# Professions where dominant hand makes a difference
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/professions-where-dominant-hand-makes-a-difference/965764
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [June 6, 2022, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/professions-where-dominant-hand-makes-a-difference/965764 "2022-06-06T17:46:39Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 5
### Author:  [@BippityBoppityBoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BippityBoppityBoo)
#### Post date: [June 8, 2022, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/professions-where-dominant-hand-makes-a-difference/965764/81 "2022-06-08T00:12:21Z")
> [@Velocity](#):
>
> As for field hockey, why can’t the player wield the stick left-ish?
> **[Why Are All Field Hockey Sticks Right Handed?](https://www.sportsrec.com/6533675/why-are-all-field-hockey-sticks-right-handed)**
>
> Field hockey sticks are typically between 36 and 38 inches in length and are traditionally made out of wood. According to the rules of the International Hockey Federation, left-handed field hockey sticks are illegal for use in sanctioned competitions...
As others noted: the governing bodies have made lefty field hockey sticks illegal in sanctioned competition so they are _right_ out (sorry, could not help myself). Supposedly it is to prevent injuries.
Boo
Varsity field hockey
Lindenwood College ‘70-72
---
### Author:  [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)
#### Post date: [June 8, 2022, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/professions-where-dominant-hand-makes-a-difference/965764/82 "2022-06-08T04:42:01Z")
There are left-handed boomerangs.
---
### Author:  [@JaneDoe42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JaneDoe42)
#### Post date: [June 8, 2022, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/professions-where-dominant-hand-makes-a-difference/965764/83 "2022-06-08T05:42:56Z")
That is just seriously cool.
---
### Author:  [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)
#### Post date: [June 8, 2022, 5:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/professions-where-dominant-hand-makes-a-difference/965764/84 "2022-06-08T05:58:20Z")
My problem is that when I’m in court I need a third hand:
“Well, m’Lord, on the one hand the court could do X, and on the other hand you could do not-X. We would respectfully suggest that on the middle hand, there is a third option, of doing X-Prime.”
---
### Author:  [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)
#### Post date: [June 8, 2022, 7:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/professions-where-dominant-hand-makes-a-difference/965764/85 "2022-06-08T07:53:51Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#):
>
> My problem is that when I’m in court I need a third hand:
You’re supposed to use the gripping hand for that. But perhaps you don’t want to be stigmatized as an science fiction fan.
---
### Author:  [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)
#### Post date: [June 8, 2022, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/professions-where-dominant-hand-makes-a-difference/965764/86 "2022-06-08T08:34:46Z")
> [@HoneyBadgerDC](#):
>
> I always found it odd that left hand bowlers tend to have a style unique to lefties. Nothing like just reversing a right hand style.
Are you talking about cricket or “knock-down-the-pins” bowling?
---
### Author:  [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)
#### Post date: [June 8, 2022, 10:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/professions-where-dominant-hand-makes-a-difference/965764/87 "2022-06-08T10:27:58Z")
“Well, m’Lord, on the forefinger the court could do X, and on the middle finger you could do not-X. We would respectfully suggest that on the ring finger, there is a third option, of doing X-Prime.”
It’s perfectly logical. It just sounds weird. I suggest you try it.
---
### Author:  [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)
#### Post date: [June 8, 2022, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/professions-where-dominant-hand-makes-a-difference/965764/88 "2022-06-08T12:33:13Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#):
>
> Not specifically a profession, but how about a trackball mouse. Logitech makes a wonderful trackball mouse - but it is RIGHT HANDED ONLY. Ditto virtually every other one on the market. I finally found one left-handed version, but it’s an off brand (and my experience with off-brand right-handed ones is that they are simply not as good as Logitech’s).
Yes! I came into this thread to specifically mention this, and single out Logitech mice. I’m a lefty who used to do graphic design on a computer, and now I’m a web developer who still does a lot of creative work with Adobe software, which takes more fine motor control than a generic mouse. I remember back in the day looking for a good left-handed mouse in an Office Max or something and being surprised and disappointed that their line of Logitech mice were all right-handed.
My go-to main mouse input for more than 30 years (I use a right-handed mouse too, for less fine motor control stuff, to share tendon strain on both arms) is this one. Easily programmable for lefty or righty and customizable for any number of custom button inputs:
[ ](https://c1.neweggimages.com/ProductImageCompressAll1280/26-125-017-13.jpg)
---
### Author:  [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)
#### Post date: [June 8, 2022, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/professions-where-dominant-hand-makes-a-difference/965764/89 "2022-06-08T14:16:03Z")
> [@Princhester](#):
>
> We would respectfully suggest that on the ring finger, there is a third option, of doing X-Prime.”
