Proper handling of the shifter is important too. This sequence works for LHD cars with 1st in the driver-side forward position. But it can easily be adapted for european transmissions with 1st towards the rear and RHD cars by using a reverse of the technique.

1-2 Shift: Pistol-grip the shifter. The tendency when pulling your hand back in this position is to pull it in towards your body because of how your muscles and your arm is arranged. You will use the inside 'wall' of the shifting gates to guide you into 2nd.

2-3 Shift: Rotate your hand up to the top of the shifter. It should sit in the curve of your palm, but don't grip it. Push forward and away slightly. Again, because of the mechanics of your arm, you should slip into 3rd naturally.

3-4 Shift: This is the most dangerous shift. Most drivers use a pistol-grip on the stick for this shift. The problem is that tendency to pull the arm in again. This makes going from WOT in third straight into 2nd a possibility. Then you get mechanical over-rev as described above.

The trick to this takes some getting used to, but feels natural once you start doing it. With your hand like it was on the 2-3 shift, continue the movement over the top until you are gripping the shifter with your thumb downwards. You'll notice that your elbow is in the air and pointing away from you. This is what you want. You've just rearranged the mechanics of your arm so that in pulling back, the tendency is to push the shifter AWAY from you. Now, if you mis-shift, you'll hit 6th or bounce off the reverse lockout, depending on your gearbox.

4-5 Shift: Rotate your hand back up to where it was for the 2-3 Shift and do the same again. This time you can use the outer "wall" of the gates to guide it into 5th.

5-6 Shift: If you have a 6-speed (lucky you), this works just like the 3-4 Shift. Ad like the 1-2 and 4-5, use the 'side' of the gearbox to guide you.


Downshifting works much the same way with some tweaks.

6-5 Shift: Lucky dog, this is easy, place your hand like the 2-3 Shift position and ride the side of the gearbox.

5-4 Shift: This takes a little practice. Your hand will go through the entire motion that it took from 1st through 4th above. Start with a pistol-grip and pull it out of gear, then rotate your palm to the top as you pull backwards. Continute the movemeant as you pass N to the thumb-down position and pop it into 4th. During the motion, you should feel the knob of the shifter rotate in your palm like a ball-and-socket joint.

4-3 Shift: Rotate your palm on top again and push forwards, but not away. The mechanics of your arm will help it find 3rd. ANd if you mis-shift, you'll find 5th not 1st.

3-2 Shift: Pistol-grip it and pull. There's only one place the shifter can go at this point.

2-1 Shift: Postol-grip again and ride the left side of the gates.

Now some of the motions above are a little exaggerated, but by practicing with them you can refine them until the motions are simpler while keeping the mechanics correct. Since I started using this technique I haven't wound up in the wrong gear while driving spiritedly. Only if I'm driving slowly and get lazy.

Hope this helps.

 

Wow, Great post. As it turns out, I shift quite biomechanically correctly. (if such a word exists.)

 

Why yes, yes it does.

 

great thread , we have a discussion on NASIOC about WOT shifting and I will quote some of the post in here when I get home.

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