I was watching standup on TV today, and for some reason becan to fixate on how different people clap. Some people put surface exactly to surface(0 deg) Some people are a slight bit off center(10 deg) Some are mostly off(45 deg) some are totally perpendicular(90 deg). Also some are palm to palm, and finger to finger, and others are fingers to palm. Some move both and, and some leave one hand passive and move the other hand into it. Most of the 0 deg perfect match up clappers I saw were women, and when I try it, it feels really strange, my whole arm and shoulders flap like a bird. Is there a reason some women clap like that? Is it part of being ladylike or something?
How do clap?
I go left hand flat and passive. Right hand fingers into left palm at 90 deg
I applaud approximately 45 degree,with repeated palm to palm contact,applying a tempo similar to heartbeats of a healthy woman “on the verge”. I will also admit that I am notorious for the duration and zeal of my applause,applause,applause! You should see my standing ovations! I am always the last to sit!!!
I clap with my left hand still, slightly cupped. My right hand’s fingers do the clapping. Upper arms held against my sides, not akimbo. The nuns taught us this; they said it was more lady-like. They also taught us how to perch on our chairs properly and how to wave, among other things. Shneesh!
Left hand active, right hand passive. I’d say the fingers on my left hand are almost perpendicular to my right palm. 70-75 degree angle, maybe. If I cup my right hand a bit, I can clap pretty damn loud.
Left hand held at a slight tilt off vertical (maybe about 10 degrees), palm slightly cupped, and still. Fingers of right hand impact the cupped palm at a brisk but not rushed tempo. Elbows remain near the body. This is for normal applause, and it’s how my Belle grandmother taught by example.
For sporting events, if I’m standing (and, since I was a band geek, I usually was), the left hand is held at about a 45 degree tilt clockwise, the right hand at an identical tilt counterclockwise, and both palms are brought together, very slightly cupped (less than above), either directly in front of the solar plexus (usually with instrument tucked under left elbow) or above the head (with instrument set on seat behind). This is only for huge arenas or outdoor stadia, though.
I clap like a bloke apparently.
Hands slightly cupped, at 90 degrees, palm to palm, both hands smacking towards each other.
It’s makes a pretty loud noise though, so I always have to be careful to stop before everyone else, or it would be very embarrasing
Elbows at my sides. Left hand still. Hands connect at approx 45º. Right fingers to left palm in general, but palm to palm when thunderous applause is called for.
Many of the p ladies I’ve seen clapping palm to palm at 0º seem to be doing so to protect sculptured nails although I cannot imagine how nails would be in danger clapping just as I do.
After Erica Kane makes an impassioned plea for forgiveness for forging her uncle’s will, I clap slowly to indicate in a sarcastic manner my disbelief in her sincerity.
about 45 degrees, right over left, palm to palm, hands slightly cupped. Or, if one of my friends does something remarkably unsmooth, right fingers on the heel of my left hand, very fast, a la the “golf clap” from Men at Work.
That said, I hate applauding and try to do the minimum possible. I think this comes from the fact that I am rarely at classical concerts or other venues where a roar of approval is unaccaptable. Sporting events, rock concerts, graduations all have the right idea…something cool happens, yell and scream like a wild man.
