How to Hold Your Stick in a Glider 

Relaxed grip is essential, not just for comfort, but to let the aircraft do its job, via stability, trim etc. Next exercise, with every control input, no matter how slight, ask yourself why you did it, and if you can't provide an answer, then don't do it next time. So many pilots "stir the pudding" unnecessarily, and adding to their own workload, especially during base and finals. It may surprise you just how much of the work the aeroplane will do for you if you let it, and how much more relaxing, rewarding and most importantly, safe, flying becomes.

Relaxing is a real problem for me. I learnt nearly 15 years ago, and even did a couple of solo 2 hr flights. But I was always tense and gave it up about 9 years ago. I am lucky, in that my brother is a full-cat instructor here in the UK, and I can now fly with him. I feel that I have a chance to overcome my constant fear! :)

Even in a Ka-6, the loss of ‘performance’ is noticeable if you’re tense. One technique I was taught, was to let go everything, stamp your feet, and continue. Seemed to work sometimes. 👍

Thanks for sharing, please keep posting your videos, highly useful and appreciable, also for the professional, but not "too serious" spirit. And what a beatiful soaring day in this one! I use a grip quite similar to yours to my very sensible (all moving elevator) ASW15 's stick; when it's possible (calm air or long glide at steady speed), I love the "two/three fingers" way. Anyway, definitely the lighter the more effective for good flying.

I definitely find myself with lots of tension; sometimes unconsciously leaning to one side of the cockpit. Thanks for sharing the advice about how exhausted it makes you. I will work on flying more relaxed. Keep up the great videos!

Love it. I refer to it to my students as "more zen, less karate!"

I remember on my first solo after the launch I was all tense, and I vividly recall my foot physically shaking on the rudder pedal. After around 15 seconds I thought 'what benefit is this giving me?', and came to the conclusion that it is only stressing me out more. Once I relaxed and told myself that there is no reason to be scared and that I am in control, the whole experience became much more enjoyable and easier to focus.

Thanks for sharing. I tend to rest my hand on my thighs and hold the stick at the bottom. Whatever works :-)

Thank you for your vidéos. Would you make one to give your tips to find the right moment to begin the roundout and avoïd beeing to soon or to late on these phase ?

Good advice!

Very Cool

Thanks for sharing , a question which app do you use in your tablet?

Carry a long stick, and hold it lightly between 2 fingers.

Once gripped so tightly with difficult thermals my hand seized up.

The best I have seen and taught is how I fly a helicopter; rest your forearm on your thigh, gripping the stick somewhere just below the top of the stick. If this is to low, then adjust your rudder pedals, regarding rudder pedals, there should a slight bend in your knee area...when you apply full rudder your leg SHOULD NOT BE STRAIT! Back to the stick, trying flying with 2-3 fingers and nice movements, when thermalling, once establish the stick should almost not move at all! If the stick is shaking back and forth, you may try going to cure butter, or even ice cream, but not in a sailplane, al ot aerodynamics going there! Fly safe!!

Stickman :)