Cross-dominance
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Cross-dominance, also known as mixed-handedness, is a motor skill manifestation where a person favors one hand for some tasks and the other hand for others, though is not necessarily ambidextrous.
It can also refer to mixed laterality, which refers to a person favoring eyes, ears, feet, or hands on opposite sides of the body. Cross-dominance can often be a problem when shooting or in activities that require aim.
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[edit] Ambidexterity
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One of the most famous varieties of cross-dominance is ambidexterity, (i.e., being equally adept with each hand, or, to a limited degree, foot). The word "ambidextrous" is derived from the Latin roots ambi, meaning "both," and dexter, meaning "right" (as opposed to left) or favorable. Thus, "ambidextrous" is literally "right on both sides".
Although ambidexterity is rare at birth, it can be learned. The key in learning is to start paying attention to minor tasks and performing them with one's opposite hand daily. While difficult at first, minor tasks like brushing teeth, opening doors, and eating will become steadily easier if a person keeps at it. Learning to write or throw with both hands is far harder, but with patience and practice, it is feasible for anybody to become proficient with both hands.
Most ambidextrous people still gravitate towards performing certain types of tasks with a specific hand. The degree of versatility with each hand is generally the qualitative factor in determining a person's ambidexterity. Each side of the brain controls the opposite side of our bodies. Some people have been known to hesitate upon the decision the brain makes while attempting to use either right or left side, most likely the motor controlled side that would benefit most.
George D. Patnoe., Jr. has reprogrammed or trained his brain to become ambidextrous by developing an ordered serious of writing and drawing exercises, which began around the year 2000-2001. He is writing a book on the subject of reprogramming the brain to become ambidextrous for highly skilled languaged development, no matter what the age. He has since started a story writing blog to demonstrate that being ambidextrous can lead to good story writing. His blog is located at the google blog address, http://tastethewind.blogspot.com/.
In modern times, it is more common to find people considered ambidextrous who were originally left handed, and learned to be ambidextrous either deliberately or during childhood in institutions such as schools where right-handed habits are often emphasized. Also, since many everyday devices are designed to be only ergonomic for right handed people, many left handed people have no choice but to use the device with the right hand (a good example is a can opener). As a result, left handed people are much more likely to develop motor skills in their non-dominant hand than right handed people (who are not subjected to left-favouring devices). Ambidexterity is often encouraged in activities requiring a great deal of skill in both hands, such as juggling, swimming, percussion or keyboard music, word processing, surgery, and combat.
[edit] Ambidexterity and sport
Ambidextrous batting, or switch hitting, is highly prized in the sport of baseball as a batter usually has a higher statistical chance of successfully hitting the baseball when it is thrown by an opposite handed pitcher. Therefore, an ambidextrous hitter can bat from whichever side is most advantageous to him or her in that situation. Pete Rose, who had more hits than anyone else in the history of Major League Baseball was a switch hitter[1] as was Mickey Mantle. There have been a handful of ambidextrous pitchers in the history of Major League Baseball, the most successful being Tony Mullane who won 284 games in the 19th century[2][3]. The last confirmed ambidextrous pitcher was Elton (Ice Box) Chamberlain, who pitched from 1886-96, until 39-year old Montreal Expo Greg Harris, nominally a righthander, threw a few pitches with his left hand in one game during his final major league season in 1995. Two college pitchers, Pat Venditte Jr. of Creighton and Matt Brunnig of Harvard, have both switch-pitched during games to moderate success. Both were natural righties who were taught to pitch lefty at a young age. Jamie Irving, also of Harvard, switch-pitched in 1993 but in two consecutive games versus Yale, the first as a righty and the second as a lefty.
It is also very advantageous in football/soccer as a player can shoot from almost any position no matter on which side the ball is. It is therefore impossible for a defender to try to block the side from which the attacker can shoot better. It is also advantageous for the goalkeeper to be equally able to dive towards his left and his right.
In cuesports, a player can reach further across the table if he is able to play with either hand, since the cue must either be placed on the left or the right side of the body. This is best demonstrated by two-time snooker world champion Ronnie O'Sullivan[4].
