Flashlights and handedness

[Chadder]

I typically always use my light with my non dominate hand, but I typically always have two lights on me and have one available for my dominate hand just in case. LOL
I was just watching Monocrom's review of the Eagtac P200lr last night since I have been seriously thinking about getting one. As I was reading his post, I can picture him going off. I was laughing so hard hearing him say, "but freeking hell, seriously eagletac." LOL

 

[Monocrom]

I typically always use my light with my non dominate hand, but I typically always have two lights on me and have one available for my dominate hand just in case. LOL
I was just watching Monocrom's review of the Eagtac P200lr last night since I have been seriously thinking about getting one. As I was reading his post, I can picture him going off. I was laughing so hard hearing him say, "but freeking hell, seriously eagletac." LOL

Yup, only blatantly honest reviews on my channel.
Unfortunately, if you haven't seen my latest upload; apparently Thrunite has a similar issue. :(

 

[TPA]

You are absolutely right that I am working at the wrong place. I definitely think it's time for a change. Good to hear that there are some who respect those who keep them safe. Thank you for reminding me.

In some ways, it's a reminder to myself that I need to start looking for a different job as well. I'm treated pretty poorly where I work now and need to move on. I've had many jobs where I looked forward to going to work each day, sometimes working 36+ hours straight because we enjoyed it. I need to get back to that.

 

[bluflaam777]

I'm right dominate. However, I do use my left for holding a torch when walking the dogs for instance. Someone mentioned a fork, I use my left to hold the fork when the right is using a knife (I don't switch afterward).
I broke my wrist a few years ago and now have some spinal issues that make using my right hand/arm somewhat painful at times. I've gotten better at using tools like knives with my left now...still a bit awkward. I haven't been able to write with my left without it looking like a pre-kindergartener wrote it. LOL

 

[ebuchner]

I also tend to use my non-dominant (left) hand to hold my lights. Having my right hand free for whatever comes up is too valuable.

 

[electrolyte]

Some of you cultivate some very interesting habits. I am just glad that flashlights are generally not chiral like so many tools are. I had a drill one time that was easily trigger-locked when held by the left hand. That is only one example of so many that are dangerous. I am more left-handed than right, but I use knives, scalpels, chefs's, table,... of all kinds in my right hand. It is probably because the fork landed in my left when I was first trying to feed myself but someone else was cutting up my food. The fork stayed left and I just started cutting with the other. What ever got the food in faster :) Many other things I do righty. When playing schoolboy basketball, I shot left but drove more easily right, confused the defenders temporarily, at least.

Laboratory tools, pretty much right hand and it is probably because I can be writing at the same time, or checking stuff off, with my left. I probably got started that way in high school when I taught myself to touch type on calculator keypads with my right so I could write with my left.

Flashlights, probably like a paintbrush if I am standing on a ladder, whichever hand works best at the moment. Scissors, always right because most of them don't work in the left hand.

 

[defloyd77]

Depends on what I'm doing. I always have a flashlight on my left and right sides, so I can grab one easily regardless of hand.

Over the years, I've found myself using my bigger primary lights with my (dominant) right hand and my secondary AAA lights with my left. If I'm holding the light on my left hand, chances are my right is preoccupied doing something and my left may need to help. A small AAA light can either be lip held or "weaved" between my fingers which frees up the left hand if need be.

 

[Monocrom]

Depends on what I'm doing. I always have a flashlight on my left and right sides, so I can grab one easily regardless of hand.

Over the years, I've found myself using my bigger primary lights with my (dominant) right hand and my secondary AAA lights with my left. If I'm holding the light on my left hand, chances are my right is preoccupied doing something and my left may need to help. A small AAA light can either be lip held or "weaved" between my fingers which frees up the left hand if need be.

I'm the opposite. Main light in my weak hand. Back-up light (usually a 2AAA LED penlight with tailcap switch set to come on in its highest setting) within easy reach of my right hand.

 

[tech25]

I was recently thinking about this. While I used to keep my lights holstered on my strong side, I noticed my lights that were clipped to my pocket were on my weak side.

When I used to take the lights from my belt (again, strong side) if I needed any skill (not using it just to see) I would switch to my off hand. While the lights clipped to my pocket generally stayed in the off hand.

Now, I switched the holstered lights to my weak side and keep my strong hand free.

 

[Galane]

I'm mostly ambidextrous so I use whichever hand is most convenient for the job. Weirds some people out when they see me easily use a hammer, screwdriver etc equally well in either hand.
For eating it's left hand moving food to mouth, knife in right hand for anything that needs cutting. My chicken scrawl writing is left hand only and my signature is never the same so should I ever become famous, people will have a hell of a time authenticating anything I've signed.

I've always had excellent proprioception, knowledge of where my body parts are even when I can't see them. It makes it easier to do things like work on stuff up behind car dashboards and plugging in cables on the backs of computers. It works even better with my eyes closed because I don't have visual input mucking around with what my fingers are doing.

My balance is also very good. Way back in Phys Ed classes we often had to do standing on one leg. I'd just pick up a foot and stand there. Meanwhile the rest of the class was wobbling around, flailing their arms. I'd just be making minute tweaks to my lower leg and foot muscles. That's what an interest in biomechanics and reading anatomy books at a very young age can do for a person.

Super balance can be a double edge sword. Many has been the times I've tweaked my back *not* falling on slick ice because I'd just instinctively twist and lean and precisely move my arms for counter-force. Yeah, didn't fall down go boom and bruise my arse but now my lower back is demanding to know why I didn't just fall.

 

[Sabrewulf]

I guess im ambidextrous with flashlights. Doesn't bother me to use either hand.
My light is kept on my left, im a righty. Knife gets priority.

 

[Deleted member 786475]

Never used dominant hand to hold a light. A majority of the time the light is assisting in accomplishing a task. Which my dominant hand would be tending to.

 

[AMD64Brunette]

Lefty here.

(Finding tools that are designed for lefties is wonderful..scissors,anyone? )

 

[PaladinNO]

TL;DR:
It depends.

I am right-handed by nature, but when using a flashlight it depends on what else I am doing. If it is just holding the light, like during late-night walks, I use the right and left the same - but favouring the right initially, until I feel like swapping hands from fatigue (maybe I should do more isometrics, to be able to hold a flashlight steady in my hand for more than an hour...).

If I am doing work, and need a flashlight for inspection, I am swapping hands frequently to look at the object from every angle - but then holding the light with the left hand, while working with the tool in the right hand. I can use a driver / drill (if the job isn't too delicate) with the left hand, or a screwdriver, but certainly not something as..."technically complicated" as a hammer. So I have to use a hammer or other precision tools with my right hand.

 

[Jean-Luc Descarte]

Lefty here.

(Finding tools that are designed for lefties is wonderful..scissors,anyone? )

After looking for ways to train my southpaw, I felt this gripe on a personal level. There are so many things that are hard to use with the left hand, it's not even funny.

Admitttedly it makes sense to aim for the vast majority, but at least a specialized line of any such product for lefties would be interesting.