Ambidexterity is the state of being equally adept in the use of both right and left appendages (such as the hands). It is one of the most famous varieties of cross-dominance. A limb (from the Old English lim) is a jointed appendage of the human or animal branch of a tree; a representative, branch or member of a group or organization. ... Alternate meanings: Hand (disambiguation) A human left hand The hand (med. ... 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, while not necessarily being ambidextrous (two-handed), such as someone that writes with a left hand and grabs with the right. ...

Although ambidexterity is rare, ambidextrous people may 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. In common language, a task is part of a set of actions which accomplish a job; the sense is that useful work is getting done. Task analysis is the analysis or a breakdown of exactly how a task is accomplished, such as what sub-tasks are required. ...

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 are can openers or scissors). 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^{[citation needed]}. Southpaw redirects here. ... Childhood (song) Childhood is a broad term usually applied to the phase of development in humans between infancy and adulthood. ... Students in Rome, Italy. ... A can opener. ... For other uses, see Scissors (disambiguation). ... Juggling is a form of skillful, often artful, object manipulation. ... Swimmer redirects here. ... Percussion instruments are played by being struck, shaken, rubbed or scraped. ... Piano, a well-known instance of keyboard instruments A keyboard instrument is any musical instrument played using a musical keyboard. ... “Surgeon” redirects here. ... “Fights” redirects here. ...

Etymology

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". The term ambidexter in English 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] For other uses, see Latins and Latin (disambiguation). ... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... For other uses, see Law (disambiguation). ... An empty jury box in an American courtroom For jury meaning makeshift, see jury rig. ...

In sport

Baseball

Ambidexterity is highly prized in the sport of baseball. "Switch hitting" is the most common phenomenon, and is highly prized because 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]. This article is about the sport. ... In baseball, a switch hitter (or switch-hitter) is a batter who is able to hit from both the right and left sides of the plate. ... Peter Edward Pete Rose, Sr. ... Major Leagues redirects here. ...

Ambidextrous pitchers have also been known. Tony Mullane won 284 games in the 19th century^[2][3], and also Elton Chamberlain in 1888 and Larry Corcoran in 1884. Greg A. Harris is the only major league pitcher in the modern era to pitch with both his left and his right arm. A natural right-hander, by 1986 he could throw well enough with his left hand that he felt capable of pitching with either hand in a game. Harris wasn't allowed to throw left-handed in a regular-season game until September 28, 1995, the next-to-last game of his career. Against the Cincinnati Reds in the ninth inning, Harris (then a member of the Montreal Expos) retired Reggie Sanders pitching right-handed, then switched to his left hand for the next two hitters, Hal Morris and Ed Taubensee, who both batted left-handed. Harris walked Morris but got Taubensee to ground out. He then went back to his right hand to retire Bret Boone to end the inning. One Division I NCAA pitcher, Pat Venditte of the Creighton Bluejays, regularly pitches with both arms. Venditte is consulting with ambidextrous guru Michael J. Lavery, the Co-Founder of Whole Brain Planet, Inc.[1] in an effort to improve not only his power but his ball control from the mound. Lavery is also working with Chuck Mellick, a Tracy, California semi-pro pitcher to help him accomplish his goal to set a Guinness World Record to be the first person to pitch over 90 miles-an-hour accurately with both arms. Lavery is also working with High School pitcher Matthew Berish and little leaguer Nick Bohannan. Anthony John Mullane (January 30, 1859 - April 25, 1944) was a Major League Baseball player in the late 19th Century. ... Elton P. Icebox Chamberlain (November 5, 1867 - September 22, 1929) was a 19th century Major League Baseball pitcher. ... Lawrence J. Corcoran (August 10, 1859 - October 14, 1891) was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball. ... Greg Harris, born Sept. ... Major league affiliations National League (1890–present) Central Division (1994–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 1, 5, 8, 10, 13, 18, 20, 24, 42 Name Cincinnati Reds (1958–present) Cincinnati Redlegs (1953-1958) Cincinnati Reds (1882-1953) Cincinnati Red Stockings (1876-1882) Other nicknames The Redlegs, The Big Red Machine... This article describes the now defunct Canadian baseball team. ... Reginald Laverne Reggie Sanders (born December 1, 1967) is currently the starting left fielder for the Kansas City Royals baseball team. ... William Harold Morris III (born April 9, 1965 in Fort Rucker, Alabama) is a former first baseman in Major League Baseball who played primarily for the Cincinnati Reds. ... Edward Kenneth Taubensee (born October 31, 1968 in Beeville, Texas) is a former catcher in Major League Baseball. ... Brendan Robert Boone (born April 6, 1969) is a former second baseman in Major League Baseball who most recently played with the Minnesota Twins before being released on August 1, 2005 after only 20 days with the franchise. ... Division I (or DI) is the highest level of intercollegiate athletics sanctioned by the National Collegiate Athletic Association in the United States. ... The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA, often said NC-Double-A) is a voluntary association of about 1200 institutions, conferences, organizations and individuals that organizes the athletics programs of many colleges and universities in the United States. ... Pat Venditte Jr. ... The Creighton Bluejays, or Jays, are the athletic teams of Creighton University, a Jesuit/Catholic University located in Omaha, Nebraska. ...

