Talk:Ambidexterity

Celebrities
Shouldn't there be a section for them? If so, Michael Angelo Batio is a great candidate, being able to play two guitars at once. If I'm not mistaken, same goes for Steve Vai.

Biology / Physiology
This article is mostly about sports - it really needs attention from someone with knowledge of the biology and physiology (sociology may also be interesting, ambidextrous organizations are widely discussed in scientific literature.137.56.80.39 (talk) 14:38, 24 May 2010 (UTC)Joost) of this subject to balance the article. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 142.167.114.211 (talk) 20:54, 25 January 2010 (UTC)

Please Cite
I have been going through the article regularly since about a month or two ago. I think that the notable people who are ambidextrous should be returned to the article, as it is stated in the first paragraph of the article that "Some people may be able to teach themselves to be ambidextrous, by practicing equally with both hands. People that are made ambidextrous are called Penwald ambidextrous...". This is in contrast to the removal of the said section, and the editor who removed it did not cite any references proving that ambidexterity is not acquired. Please return the section. --Hoverflew0909 (talk) 05:29, 8 November 2009 (UTC)

Juggling can help develop ambidexterousness, since both hands must be used equally, and this must be specifically practiced. 2604:2000:F64D:FC00:6CC9:A6B2:9A03:8197 (talk) 02:57, 28 December 2019 (UTC)

Tools / Objects
I have added a section explaining what the usage is when applied to objects, with references to two commercial products advertised using the term. As primary sources, these may be WP:OR, but don't know where I would find a secondary source for this informal usage. Kevinpet (talk) 06:56, 10 March 2008 (UTC)

Etymology
It is not strictly correct to refer to Latin roots for this word. Include the Greek please. (Weirpwoer (talk) 05:41, 21 January 2008 (UTC))

Bisexuality, schizophrenia, and ambidexterity
I removed this information from the article:

''According to Marjorie Garber's book, "Vice Versa: Bisexuality and Everyday Life", Freud and a peer named Fleiss were working on a theory that ambidexterity, or bilateralism, is related to bisexuality. She posits that just as homosexuality is often conflated with left-handedness, bisexuality is conflated with ambidexterity.''

Ambidexterity is more common amongst people with schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders than in the general population, and may act as marker of genetic vulnerability to psychotic disorder.

The first paragraph is patently POV, and I couldn't find information backing it or the second paragraph up. StradivariusTV 18:23, 3 September 2005 (UTC)

Copyvio
Large sections of this article appear to be lifted verbatim from --Ignignot 21:14, 12 December 2005 (UTC)

I reverted to the last good version as per wikipedia policy. Here is an example of infringing text.

From the above source: ''Michelangelo (1475-1564) was a multi-faceted genius like Leonardo da Vinci. He often painted with both hands. When one got tired, he switched to the other. British artist, Sir Edwin Henry Landseer (1802-1873) could draw with both hands simultaneously -- a horse's head with one hand and a stag's head with the other. He taught drawing and etching to Queen Victoria who was a lefty that became ambidextrous.''

From the old version: ''Michelangelo (1475-1564) was a multi-faceted genius like Leonardo da Vinci. He often painted with both hands. When one got tired, he switched to the other. British artist, Sir Edwin Henry Landseer (1802-1873) could draw with both hands simultaneously – a horse's head with one hand and a stag's head with the other. He taught drawing and etching to Queen Victoria who was initally left-handed before becoming ambidextrous.''

--Ignignot 21:28, 12 December 2005 (UTC)

Paul McCartney
Unless someone can give a reference which suggests that SPM is ambidextrous, and not merely, as most people believe, left-handed, I'm removing his name from this list. It can always be put back if there's evidence he is ambidextrous. El Pollo Diablo (Talk) 22:54, 22 January 2006 (UTC)

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
I don't think Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles should be regarded as "famous people." LOL therearenospoons 11:09, 30 January 2006 (UTC)

