MASTER Heel And Toe Downshifting Technique in 5 Minutes!

[@BrianMakse]

How is your heel and toe? Let me know! Leave me any questions here.

[@peterg2345]

I've been heel toeing, double declutching since 1973. My first car was 3 on the tree and only had synchro in 3rd. I had to learn how to change gears properly if I wanted anything other than top gear. I still do it in my BRZ, and if I get it right I can get into the lower gear quicker than the synchros. Assuming double declutching.

[@thirdiezaraspe1889]

is heel and toe can be use to pickup truck?

[@BrianMakse]

@@thirdiezaraspe1889 anything with pedals

[@honeyrn21]

H civic si for 5 yrs, I was never able to do a heel-toe coz my foot is too narrow and small but I will practice again, what I always do is Brake-clutch-(foot off the brake) blip almost the same time with shift...is that bad?

[@thazecomp7923]

@@honeyrn21 Good question. It's not the same thing when you take your foot off the brake. Go with as wide a shoe as possible and if that doesn't work consider some pedal covers that widen the brake and throttle pedal.

[@nicklarson1951]

Well I'll be first attempting it with my 370z on my way home from work today, been driving manuals my whole 18 year driving career and this is the first video I've seen that made me feel like I could hone this skill easily enough. Great video, thanks for the breakdown! Hopefully it'll come as natural as the rest of driving has for me.

[@BrianMakse]

Cheers, thanks! Keep practicing!

[@briangaming1975]

How's your progress so far?

[@PaulB-q3d]

Doesn’t the 370z do it for you 😂

[@nicklarson1951]

@@PaulB-q3d only sports and nismos have SynchroRev match, which can be turned off as well, but mine is a regular touring 370z.

[@nicklarson1951]

@@briangaming1975 took a bit to feel comfortable but I've gotten pretty good at it, it's even helped with my sim racing lol

[@waynejohnson3214]

Outstanding tutorial. The concept that heel toe shifting is a braking technique is worth the price of admission.

[@BrianMakse]

I'm glad you appreciate the correct message here!

[@insid3493]

I'm 17, heel and toe downshifting is one the best and most useful techniques I've learned in a manual. I started around last year after seeing keiichi tsuchiya doing it in a gunsai video. I then just tried it and after a few times, I was smooth with it and loved it.

[@CakesAndCandlesj59]

Me too I’m 17 and learned it a few days ago I’m pretty smooth now

[@junlee7763]

Mr. Makse! Thank you for 6 steps you shared, it really helped me to improve how I drive. Somehow I always did not "clutct out" until I finish my braking or applying two steps of "brake off" and "clutch out" simultaneously. It didn't not only hindered my clutch engaging/release timing, but also lose the point of heel and toe; staying in power band. Next day after watching your lesson, it made a night and day difference, I don't upset my drivetrain as often as I used to, but stay in healthy RPM range :)

[@BrianMakse]

Brilliant! Thanks for the feedback and I'm glad it worked for you!

[@ericostling7410]

Best presentation of this I have ever seen Brian. That said, it's simply a natural extension of all the tricks I learned watching my dad driving stick from the passenger seat growing up, including double-clutch and also cold starts without the ignition. He wasn't a racer, I'm not either, but when you're really in touch with your vehicle you know your throttle and clutch, what the engine wants for each gear and how it feels and sounds for the speed you're at. It's quite intuitive really with a little practice, whether you prefer to rotate the ball of the foot over the throttle or move the heel out from from under like I do for more security. I even tried this out on a bank left I know very well the other day, surprising the driver behind me trying to keep up. Kudos to whoever can take it to the next level, that's the art of it, separating someone like Andretti or Senna from a wannabe.

[@leefranklin3054]

Oh crap, you do it like I do it! I roll my foot over, have for decade, and it was called "Rev Matching" when I was instructed. When I got into racing (well autoX) everyone was all about "Heel and Toe" and I tried doing it that way... but it felt dangerous in my Miata, so I abandoned the idea... but kept doing rev matching how I was taught as a kid, sometimes rolling my ankle, and when I am not in a hurry I tap brake and then tap throttle as I let out the clutch. So nice to know I wasn't doing it completely wrong all this time! Thank you!

[@BrianMakse]

This is the right way to do it, Lee! Take some of these tips and refine your technique!

[@leefranklin3054]

@@BrianMakse Thank you, and I will review that video a bunch, favorited so I can find it easily. I appreciate it a bunch. Darn, I will need to do some back road driving for 'no reason at all' in order to work on this.

[@BrianMakse]

Excellent excuse for a drive!

[@anonymous-qi5il]

Im 17 and just started driving like 6 months ago, I started trying this a month ago and everytime I do heel-and-toe downshifting and succeed, it makes me grin cuz it's just so fun and I feel cool 😂😂😂

[@BrianMakse]

Nice work! Keep it up! (I didn’t perfect it until I was in my 20s)

[@au1317]

I'm 28 years old and after 12 years of driving manual it still puts a smile on my face when I get it "just right"

[@BrianMakse]

@@au1317 Isn't that the best?