Billy Wagner was a natural right-handed pitcher in his youth, but after breaking his throwing arm twice, he taught himself how to use his left arm by throwing nothing but fastballs against a barn wall. He became a dominant left-handed relief pitcher, most known for his 100+ MPH fastball. In his 1999 season, Wagner captured the National League Relief Man of the Year Award as a Houston Astro. William Edward Wagner (born July 25, 1971 in Tannersville, Virginia) is a American Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the New York Mets. ... National league can refer to: National Basketball League, in the United States and Canada, which merged with the rival Basketball Association of America to form the National Basketball Association National Football League, the major American football league in the United States National Hockey League, the major ice hockey league in... In Major League Baseball, the Rolaids Relief Man of the Year Award, first awarded in 1976, is a distinction given to the top relief pitcher in each league at the end of each season. ... Major league affiliations National League (1962–present) Central Division (1994–present) Current uniform Retired Numbers 5, 24, 25, 32, 33, 34, 40, 42, 49 Name Houston Astros (1965–present) Houston Colt . ...

Billiards and snooker

In pool and snooker, a player can reach farther across the table if they are able to play with either hand, since the cue must either be placed on the left or the right side of the body. Snooker player Ronnie O'Sullivan^[4] is unique amongst the current ranks of top snooker professionals, in that he is able to play to world standard with his left hand. While he lacks power in his left arm, his ability to alternate hands allows him to take shots that would otherwise require awkward cueing. When he first displayed this ability in the 1996 World Championship against Alain Robidoux, the Canadian accused him of disrespect. O'Sullivan responded that he played better with his left hand than Robidoux could with his right.^[5] O'Sullivan was summoned to a disciplinary hearing in response to Robidoux's formal complaint, where he had to prove that he could play to a high level with his left hand. He played three frames of snooker against former world championship runner-up Rex Williams, winning all three. The charge of bringing the game into disrepute was subsequently dropped.^[6] This article is about the various cue sports. ... Snooker is a cue sport that is played on a large baize-covered table with pockets in each of the four corners and in the middle of each of the long side cushions. ... Snooker is a cue sport that is played on a large baize-covered table with pockets in each of the four corners and in the middle of each of the long side cushions. ... Ronald Antonio Ronnie OSullivan (born December 5, 1975 in Wordsley, West Midlands)[1][2] is an English professional snooker player, nicknamed The Rocket due to his rapid playing style, with other monikers including The Essex Exocet and The Magician. He grew up and still lives in Chigwell, Essex, although... // The event The Embassy World Snooker Championship took place at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield between the the 20th April to the 6th May 1996. ... Alain Robidoux (born July 25, 1960) is a Canadian professional snooker player. ... Rex Williams (born 20 July 1933) is a retired English snooker player. ...