Famous People
Is it just me or is the section on famous ambidexerous people growing out of hand (no pun intended). It seems that every single person to read this article is adding in their favorite person, and ambidexterity is rare enough that I doubt all of those listed are actually ambidexterous. There is a definitive test for ambidexterity which I doubt many of those people have taken. In short, I suggest that we limit the famous people unless there is a source cited, and that we greatly reduce the section's size. Also, the left handed and right handed article do not list people with the associated handedness, obviously because there are too many to even begin to list and also because "who cares?" I think that we can apply that here as well. --Ignignot 16:20, 6 February 2006 (UTC)


 * Seriously, even though no one has responded, the people listed as ambidexterous do not fit the definition. Ambidexterity means that without practice the left and right hands are equally proficient at a task.  If I practice long enough, I'll be able to write with my left hand.  This does not make me ambidexterous!  It just means that I can write with my left hand.  Through this rationale I am going to remove everyone who does not have a source cited... which is everone, so I will remove the entire section. --Ignignot 17:40, 15 March 2006 (UTC)


 * It isn't instant or without practice, you still have to have muscle memory before you can write proficiently. Can you put something up about the test, I've never heard of it. 203.161.68.25 (talk) 17:54, 4 September 2009 (UTC)
 * http://books.google.com/books?id=JnqnaPfcFv8C&lpg=PA237&dq=Annett%20pegboard%20test%20hand%20preference&pg=PA236#v=onepage&q=Annett%20pegboard%20test%20hand%20preference&f=false Look up Annett, or pegboard test on google. These are handedness tests usually given to mentally impaired or children. In that book in particular, they mention that hand skill is only very weakly linked to handedness - you can learn skills with both hands and not be ambidextrous. Ignignot (talk) 22:29, 9 November 2009 (UTC)

Lol —Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.20.41.167 (talk) 17:09, 14 April 2008 (UTC)


 * You do hold an excellent point. I am right handed for most things. But I can play the guitar with either hand, I can handle a sword with either hand, and I shoot a gun better left-handed. ChaosVonGin (talk) 01:49, 2 May 2008 (UTC)

I would argue that to qualify the this article, the person has to have some tangible measure of success, like performing at a professional level, from both sides. Pretty sure that this guy should be mentioned here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andy_Varipapa WHPratt (talk) 12:59, 24 June 2011 (UTC)

How/Where is the definition of ambidextrous that says that it is only 'without practice'? The 'dominant hand' wasn't even proficient without practice, yet the other one has to be? We still need to train the muscle memory for the movements. Period. Our brain and muscle memory doesn't spontaneously know how to write, draw, throw or do anything without practicing. There are no spontaneously ambidextrous humans at learned tasks. Every Human is 'Penfield ambidextrous' -or simply dexterous- they just only practiced from one side because of the belief in right and left handedness. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Akljdfaiojjf (talk • contribs) 15:13, 25 February 2020 (UTC)

Problems
I am ambidexterous, as both hands do not function correctly. yet there is no note of people like me in this artical. it may be worthwile to add this in. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 58.107.12.19 (talk) 09:27, 27 March 2008 (UTC)
 * That condition is called ambisinistrous, however, the article is lacking. 85.230.168.22 (talk) 22:19, 29 September 2008 (UTC)

Following the subject I added "Variations in Ambidexterity" - I experience some degree of confusion physically and mentally when faced with the need to make a quick decision involving using a hand/foot. If I need to "bat" or push something out of my way in sports or everyday life, if the object isn't positioned on either one side ( left or right ) and comes at an awkward angle, I hesitate and end up making a quick, sharp, often clumsy move.

My brain and body have a difficult time processing which hand to use in a "think-fast" situation. I end up confused and "off-balance". I cannot shuffle a deck of cards gracefully or count paper bills REALLY fast like the store clerk does in a nice neat pile. I have a difficult and awkward time holding onto a large "hand" of cards in a card game. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Merna16 (talk • contribs) 11:43, 16 August 2009 (UTC)

There's a common expression for clumsiness, namely "two left feet." It usually refers to dancing. WHPratt (talk) 12:54, 24 June 2011 (UTC)
 * "Two left hands" is also a reasonably common expression. JudahH (talk) 18:03, 26 June 2011 (UTC)

