Golf Club ( Ken Brown the Pro & commentater’s club) Two years ago I had the honour of being the ladies captain.
Mavis
Ottawa Golf Blog
30. Dec, 2009
Cool video, interesting too see someone sponsored by Bunker-Mentality.com.
Dusty Miller
30. Dec, 2009
It was interesting to read some of the comments here. and was to surprised to see one of my past golfing friends James Grinyer article , and found his comments about the South African Indian Player interesting, if he reads this comment. I wish him and his wife Denise a Happy New Year and good golfing year at Hever Castle Golf Club. Andy if you ever get the chance try and play Hever Castle Golf Club, it is a challenging course!!
Pieman
23. Dec, 2009
Hi Andy, I was 53 before I ever took up a golf club, now I am 63 but because I still have to work for a living and can only play golf once per week in the summer them I guess I am crap will always be crap compaired to many but really enjoy this game even though I am crap.
colin
19. Dec, 2009
Check out kinlough0.tripod.com keeping the faith for all us cack handers!!
colin
17. Dec, 2009
Great video.. its given me faith to keep going I too hold the club the same way as john, i have never had lesson in my life & played just for fun & never had a handicap. After 11 years of not playing i returned with my blades inc a 1 iron to my local driving range. i was told by the owner that his pro would not even give me the time of day or give me a lesson & i would break my wrist! & i might as well throw my clubs away & my PING 1 iron was no match for a driver ( i do not own a driver),he even came & made me hit the ball with a traditional grip! this felt wrong, i guess he was trying to help.But i felt gutted & a little down but When he finally went i returned to the so called cack handed swing & after a few warm ups i hit better & longer (out of his driving range) & into the 50, 100, 150 catching nets, so i say if it feels ok & you are happy just stick to it , i will as 11 years ago i gave a fellow golfer (6 handicap) a very good run for his money…..regards colin keep the faith
Bill Hargreaves
13. Dec, 2009
G’day Andy,
It was interesting to see the video of John and his cack-handed grip. When I started golf way back in 1955 our club champion then was Noel Marshall who played off 2 but with the cack-handed grip. Initially I was never sure which way he was going! But he was a great golfer for many years.
Pete Murray
11. Dec, 2009
Started playing 2 years ago with left handed clubs, but it did’nt feel comfortable. Switched to right handed clubs but with the cack handedgrip and it all connected it just feels right. It’s brought my handycap down to 16 from 22 in a short space of time. It’s still difficult to get rid of the slice though.
Thanks for that info Andy. I thought I was the only one out there.
Don Mitchell
26. Nov, 2009
Hi Andy, The cross hand grip [ In Texas we call it cow handed] seems to have more range of motion than the tridational grip. John has very good tempo in his swing. Good luck in his endeavors.
Andy your emails are very interesting and I enjoy them. I am just getting started with your New Four Magic Moves. I have been a golf instructor almost 40 years and enjoy new ideas on how to teach the golf swing. I am a visual and feel type person so I will need to get your method on DVD. I am a very visual and feel type teacher.
Best wishes on your future endeavors
Don Mitchell PS I must be related to Abe Mitchell [golfer on top of the Ryder cup trophy and Mr. Ryder's golf teacher]
Stu
25. Nov, 2009
I started at 35. I got to 8 handicap on my own and discovered your new 4 magic moves and got down to 2. I love the details on the description of the swing. I have justed started as a professional golf coach. I have a couple of people I coach that are cack handed. I m now 52. I m sure that they will be encouraged by Johns success playing with the cack handed grip.
Paul Coutts
24. Nov, 2009
Hi Andy,
Enjoying your videos, thank you. I am 50yrs old and am a natural left-hander playing right-handed with a “shinty” grip, this confuses the hell out of most golfers but is quite normal to me. Being ambidexstrous I still carry and use L/H clubs but had to decide which ones to major on cos’ your only allowed 14 clubs lol.
Your lesson on the early wrist break was a great revelation to me and helped me to win my very first 36 hole tournament , I was stoked.
My 25.0 hcp index continues to move down and hope to be in the mid teens in the coming year.
Still have trouble with the “slice” and wondered if you had a remedy for me?
Many thanks for your help!
Cheers for now , Paul
Stan Russell
24. Nov, 2009
Andy,
I started playing golf at the age of 8 years, I remember my father taking a hickory shafted club, and cutting the length down till it was level with my ‘tummy button’ and wrapping electrical insulation round the grip. This was during WW2 , I subequently found out that the club was a niblick.
Years later I read that Lee Trevino, when asked how many clubs should you give a child when starting golf, he replied; one club ! and if you love him, give him a putter for Xmas! that was 69 years ago, I play off 12 h’cap.
Stan Russell
Edinburgh
Bob Williams
24. Nov, 2009
Hi Andy i started golf in sep.2007 my first time i score 78 today my score avr. 47 to 54 i like to play golf problem is i play one time a week
me
22. Nov, 2009
Hi Andy , i now live in southern ireland and with so many men who played hurley and have now taken up golf there is a lot of cack handed golfers here in ireland both right and left handed ,and i can say they play golf very well better than quite a few who play the ordinary way . many thank for all your tips keep them comming maybe one day i’ll be able to play golf .ME
Barbara Kay Smith
21. Nov, 2009
Hi Andy,
I started playing golf in my late 40′s, am now 68. I am right handed but play left handed. I might try the grip and try right handed for kicks.
My handicap index is 13.8 and am working on lowering my handicap. I love the game and enjoy your articles.
Barbara K. Smith
Patrick Blay
21. Nov, 2009
I started playing Golf at the age of 50.
I wish i had know this fantastic game earlier but in my country ( France) only people with money could afford it.
Thanks for your passion and your generosity
I was really impressed by John’s swing and will give it a try for fun
Cheers
Angelito B Jose
21. Nov, 2009
I started at 55 now im 57 my handicap is at 36