shifting gears a good technique

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cimbali
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shifting gears a good technique

Post by cimbali »

Not sure if this link has been posted here before...however, curious what you all think of the suggested hand positions descibed in the link below that minimize the mis shift. They seem a bit extreme to me for daily driving...especially the 3 to 4 shift.

http://blogs.superstreetonline.com/1005 ... index.html
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Re: shifting gears a good technique

Post by theholycow »

We haven't had a shifter grip thread in a while. Good to discuss, but that page gives some godawful grips, sure to cause mis-shifts. Also in the photos it looks like the dude has a death grip on the shifter, which nearly assures mis-shifts too.

1->2: Ok, the way they say is fine.

2->3: NO! Bad! Push it with the heel of your hand almost straight forward. DO NOT PUSH IT SIDEWAYS AT ALL! Your centering springs will do that perfectly.

3->4: You'll mis-shift into 6th or reverse if you do it that way. Very simply use your flattened or curled fingers to push it straight back without actually gripping the shifter.

4->5: Lose the death grip and it's acceptable, just make sure you push it sideways. The upside-down backhand grip shown for 3->4 and 5->6 is better.

5->6: I cannot say from experience but I imagine it's good as described/pictured.

With all of these, do not move your hand according to the map printed on the knob, fore/aft then stopping in the center then sideways then stopping then fore/aft again. Aim and move in a smooth diagonal motion, allowing the synchros to delay/stop you but not intentionally stopping.
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Re: shifting gears a good technique

Post by FDSpirit »

WTF!? That looks.....odd to say the least. I found a thread on here ages ago that I'd link to people asking about hand positions. I usually go about the same method THC lists. The only difference is the 4>5. I usually go up right up. I can do the shifting technique he says, but I find my way suits my tastes a little more.
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Re: shifting gears a good technique

Post by AHTOXA »

Shifts are to be palmed, in my opinion. Open palm grip on the right side of shifter for gears 1 and 2. Palm on top for 3 and 4 and 5/6.
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Re: shifting gears a good technique

Post by FDSpirit »

Yeah. Same here. It just looks like that guy is overdoing it IMO.
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Re: shifting gears a good technique

Post by cimbali »

I don't recall who posted it here, but the advice for the 4 to 5 shift where you shift towards your glove box using your palm has helped me big time with that particular shift.

The 3 to 4 shift is my easiest shift, as recommended, I just use three fingers and pull the lever straight down.

The 5 to 6 shift is the only shift I back hand.
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Re: shifting gears a good technique

Post by theholycow »

Palming is good.

All of this applies to modern, remote (cable/linkage) shifted FWD style stuff...despite its reasonable throws (almost the same as my VW was) my T5 is more of a matter of cupping the entire hand over the knob, flat on top of it, and shifting with the arm instead of the fingers.
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Re: shifting gears a good technique

Post by theholycow »

theholycow wrote:my T5 is more of a matter of cupping the entire hand over the knob, flat on top of it, and shifting with the arm instead of the fingers.
Eh, actually, that's not really the case. There's more cupping, mainly because the knob is larger than an average knob (it appears to have been a regulation-sized billiard 8 ball earlier in its life), but many of the positions are the same. Coming out of 2, 4, or R is a bit different because the knob almost rests on the bench seat and it's not convenient to get behind it, so I rest my palm over the front of the knob, my fingers on the shaft, and my thumb circles the shaft.

(I know where this is going next.)
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Re: shifting gears a good technique

Post by six »

theholycow wrote:Eh, actually, that's not really the case. There's more cupping, mainly because my knob is larger than the average knob, but many of the positions are the same. The knob almost rests on the bench seat and it's not convenient to get behind it, so I rest my palm over the front of the knob, my fingers on the shaft, and my thumb circles the shaft.
Be careful, you'll go blind if you do that too much.
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Re: shifting gears a good technique

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Re: shifting gears a good technique

Post by six »

^ That is an interesting way to go into 3rd. If I do that, I go into 5th instead.
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Re: shifting gears a good technique

Post by FDSpirit »

six wrote:
theholycow wrote:Eh, actually, that's not really the case. There's more cupping, mainly because my knob is larger than the average knob, but many of the positions are the same. The knob almost rests on the bench seat and it's not convenient to get behind it, so I rest my palm over the front of the knob, my fingers on the shaft, and my thumb circles the shaft.
Be careful, you'll go blind if you do that too much.
:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:
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Re: shifting gears a good technique

Post by theholycow »

six wrote:^ That is an interesting way to go into 3rd. If I do that, I go into 5th instead.
Word. I can't imagine why people are putting up web pages with such misinformation.
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Re: shifting gears a good technique

Post by AHTOXA »

Agreed. That would get me to fifth rather than third.
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Re: shifting gears a good technique

Post by Tups »

I have never felt any need to develop anything that could be described as "shifting technique". Actually I haven't really paid any attention to how I grab my stick - I just... shift.

Since for once I have all the necessary equipment in the same place with the cars, I might take some videos about my shifting and let you judge it. Or something.
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