Military
Is there a way to include a mention of the Military advantages of being ambidexterous?-- Koji †  Dude  (C) 04:16, 25 June 2008 (UTC)
 * There's a section on firearms in there (haven't checked to see if this arose since this comment). However, note that various (historical?) automatic and semi-automatic weapons expended hot cartridges out to the side away from the user in right-handed use, but in left-handed use would not be so 'friendly' to the operator.  (This is also one of the often stated problems with the oh-so-fashionable "hold gun sideways" movie-badass style, in that the ejected material is an inconvenience (as well as problems with recoil not working as intended by the manufacturer), although then I suppose a left-handed gun-twister might well be partly solving the ejection problems (though not the recoil ones).) 178.104.103.140 (talk) 21:59, 11 August 2013 (UTC)

Cricket
The second statement is not a sentence. The first has no implication why it is notable or important. Are they going to ban it or encourage it? What is notable about their monitoring and why should we care? Where is the knowledge here? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.49.123.166 (talk) 21:26, 29 July 2008 (UTC)

Notability
Pen-spinning is not particularly notable, and this section is little more than a footnote. Also, the entire music section didn't provide any specific examples of the ambidexerity of notable individuals, and had become bloated with less-than notable examples. If this section is to be restored, it should be more like the sports section, providing specific examples of how Jimi Hendrix or Kurt Cobain were known to be ambidextrous and why that was to be noted. Simply stating that they were provides no useful information about how this was special or would be desirable for a musician. &#x2234; Wa lk er aj 19:36, 20 October 2008 (UTC)

Mixed up?
From what i know what is described on this page is called being doublehanded, while ambidexterity means being able to do different things at the same time with left and right hand? DW75 (talk) 21:10, 14 December 2008 (UTC)

Re: Mixed up?

>>Being called double-handed can also refer to being deceitful or deceptive, which may not be helping your cause.

"mouses"
I've removed the mouse example as most models are symmetrical with buttons reversible in the software config. If the "wrong hand" issue still comes up it's usually because the USB jack is on the wrong side and the cord is too short to compensate. Or… a while back I worked in one office where the cords were long enough but all the mouse-pads were all glued down to the right-hand sides of the the desks but that's another matter entirely. However these things have nothing to do with the shape of the mouse itself. Adding 3-ft of extension cord is trivial compared to $pecial-ordering a "flopped" device (such as a rifle that ejects brass to the left). — CharlotteWebb 18:13, 13 May 2009 (UTC)

Article lopsided towards sports discussions
Currently, this page is disproportionally focused on how ambidexterity affects specific sports. This may or may not be valid content, but the article should be broadened (?) to include other aspects in reasonable proportions.

In particular, the many names of individual athletes mentioned bring very little to the discussion. That triple-jump WR-holder Jonathan Edwards could kick a rugby ball with each foot, is a particular example of irrelevant trivia. Even the hypothetical claim that he could triple jump with either foot of the plank would only be of border-line relevance; his rugby adventures are, IMO, entirely outside the reasonable scope of the article.

I have removed the basket-ball section (four names and clubs with no additional information) entirely; and added the expand and off-topic tags to the article. 88.77.154.179 (talk) 07:38, 21 June 2009 (UTC)

Variations in Ambidexterity
This is my first time getting involved in Wiki. I was born an ambidextrous and according to Merriam Webster definition, it is using both hands with equal ease. I thought the variations of ambidexterity on this subject was lacking and every ambidextrous person has unique differences from the next. Unless you're ambidextrous or study the topic, no one can really understand how uniquely specific, surprisingly complex and detailed these variations can be.

I am a rare breed of ambidexterity and for the sake of factuality, it should be pointed out that ambidexterity has many variations from person to person in everything they do - and not just in sports I agree.

I eat and write with mainly my left hand. I can write on paper legibly with my right, but it is visibly not as good as my left. On a marker or chalk board both left and right hand writing looks perfectly fine. If the situation calls for it, I will eat with my right which is just as good as eating with my left. Those are the ONLY tasks that are 95% of the time done with just my left hand. I can do everything else just as good and sometimes much better with my right as I can with my left.

I cannot kick a soccer ball very well with my left foot. I cannot throw a baseball/basketball with my left hand whatsoever.

I can snowboard regular and goofy, bowl with both, play raquette ball with both, and the list goes on forever.

