Editing Handedness (section)

=== Sports ===
{{See also|Southpaw stance}}
[[File:Michael Vick, November 2006 (1).jpg|thumb|[[Michael Vick]], a left-handed [[American football]] [[quarterback]], winds up to throw the ball to his teammate.]]
Interactive sports such as table tennis, badminton and cricket have an overrepresentation of left-handedness, while non-interactive sports such as swimming show no overrepresentation. Smaller physical distance between participants increases the overrepresentation. In [[fencing]], about half the participants are left-handed.<ref name=AEP>{{cite book | vauthors = Widermann D, Barton RA, Hill RA | chapter = Evolutionary perspectives on sport and competition | chapter-url = https://books.google.com/books?id=I20uPfEjsNQC&pg=PA290 | veditors = Roberts SC | doi = 10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199586073.001.0001 | title = Applied Evolutionary Psychology | year = 2011 | publisher = Oxford University Press| isbn = 9780199586073 }}</ref> In tennis, 40% of the [[Seed (sports)#Tennis|seeded players]] are left-handed.<ref name=":4">{{Cite book |last1=Graham |first1=Douglas |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vKQcD6-Fs58C |title=Ideation: The Birth and Death of Ideas |last2=Bachmann |first2=Thomas T. |date=2004-04-15 |publisher=John Wiley & Sons |isbn=978-0-471-47944-4 |pages=38 |language=en}}</ref> The term ''southpaw'' is sometimes used to refer to a left-handed individual, especially in [[baseball]] and [[boxing]].<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |date=June 2011 |title=southpaw, n. and adj. |dictionary=Oxford English Dictionary |publisher=Oxford University Press |url=https://www.oed.com/view/Entry/185300 |url-access=subscription |access-date=5 July 2020 |edition=3rd}}</ref> Some studies suggest that right handed male athletes tend to be statistically taller and heavier than left handed ones.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Abel & Kruger |title=Lefties are still a little shorter |journal=Perceptual and Motor Skills |date=2007 |volume=104 |issue=2 |pages=405–406 |doi=10.2466/pms.104.2.405-406 |pmid=17566429|s2cid=28204534 }}</ref>

Other, sports-specific factors may [[Confounding|increase or decrease]] the advantage left-handers usually hold in one-on-one situations:
* In [[baseball]], a right-handed pitcher's [[curve ball]] will break away from a right-handed batter and towards a left-handed batter (batting left or right does not indicate left or right handedness). While studies of handedness show that only 10% of the general population is left-handed, the proportion of left-handed [[MLB]] players is closer to 39% of hitters and 28% of pitchers, according to 2012 data.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Peterson |first1=Dan | name-list-style = vanc |title=Righties vs Lefties - The Importance Of Handedness Training In Hitting |url=https://www.gamesensesports.com/knowledge/2017/3/17/righties-vs-lefties-the-importance-of-handedness-training-in-baseball-hitting |website=Game Sense Sports |date=17 March 2017 |access-date=3 April 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190403165517/https://www.gamesensesports.com/knowledge/2017/3/17/righties-vs-lefties-the-importance-of-handedness-training-in-baseball-hitting |archive-date=3 April 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref> Historical [[batting average (baseball)|batting averages]] show that left-handed batters have a slight advantage over right-handed batters when facing right-handed pitchers.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/split.cgi?t=b&lg=MLB&year=2012#plato |title=2012 Major League Baseball Batting Splits |website=Baseball Reference |access-date=6 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909022801/http://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/split.cgi?t=b&lg=MLB&year=2012#plato |archive-date=9 September 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> Because there are fewer left-handed pitchers than right-handed pitchers, left-handed batters have more opportunities to face right-handed pitchers than their right-handed counterparts have against left-handed pitchers.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/the-advantage-of-batting-left-handed/ | first = John | last = Walsh | name-list-style = vanc |title=The advantage of batting left-handed | date = 15 November 2007 |publisher=hardballtimes.com |access-date=7 March 2013 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130313221124/http://www.hardballtimes.com/main/article/the-advantage-of-batting-left-handed |archive-date=13 March 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref> Fifteen of the top twenty [[List of Major League Baseball career batting average leaders|career batting average leaders]] in [[Major League Baseball]] history have been posted by left-handed batters.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/batting_avg_career.shtml |title=Career Leaders & Records for Batting Average |website=Baseball Reference |access-date=6 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130413224624/http://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/batting_avg_career.shtml |archive-date=13 April 2013 |url-status=live }}</ref>