But what if X-Prime is really heavy?
---
### Author:  [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)
#### Post date: [June 8, 2022, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/professions-where-dominant-hand-makes-a-difference/965764/90 "2022-06-08T14:21:43Z")
> [@dtilque](#):
>
> You’re supposed to use the gripping hand for that. But perhaps you don’t want to be stigmatized as an science fiction fan.
Wouldn’t want His Lordship to think I might éviscérate him with the gutting hand.
---
### Author:  [@Mama\_Zappa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mama_Zappa)
#### Post date: [June 8, 2022, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/professions-where-dominant-hand-makes-a-difference/965764/91 "2022-06-08T15:32:18Z")
I’ve tried that style of trackball and loathe, loathe, loathe them. Not sure why - but I have utterly CRAPPY control with them. For whatever reason, the sort that involves a thumb for the ball works so much better.
I learned how to mouse ambidextrously, years back, the first time I broke an elbow. Not necessarily a recommended approach, mind you…
---
### Author:  [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)
#### Post date: [June 8, 2022, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/professions-where-dominant-hand-makes-a-difference/965764/92 "2022-06-08T15:38:41Z")
I became ambidextrous with a mouse when my right wrist went on strike. I honestly don’t know what happened, just knew it hurt like holy hell.
I learned how to ten key with my left hand, mouse with my left hand, and track ball left-handed. Because the Logitech trackball is indeed wonderful, I learned to use that with my left hand.
You do what you gotta do.
~VOW
---
### Author:  [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)
#### Post date: [June 8, 2022, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/professions-where-dominant-hand-makes-a-difference/965764/93 "2022-06-08T15:58:25Z")
Thank you all for all the answers and discussion so far!
WRT being hired for a position would we say that so far the only professions where your hand dominance makes a difference in hiring are:
- Baseball
- Football/soccer
- Cricket
- Boxing
- Fencing
- Manual rivet driver
- Helicopter piloting (?)
I’m going to say that for field hockey and instrumental music, hand dominance doesn’t matter in a sense that there’s only one way to hold the stick or instrument (barring something like guitar, or an altered violin) so you’re either proficient enough to get hired or you’re not. Nobody’s trying to balance out their orchestra with righties and lefties. All of this is still germane to the discussion, though.
What about sports like basketball, rugby, golf and tennis? How about a left-handed NFL quarterback? I looked at a basketball roster and it doesn’t mention the shooting hand of the player (on a baseball roster, a player’s batting and throwing hand are noted). I’d suspect in golf and tennis there is a difference when playing as a left-handed player but all things being equal would having a left-handed player on your squad be beneficial?
---
### Author:  [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)
#### Post date: [June 8, 2022, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/professions-where-dominant-hand-makes-a-difference/965764/94 "2022-06-08T16:04:40Z")
> [@Mama\_Zappa](#):
>
> I’ve tried that style of trackball and loathe, loathe, loathe them. Not sure why - but I have utterly CRAPPY control with them. For whatever reason, the sort that involves a thumb for the ball works so much better.
I may have taken to it because when I first encountered that style of input device with the big trackball, it was way back maybe '90-'91, when only a handful of years before, I was a time-wasting teenager spending too many hours in video arcades. When I took a tour of a design shop using Macs and I saw someone using the large-style trackball, I was all like “cool, just like Centipede!” 🙄
---
### Author:  [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)
#### Post date: [June 8, 2022, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/professions-where-dominant-hand-makes-a-difference/965764/95 "2022-06-08T16:14:54Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#):
>
> How about a left-handed NFL quarterback?
Lefty quarterbacks are fairly rare in the NFL (only a couple dozen in the last 70 years), though there have been a few who have been very successful, such as Steve Young and Ken Stabler.
Offenses tend to be built around a right-handed quarterback – playbooks are often built around preferentially throwing towards the right side of the field (which is usually easier for a righty), and the offensive line is built around assuming that the quarterback’s “blind side” is his left side (and, thus, the left offensive tackle has particular responsibility for protecting that blind side). Righty quarterbacks tend to “roll out” towards the right side of the field when they face pressure.