Other sports

Other sports in which a degree of cross-dominance can be useful include basketball, where the player may choose to make a pass or shot with the weaker hand; hockey and ice hockey, where a player may shoot from the left or right-side of the body; and combat sports where the fighter may choose to face their opponent with either the left shoulder forward in a right-handed stance or the right shoulder forward in a left-handed stance. Ice hockey player Gordie Howe used a hockey stick with an uncurved blade, so he could use either hand. This article is about the sport. ... Hockey is any of a family of sports in which two teams compete by trying to maneuver a ball, or a hard, round disc called a puck, into the opponents net or goal, using a hockey stick. ... Ice hockey, known simply as hockey in areas where it is more common than field hockey, is a team sport played on ice. ... Hawaiian State Grappling Championships. ... Gordon Gordie Howe, OC (born March 31, 1928 in Floral, Saskatchewan) is a former professional ice hockey player from Canada who played for the Detroit Red Wings and Hartford Whalers of the National Hockey League, and the Houston Aeros and New England Whalers in the WHA. He is often referred... Hockey is any of a family of sports in which two teams compete by trying to maneuver a ball, or a hard, round disc called a puck, into the opponents net or goal, using a hockey stick. ...

Olympic Champion figure skater John Curry notably performed his jumps in one direction while spinning predominantly in the other. Very few skaters have such an ability to perform jumps and spins in both directions, and it is now considered a "difficult variation" in spins under the ISU Judging System to rotate in the non-dominant direction. Michelle Kwan used an opposite-rotating camel spin in some of her programs as a signature move. No point bonus exists for opposite direction jumps or bi-directional combination jumps despite their being much harder to perfect. Figure skating is an ice skating sporting event where individuals, mixed couples, or groups perform spins, jumps, and other moves on the ice, often to music. ... John Curry (1949-1994) was a British figure skater who won the Olympic and World Championships in 1976. ... A demonstration of how skaters are scored under Code of Points. ... Michelle Wing Kwan (關穎珊) (born 7 July 1980) is an American figure skater and media celebrity who has won nine U.S. championships, five world championships, and two Olympic medals. ... Jamal Othman performs a camel spin. ...

In skateboarding, it's highly advantageous if a skater can skate successfully with not only their dominant foot but also the less dominant. Hence the term "switch skating". Skateboarders Skateboarding is the act of riding on and performing tricks with a skateboard. ...

It is much the same situation in surfing. Surfers who ride equally well in either stance are said to be surfing "switch-foot." For other uses, see Surfing (disambiguation). ...

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. This article is about the sport. ...

In tennis, a player may be able to reach balls on the backhand side more easily if they're able to use the weaker hand. Perfect examples of players who are ambidextrous include Rafael Nadal^[7], Maria Sharapova^[8] and Luke Jensen ^[9]. For other uses, see Tennis (disambiguation). ... Rafael Nadal Parera (IPA: ) (born June 3, 1986, in Manacor, Mallorca) is a Spanish professional tennis player. ... Maria Sharapova at Indian Wells in 2005. ... Luke Jensen (born June 18, 1966 in Grayling, Michigan, USA) is a former professional male tennis player from the United States. ...

In golf, Mac O'Grady was a touring pro who played right-handed, yet could play "scratch" (no handicap) golf left-handed. He lobbied the USGA for years to be certified as an amateur "lefty" and a pro "righty" to no avail.[2] This article is about the sport. ... // Phillip McClelland Mac OGrady (born April 26, 1951) is an American professional golfer and golf teaching professional who played on the PGA Tour in the 1970s and 1980s, after learning from Brian Manzella. ...

