Hey guys, I have the Ti shift knob that looks like a ball. I always find my self grabing the knob from above to shift (i guess due to it's shape), and that messes up the speed and smoothness of my shifts. If i grab it from the side (as in the shifter shaft is in my palm and the top of the knob is exposed) it feels kind of weird since it's a ball but the shifts feels a lot smoother and cripier due to more control and leverage. So what do you guys do?
Well I"ve got a Momo shift knob that is also a ball and I primarily grab from the side. But honestly I'm pretty sure the way a grip the shift knob isn't very consistent in daily driving, sometimes top, sometimes side, sometime the 1 finger shift from 3rd to 4th (you have to try it). But when I'm, say, making a pull, I grab it on the side.
I wonder if I should get the sti duracon knob, it looks like it fits better in the palm from the side grab. Yes, i do have to try that 1 finger shift.
You have a lot more dextarity grabing it from the side, because you can actually use your wrist a lot more than on top. I think it allows me to feel the shift more. I can feel right when the clutch is disengaged by applying slight pressure to the front of the shift when going from 1st to 2nd and you can use your thumb for 3rd to 4th. I use two or three fingers around the front and my thumb around the back. It has helped to stop me from putting my clutch foot to the floor everytime I shift. This transitioned to a lot smoother shifts for autox. I have the Fidanza knucklehead knob.
I have the TI knob as well, I hold it from the side. If you hold it right, you can put your pinky in the groove for the reverse lever and it kinda fits right it your hand...
hmmm, i do 1 finger shifting a lot from 3-4 when im lazy lol. usually i hold it from the top but i try to hold it from the side when aggressively shifting.
i usually grab it with my thumb pointing down when shifting from 3rd to 4th. it's just easier that way for me, but most of the times, I do the whole 45 degree angle on the wrist approach. I have the Revo 350 gram counterweight shiftknob.
Well, most of the time I find myself shifting with the shaft, since its like 2' tall. Damn S-10... Finger prints are hell to get out of a billet shifter nob
I go from the top when I am driving normally, but from the side when driving hard. I found that the knob can slip between my fingers if I shift hard from the top. My hands get kinda sweaty sometimes though.
index and middle finger place on the front side of the knob, thumb on the driver's side and ring finger and pinky aginst the shaft/bottom of the knob. Bascially trying to make a fist with the knob between 3 fingers (index,middle and thumb). So when shifting from 2nd to 3rd and 4th the 5th, i find it easier to push forward with the ring finger and pinky. Also prefer the feel of ease to pull the shifter back from 1st to 2nd, 3rd to 4th and 5th to 6th with my thumb, not really a big deal but it seems this fits me best.
Lol! I guess some people don't know though. I usually use the round the knob hold method: But sometimes I just nudge it into place:
From all the "racing", "driving", "auto-x", "etc" books I have been reading they all basically suggest the same way to shift the car. You want to look at your shift knob as an egg shell. Much like when you hold the steering wheel, you do not want to grab onto the knob for dear life. You want to put your palm down on the top and allow your fingers to grace the front of it. Your fingers help give your downshift direction to the proper gear. Now, regarding the upshift, you want to actually use a bit of your wrist. You would approach the knob in the same fashion, except racer than forcing the upshift with your shoulder, persay, flex your wrist a bit and use that to allow the upshift to happen. The goal is to be smooth, direct and precise. Hope this helps.
The more I pay attention to it, I shift like this as well. :bigthumb: Smooth and deliberate inputs...that's what I always here, as well.