Should You Speed Shift While Driving?

Speed shifting is an advanced driving technique that involves changing gears with the purpose of accelerating as fast as possible. While using this method, drivers only briefly release the throttle while shifting. Certain racers use this technique on the track, but is it suited to everyday driving? To find out, let’s take a look at how it works.

Should You Speed Shift?

First things first, why would you need to learn speed shifting in the first place? This technique is usually for drivers looking to reduce their lap times on a track without putting undue strain on their transmission systems. Speed shifting is a difficult technique to learn. You have to be careful not to shift into the wrong gear when speed shifting because you’ll be shifting as fast as possible. You need to be familiar with all your vehicle’s gears and optimize your technique by practicing on the track. It isn’t something you should practice on public roads.

When speed shifting, be careful not to shift into the wrong gear since you will be shifting as fast as possible.

–Anthony Harlin, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician

Manual Driving Stick Shift Basics

To understand how speed shifting works, you need a basic understanding of how to drive a stick shift. Driving a manual vehicle involves shifting your vehicle’s gears up or down depending on the situation. Higher gears allow for faster speeds at lower RPMs and lower gears allow you to accelerate quickly at higher RPMs. Lower gears are typically used when starting from a dead stop or slowing down during traffic, and higher gears are for cruising down clear roads. Many beginner drivers rely on the tachometer to know when they need to shift, and more experienced manual drivers are able to tell on instinct.

To shift gears, you need to press down on the clutch pedal and use the “palming” method on your shifter, which is typically found in the middle of the cockpit between the two front seats. Palming involves moving the shift stick into the proper position for the corresponding gear you need. Normally, you shift gears while the clutch pedal is depressed, and release the clutch pedal once you’ve shifted a step up or down the gear train. When the vehicle is running, you’ll typically remove your foot from the throttle as you shift.

How Speed Shifting Works

Speed shifting is exactly like normal manual shifting, but done as quickly as possible. You lift your foot off the throttle, depress the clutch, shift, then quickly release the clutch and floor the throttle. The goal of speed shifting is to have your foot off the throttle for as little time as possible while shifting. It requires accuracy and familiarity with your vehicle’s transmission, as well as good reflexes.

Another technique related to speed shifting is power shifting, which is significantly harder on your transmission. Power shifting involves shifting without removing your foot from the throttle at all. It’s very risky for your transmission, and tends to break or warp the gears when done incorrectly. Practicing power shifting will almost undoubtedly lead to transmission damage. This is why many non-racing drivers, even those who aim for fast lap times, should go for speed shifting if they don’t want to break their ride.

In the end, if you want to learn speed shifting, be sure to do so safely on the track, and only once you’ve got a good amount of driving experience under your belt. There’s no need for speed shifts on public roads.