2004Operating forum
Steadicam operator preference for goofy foot versus regular operating stance
22 years old. Gear and prices may have changed since.
DisputedParticipants disagreed and reached no conclusion. Read the findings as positions, not as an answer.
What the thread found
- An operator's natural proficiency with either goofy foot or regular mode varies individually regardless of handedness, and switching stances can sometimes dramatically improve performance for struggling operators.
- Most operators using two-handed technique perform arm positioning with one hand while using the other for gimbal precision control, with individual preference determining which hand does which task.
- Operators should practice both operating stances during training because production situations may require working from an unfamiliar side.
- An operator's brain can adapt to non-intuitive control schemes, similar to how musicians use their non-dominant hand for precision work despite being right or left handed.
Depends on
- The discussion involves older one-handed and two-handed operating techniques that may differ from current practices.
- Anecdotal evidence only; no systematic data on operator performance or handedness correlation.
- No consensus reached on whether handedness should predict operating preference.
- The Indiana Jones suspension bridge example mentioned is disputed as not being relevant to the two-handed technique comparison.