[@CraigMartin-zq5uu]

At 64 years and having never raced or taken a school... I've spent the last 45 years reading books and magazine articles, trying to figure out heel and toe... You just taught me the sequence in 12 minutes!!! THANKS! I just bought a GT-40 replica for track days... You have an open invitation to take her out at Barber when I get her ready

[@BrianMakse]

This is exactly why I produced this episode, Craig. Practice makes perfect! Barber is a lovely circuit, driven it a couple of times. Would be nice if IMSA brought us back there.

[@zoomnpa9905]

Your suggested hack was a game-changer for me! I always thought it sounded too complicated or not worth learning when other videos talk about heel to toe, but I finally have the desire to learn and practice this technique because you taught us WHY and HOW. Thanks for making driving more fun, Brian!

[@BrianMakse]

That's great to hear! Glad I could help and it means a lot!

[@JSG1901]

Hey Brian, nice to see this. I sent it on to a few friends. What you didn’t specifically mention that might be worth saying is, when you do this right the clutch is released very quickly. There’s no eeeeeasing the clutch out, it’s really just a blip-release movement, where the throttle blip and the clutch release are technically sequential but feel like all at the same time.

[@BrianMakse]

Clutch release speed depends on a number of factors, but generally, yes, it should be done quickly.

[@jakebisket]

I’ve always been told how important it is to learn the heel and toe technique but never knew where to start, excited to try it out. Thanks!

[@BrianMakse]

I don’t know how important it is, but it sure is fun when you master it!

[@ignatdinkov1990]

Hi. I am usually using heel and tho daily and it is really handy in my 90s Nissan NX 100. My question is does heel and tho wear my car down and is it bad for the car if you do it daily.

[@BrianMakse]

Great question! It doesn’t cause any extra wear at all, assuming you’re doing it properly.

[@awgie]

I've recently obtained a manual FRS, this is my first manual daily ever. I've been getting alot more comfortable behind the wheel and rev match downshifting is becoming much easier. I've tried doing heel toe downshifts and I've always press too hard on the brake thus almost sending myself thru the windshield. I'll get it at some point. I'm just going to focus on getting the basics down to a science, It's only been 3 or so months

[@BrianMakse]

Practice makes perfect. Some of the tips and tricks will help. Practice safely!

[@Indacouch-li8jp]

@@BrianMaksewhen i first tried to learn, it didn’t go well because i choose all the wrong situations and speeds to try it, best to learn on long off ramps and long hills coming to a stop light or stop sign, been doing it for 2 years and now can heel toe with muscle memory approach ez pass tolls after just speeding and breaking every traffic violations imaginable, don’t drive like that no more since i got it out of my system but when learning, safety should be number 1 priority, don’t want to leave your loved ones behind trying to be speed racer. i don’t drag race, never have never will, my dream is to be weekend warrior auto cross but my wallet doesn’t facilitate it 😂

[@mystoller]

Thanks for this, explained things much better than I have heard before!

[@BrianMakse]

Glad it was helpful!

[@mikeydude750]

Just bought a GR Corolla last month after driving a bunch of older, far less powerful cars. Been driving manuals for most of the 18 years I've been driving because I do like rowing through the gears but I wouldn't call myself an expert by any means and heel-toe is something I've always struggled with. My new car also has the auto-blip feature and I do love how it shifts compared to my previous manuals but I'm definitely gonna practice some of these tips next time I'm out on some fun roads!

[@BrianMakse]

The rev matching feature is a great way to help you get the feel for it before you start working on the throttle blip on your own. Great car. Enjoy.

[@hatchirolla]

Same here except this is my first manual lol, driving it is no problem and regular downshifting with a throttle blip isnt a problem for me but when it comes to heel toe i struggle, i either blip to little or to much

[@aldo90731]

Excellent tutorial! I own a 2018 Fiat 124 Spider Abarth with manual transmission. Your video helped me to finally understand how to heel and toe. Love the sound of that Abarth exhaust every time I blip the throttle...!

[@BrianMakse]

Hope you put all of this to work!

[@aldo90731]

@@BrianMakse Yes. I've been practicing my heel and toe!

[@markgentile6547]

Hi Brian. Great explanation. Shoe selection was a good tip. The only thing I’m now struggling with is timing. My engine revs and falls so fast, I either miss the blip or get a surge (i.e. let out the clutch too early or too late). Any suggestions?

[@BrianMakse]

Practice, practice, practice! It's definitely all in the timing. Make sure you have the fundamentals down and practice that kick of the throttle so you get that 2k bump in engine speed consistently first. After that, then move on to practicing the timing of clutch release. In a safe location of course!

[@jimst3r1]

Nice car pal, i drive an i20N and this was an awesome video i shared to a bunch of newbies who wanna heel toe.

[@BrianMakse]

Glad you enjoyed it! I’ve never seen an i20N road car, but I definitely know what it is. Great car. Thanks for sharing!

[@markjennings9115]

You need to include a double clutch, heck of a lot smoother than just stabbing a lower gear with only a throttle blip. The key is matching engine speed with transmission output shaft speed…..basically spooling up the cluster gear to engage without depending on the synchro clutches.

[@BrianMakse]

I’ll leave that to you. It’s slower and further complicates an already complex technique.

[@thedon9670]

Double clutching is only for 1950s trucks lol.

