Different Hand Positions On A Steering Wheel

Once you are at the helm of a go-kart, the way you grip the steering wheel and where your hands are placed can help you be more at one with the machine. There are three typical hand positions that are labeled by numbers and their position on a regular clock, those being the 9 and 3, 10 and 2, as well as the 8 and 4 positions.

Before we get on with the nitty gritty, one constant in all these hand positions is that your hands must be tightly gripping the wheel. A loose grip won’t help as it takes the driver out of the equation pretty easily. Next, be sure to push on the steering wheel as this can help the driver have a more firm hold, improving turning & stability. Now, in today’s article, we will take a look at these stances and how they can impact your driving.

9-3 Position

Considered the most ideal, this method sees your hands placed at where the 9 o'clock and 3 o’clock are located on a clock. Once we visualize it, we can see that the left hand would be at the leftmost part of the wheel at 9 o’clock, with the right hand taking the other end at 3 o’clock.

It is a prevalent theme that having balance in a go-kart is essential, and this is no different with a driver’s positioning of his hands. This position provides a more balanced grip, offering more control, especially in a track’s challenging corners. Next, it also evenly distributes the force you apply to the wheel, helping the driver and the kart remain balanced.

Perhaps an unnoticed perk of the 9-3 position is the amount of quick adjustments you can make. In the event of an accident where quick reactions and adjustments are paramount, being able to maneuver the kart away from danger can be best done under a 9-3 hand position.

10-2 Position

Now we move on to the more obscure methods of holding the wheel, starting with the 10-2 position. To visualize this, imagine a broken horizontal line in the middle of the steering wheel. Next, place your hands at the top of the line, and that’s how the 10-2 position is executed.

If a driver is perhaps on the taller side, this method can work as they have more room to stretch their arms. Another unsung benefit of this hand position is that it is very much within the driver’s field of vision. For some, this can help as the driver can see how much steering input they are placing when cornering.

Finally, using this method may help engage your upper body more as your hands become parallel to your shoulders. On rare occasions, this can help the driver induce more turn-in. With angled steering bosses more prevalent on karts these days, drivers are starting to hold their hands higher on the wheel. This makes smaller steering inputs easier to achieve.

8-4 Position

Finally, we have the 8-4 position. Returning once again to our visual of a steering wheel with a horizontal line in the middle, the hands will be at the bottom of the line for this one.

While it provides comfort as the arms are not fully stretched out, this limits how much the driver can push on the wheel when cornering. We see this hand position in the younger categories where steering inputs aren’t needed as much as higher grip karts.

This is another position practiced mostly by beginners. Furthermore, if the driver is on the shorter end in terms of height, this can be the most practical option. This is why most kids starting out, particularly in the cadet classes, who can’t reach that far, take the 8-4 position as that is as far as they can go for the time being.

CONCLUSION

Finding the sweet spot in terms of where to place your hands on the steering wheel can drastically affect your performance. There is nothing inherently wrong with a driver’s hands being found at either the 10-2 or 8-4 position. However, with constant practice and development, the 9-3 position provides the best balance and comfort. Finally, remember that it is never one size fits all. Therefore, be sure to find the hand position that works best for you.

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