In athletics, Jonathan Edwards, a now-retired British triple jumper who still holds the world record in that event, was known to be able to kick with either foot while he played rugby. He displayed unprecedented ambidexterity while jumping off either foot during his competitive jumps. A womens 400 m hurdles race on a typical outdoor red rubber track in the Helsinki Olympic Stadium in Finland. ... Jonathan David Edwards CBE (born May 10, 1966 in London, England) is a former British triple jumper and widely regarded as the finest triple jumper of all time. ...

In cricket, Sachin Tendulkar of India bats, bowls, and throws with his right hand, but writes with his left hand, and regularly practices throwing with his left hand. This article is about the sport. ... Tendulkar redirects here. ...

In soccer, being able to kick with both feet provides more options for both passing and scoring, as well as the ability to play up both wings. Therefore, players with the ability to use their weaker foot with proficiency are valuable in any team. Soccer redirects here. ...

Michael Beasley, one of the top collegiate basketball players is ambidextrous. Michael Beasley (born January 9, 1989, in Frederick, MD) is an American basketball player. ...

In badminton, Uddhav Naik of India plays with his left hand. However, he plays bat sports with his right hand white racket sports with his left hand. He writes with his left hand. This article is about the sport. ...

Kumar Sangakkara, the current wicketkeeper of Sri Lanka's cricket team, is ambidextrous. Kumar Chokshanada Sangakkara (born 27 October 1977 at Matale) is a Sri Lankan cricketer. ... A wicket keeper in characteristic position, ready to face a delivery. ... This article is about the sport. ...

Music

In music, Chris Martin, the lead singer, pianist and occasional rhythm guitarist of the band Coldplay writes with his left hand, plays the guitar the orthodox way and draws with his right hand. Swing drummer Buddy Rich was also said to be ambidextrous. Chris Adler, of Lamb of God is also ambidextrous, being able to play right handed drums and bass guitars. He is also seen opening a can of cat food with a right handed can opener in the making of Sacrament. Michael Angelo Batio, a guitar virtuoso, mostly known by his speed playing skills is also ambidextrous. For other uses, see Music (disambiguation). ... This article is about the Coldplay musician. ... A pianist is a person who plays the piano. ... For the UK magazine, see Guitarist (magazine). ... Coldplay are an English rock band. ... Chris Adler (born November 23, 1972) is an American drummer, best known as a member of the metal band Lamb of God. ... For the band, see Lamb of God (band). ... For other kinds of drums, see drum (disambiguation). ... Michael Angelo Batio (IPA: ) is an American instrumental rock/heavy metal guitarist and columnist from Chicago, Illinois. ...

Tools

With respect to tools, ambidextrous may be used to mean that the tool may be used equally well with either hand, as in "ambidextrous knife" referring to the opening mechanism on a folding knife, or can be interchanged between left and right in some other way, such as an "ambidextrous headset" which can be worn on either the left or right ear. ^{[10] [11]} Such devices may not be formally achiral, but interchangeable between different modes. Chirality (Greek handedness, derived from the word stem χειρ~, ch[e]ir~ - hand~) is an asymmetry property important in several branches of science. ...

Note

1. ^{^} This article incorporates content from the 1728 Cyclopaedia, a publication in the public domain.

Table of Trigonometry, 1728 Cyclopaedia Cyclopaedia, or, A Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences (folio, 2 vols. ... The public domain comprises the body of all creative works and other knowledge—writing, artwork, music, science, inventions, and others—in which no person or organization has any proprietary interest. ...

References

is the 111th day of the year (112th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 349th day of the year (350th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2006 (MMVI) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 125th day of the year (126th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... Rafael Nadal Parera (IPA: ) (born June 3, 1986, in Manacor, Mallorca) is a Spanish professional tennis player. ...

External links

• Tips on training to become ambidextrous
• The Ambidextrous Page - Matthew Campbell's Ambidextrous Page
• 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
• Whole Brain Power - Michael J. Lavery is training top baseball players, tennis players and golfers to develop ambidexterity to improve their overall performance.