[@markjennings9115]

@@thedon9670 I have a 2000’s Porsche and I 1960s truck and both shift smoother double clutching……

[@kallo182]

Brian, what is this welded Tube behind your foot at 9:50 ? It is pure Metal and not painted, so it dont look like it would be Stock. Is this the Steering Column?

[@BrianMakse]

Probably.

[@marcasswellbmd6922]

This was one of the best heel toe vid's I have seen in a while..

[@BrianMakse]

Thank you so much! I'm glad you enjoyed the video and found it helpful. Keep practicing and you'll master the heel toe technique in no time!

[@ScottFentonfullbe6]

Great video, thank you! It’s difficult to tell from the footage, when you kick the gas pedal is your heel coming off the floor, or does it stay planted? Would you say that your knee is pointed more into the steering column, or away from it? Cheers!

[@BrianMakse]

Great questions! Whether my heel is off the floor or not depends on the car and how high off the floor the brake pedal is. In general and more often than not, my heel is off the floor. About the right knee, that depends on a few more factors, but in general it's slightly to the right of the steering column. Make sure your seating position is dialled in first, then work from there.

[@ScottFentonfullbe6]

@@BrianMakse Hey, super cool to get a reply! Thank you! I look forward to working on this some more and getting the hang of it. My knee question came from a tip from another racer who suggested pivoting the right knee towards midline when braking, as that naturally moves the heel towards the gas pedal. I was curious as to whether you did the same. Regardless, at this point, I need to practice and figure out what works for me. Thanks again for a great video, Brian!

[@youngbuck4044]

Thank you for this! I just found your channel after accidentally clutchless downshifting successfully 😂 didn’t know that was possible. This is a huge help if you have clogged cats too because they make the rpms drop too fast as you let off the gas. Techniques like this make an old 2001 GM nv3500 much more drivable from my experience. Aside from an actual race the 4.3 V6 with a manual can get down

[@BrianMakse]

I’m here to serve. Glad you enjoyed it and hopefully learned something new!

[@robertferagotti4119]

This was an excellent video! Im going to start practicing this tonight! ❤

[@BrianMakse]

Have fun! Be safe!

[@bridgettehurst2958]

Thanks so much - first car was a Manuel but never learned this technique - hope to use it soon with a Miata I plan to purchase -

[@BrianMakse]

Keep me posted! Happy to help!

[@synaptik111]

Great tutorial, thank you! I've been driving manuals for quite a while, but I'm having a really hard time keeping consistent brake pressure while attempting to blip the throttle. I always seem to increase the pressure which forces my car to dive. Any suggestions on how to get that right would be greatly appreciated. I'm currently practicing in my 2006 G35 6MT coupe prepping for upcoming HPDEs.

[@BrianMakse]

I think I expanded on just that concept in my old Hagerty column. Check it out and give it a try. www.hagerty.com/media/opinion/the-elsinore-files/recovering-the-lost-art-of-heel-and-toe/

[@kurtmehrmann]

Perfect explanations. I've driven manuals most of my life. 16 to almost 50. But, my brain is stuck with quickly removing my foot from the brake to blip, then back on the brake. I generally time my braking for this and make it smooth enough, however I'm desperate to do this properly. I currently drive a simple 2022 Kia Rio manual. The dang pedals are too far apart. I suppose, like you do, I should find wide Van's shoes! 😢

[@BrianMakse]

You’ve got this, just keep practicing!

[@matthewreed7471]

Cool tips Brian, thanks! I'm curious about the 2k stab, is that range pretty true for all cars and shifts, i.e. 5-4 and 3-2?

[@BrianMakse]

In general, yes, but the point is all about learning the movement required to blip the throttle reliably and consistently. Once you get that down, you’ll naturally refine your technique to suit your gearbox in any given situation.

[@alastairwatson3201]

A great video that was well-structured, logical and comprehensive. Two things, though: 1/. I drive older cars - Fiats, in particular - one of which has dodgy synchromesh and thus needs to be double-de-clutched. I heel / toe and double-de-clutch necessity but it’d be handy for some people to have that process explained. 2. Could you do a video on left-foot braking, please? Thanks.

[@BrianMakse]

Agreed on the old stuff! Glad you enjoyed this. We’re about to produce a remake on the topic. Left foot braking is my kryptonite! I can do it quite well, but even I’m not 100% confident in that environment. As a long time instructor and coach, I have to say that’s a track-only technique and not for public roads for a bunch of reasons, which I’d definitely discuss in an episode on the subject.

[@seanjermy2692]

Thanks! Great session.

[@BrianMakse]

Cheers! Keep practicing!

[@NoelDanlog-jz3gm]

The blip, before or after shift?

[@BrianMakse]

Please watch it again.

[@acanuck1679]

Excellent stuff. Thank you very much. I think this might help me get over my fear that my big feet (in my 2008 MX-5) will lead me to screw things up. Big thumbs up.

[@BrianMakse]

Cheers! If you enjoyed this, please give it a share!