Much of that needs to be flipped if you have a left-handed quarterback, and many coaches don’t want to have to deal with that.
In addition, a pass from a lefty quarterback will spin in the reverse from what a right-handed quarterback throws, and receivers have to make adjustments to account for this.
> **[Why Left-Handed Quarterbacks Are So Rare](https://slate.com/culture/2020/11/tua-tagovailoa-left-handed-quarterbacks-rare-nfl.html)**
>
> Does it have to do with lazy coaches? Baseball?
---
### Author:  [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)
#### Post date: [June 8, 2022, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/professions-where-dominant-hand-makes-a-difference/965764/96 "2022-06-08T16:23:37Z")
> [@VOW](#):
>
> I became ambidextrous with a mouse when my right wrist went on strike. I honestly don’t know what happened, just knew it hurt like holy hell.
>
> I learned how to ten key with my left hand, mouse with my left hand, and track ball left-handed. Because the Logitech trackball is indeed wonderful, I learned to use that with my left hand.
>
> You do what you gotta do.
Yep, same here. Occasionally, since my 20s, the top side of my hand from the edge of the wrist to the inward-most knuckles would freeze up in pain. Basically, the metacarpals. They’re a little sore now, in fact. It once got so bad that I literally could not even press the buttons on my mouse. The problem would flare up from time to time, though not often that badly, but enough that I had to teach myself mousing with the left hand. It actually wasn’t all that hard.
I tried all the other solutions: ergonomic mice, a vertical mouse (which worked okay, but not well enough), a trackball. None worked well enough. Mousing on a trackpad is awful for more than a few minutes at a time. That Apple magic mouse with the tiny little trackball in it was the worst. These days, I’ll switch hands for mousing when it gets bad, use my graphics pad, or even use a PS-1 style controller for certain things.
---
### Author:  [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)
#### Post date: [June 8, 2022, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/professions-where-dominant-hand-makes-a-difference/965764/97 "2022-06-08T16:32:46Z")
Very interesting! I think this adds NFL Quarterback officially to the list. All things being equal, a team might choose to NOT hire a left handed qb because the coach doesn’t want to deal with it. I bet a left-handed _backup_ quarterback is even less desirable than a lefty starter, because it’s one thing to build your team around a guy’s throwing style but a whole other ball of wax to make such big concessions for a guy who might make 4 appearances over the season.
---
### Author:  [@Treppenwitz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Treppenwitz)
#### Post date: [June 8, 2022, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/professions-where-dominant-hand-makes-a-difference/965764/98 "2022-06-08T16:38:13Z")
In re football, I’m sure that I’ve heard in commentary that it’s the Patriots practice to hire (only?) lefty _Punters_. The point being, in the same way that
> [@kenobi\_65](#):
>
> …a pass from a lefty quarterback will spin in the reverse from what a right-handed quarterback throws, and receivers have to make adjustments to account for this
- a punt from a lefty punter spins the other way and (potentially) causes problems for the returner.
j
---
### Author:  [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)
#### Post date: [June 8, 2022, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/professions-where-dominant-hand-makes-a-difference/965764/99 "2022-06-08T16:41:55Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#):
>
> In re football, I’m sure that I’ve heard in commentary that it’s the Patriots practice to hire (only?) lefty _Punters_
I’ve heard this, too (though their punter for the past three seasons, Jake Bailey, is a righty). And, of course, Bill Belichick being Bill Belichick, any comments he’s ever made on this apparent strategy have been cryptic.
For the benefit of non-fans, in punting in American football, you’re turning the ball over to the other team. Unlike with a quarterback (who is trying to complete passes to his own teammates), it’s to the punting team’s advantage to have a punt that looks/spins differently from what the receiver is used to catching, and may increase the likelihood of a dropped or mishandled punt.
---
### Author:  [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)
#### Post date: [June 8, 2022, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/professions-where-dominant-hand-makes-a-difference/965764/100 "2022-06-08T16:56:22Z")
> [@Northern\_Piper](#):
>
> But what if X-Prime is really heavy?
That’s what you need the gripping hand for.
> [@Northern\_Piper](#):
>
> Wouldn’t want His Lordship to think I might éviscérate him with the gutting hand.
That’s a risk he runs every time he comes to court. It’s just that no one ever says it out loud.
[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/professions-where-dominant-hand-makes-a-difference/965764.md?page=4)
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/professions-where-dominant-hand-makes-a-difference/965764.md?page=6)