What Is "Granny Shifting" (Also Known As Double Shifting)?
We break down what "granny shifting" (also referred to as double shifting) means, how you do it, if this driving technique makes you go faster, and more.
The deeper you get into the world of cars, the more aware you become of all the lingo floating around. It can be tricky to keep up when much of the language is influenced by movies like The Fast and the Furious. One of those terms is granny shifting, also known as double shifting. What is this technique in a vehicle?
Although it might sound slow, granny shifting is anything but. It’s also valuable to know what you’re getting into if someone asks you to perform this action on the go. The more familiar you are, the more prepared you’ll be. Keep reading to learn more about what granny shifting is, what it does, if it makes you faster, and other speedy details.
What is Granny Shifting?
Although it sounds fancy, granny shifting is technically the correct way to shift a vehicle. It’s going through the gears sequentially, upshifting and downshifting as you should on a car. It’s nicknamed “granny shifting” because it’s slower than what other people do - skip over gears to get to the higher ones quickly.
Granny shifting is used for cars that don’t have a synchronized manual transmission and permits the following:
- Aid in the rotational speed of the input shaft
- Preserve the transmission
- Make driving smoother
It’s an advantageous selection, especially for unsynchronized transmissions.
Even if you have a vehicle with a synchronized transmission, it can be beneficial for your car’s components to try granny shifting. Instead of placing the clutch once and moving to another gear, you will go into neutral before each change, pressing the clutch each time. It could prevent wear and tear that comes with the other method.
DOWNLOAD THE FREE APP
The CoPilot car shopping app is the smartest way to buy a car. Get a curated list of the best cars for sale in your area, as well as notifications if a similar vehicle is listed nearby at a lower price. CoPilot is the smartest way to shop for used cars.
How Do You Granny Shift?
Granny shifting isn’t very complicated. Although it will take slightly longer to move from one gear to the next, many prefer to take their time and keep their car’s components in one piece instead of taking the risk of wearing them down prematurely. It’s at least valuable to know how to granny shift when possible.
To granny shift, you will do the following in your manual vehicle:
- Release the accelerator, press clutch, shift to neutral
- Release clutch, match engine speed to gear speed
- Press clutch, shift, and release clutch when the revs and gear match
At this point, you can transition into your next gear and speed.
Sometimes, learning how to double shift or granny shift is a requirement in states if you are driving a commercial vehicle, thanks to the construction of some of the larger machines on the road. However, not every location requires interested drivers to do it. It’s also possible to granny shift if you’re in a traditional manual vehicle for the sake of the components.
Does Double Clutching Make You Faster?
Many people who know about cars would tell you granny shifting makes you slower, not faster. However, that isn’t the case. Double clutching can make you faster because it allows a smoother, quicker transition from one gear to the next. It can prevent friction issues and permit a vehicle to speed up quickly.
Double clutching permits the following:
- Quicker acceleration
- More effective handling
- Higher performance ability
There’s much double clutching can do for you behind the wheel.
It will take a little practice to master the technique, but it isn’t very complicated. Don’t let the media and speedy drivers bully you into thinking granny shifting isn’t an effective way to shift gears on the road. It will make everything smoother and ensure various components in your vehicle last much longer.
WHAT DOES “RS” MEAN ON A CAR?
What does RS mean on a car? Is it merely a fancy logo, or does it hold a more significant meaning?
How Did Granny Shifting Become Famous?
Granny shifting hasn’t always been widely known, but it’s become a common nickname for the particular shifting method we went over. Some instructors will call traditional shifting granny shifting, so the word has continued through various formats as more and more drivers become familiar with the term.
Granny shifting also gained its nickname through the following areas:
- Fast and Furious
- Driver nicknames
- Internet fame
It’s slowly gained traction for what it is.
Granny shifting is more of a derogatory term than a positive one, with the “granny” aspect of the vehicle referring to how others think it’s a much slower way to go from one gear to the next. The car could become more popular in the following years, but we’ll see what the movies must say about the experience.
DO YOU NEED A LICENSE TO BUY A CAR?
Do you need a license to buy a car? This question can be a little confusing because the law is set in stone.
Should You Try Granny Shifting?
To some, granny shifting might sound like a boring way to go from one gear to the next. For others, it’s better to try this method to keep the vehicle intact. If you haven’t shifted this way before, is it ideal to go with granny shifting, or should you try another selection to go faster? Should a typical driver attempt granny shifting?
Thanks to the modernization of manual transmission systems, it isn’t worth it to try granny shifting at this point. Typically, granny shifting systems are very advanced and incorporate synchronizers to add these techniques into a typical shifting method. There is no need for the average driver to move the vehicle in this manner.
Of course, you’re still welcome to attempt granny shifting if you want to master it and gain some experience on the go. It won’t hurt the vehicle in a typical manual shifter, but it won’t benefit it. It’s up to the driver to determine how they want to drive.
Final Thoughts
Granny shifting, though an unfortunate nickname, is a lower and traditional way to move from one gear to the next. It involved a few more steps than what many people do, which makes it a point of contention for drivers who love more advanced and quicker shifting techniques on the go.
We hope these details are valuable! It can be tricky to keep up with all the car terms, especially with so much verbiage specific groups of people understand. When you’re behind the wheel and hear someone mentioning granny shifting, you will know what it is and how to incorporate it.
Get a Curated List of the Best Used Cars Near You
The CoPilot car shopping app is the easiest way to buy a car. Tell us what you’re looking for, and we’ll search the inventories of every dealership in your area to provide you with a personalized list of the best car listings.
The best part? CoPilot is built using the same technology that dealerships use to buy and sell their inventories, so we have more info on each vehicle than competitors. CoPilot doesn’t work with dealerships, so there are no sponsored posts or other shady practices — just the most info on the best cars. Check out our About Us page to see how CoPilot works.