[@blueshark3098]

Hi Brian, thanks for the great tutorial on heel and toe downshifting. Not a technique I can really do, because of an ankle fracture years ago, that severely limits rotation in my ankle. But my other point is that, most auto journalists and youtubers think that rev matching to do downshifts necessarily requires using the heel and toe technique. It doesn't. There is a simpler, more straightforward way to do your own rev matching, without incorporating the simultaneous braking of heel-and-toeing. Yes, heel and toeing is better on a race track, but it's not something you have to know how to do, in order to rev match downshifts, in a non-racetrack context. I think it's unfortunate that most Americans now seem to think that you have to know how to heel and toe to rev match downshifts, but, you really don't. Yeah, if you're gonna be racing or autocrossing, obviously it's best to know the technique. But most people can get along fine doing rev matching, without knowing how to do heel and toeing. Just my two cents worth.

[@BrianMakse]

Glad you enjoyed it. Yes, you can match revs in different ways, but don't forget that you only have control of the brake pedal when using heel and toe. P. S. I'm a championship-winning racing driver first before being a KZbinr, decidedly not a journalist, and definitely not American.

[@KingZuluKing]

this seems like a proper instructions layed down in logical way, thanks al ot

[@BrianMakse]

You're welcome!

[@BionicBuddhaX]

Thank you Brian for this video! I thought I was going crazy. When I learned to heel and toe on my MR2 Turbo about 25 years ago, I had to get those dressy pedal covers in order to get the brake and gas pedals close enough together to heel and toe this way. Every car I've driven since, the pedals are too far apart for this method of heel and toe. Most videos show the driver using their toes on the brake pedal and their heel on the throttle. Although this solves the pedal distance issue, I find it very unwieldy. Having to move my whole leg to stab the throttle upsets the braking, I could never get the hang of it. I began to wonder whether the way I originally learned what's wrong, and if I was just too uncoordinated to heel and toe the proper way. Your video confirms that IDID learn the right way of heel and toe driving, and all that's missing is a really wide pair of skate shoes! Thanks!

[@BrianMakse]

Awesome! That's great to hear! Glad this helped! Pedal spacing has changed primarily for safety (Lotus excepted) and wide shoes along with good pedal covers can help.

[@IceNFire09]

I've always been in a similar situation. Pedals too far apart to use this method. When I recently got my Miata, I was determined to get it right since virtually every review I've seen has said that it is perfectly set up for heel toe. I have been able to do it well enough to start commiting to muscle memory, but I still find I have to put the left side of my foot uncomfortably close to the edge of the brake pedal to reach the throttle with the right side, even with a size 11 Wide foot. So I ordered a pedal extender and installed it today, so we'll see how it works out tomorrow!

[@BionicBuddhaX]

@@IceNFire09 Excellent, good luck and enjoy!

[@dankmemer2774]

It also depends a lot on throttle response and pedal placement. I have been in cars that is perfect for heel toe and cars make it impossible. If a car has sluggish throttle response, you will need to hold your foot on the gas rather than just a quick blip to bring the revs up which makes it difficult to heel toe. If the gas is too far from the brakes, you'll have trouble reaching both with 1 foot. Too close, and you may accidentally strike the gas when you don't mean to. If the gas sits too low from the brakes, you'll have to depress the brakes a lot before you can strike the gas with 1 foot. Too high and you will hit the side of the gas pedal instead of the surface.

[@BrianMakse]

A lot of it depends. If you want the best heel and toe tutorial that works for the broadest range of drivers and cars that you can enjoy for free on youtube, this is it. Alternatively, I’m available for personalized performance driver training and you don’t want to know what that costs.

[@dankmemer2774]

@BrianMakse no this video is great. I'm just putting this out there for new drivers because sometimes, no matter how hard you try, the car may just not be up for the task of heel toe downshifts. Yes eventually with practice you can still do it with even a car with poorly set up pedals, but the experience is still not as fun as in a car with pedals designed with that kind of driving in mind. I thought I just sucked at heel toes in my first manual car because I could only get it sometimes even after practicing for a while. When I got a new car, I was able to nail the heel toe downshift perfectly every time and effortlessly, too.

[@Jorge_Magallon]

Like that you chose a car with an interesting exhaust note. Just like driving a manual, learning to drive one better is easier and more rewarding with satisfying and loud reactions from the exhaust. Great video.

[@BrianMakse]

Thanks, Jorge. At the time I started the project, there weren’t many cars to choose from due to the pandemic, save for my personal cars, and Hyundai Canada has been excellent to work with. More importantly, the Veloster N is way too much fun. What a great car.

[@RobertSherwood-e2y]

Do you ever skip a gear in a heel toe if for instance you have to go from 4th to 2nd?

[@BrianMakse]

For now, don’t skip gears. When you get truly proficient you can think about improvising.

[@zigmoto360]

Thanks for the great video! I need to learn this! Your video also made me miss my Veloster N. Man, that was a great car...

[@BrianMakse]

Thanks! Great car!

[@garethwynn01]

What about double clutching?

[@BrianMakse]

It’s a waste of time with a synchromesh gearbox and, as such, a marginal use case.

[@marcasswellbmd6922]

Great Vid I need to get used to my Brakes more than anything else.. I have a Manual Mustang GT and the Brakes are so sensitive..

[@BrianMakse]

You can do it!