** Because a left-handed pitcher faces first base when he is in position to throw to the batter, whereas a right-handed pitcher has his back to first base, a left-handed pitcher has an advantage when attempting to [[pickoff|pick off]] baserunners at first base.<ref name="First Base Pickoffs for Lefty Pitchers">{{cite web |url=http://baseball.isport.com/baseball-guides/first-base-pickoffs-for-lefty-pitchers |title=First Base Pickoffs for Lefty Pitchers |publisher=isport.com |access-date=7 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130622212223/http://baseball.isport.com/baseball-guides/first-base-pickoffs-for-lefty-pitchers |archive-date=22 June 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
** Defensively in baseball, left-handedness is considered an advantage for [[first basemen]] because they are better suited to fielding balls hit in the gap between first and second base, and because they do not have to pivot their body around before throwing the ball to another [[infielder]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/29/sports/baseball/29score.html?_r=0 | last = Miller | first = Stuart | name-list-style = vanc |title=The Decline of Left-Handed First Basemen |newspaper=nytimes.com |access-date=7 March 2013 |date=29 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926170156/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/29/sports/baseball/29score.html?_r=0 |archive-date=26 September 2015 |url-status=live }}</ref> For the same reason, the other infielder's positions are seen as being advantageous to right-handed throwers. Historically, there have been few left-handed catchers because of the perceived disadvantage a left-handed catcher would have in making the throw to third base, especially with a right-handed hitter at the plate.<ref name="Left Handed Catchers">{{cite web |url=http://bb_catchers.tripod.com/catchers/catchleft.htm |title=Left Handed Catchers |publisher=The Encyclopedia of Baseball Catchers |access-date=7 March 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120817090402/http://bb_catchers.tripod.com/catchers/catchleft.htm |archive-date=17 August 2012 |url-status=live }}</ref> A left-handed catcher would have a potentially more dangerous time tagging out a [[baserunner]] trying to score.<ref name="Left Handed Catchers" /> With the ball in the glove on the right hand, a left-handed catcher would have to turn his body to the left to tag a runner. In doing so, he can lose the opportunity to brace himself for an impending collision.<ref name="Left Handed Catchers" /> On the other hand, the Encyclopedia of Baseball Catchers states:<ref name="Left Handed Catchers" />
{{Blockquote
|text=One advantage is a left-handed catcher's ability to frame a right-handed pitcher's breaking balls. A right-handed catcher catches a right-hander's [[breaking ball]] across his body, with his glove moving out of the strike zone. A left-handed catcher would be able to catch the pitch moving into the strike zone and create a better target for the umpire.}}
* In [[four wall handball]], typical strategy is to play along the left wall forcing the opponent to use their left hand to counter the attack and playing into the strength of a left-handed competitor.
* In [[handball]], left-handed players have an advantage on the right side of the field when attacking, getting a better angle, and that defenders might be unused to them. Since few people are left-handed, there is a demand for such players.
* In [[water polo]], the centre forward position has an advantage in turning to shoot on net when rotating the reverse direction as expected by the centre of the opposition defence and gain an improved position to score. Left-handed drivers are usually on the right side of the field, because they can get better angles to pass the ball or shoot for goal.
* [[Ice hockey]] typically uses a strategy in which a [[defenceman (ice hockey)|defence pairing]] includes one left-handed and one right-handed defender. A disproportionately large number of ice hockey players of all positions, 62 percent, shoot left, although this does not necessarily indicate left-handedness.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.buffalohockeybeat.com/depleted-sabres-defense-thrives/|title=Depleted Sabres defense thrives|last=Hoppe|first=Bill| name-list-style = vanc |work=Buffalo Hockey Beat|publisher=Olean Times Herald|date=January 23, 2017|access-date=January 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216031952/http://www.buffalohockeybeat.com/depleted-sabres-defense-thrives/|archive-date=December 16, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
* In [[American football]], the handedness of a [[quarterback]] affects blocking patterns on the [[offensive line]]. [[Tight end]]s, when only one is used, typically line up on the same side as the throwing hand of the quarterback, while the [[offensive tackle]] on the opposite hand, which protects the quarterback's "blind side", is typically the most valued member of the offensive line. Receivers also have to adapt to the opposite spin.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Greene |first1=Nick |title=Why Left-Handed Quarterbacks Are So Rare |url=https://slate.com/culture/2020/11/tua-tagovailoa-left-handed-quarterbacks-rare-nfl.html |access-date=5 November 2020 |work=[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]] |date=2 November 2020}}</ref> While uncommon, there have been several [[List of left-handed quarterbacks|notable left-handed quarterbacks]].
* In [[bowling]], the oil pattern used on the bowling lane [[bowling ball#Effect of lane characteristics on ball motion|breaks down]] faster the more times a ball is rolled down the lane. Bowlers must continually adjust their shots to compensate for the ball's change in rotation as the game or series is played and the oil is altered from its original pattern. A left-handed bowler competes on the opposite side of the lane from the right-handed bowler and therefore deals with less breakdown of the original oil placement. This means left-handed bowlers have to adjust their shot less frequently than right-handed bowlers in team events or qualifying rounds where there are possibly 4-10 people per set of two lanes. This can allow them to stay more consistent. However, this advantage is not present in bracket rounds and tournament finals where matches are 1v1 on a pair of lanes.