Advantages of Being Left-handed

Left-handed people may have more challenges as they live in a right-handed world where most tools are not designed for them. However, many famous lefties didn't let what might had been a handicap stop them from achieving beyond ordinary success and fame. In fact, many geniuses of history, such as Albert Einstein and Benjamin Franklin, were left-handed.

What causes some people to be left-handed?

Only about 5% to 30% of people in the world are left-handed. By the time a child is about two years old, he (or she) shows a preference of hands in feeding and grasping, indicating which hand he'll use for the rest of his life. It's not clear why some people are left-handed. While some believe it's hereditary, others contend it's a learned behavior, while others think it's a result of prenatal conditions. Their theory holds that more testosterone is washed over the brain in the womb, causing a baby to be left-handed Yet, all theories are speculative with insufficient evidence to be factual.

Lefties Have an Advantage in Some Sports

Although lefties usually have to learn how to use sports equipment differently than right-handed people, they also have advantages. For example, many one-on-one sports (where players face each other) work to the advantage of lefties. That's because a left-handed fencer (as well as a lefty ping-pong or tennis player) is more accustomed to playing against right handed opponents, whereas the right-handed player is more awkward when facing a lefty contender. Baseball also favors lefties for several reasons, such as when a right-handed pitcher throws a ball to a left-handed batter, the lefty batter can see the ball better because the bat isn't in his way.

Advantages in Learning