[@chrisej5987]

I've never had a manual car I could practice heel toeing but its so nice and easy and satisfying to do it with your hands, on a motorcycle 😅

[@BrianMakse]

Exactly the same principle!

[@protectork9831]

Been driving manual for 25 years , never had to use heel toe or double clutch . Third world none of us use these techniques , you guys make it more complicated for god knows what reason

[@BrianMakse]

Performance driving requires it.

[@gumbilicious1]

I learn for fun. I never used any advanced manual gearbox techniques for the first 10 years of driving manuals because i didn’t know what they really were. I have learned a number of them now because I got a fun sporty manual and I think it’s fun as hell. If I start taking my vehicle to a track then I am definitely gonna want to know this stuff. But right now it just makes driving more engaging and fun

[@memes_gbc674]

it's more fun and it makes your clutch last longer

[@kurtnebiker8319]

Brilliant advice, Brian. THANKS!

[@BrianMakse]

My pleasure!

[@B16WGZ]

Very nice video, very nicely and clearly explained. My problem is, I can't for the life of me maintain a steady pressure on the brake pedal while blipping the throttle. Depending on traffic, and on my current speed, I apply just the right amount of brake pressure to get a nice and smooth deceleration. I look ahead and estimate what the final point of the deceleration will be, and then adjust the braking force so that the deceleration rate from here to there is as constant as possible. Sometimes I even start braking a bit earlier than strictly necessary, in order to get away with a lower deceleration rate. This provides a smooth experience for the passengers (which is my ultimate goal, and something I take pride in). But as soon as I rotate my foot to blip the throttle, that pressure changes. So, while the whole point of applying the heel & toe technique is to avoid jerking my passengers during a downshift, I actually end up jerking them while blipping the throttle. Which is not only annoying, but embarassing as well. It may be just a matter of training. I'll keep trying. But any tips or tricks that you think might help with this would be highly appreciated.

[@BrianMakse]

Glad you enjoyed this, Vlad. I dropped a few more tips in my subsequent column at Hagerty. Have a read, apply those techniques, and let me know how it goes! www.hagerty.com/media/opinion/the-elsinore-files/recovering-the-lost-art-of-heel-and-toe/

[@B16WGZ]

Thank you. The way you suggest to practice it in neutral and to gradualy increase the brake pedal pressure sounds like a great idea. I'll try that. Actually, your video has already helped me. The second time I watched it I realized I was doing it wrong. My car has an automatic rev match feature (which I've now disabled because I want to do it myself). I was trying to emulate the ARM's way of working, namely to stab the throttle quickly and sharply. And of course, once I did that, the brake pedal pressure also changed. I guess that was my mistake. You, on the other hand, seem to do it in one smooth and gradual move (albeit quite fast), rather than a sharp jab. I think that's the secret. I thought the revs had to jump suddenly by 2000 rpm or so, because that's how I had seen the ARM work, but actually it's also fine if they increase a bit more gradually. This way I might be able to maintain a steadier pressure on the brake pedal. I will keep practising.

[@BrianMakse]

@@B16WGZ I'm glad this is working for you. What you're seeing with my downshifts is the result of thirty years of practice...it doesn't happen overnight! Keep up the good work and practice!

[@bull419]

Excellent explanation on the technique !!

[@BrianMakse]

Glad it was helpful!

[@imadeyoureadthis1500]

What if your accelerator is floor mounted and not in line with the other pedals? I can’t do normal heel toe as my foot can’t turn enough so I have my heel on the brake and toe on the accelerator

[@BrianMakse]

Please don’t do that.

[@imadeyoureadthis1500]

@@BrianMakse why not

[@BrianMakse]

@@imadeyoureadthis1500massively less control braking with your heel. Definitely don’t do that.

[@irizaribikes]

Thank you for this. You, sir, are a natural at teaching/coaching, and enjoyable to watch your excellent video presentations. And picking the nice colored Vans for this helps viewers follow your feet much easier.

[@BrianMakse]

Thanks, Alex. I’ve been teaching this stuff since the 90s. And I do love my Vans!

[@marcwentzel7141]

Great video. I just enjoy using the technique, it's just fun. When you nail the downshift it just feels 👍

[@BrianMakse]

Right on!

[@The_Drive_Inside]

Awesome video!!! Which is easier to execute a proper heel toe... a gas pedal that hinges at the bottom or the top?!?! Or does it even matter?

[@BrianMakse]

Great question, get it all the time. Pedal type doesn’t matter...even the brake pedal.

[@The_Drive_Inside]

@@BrianMakse so can I pick your brain as to why some pedals are like that. My 19 camaro SS 1LE has it but my buddies 17 scat pack doesn’t. There’s got to be a reason why

[@MrJacobThrall]

I taught myself to do this in a long-wheelbase 1991 VW T4 Transporter ("Eurovan", I believe it was known as over there) camper conversion. Why the hell did I do that? Fair question. Well, maintaining speed through the corners and being ready, in the right gear, to exit them, is actually very useful when you're manhandling a big heavy bastard round twisty roads in hill country.

[@BrianMakse]

I love that there are other uses for this technique other than the race track! Totally understand why you needed it in that VW!