My parents never purposely put a pen or crayon in one particular hand to train that one hand. They let me figure out how to pick it up by myself and decide for myself which hand felt more comfortable. I wrote with both hands everyday utill I was 10 - I chose my left to write with. I am the only lefty/ambidextrous in my family.

I will post something under "Problems" as well pertaining to issues I face with ambidexterity. WP:Myra(Merna16)

I noticed my signature "WP:....." did not show up and there's no time/date showing. Help?... I read the guidelines and should read them again I guess.

I hope we can use this information ( I've got lots more to say about this trust me ) to come up with literaturte that makes sense to add to this subject. —Preceding unsigned comment added by Merna16 (talk • contribs) 11:18, 16 August 2009 (UTC)


 * I can relate to this, and it calls into question the definition in the article and in (gasp!) M-W. People who have complete and equal facility with both hands are probably very rare, but the ability (or preference) to use different hands for different skills is probably quite common.  I throw, use a mouse and stir things left-handed, write, bat and play guitar right-handed and consider myself to an extent ambi- though favouring the right hand.  I'll mull changing or elaborating the lead. Chrismorey (talk) 22:50, 26 May 2017 (UTC)

famous football (soccer) ambidexious players
Ambidexterity is indeed of great importance in the majority of the sports which involve one-to-one action. As far as football (soccer) is concerned, it seems that a large proportion of the top football players were always able to use extensively both their legs. To name of a few of the most well-known: George Best, Pelé, Zinedine Zidane, Cristiano Ronaldo, Marco van Basten, Pavel Nedved 79.129.240.168 (talk) 08:46, 13 October 2009 (UTC)

There was an NFL (i.e., U.S.-style football) kicker in the 1970s named Rich Szaro, who kicked a field goal (or an extra point) left-footed and another right-footed in the same game, switching after he injured his "primary" leg. Apparently, his coach felt more confident with Szaro's "wrong" leg than he did with having another player take on the task. (It should go without saying that kicking is a two-legged job, but one can imagine that an injury could render one leg suitable to plant but not to swing.) A player with a soccer background would have an obvious edge in this respect when compared to a traditional kicker who came up through the gridiron ranks. Szaro's switch-kicking made the weekly highlight reel, so someone should be able to track it down. WHPratt (talk) 16:39, 3 May 2012 (UTC) See: https://www.si.com/vault/1978/11/13/823146/kick-it-or-get-booted-job-security-is-far-from-guaranteed-for-the-men-who-put-the-foot-into-football Szaro's switch-kicking was documented in Sports Illustrated, November 13, 1978, and that article is quoted here. WHPratt (talk) 16:59, 5 December 2017 (UTC) Oh, and it notes that he's a lefty who kicked right in the pinch. WHPratt (talk) 17:01, 5 December 2017 (UTC)

Definition
The article lacks a comprehensive definition of "ambidexterity". It says "Ambidexterity is the state of being equally adept in the use of both left and right appendages (such as the hands)". Does that mean any ambidextrous person can, for instance, write just as legibly with either hand, even if they only happen to use one day-to-day? Or to use a more extreme example, does that mean an ambidextrous piano player could swap right and left hand parts without any trouble? Either situation seems ridiculous to me, since both skills are heavily tied to muscle memory. I've always assumed ambidexterity referred more to the appendages' potential--learning a new skill with either hand should be equally easy, though only one hand might pick up a given skill.

I came here looking to see if I might be ambidextrous and not just cross-dominant, but it's inadequate for that. 24.220.188.43 (talk) 06:18, 14 April 2011 (UTC)

Quote: "Another ice hockey player, goaltender Bill Durnan, was nicknamed "Dr. Strangeglove" for his ability to catch the puck with either hand. This feat won him the Vezina Trophy, then for the National Hockey League's goalie with the lowest goals-against average, six times out of only seven seasons. He had developed this ability playing for church-league teams in Toronto and Montreal to make up for his poor lateral movement."

