How do you hold your "stick"?

  • Thread starter SuBMWaru
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SuBMWaru

SuBMWaru

177
United States
Georgia
Bugatti1997
Please, understand what I am saying. Your car is a manual transmission, how do you hold your shift lever when changing gears? I typically go from first to second on top with a sort lazy, lack of urgency maneuver similar to the power train from the rest of my car... all the others, 3-5, get a sort of random smash into their gates. LOL.

So how do you guys and gals shift?

-Stolen from another forum-
-I did use the search button, sorry if there is another thread-
 
I don't really think there is is need for a thread of such topic. I just don't see why people would, or share, different ways of holding their gear changer.
~ENDURANCEGUY
 
ENDURANCEGUY
I don't really think there is is need for a thread of such topic. I just don't see why people would, or share, different ways of holding their gear changer.
~ENDURANCEGUY
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Your point? Your post is not benefiting me or any of the others that may reply to this thread with something interesting. Thanks for your input. :)
 
From first to second i have all 4 fingers behind the knob, thrusting toward second quickly.

For 2-3, I have my palm on the front, and fingers on top, for maximum thrustage.

3-4 is fingers on the side away from me, palm on front, thumb on top.

4-5 is the same as 2-3.
 
hawkeye122
From first to second i have all 4 fingers behind the knob, thrusting toward second quickly.

For 2-3, I have my palm on the front, and fingers on top, for maximum thrustage.

3-4 is fingers on the side away from me, palm on front, thumb on top.

4-5 is the same as 2-3.
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Ha! Someone finds a purpose in this thread! Thanks for sharing.

-CE
 
I don't actually hold onto the stick, for straight upshifts lik 1-2 and 3-4, I just cup my hand and hold it at a 45 degree angle to the knob.
Sideways upshifts are cupped again and the thumb is used to push it over into the next gate.
Straight downshifts are just a push and sideways downshifts are a 45 degree angle cup.
Of course, I prefer to shift with my foot. 1 down 5 up.
 
I have a ball knob in my car, so most of the time, I just have my hand horizontal with my palm down on top of the ball and my fingertips around the front of it. Sometimes I put my hand sideways when going into 2nd, especially when downshifting.
 
How do I hold my stick? I usually get my better-half to do it for me. She's got the timing down perfect. We like to have it so that I control the loud screaming sounds (of the engine) while she throws the stick into that slot at the perfect time. Okay, bad Zenith. Mods, please don't kill me.

My gearshift is a big honking lever with probably about a foot of travel for each shift. It means that I end up using the "Fast n Furious" fist shift or the 3 finger claw. It's not such a big deal since I've only got 3 forward gears to use. I have to use my entire arm to complete the motion, rather than just my wrist or forearm like I would on something more modern. I don't need to worry about the precision required to hit 3rd instead of 5th or what have you.
 
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I try and do this.

Oh, and a quick note on holding the gearstick. Police driving schools teach the "thumb up and thumb down" method and I quite like it, as it encourages you to place sideways pressure in the correct direction, and helps to avoid selecting the wrong gear. Basically, hold the gearstick with the palm of your hand, and if you're selecting first or second, point your thumb down. If you're selecting third, fourth or fifth (or sixth!), point your thumb upwards. If you place the pressure on the gearstick with your palm, you'll always move the gearstick in the right direction.

Most gearboxes are sprung so that the stick "rests" in neutral between third and fourth gears, so sideways pressure is only ever needed when selecting first, second and fifth (and sixth) gears. Changes to third and fourth just involve a movement either straight forward, or straight back from the neutral plane.
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Taken from Zen and the art of changing gear.

My gear lever


Mazda RX-8 by GTRdaan, on Flickr


Mazda RX-8 by GTRdaan, on Flickr
 
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What an odd thread, but I'll play!

I usually go from first to second with my palm facing me, my fingers wrapping around the front of the knob (let's say the front is the area that faces the stereo, ie the front of the car). Usually the same position for second to third. Up to forth, usually palm on top, fingers front, straight down. Up to fifth same as second to third.

For downshifts it is usually much the same, although for the downshift to third usually its palm on the rear of it, slotting it straight in. If changing more that one gear at once it'll be the same hand to the side position.

I just like how it fits in my hand, that way.

Picture:
41b3a5a0.jpg
 
Punknoodle
What an odd thread, but I'll play!

I usually go from first to second with my palm facing me, my fingers wrapping around the front of the knob (let's say the front is the area that faces the stereo, ie the front of the car). Usually the same position for second to third. Up to forth, usually palm on top, fingers front, straight down. Up to fifth same as second to third.

For downshifts it is usually much the same, although for the downshift to third usually its palm on the rear of it, slotting it straight in. If changing more that one gear at once it'll be the same hand to the side position.

I just like how it fits in my hand, that way.

Picture:
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Nice stick! Toyota I'd assume from the TRD?

Encyclopedia
How do you hold your "stick"?

That's rather a personal question!
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Welll...
 
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1-2 = palm on right side, thumb on top.

2-3 = palm on top, fingers in front / or same as 1-2.

3-4 = palm on left side, thumb on bottom.

4-5 = same as 2-3.
 
Zenith013
How do I hold my stick? I usually get my better-half to do it for me. She's got the timing down perfect. We like to have it so that I control the loud screaming sounds (of the engine) while she throws the stick into that slot at the perfect time. Okay, bad Zenith. Mods, please don't kill me.
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:lol::lol::lol:
 
Nope, there is a right way and several wrong ways. daan quoted the right way.

Oddly, I was talking to him about it a couple of years ago (can't remember why) and showed him the technique and he said he'd seen it somewhere before. The guy he quoted in that post - Reg Local - is the guy who told me. In a pub in Northamptonshire. Small world.
 
Right foot on the gear shift, left hand thumb on the clutch, and nose on the gas.
 
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SuBMWaru
You're a clever person. Auto- boooooooooooooo.:yuck::yuck:
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i wouldnt call it an "auto" but yeah was being clever :) dont think i could ever go back to a stick shift after DCT

the only traditional stick shift cars i had were 350zs and i would hold it sort of gripping from the side instead of hand over top... but i guess it was because the shifter was so short and i had a aftermarket shifter
 
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Quick question to the people who have steering wheels on the wrong side (rhd).:dopey:

Is the first gear away from you, or towards you?
 
sumbrownkid
Quick question to the people who have steering wheels on the wrong side (rhd).:dopey:

Is the first gear away from you, or towards you?
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Dear people who have the steering wheels on the wrong side:

They don't turn the gearbox and engine round for you.
 
innerside of the handpalm to the left for 1+2
------------------------- facing down for 3+4
------------------------- to the right for 5+6
 

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