[@honeyrn21]

H civic si for 5 yrs, I was never able to do a heel-toe coz my foot is too narrow and small but I will practice again what I always do is Brake-clutch-(foot off the brake) blip almost the same time with shift...

[@hmackprotection1]

Yes!! This video is what is needed! Thank you 💯🙏🏾

[@BrianMakse]

Thanks T! Glad you enjoyed.

[@boots_n_coots]

Great video! Personal note: I’m only 5’ 4”, and in my C7 ‘Vette, with the seat in proper position I found I could not reach the clutch pedal without a big left leg stretch. Very awkward. However I purchased a purpose-built mod that adds about 1 1/2 in (40mm) to the pedal height. What a difference. So much better. (The guy makes these in three flavors: Corvette, Camaro and Mustang).

[@BrianMakse]

Sometimes that's what it takes. Glad you enjoyed the video, T!

[@eckomob6898]

Auto Rev match on the Veloster N is pretty good. I have a 22 VN and my friend has a 19 VN PP. Both cars are 6 speed and his Rev match is incredibly slow. The 2019 cars had a sea of issues, as can be expected with a new car model. High pressure fuel pumps are now on recall, thankfully. 750$ for a part alone. Everything else seems to be worked out on the last year made VNs. Just need the Elantra N turbo and Kona hot pipe.

[@MrsKuusumu]

Thanks for your tutoria!

[@BrianMakse]

My pleasure. Practice and let me know if you have any questions!

[@alexitoe30]

I own an elantra gt n line. My pedal is not that responsive i think is due to that turbo lag . Which i dont know how you do it with the veloster N

[@BrianMakse]

An N and an N Line are two very different things. N is engineered for heel and toe specifically. Still, it’s going to take some practice. My guess is that your N line doesn’t like brake and throttle applications at the same time.

[@flyfishaholic]

I can rev match ok, but I can only do it as a separate process before a brake point. My issue is brake modulation while doing heel toe, in other words my braking pulses as I roll my foot to blip the throttle. Does heel toe only work well during heavy braking (for example during racing where you’re hard on the brakes anyhow) and less modulation is required or are you able to lightly brake while heel-toeing without pulsing the brake pedal while blipping the throttle.

[@BrianMakse]

I learned it quicker at racing school due to the heavier brake pedal pressure required on track. Now I use the technique every day. Practice the trick I discuss in this episode where you’re stopped and refine the movement to get that 2k rpm bump. You’ll get it.

[@flyfishaholic]

@@BrianMakse will do, thanks! I do want to get good at it

[@RonnieMorgan-fw8qj]

In my Type R. I keep it easy, & smooth. I keep the rev match on. My TSX, I’m gonna start practicing. But usually I just blip the throttle.

[@benjaminwiner6220]

Middle of right foot on right edge of brake pedal?

[@tristanwest4329]

can we talk abt just how good that veloster actually sounds

[@komoru]

The only thing you forgot to mention in this otherwise great tutorial, is that the throttle pedal height and the gap (from left to right) between the brake pedal and the throttle pedal is not optimal on all cars, and on some cars you'll need a pedal and/or spacer kit.

[@BrianMakse]

Precisely. Troubleshooting is exactly what this comments section is for. There’s far too much variation in pedal box layouts to begin to address that without leading to confusion, which is the opposite of what we’re trying to do here.

[@wanirayees6311]

Is it same for both the uphill and downhill???

[@BrianMakse]

Yes

[@msbrownbeast]

When I did my first driving school event with the local car club, we were instructed to clutch in, downshift (but pausing for a split second when the shifter is at the neutral position, then blip the gas, then complete the downshift to the desired lower gear, then let out the clutch. This is for a car with a synchromesh gear box. Is there any advantage to this method of heel and toe?

[@brandondascoli1916]

Dude where did you get the SAVETHEMANUAL shirt? I need that

[@BrianMakse]

That’s our own line of merch! Enjoy some shopping at brianmakse.myspreadshop.com/savethemanuals/all?collection=vbbYxsOhWG

[@amospizzey1]

Are there variable foot positions e.g I break with ball of foot and blip with heal ( I’m 57 so old school version)

[@george1982ok]

Do you find old 90’s Italian cars make it easier to heel and toe with their pedal arrangement? I have owned a couple and I find it easier to heel and toe in them.

[@BrianMakse]

It all depends on the pedal layout. I’ve driven many Ferraris of that era and the pedals are always arranged properly, but I can’t speak to other marques.

[@SolidMGSnake]

6:41 This is key. I would always have my foot in the middle of the pedal because that's how you would normally brake. Good tip

[@BrianMakse]

I’m here to serve. Keep practicing!

[@troysong33]

Hey Brian thanks for the tutorial, the practice you mentioned is really helping me to get a feel for the throttle response etc. have one question though for you, I have a nd2 Miata and the brake pedal and the gas pedal seems really far apart and I have a hard time using the rolling method you mentioned, rather I use kind of heel and toe diagonally to connect both pedals. I saw your other videos about Miata’s and it seem really easy for you. Is it just me not knowing the right footing positions or it is really the case nd Miata pedals are far from each other? Thanks!

[@BrianMakse]

Hey Troy! Try a wider shoe and if that doesn’t work, try quality wide pedal covers. The motion should be just like I depicted in this episode.

