Gear Stick

Gavin "shels"

Just wondering does it matter which way you hold the gear stick? Just started getting back into driving again after 2 years today and my instructor was telling me to hold it on the side whereas I just hold it on the top.

**Timbuk2**

No it doesn't matter. Normally the hand faces away from you when changing from 1st - 2nd and for all other changes it faces towards you, but that is just to stop you from accidentally engaging an incorrect gear (something I did many times when starting driving, going from 1st - 4th accidentally without realising).

As long as you are able to change gears without engaging an incorrect one, and also as long as you are not actually looking at the gearstick, then it shouldn't be a problem.

cosmic

I was told by my instructor that when using first and second gear turn your hand to the side and push (away from you), when using third and fourth gear put your hand over the top of the gear stick and when using fifth gear and reverse turn your hand to the side and pull (towards you). This is what I do.


Edit: Actually, **Timbuk2** explained it better than I did. I hadn't read his post prior to posting mine!

J_R

Gavin shels wrote: »

Just wondering does it matter which way you hold the gear stick? Just started getting back into driving again after 2 years today and my instructor was telling me to hold it on the side whereas I just hold it on the top.

Hi,

It does not really matter as long as you drive the same car.

If you 'pull' the gear level into 1st and 2nd you will get used to the length of travel and just pull it that distance.

Now if that car has a short gear stick and consequently a short travel and you change to a car will a much longer travel you will be in trouble until you again adjust.

However if you push the knob away you will have no trouble adjusting to different gear lever characteristics.

Also if your hands are wet more likely to slip, when you 'palm' the gear lever much less likely as you have more control.

**Timbuk2**

Just to add to the above - I normally drive a Toyota Starlet but I was driving my dad's Nissan Primeira on holidays in the West of Ireland. It has a much longer travel in the gearstick, and I had to move my grip back to the recommended way as I found it difficult to go from 3rd to 4th doing it as I normally do it - when I faced the hand toward me it went easily each time.

Gavin "shels"

Cheers lads.

Mint Sauce

i dont think it really maters how you hold the gear stick, as long as you are only touching it when changing gears, ie, not resting your hand on it between changes, and you are able to change without looking down and placing stick into correct position.