Hand position

[block]

How important do you think having hands in the right position is? LFF left hand down, right up , RFF left hand up, right down.

I am backwards, thinking about changing. I am LFF, can run 35 and a few at 38.

[Than_Bogan]

My opinion: Too late to change if running 35.

 

I changed back when I was just getting into -22. It helped my offside pull a little, and I figured I had a ton of changes to make anyhow so why not?

[MillerTime38]

I changed about two years ago, similar to Than I felt it helped my offside lean. I was surprised how little time it took to adapt. I thought about it the first 3 sets and have not thought about it since

[The_MS]

I was goofy handed and stuck at 2@38 for 3 years. I switched and started running deeper instantly.

It is very easy to do. Carry around a stick for a day and practice it off the water by just moving it hand to hand with the correct grip and it will happen easy when you take it to the water.

[Than_Bogan]

Wow cool. I've changed my mind in light of all this new evidence.

[bogboy]

@block, I was goofy handed all my life, without knowing it. Rt ff, held the handle batting right handed. About 5 years ago gordon rathbun suggested that I change to correct handle position in Acapulco. I tried it once or twice, and because I am stubborn, I went back to goofy, thinking that it was impossible to change to correct handle position. Then about 3 years later I decided to to correct again, and it wasn't hard at all. It only took about a week or so, and then it felt like I have been skiing all my life that way. And it improved my skiing. So I think it is important to hold the handle correctly. Christy Overton skis goofy handle though, and she did pretty good.

[mwetskier]

the very best 34mph skier in the world skis goofy handed.

[Waternut]

I skied goofy handed for 13-14 years. I'm RFF and I switched at the recommendation of people who knew better than me. Since I sucked at running the course anyway, I was willing to try anything that more experienced skiers suggested. I was barely running 28mph at the time so it's hard to say it helped or didn't but it was an easy change. Felt funny for the first couple weeks when I was just sitting in the water about to get up. Once I entered the course, I forgot all about it and eventually it just became natural.

 

My only complaint about switching has to do with my resting positions. My two resting positions are both hands on top of the handle and my right arm hooked in the handle if we've got a long way to go. I can't transition between arm hooked in the handle to both hands on top of the handle because I can only grab the handle underhanded. Very nit noid and I probably shouldn't be hooking an arm anyway but that's both sides of my opinion.

[Drago]

I tried and sucked. I've run many 39s goofy handed.

[LeonL]

@waternut, you're right you shouldn't be hooking your arm through the handle. I saw a guy at a tournament miss at 2 ball, keep riding and then hooked his elbow through the handle. Then whatever happened, loss of concentration or what, but he let the wake curl over the ski tip and things went very wrong. Fell, got dragged, handle eventually popped so hard it dinged the transom of the boat, and he went to the hospital with a dislocated elbow. Now anytime I see someone do this at our lake I tell them to never do that.

[block]

Thanks for the information, now hummm to change or not to change.

[RazorRoss3]

I think if you are a good skier and you are doing the other things correctly you can compensate for any problems that may arise from goofy hands. However I would put money that there is a good reason most pros ski with their hands the right way.

[Skoot1123]

As soon as I switched I too noticed my offside turns got a lot better. I feel it also allows for better balance during the pull/lean phase in the course. (at least for me)

[A_B]

I too changed over a winter. Hooked a pulley system up with a handle and some rope attached to some weights and simulated one hand turns to back on the handle with two as part of my weight lifting program.

Came out in Spring and felt second nature.

 

I stayed with it because it made my offside leaning position more comfortable.

 

Obviously, it works both ways, and if you don't see an improvement or get comfortable, I wouldn't hesitate to keep doing it wrong. :)

[estrom]

I had it explained to me by comparing it to pull ups. It's easier to do pull ups with your palms facing you (equivalent to palm up on handle) than palms away from you. Typically, it's harder to achieve and maintain the stacked/leveraged position on the off-side pull. With hands in the "correct" position on the handle, it supposedly puts your hands in the best position to maintain the leverage against the boat and off set the weaker off side position.

[ToddL]

Unfortunately, we all spend more time driving than skiing. However, you can use this fact to help with switching hand position. Grip the top-center or the bottom-center of the steering wheel while stuck in traffic or along a long straightaway. Grip it with the desired new hand position with one palm down and the other palm up. Do this as often and as long as safely allowed while behind the wheel. Eventually, it will fee normal and less awkward. Then, when you grip the ski handle this way, it will also feel more normal and less awkward.

[Razorskier1]

Switch to the correct position. I had run 35 for years when Wade Cox made me switch. My offside turn and hook up went from OK to unbelievable and consistent. It felt weird first pass, but never caused a problem.

[DanE]

Ditto on switch to the correct grip, felt really akward at first but when I out of sheer curiosity tried to switch back the wrong grip really felt like crap.

[Brady]

I switched this year and my skiing improved as well. Mine was easy to switch. I am RFF and I started out with my left hand down and my right hand up, and then stayed that way thru the course. I simply started with both hands down--btw, so much easier to get up that way--and the left my right hand where it was and would switch my left hand before the 55's. So much easier for me, especially on offside.

[jipster43]

It seems like this is primarily a RFF problem. Just another example of why it is best to ski LFF!

[jcamp]

Damn, you guys are really convincing me to switch ... but the season is so short here in Vermont I don't like to "waste" any time. Sounds like I should do it though. OK. I will.

[The_MS]

All winter you will be thinking that you wished you tried it.

[RichardDoane]

correct hand position helps your off side, where most of us need it

[mwetskier]

i am a big fan of jeff rogers and wim decrees off side turns.