Actually, in those days the Vezina Trophy went to the goaltender(s) on the team that allowed the fewest goals. As one man usually played the entire season in goal if possible, it was (reasonably) thought of as a personal award. The Vezina usually ended up in the hands of the goalie with the best goals-against average, but it wasn't a guarantee. The performance of the substitute goalies in a few games and its effect on the team total could decide a close race. Naturally, all of this doesn't belong here, but it would be more correct to replace "with the lowest goals-against average" with "allowing the fewest goals". WHPratt (talk) 12:51, 24 June 2011 (UTC)

I'm skeptical of the statement that Durnan was actually called "Dr. Strangeglove." The term is obviously a play on the name "Dr. Strangelove," which originated in a 1964 film (or perhaps in the source novel a few years earlier), years after Durnan had retired. Unless there's an earlier source for the Strangelove name, this is revisionism.

Major league firstbaseman Dick Stuart was popularly called "Dr. Strangeglove" in the later 1960s due to his terrible fielding. WHPratt (talk) 20:17, 18 November 2011 (UTC)

Okay, Dr. Strangelove was based on a 1958 novel, Red Alert (novel), which would be well after Durnan had retired. Furthermore, there is no one named Strangelove in the novel, i.e., that name was developed for the film. Ergo, nobody would have called Bill Durnan "Dr. Strangeglove" while he was active. WHPratt (talk) 13:46, 11 August 2014 (UTC)

Hockey section is all wrong.
First time contributer here so please forgive any mistakes.

So the section about hockey is apparently quite out of date because none of that information is really correct. First of all, if you play hockey right-handed you have (from your perspective) the blade of the stick to the right of your body, while lefties have the blade of the stick to the left of their body. Also, the majority of NHL players play left-handed, so I don't know what the point of saying "Players who learn the game in the USA will generally play with their stronger hand in the middle of the stick" is; where you put your hands on the stick will change constantly throughout a game. The majority of NHL players are Canadian and left-handed so maybe you should include that if you want to single out a country?

Lastly, and most significantly, the reason there are way more NHL players who play left-handed than there are people (in the overall population) who are left-handed is because, when they aren't carrying the puck themselves or poke-checking, stick lifting, etc., they are going to be skating with only one hand on the stick, so that they can sort of mimic a running motion where you bring your hands up and down with each stride. So if you shoot left in hockey, this is going to be your right hand, and vice-versa for people who shoot right. But since the stick can be heavy (especially if you're using a wooden stick and are new to hockey) there is a tendency for people who are normally right-handed to want to use their right and dominant hand/arm, because it is stronger, which means you're going to be shooting left when you put your other hand on the stick (towards the middle).

Sorry if that was confusing I'm a little rushed and yeah. Hope that made sense, because unfortunately what's currently written I think should just be deleted.

Cheers. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 99.235.246.120 (talk) 01:14, 30 March 2012 (UTC)
 * In the 1960s, future hockey hall-of-famer Andy Bathgate authored a book on playing hockey for young people. Bathgate said that he is righthanded but still shot right, and felt that this was how it should be. He speculated that kids weren't instructed in proper grip and so chose the wrong side out of laziness or ignorance. This is an interesting minority viewpoint (one can't argue with his success).  Perhaps someone can locate his book for a quote. WHPratt (talk) 14:41, 6 May 2014 (UTC)

--98.243.248.105 (talk) 10:19, 23 February 2013 (UTC)i dont know what talk page guidelines are.............please have someone improve the section about music and drumming..........having been both an athlete and musician and an ambi-i know there is far more to say about  ambi in the roll of music...............for example-the greatest living drummers have  all the abilities of an Athlete who is ambi............just observe the drummer for the rock group RUSH? or john bonham in his prime............while i might be able to help with this information : i would rather play the piano????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????

