Kara Swisher

Recent Posts by Kara Swisher

Get a Grip: With Apple Telling Us How to Hold a Phone, Here Are Some Other Grip Tips!

BoomTown had no idea about how to properly hold a mobile phone until Apple (AAPL) told us yesterday, in regard to solving the antenna issues related to its new iPhone 4.

Since I had often been using my feet to do so, I am so glad someone schooled me that I had been holding it all wrong for all this time now!

Thanks, Steve Jobs!

So, in return and as a public service, here are some other important gripping techniques you might need to get you up to speed in a range of other arenas.

Car Steering Wheel: While in driver’s education classes, the instructor always told us to put our hands at 10 o’clock and 2 o’clock, but experts say you should actually grip a steering wheel at 9 o’clock and 3 o’clock. And no texting on the iPhone while doing so!

Baseball Pitch: Well, there are lots of different grips for different throws, but here is an example of the four-seam fastball method.

According to the CompletePitcher.com:

“To grip the four-seam fastball, place your index and middle fingertips directly on the perpendicular seam of the baseball. The ‘horseshoe seam’ should face into your ring finger of your throwing hand.”

Golf Swing: This is a very complex issue, as any golfer knows, and there are lots and lots of steps and ways to go wrong.

But fundamentally, according to About.com’s golf grip page:

“The grip is your only connection with the golf club. Placing your hands properly on the golf club helps you better control the position of the clubface at impact. During the swing your body turns to create power. Since the body is rotating, the golf club must rotate at the same rate. In other words, the body and the club must turn together as a team.”

Football Grip: Another dicey proposition! According to eHow, so much can go wrong, it is really stressful for quarterbacks.

And, so many rules: Don’t place your index finger on the nose of the ball! Grip the ball lightly! Watch for where you are holding the laces!

And, most of all, don’t forget the blind side!

Spiderman Grip: Well, first off, you will need to get bitten during a school trip by a radioactive spider and turn into a superhero with sticky hands and feet.

Also, you’ll need a tight suit made of indestructible material. Cue the internal agony over your secret and public lives.

Then, of course, you’ll need an archenemy with a name like Doctor Octopus or Green Goblin.

Most of all, don’t look down!

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