In basketball it is advantageous, especially to guards, to be able to dribble and drive with both left and right hands. If a player is somewhat stronger with his right hand a good defensive player would be coached to 'take him to the left' by playing him further in a stance toward his right side. This would require the guard to go to his weaker side and possibly compromise the play and turnover, where as an ambidextrous player would simply choose to go left and pass the right stretched defensive player. In the key players would find it advantageous to layup or hook the ball in with their left hand particularly if they were coming from the left or if they had a defender on their right to give them body position.
In American football, ambidextrous quarterbacks, such as Chris Leak and Troy Smith can throw passes with both arms, and are thereby less likely to be sacked, as they do not need to turn their bodies to throw the ball. Hockey and ice hockey, where a player may shoot from the left or right side of his body (a good example is former NHL forward Gordie Howe); and combat sports, where a fighter may choose to face his opponent with either his left shoulder forward in a right-handed stance or his right shoulder forward in a left-handed stance.
In soccer, there are few players who have equal skill with both feet. However being able to shoot and pass with the weaker foot is important, because in some situations in a game using the stronger foot is not possible, and being good with both feet is seen as a good attribute in a player. Two examples of abidextrous players are Wesley Sneijder and Luis Javier Garcia Sanz, who take can set pieces (such as corners and free kicks) with either foot, depending on which side of the pitch the set piece is from.
In skateboarding, it is highly advantageous if a skater can skate successfully with not only their dominant foot but also the less dominant.
It is much the same situation in snowboarding and surfing. Surfers who ride equally well in either stance are said to be surfing "switch-foot."
In figure skating, cross-dominance occurs when a skater can spin equally well in both directions, or in extremely rare cases, jump equally well in both directions. 9-time US Champion Michelle Kwan was known for being somewhat ambidextrous in her spins, however with practice most skaters can gain the same ability. In skating, spinning both ways in a spin adds a difficult element to the spin, increasing its value. There has not been a recorded attempt at an ambidextrous combination jump, or a combination where one jump is in one direction and the second is in the opposite, however a handful of skaters have put two of the same jump in sequence in opposite directions.
Some players find cross-dominance advantageous in golf, especially if a left-handed player utilizes right-handed clubs. Having more precise coordination with the left hand is believed to allow better-controlled, and stronger drives. And the professional wrestler Shane McMahon is left handed but writes right handed and hits with right hand.
In tennis, a player may be able to reach balls on the backhand side more easily if he or she is able to use the weaker hand. Perfect examples of players who are ambidextrous include Maria Sharapova[5], Luke Jensen [6] Rafael Nadal whom writes with his right hand but plays tennis with his left. Martina Hingis also won a tennis tournament in juniors with her left hand when she injured her right, she also ocassionaly hits overheads with her left hand.
In technical dancing, such as ballet, cross-dominance is essential.
In lacrosse, the ability to switch hands and maintain control over the stick in any position is essential to playing the game, as is being able to throw, catch, and shoot equally well with both hands, although many good players are in fact lefthanded. In higher levels of play, it is almost necessary to be able to have ambidextrous stick skills, adding to a players deceptiveness and enabling them to make a wider variety of plays.
In certain action pistol competitions and rankings, the shooter is required to shoot from his strong hand and then his weak hand.
[edit] Etymology
In English, the term ambidexter was originally used in a legal sense of jurors who accepted bribes from both parties for their verdict. Jurors found guilty of such bribery had to forfeit decies tantum, ten times as much as they received. [1]
[edit] Note
- ^ This article incorporates content from the 1728 Cyclopaedia, a publication in the public domain.
[edit] References
- ^ Seattletimes.com paragraph 2
- ^ 50 Biggest Baseball Myths by Brandon Toropov, page 75
- ^ Seattletimes.com paragraph 4
- ^ Snookerclub.com
- ^ Biography of Sharapova on imdb.com (see trivia)
- ^ Biography of Luke Jensen on newengland.usta.com
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Path to Ambidexterity - A blog to document one's attempt at becoming ambidextrous.
- "Ambidextrous People are Brain Damaged" by J.B. Sattler in Münchener Medizinische Wochenschrift
- Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania
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