Heel & Toe

[Z4MCSL]

For whatever reason I really struggle to point my foot inwards so when it comes to heel and toe I cant really kick my heel out to hit the throttle. Anybody else have this issue, wondering whether I need to work on my ankle mobility or something but I can just barely rotate.

[HustleRussell]

Try to find out what is stopping you from doing it. It could be your seating / wheel position or footwear?

[Kswap]

Fit a bigger throttle pedal. I used to struggle. Now I do it all the time in daily driving also without thinking. More a big toe little toe than a full on heel and toe.

Edited by Kswap on Sunday 9th January 15:06

[JP__FOX]

It depends a lot on the pedal position, both how close they are in width but also depth when you're on the brakes. For example, I find it a lot easier to heel & toe on track when you're braking harder than you normally would on the road.

I also don't try to get my foot completely vertical, using the front left of my foot for braking and rear right for blipping the throttle but obviously making sure not to risk the contact I have with the brake pedal. It also helps if I'm wearing the thinnest shoes I can find as well...

[brillomaster]

Its not really heel and toe, its left side of foot and right side of foot. If you can press both the brake pedal and the throttle pedal at the same time then you can heel and toe.

Practice makes perfect.

[Ice_blue_tvr]

I've seen two techniques.

One wheres it's ball of foot on brake, foot rotated to about 45 degrees and then the heel stamps the throttle.

And the left side and right side of the right foot used in a rocking motion across the pedals. (I think I saw Jason plato use this on 5th gear once and picked up the technique from there)

I use the latter. But usually find the YouTube racer videos use the former.

[Kswap]

Ice_blue_tvr said:

But usually find the YouTube racer videos use the former.

The amount of clubracers and regular trackdayers putting videos on YouTube that do neither always astounds me.

[anonymous-user]

if you havent already, park up somewhere with the engine running and the handbrake on. Push down on the brake peal hard, then practice revving the engine, trying for consistency.

Even with the wrong shoes, pedals etc, you should be able to work out a way of doing it smoothly.

[Wilmslowboy]

I've struggled for years in many cars, yet in my 911 it's super easy, second nature.

The pedal is floor-hinged and goes all the way down, so requires no distortion of the foot.

What car ?

[anonymous-user]

Wilmslowboy said:

I've struggled for years in many cars, yet in my 911 it's super easy, second nature.

The pedal is floor-hinged and goes all the way down, so requires no distortion of the foot.

What car ?

Yes, I had the same experience in the Boxster, floor hinged pedals are much better and I also found in the Megane thatI had concerns the throttle pedal was coming lose due to the sideways pressure when heel/towing.

[LennyM1984]

Kswap said:

The amount of clubracers and regular trackdayers putting videos on YouTube that do neither always astounds me.

I've been for quite a few passenger rides on track where the driver is just banging it into gear and letting the synchro do the rest. My friend is the worst culprit and it makes me cringe every time.

[brillomaster]

Heel and toe downshifts are proper hero mode. So, so good when you pull off the perfect blipped downshift. When im driving a decent manual car i go up and down between 3rd and 4th just for fun.

[phazed]

My Boxster makes it so easy..... Harder on my track day vRS but doable rolling your foot to the right while foot angled toe in to the left,

[Raging Bu11]

brillomaster said:

Its not really heel and toe, its left side of foot and right side of foot. If you can press both the brake pedal and the throttle pedal at the same time then you can heel and toe.

Practice makes perfect.

This ...it's a gentle roll of the throttle peddle with the side of your foot. Don't over think it.

[phazed]

^^^^^^^^^

Wot e said.

[Toltec]

When you say you cannot rotate your foot do you mean when you have your foot on the brake or generally, e.g. sat in an armchair with your legs out in front of you?

I ask because if your driving position means your legs are quite bent or you have to rotate your knee to the right to avoid the steering wheel turning your foot inwards could be quite difficult.

[BobM]

Toltec said:

I ask because if your driving position means your legs are quite bent or you have to rotate your knee to the right to avoid the steering wheel turning your foot inwards could be quite difficult.

This - I'm 6'5" and in many cars my knees and ankles are bent too much to heel and toe comfortably.

[Digga]

FWIW, you have to be pushing on a bit for it all to work. I think what I mean is, certainly in the various 911's I've driven, you at least need to be braking pretty heavily, for the stars (or pedals) to align at the right time.

Watch the how to videos on the 'tube.

[phazed]

My old TVR’s Had adjustable pedals, so easy to set up.

My Boxster is absolutely spot-on.

My existing track car, a Skoda Octavia vRS is not designed for sporty driving but it is doable by rolling your foot probably a bit more than you would normally do. Achievable though.

[mob17]

In my mx5 i could do left side of foot and right side.

In the e46 m3 i have the throttle pedal is floor mounted so i usually use the heel of my foot on the brake and the top of my foot on the throttle. Seems to work well