My son was at a dance last week. A competition couple introduced him a different hand hold for Hockey Stick. This is mens left hand holding ladies right wrist while dancing the Hockey Stick. I was not at the dance that night to witness the technique.

Can anyone tell me if you have danced the same way. Is there any benefit of this particular hand hold vs. mens left to ladies right hand hold?

Thanks,

Keh Gough

This is Keh's son. The following is exactly how I was shown in doing the hand-to-wrist hold:

While in the fan position, we still have the hand-to-hand hold. Not until the lady and myself are facing each other do we go into the hand-to-wrist hold. The rest of the pattern goes on normally.

I myself think that both ways are no different from one another in control or giving difficulty in movement.

I'm curious to know how popular this method is?

Did your son tell you if the man was 1.) holding the lady's wrist while dancing the *entire* hockeystick, or 2.) only at the point where the lady is walking back to the man (after the hiptwist) and turns until they stand in front of eachother again?

When me and my partner first learned the Hockeystick, I ended up in the first situation. However, my teachers told him that "it was a possibility, but it was better to just hold the lady's hand instead of the wrist".

I think that it's more convenient for the man, because if he holds the lady's wrist it's less likely that she'll slip away. Personally I think it's very uncomfortable because it almost seriously damaged my arm! Then again, I am not sure if he was doing it right because our teachers corrected him immediately.

"Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero." - Horace

Okiedokie, I asked around a little but didn't bump into Jason's description. I did find something similar to Socialdancer's though, only then the lady does all the basic steps until she enters the hiptwist, then she looks at the man and he pulls her back until they face eachother, then do all the basic steps again. (So no wristhold after he pulled her back.)

I'm going to suggest these different versions of the hockeystick to my friends! Just to see how it looks. Hopefully they won't be as rough as my partner was with me!

"Carpe diem, quam minimum credula postero." - Horace

The hockey stick should be signalled from the man's palm turned inwards to the Lady's palm. There is no need or benefit from a wrist hold. The signal from the hand, body and attitude of the man will signal the (any) move.

I've seen hand to wrist or hand to forearm holds used for competitive styling, usually with checking actions.

For example, follow the hockey stick with a type of New York. Instead of stepping through together in mirrored formation, the lady overturns as though to go away from the man, leaving her left arm extended, lowered and slightly back, as the man grabs her wrist to pull her back, underturning his New York. This can add some sexual chemistry.

I don't see that a wrist hold would help if following the hockey stick with the more typical basic movement. It might keep the couple slightly closer together but it would restrict the lady's use of the connection as she responds to the man's approach.

In the end, why not play with the idea and see how it feels.

Regards
Howard

That should have read "leaving her RIGHT arm extended"

Sorry

Taking private lessons whit advanced dancer, she has told me that, holding the lady's wrist while dancing Latin (not only the hockeystick), is preferable due the more "hard" conction betwen partners. More specifically: holding the Lady wrist the only "connection break point" is the elbow, thus making a more reliable connection.