[@troysong33]

@@BrianMakse thanks for the tip! Will try those out

[@EugenioPicado]

Great guide for drivers to learn. I’ve found that blipping the gas in the middle of the shift works best for me (matched revs as I’m about to enter the gear). Less wear in synchros when available, and much better in dog gear engagement transmission.

[@BrianMakse]

Thanks, Eugenio!

[@craigyirush3492]

I do it like this too. If there weren’t synchros you’d have to double declutch and heel and toe!

[@tw2210]

Best wishes to you Brian from UK 🇬🇧. Great videos; as always.

[@BrianMakse]

Thanks, Tim! This one was a lot of work.

[@LifeInJambles]

Our religion only has one credo; one central thesis: SAVETH MANUA In all things, saveth manua, my brethren. Go forth and be shifty.

[@BrianMakse]

Love it!

[@cdcaterham]

Absolute beginner here.. so the purpose of heel and toe is to : slow down but keep revs higher than a normal downshift so that the car has to do "less work" leaving the bend to accellerate out of the corner. Is that roughly it?

[@BrianMakse]

The purpose is to complete a downshift (or, sometimes, more than one) while braking without upsetting the balance of the car.

[@ervinsz]

Yes, with breaking and without heel toe techniq wheels on drive axle will spin at different speed which results in sliding , and losing speed at the corner. Sometimes you need that little slide, but for speed it must be as ideal as possible without any slide

[@brainsurgsa]

thank you Brian always rethorically the best of all driving videos, but driving a Porsche with an incredible fast PDK your suggestion want work, best from Germany

[@BrianMakse]

Thank you! PDK definitely removes the need for heel and toe!

[@inthere2it]

The hardest thing for me is driving a race car with a very stiff brake pedal and still doing this. I find it very hard to keep a consistent brake pressure when transitioning to stabbing the throttle.

[@BrianMakse]

Agreed, that takes practice.

[@Quazacolt]

some pointers: if you have weird or long gear ratios, or you have the need to go even lower gears such as gear 2 or even 1 with higher vehicle speeds, you'll need a lot more than 2k RPM and as such you'll need to stab (and hold) the accel pedal even longer.

[@scototleysr.3434]

Great explanation! Thank you sir

[@BrianMakse]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ChrisCram]

this is awesome Brian! Well done and thank you for this!

[@BrianMakse]

Glad you enjoyed it! If you’re practicing, let me know how it’s going!

[@mmclxxii]

i dont have a car yet but when i do ill probly get the timing wrong. it seems too complicated to push the clutch in, shift down and bip the throttle at the same time. maybe i should get a sim rig to practice

[@alanf5351]

Was thinking maybe the “L” in Save the Manuals logo can be a manual shifter with a boot. The shifter can be the vertical part of the “L” and the boot the horizontal part of the “L”

[@BrianMakse]

I don't think we're going to change our design. It's been silly popular and we even sell it trackside at IMSA races.

[@Econo.rocket]

I was pretty good at heal toe in my mazdaspeed Protege, but I can't seem to make it smooth in my mk7 gti. The gass pedal is just so much lower than the brake pedal 😢

[@nathanacuna]

Thank you!

[@BrianMakse]

You're welcome!

[@JanBinnendijk]

Been Heeling and Toeing for ages.. Depending on the car, one can even easily downshift without even touching the throttle.. (got that down to a T as well) but.. i have to mention, i've been riding a Moped from 1988, and a motorbike since 1992. On my Motorbike, i always say: "The clutch is there to pull away.. when in motion, you don't need it.. (i actually once drove from Schaanwald in Liechtenstein to Bolzano in Italy (236 Km) without a clutch, because it broke, a wornout seal in the Cilinder.. no problem, Upshifts are no problem whatsoever just ease of the throttle, and kick the pedal down (yes i inverted my pedal), for Downshifts.. ease off.. and at the moment you downshift, Blip the throttle.. between gears you have enough time to match the revs... On my Ducati 851 there is a "Sort of QuickShift" because when you hit the redline, the ignition shuts off.. when you put your foot on the Shifter while accelerating, it won't budge, but as soon as the Rev-limiter kicks in.. it smoothly moves down into the next gear..

[@danielc.5612]

Great tutorial. Do I need to buy the same type of shoes? 😂

[@BrianMakse]

Nah, but you can support the channel by shopping in our merch store! brianmakse.myspreadshop.com/savethemanuals?collection=vbbYxsOhWG

[@Docinaplane]

I have a Lotus Evora GT. The pedals are so close together that occasionally when I brake, I accidently hit the throttle, lol

[@BrianMakse]

I know…drove one a couple of years ago. You definitely need narrow shoes for that pedal box.

[@Audfile]

Got a 6 speed Lotus with LSD in my XRS. She's a backroad beast. Especially in the wet.

[@BrianMakse]

Which Lotus?

[@Audfile]

@@BrianMakse came this way, 2ZZGE engine and 6 speed lotus transmission. "Corolla Si Type R" basically.

[@Audfile]

@@BrianMakse although I put in the LSD this year. Tons of upgrades already.

