How do you hold your shift knob?

[jdmblood]

I hold my shift knob very gently...just like every other knob

[Porsche]

Originally Posted by aristo

Would like some input from people who have been driving manual for longer

Gently, fingertips and palm for pulling and pushing; not FIST for SLAMMING AND BANGING.

Finesse, not force.

[CoupedUpSubie]

As everyone has said you don't need to death grip it or really force it into gear. When I teach someone to drive a car with a manual transmission I show them how the shifter relaxes to the 3-4 position. Push it away with your palm for 5-6 and pull it towards you with you palm for 1-2. In each of those three positions it is forward with your palm or backwards with your fingers. 95% of the time their shifts are smooth even in cars with 175k+ miles on them with a good amount of abuse.

+1 to finesse not force.

[sprintertrueno86]

underhand

[Khazzy]

Shifting down I have my hand in a modified pistol grip where my middle and ring finger are under the knob and the back of the knob is in my palm. Shifting up, I palm it.

[G-awesome]

I hold my automatic shift knob like a boss when I'm in manual.....

[SirBrass]

I hold it however works best. Usually it's a bit of a hybrid of the sterotypical palm and pistol grips, like I'm palming a mushroom or a plunger. But my grip shifts as I manipulate the shifter.

It all depends on your preferences, shifter setup, and what shift knob you're running. As long as you can get it into gear without issue, then there's no wrong way to hold it.

Originally Posted by Porsche

Gently, fingertips and palm for pulling and pushing; not FIST for SLAMMING AND BANGING.

*cough*that's what she said*cough*

[tahdizzle]

Originally Posted by Turbo95eg6

I use my feet

+1

or the "stranger" grip.