What is the proper way to hold the shift knob when driving/shifting? Usually I wrap my hand around it similar to holding a coke can, or sometimes I will rest my palm on the top sort of like laying my hand flat on a table and curving my fingers to the back of the knob.

Are these the correct ways to hold the shift knob, or what is the proper way to hold it?

I had a friend that would turn his hand upside down and slide the stick inbetween his middle fingers (2 fingers on each side of the stick) and wrest his palm on the front of the knob, but he seemed to miss shifts holding the stick like that.

 

I'm sure people are going to say that it's personal preference. I have tried all of the above and have to say that I tend to shift more accurately when using the "hold it like a coke can" style. I use the "hand flat on a table" style once in a while, (I just flick my wrist.. love the short throw) when I'm just driving very relaxed and don't need to be the quickest shift in the west.

InsaniT

 

There's a good joke in here somewhere....

The only real answer is with your wrist in a natural position (not palm up like your friend) and FIRMLY.

 

there is a website that was posted on this forum once that had the proper (for racing) way to do everything, from heel-toe, breaking, and shifitng. but i dont know what it is

 

Here's the link:

http://www.turnfast.com/tech_driving/drivi..._shifting.lasso

 

This may be a peculiarity of my posture and body dimensions, but I find that shifting Coke-can style causes me to mis-shift ocasionally. I think this has to do with bending the wrist as you pull the shifter down, which tends to push the knob towards the driver, increasing the chances that you will go 3->2 instead of the 3->4 that was intended.

With the S2000 gear pattern, I always hit the gear correctly when I shift 'over the top'. The gear pattern is tight (especially with a Voodoo knob) and there have been several threads about owners over-revving the engine on bad shifts.

 

I have to agree with Tanq and also state that the link is a great resource for skill building.

I have a voodoo knob, which shortens my throw, with the pistol/coke can grip, I feel like I'm "pulling" back instead of just shifting back. Movements should be short and quick, and when I am in the pistol grip and going from 2 to 3, then a mis-shift is VERY easy, its how I broke one of my T5's in the old mustang (one of three tranny's I went through), as you hold it like a pistol, you either force it up there with only your thumb, which isn't that accurate, or you will pull your arm back awkwardly to get part of your palm in there to push it up. not ideal in my opinion.

 

Here's what I have been used to:

Forward movement, shift knob in the center of the palm and the heel of the palm pushing the knob.

Downward, hand gripping the knob and the fingers pulling the knob.

Hope this helps!

:Kibro

 

I use a bunch of different 'holds'. For daily driving I use the 'can of coke' grip. For Track sessions I use the 'can' grip for 'forward shifts (2 to 3 / 4 to 5) and I invert my hand (thumb down) for 'backward shifts' (1 to 2 / 3 to 4) This way you use your fingers to pul back / not the palm of your hand on the top. The instructor at the driving school suggested I try it and I found that it is a much better way of shifting - for me. Just my 2

 

I like the thumbs down grip on the 5 - 6 shift. Top of shifter in middle of palm for 2 - 3 and 4 - 5. Fingers cupped around top of shifter of 1 - 2 and 3 - 4.