[@Mister2_]

Great video! I used to downshift with half my foot like you do but I noticed when your foot is deep on the brake I actually use my heel and toe It feels weird to be fully on the brakes with half of my foot

[@BrianMakse]

Glad you enjoyed! Like I said, racing forces you to learn the technique. It was sink or swim for me!

[@BETTER.ART.]

what if you have a really heavy stock flywheel?

[@BrianMakse]

Sounds like an excuse to me.

[@BETTER.ART.]

@@BrianMakse I find it really hard to even just simply rev match sometimes. I have to "blip" it for a little longer to get the revs high. That's why I haven't tried to heel and toe yet.

[@Stephincyber]

I want to heal & toe...1 problem...I have a tran tibial amputation left leg below the knee..My goal is to drive a manual again..I wont give up.. Its learning how to properly use my prosthetic heel & toe by feel when i can only feel from my calf muscle..

[@BrianMakse]

I love it! You're a true inspiration. If I had some experience and knew how to help you, I'd be there in a hot minute.

[@tomdoe1234]

You're the best can't wait to try this out today!

[@BrianMakse]

Hope you enjoy!

[@rangerdanger8746]

I’m going to heel toe while doing a 4 lane change on the freeway at rush hour!

[@craigyirush3492]

Can’t you blip the throttle as the gear lever is in neutral in between the higher and lose gear? As you would in double declutching.

[@BrianMakse]

That's what big rig truck drivers do.

[@BrianMakse]

Also, no. It's not the same thing.

[@craigyirush3492]

@@BrianMakse what’s not the same thing?

[@remomiyamoto6104]

Driven a manual for years and never heard of this.. so why do i need this?

[@cliptsix]

How I position my foot to have best control and smooth on gas pedal ? I got 9uk (43eu) size is it better to use toes or bones below toes or middle of the foot ? Any tips pls ?

[@BrianMakse]

At which step?

[@cliptsix]

@@BrianMakse just in general during Norma driving. Sorry I know it’s post about hell toe but I never know how I should position my foot I’m kinda new driver

[@BrianMakse]

Heel on the floor, toes to the pedal. Time to get yourself to a good performance driving school, mate!

[@bodyelev8]

I have a ‘24 Miata and sometimes when I try to practice heel and toe, while trying to blip the gas my shoe gets in between the brake and the actual accelerator pedal so I guess I gotta wear wider shoes lol

[@ralphkuhn2291]

Thank you cut the explanation!

[@BrianMakse]

You're welcome!

[@timtraver1]

Hey Brian! Appreciate your work for the community. As I've followed you and your motorsport writing, I've always enjoyed your pieces in publications as well as on social media. I'm not sure if we have ever crossed paths on the actual track, but I know a racer when I hear one. :) The only comments I have are that you did not give much history as to how the technique came about, and how important it was for racing cars not equipped with synchros in their gearbox. If one did not learn how to properly downshift and blip to match the revs exactly, not only would you disrupt the cars balance, but you would ultimately end up destroying the gears. There also was a method of double clutch downshifting that helped with a synchro-less gearbox that added a few more steps to your 6 (brake, clutch in, shift to neutral, clutch out, blip, clutch in, shift to gear, clutch out, roll off brake = 9?). It is certainly not necessary to teach this to any recent enthusiasts that are not driving small race cars with no synchros anymore, but it is part of the historical development of these methods. Also, you never explained why it was called the heel and toe, as the more recent pedal boxes are close enough to not have to put your foot in a more sideways manner to get the proper blip (with your heel instead of the side of your foot by rolling). But overall, kudos to narrating a nice concise piece on the (current day) methods to teach yourself the lost art of downshifting. I really do think it is a shame that the youth of today aren't given more opportunity to buy manual gearbox cars to keep the thrill alive.

[@BrianMakse]

Hey Tim! Thank for you note, love it. Everything you mentioned ended up cut from the script for a range of reasons. Depending on how this video performed, there’s room for a follow up guide.

[@72911RS]

Controlling the pressure on the brake pedal while cranking your ankle over to reach the throttle pedal is the first challenge. The finesse comes in when having to modulate the brake pressure. Also the relative levels of the brake pedal and gas pedal varies depending on how hard you are braking resulting in a different angle in your ankle required to give the gas pedal the correct depth of blip. I prefer something closer to heel on the brake and toe on the throttle, much like Brian's technique. It ends up being more of the arch of the foot on the brake and the right side of the foot on the throttle. I find that easier to control the pressure on the brake. It's just rolling the ankle and foot to the right. Using the toe or ball of the foot on the brake with consistent pressure then requires pistoning the whole right leg up and down to blip the throttle while rocking on the brake pedal. Granted heel on the brake is probably less common. Somebody please do a video about left foot braking, ie. rally drivers.

[@fishbert17]

I thought heel and toe was for rev matching the gearbox to the lower gear about to be selected, reducing wear and tear on synchromesh. I’m guessing that isn’t the case?

[@BrianMakse]

It is not the case.

[@fishbert17]

@@BrianMakse thanks for letting me know. Can I ask what the purpose of heel and toe is? Sorry if I’m being thick 🙂

[@BrianMakse]

@@fishbert17 it's all covered in the episode, I'm not being imperious, but I have to run to my radio show now