Definition, Classification & Percentages
We seem to have covered the Webster's Dictionary definition of what "Ambidexterity" means but what does it really mean to be Ambidextrous? What or who classifies a person as being equally adept with both hands and is skill level a factor? Is writing comparable with throwing a ball? What percent of the population is actually Ambidextrous? Supposedly, the going rate is one out of one hundred or as I've read elsewhere less than two percent, which seems like fairly consistent numbers. Ambidexterity is said to be uncommon and not much is known as to why neither appendage is truly dominant. If we're talking world population, studies show that there are over 70 million people who claim to be Ambidextrous. With 70 million people who are said to have this neurological anomaly, why is so little known about this "phenomenon"? I myself, do not seem to have a hand that I tend to favor. At the age of thirty, I have still not been able to answer the question "Are you left or right handed?" which has then provoked a series of never ending questions, not only from other people but about myself. "What hand do you write with? Cut with? Brush your teeth with? Apply mascara? Knit, sew, paint? Bowl, shoot pool, throw darts? (I guess there would be more sports related questions if I were at all athletic) The answer is "whichever". There is no noticeable difference and so I split the difference (sometimes left, sometimes right). I started researching thinking that the answer would be as simple as explaining left or right handedness and the connection between the left and right sides of the brain. However, this is not so. I am no closer to understanding my own body and mind or why 99 percent of the population does not function in the same way. Also, after thirty years of living on this planet and 70 million other Ambidextrous people out there, I haven't met one yet... Kit Wu (talk) 07:24, 17 April 2014 (UTC)

Revert Edit
You have revert the edit on Ambidexterity and I have given verified source. That so, have to undo your revert edit unless you give reasonable answer. Please reply. (Price Zero (talk) 15:47, 9 February 2016 (UTC))

Bihandgle?
as of 2017-06-13 1511 Eastern Time, the first word in the article is Bihandgle. The reference to this word is the link to the Oxford English Dictionary word "ambidextrous". A google search gives only 4 references to the word "bihandgle," three of which at least appear to originate from this wikipedia article. Is Bihandgle actually a word? I feel like I'm being trolled.

Knitting section is incorrect
As a 10 yrs' knitter I can say that knitting is not an ambidextrous activity. Yes you use both hands but they are not both making the same motion. Look up any youtube video about knitting and you'll see!

For continental knitting, the non-dominant hand (for people with a non-dominant hand) only holds the yarn and the needle you're knitting from, while the dominant hand does the actual knitting-- 90% of the work. For English knitting, the dominant hand holds the yarn and does the knitting, meaning the non-dominant hand does even less work. I'm removing the section. AAAAaaaaAAAAaaaa1234 (talk) 01:21, 2 January 2021 (UTC)

In the bible: left-handed or ambidexterism?
The unique references existing in the Holy Scripture are in and. In the first one, the Jewish text (]) is associated with a highly improved level of shooting sight; in the second one, it is described the mission of a Liberator of Israel.

The translation of Judges 20,16 is controversial: the 1611 KJV renders "left-handed", Jewish-English interlinear Bible renders "select seven hundred men right of hand restricted", and the Italian C.E.I. 1978 version uses the word ambidexter. The available translations are are quite opposite.

It is notable that the Israel linked ambidexterism vs mancinism to an improved military performance. In this case, it's unclear whether they have to be cited in the current WP article or in Handedness.

Footballers may be ambidextrous but that is not useful in the sport
Since ambidextrous means able to use both hands equally well, the section on football is not appropriate here. Footballers may be ambidextrous, but that is not useful in the game. What is useful is to be ambipedal i.e. be able to use both feet equally well. Bermicourt (talk) 18:16, 12 December 2021 (UTC)

Ambidexterity
Ambidexterity 209.172.10.191 (talk) 02:04, 24 October 2022 (UTC)

Where is the evidence it's real?
Surely everyone has a preferred hand, even for people who call themselves 'ambidextrous'. Then there will be people who are equally bad with both hands call themselves 'ambidextrous'. Ability to use both hands well is clearly a useful skill but I don't believe that it truly exists. I bet you that all these people choose a side to cut their bread, choose a hand to play snooker with, throw with.

Even Ronnie O'Sullivan is not truly ambidextrous. He has a preference for his right. So I am tempted to think that being born ambidextrous is a myth. Or at least the idea that people are equally balanced. We are not. 2A00:23C6:1E82:8601:350D:C474:3C06:BFFD (talk) 23:35, 13 February 2023 (UTC)

In SpongeBob SquarePants...
In the SpongeBob SquarePants episode entitled "The Splinter," (S6:E5) SpongeBob reveals himself to be ambidextrous.

Later, in the episode entitled "You Don't Know Sponge," (S7:E23) SpongeBob briefly brings it up when he and Patrick are taking their best-friend quiz. 2603:7080:DC02:5FB5:2F:876F:9C3D:168F (talk) 16:46, 20 June 2024 (UTC)