Do You Wear Your Watch On Strong Side Wrist?

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friscolatchi

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I was practicing drawing from the strong side the other day (unloaded of course) and I realized that I may encounter a problem concerning my watch. Has anyone considered that their watch may bind, snag, hang up or otherwise affect your draw, if worn on the strong side?

What if a bad guy sees your watch and asks that you give it to him. As you extend your arm you now have no way to defend yourself if the need should arise. Would that not affect any response that you may have? If the watch is worn on the weak side than you can present the arm and still be able to draw your weapon.

Please note the time (Here in NY) maybe it's too late to think clearly or maybe I'm concerned with too many "What if's".
 
As a righty, I've always worn my watch on my left wrist because it gets in the way all the damn time, much less when I am trying to shoot.

Whilst carrying, I go very lean on strong side anything. At work, everything is balanced, but I can't even carry a cell phone at work. Things are wherever I put them for convenience. While not a work and carrying, everything switches over to the left or down to cargo pockets. (Huge fan of cargo pants... cause I carry a lot of crap.) The only thing that stays on the right upper pocket is the knife, though sometimes I carry one in either pocket.

Car keys in left hand or pocket. Parcels, packages, or kids all stay on the left.

I think that you are right to be concerned about it, as a watch could easily catch on your shirt, hindering your ability to draw from concealment. Unless maybe you are wearing one of the concealment vests or something.

Put your watch on, try a few shirts out (guess as to what you are concerned about a hang-up with) and see if it catches. Some watches are lower 'drag' than others. My dress watch is really slim and I doubt it would be a problem, but the big ugly beast I wear at work likely would. I can't count the number of times I've ripped the band off catching it on all kinds of stuff in the engine room.
 
Dulvarian, Thanks for the reply. I have been learning to go light on the strong side so your response is helpful. I have been CC ing for the past 2 - 3 years and never gave the watch any thought. I agree about the cargo pants. anything with extra pockets is helpful. Keys are now on a belt loop and spare car key around the neck. I started that when climbing in Yosemite in the early 90's. Kept the key to the rental car looped around the neck. Less easy to loose I guess. Thanks again.
 
Frisco, you are probably the only righty in the country who wears his watch on his right wrist.
 
instead of using your watch, pull your cellphone out with your left hand and gauge the time from that. or just put your watch on your left wrist.
 
Old school here to I'm a southpaw and wear my watch on the right hand. Working on equipment all day would kill (not to mention a safety hazard) a watch if I were to wear it on my strong side.
 
Hey - I forgot to mention that I'm s southpaw as well. For years never wore a watch due to activities - cant jamb your hand in a crack. I'm changing to the right wrist. Seems to work better all the way around. Just never gave it a thought.

I hope that this thread wasn't too petty.

I read Hexidismal's post - scissors, ejector ports, bolt locations, safety locations, now where to wear your watch - all conspiring against southpaws. The only thing that is set up for a
lefty is the inside of a van ambulance. As a medic it was easier to start an IV from the bench.
 
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I've just never thought it would make much sense to wear your watch on your strong hand for all the obvious reasons. Catching on things, weight, ease of function, etc.

Historically speaking, the watch was typically worn on the left wrist because of the necessity to wind them. The majority of people are righties, so watches like most things were designed mainly for them. This developed into the "gentleman's tradition" of wearing on the left wrist in business attire. Which really amounts to another historical tradition.. prejudice against the left handed.
 
Right handed and watch on left wrist. It seems like it would get in the way too much on my right hand.
 
Not only do I wear my watch on my non-gun side, but I also wear it with the dial "in." Much easier to check the time when I'm holding something in that hand.
 
I have 2 very nice and expensive watches and they stay in the box.
I haven't worn a watch in years.
Cellphones, PDAs and pagers made them obsolete. When I did wear one it was on my weak side and the face of the watch was on the inside of my wrist.
Working in the electronics field I never wear watches or rings.
 
Right handed, watch goes on the left.

I have a cell phone, so I don't always feel the need to have a watch on me, but I do prefer one. It is still nicer - for me - to just be able to precisely tell the time at a glance, rather than have to dig my cellphone out of my pocket, look all the way down, press a button, and then look at the time.
 
I am southpaw as well, and I have worn watches before on my right hand. If I wore it on my left hand it would be more difficult to reach into my left pocket for my cell phone. I don't wear watches at all now though, since cell phones have pretty much replaced them. My generation depends on cell phones more than any other generation. haha.

All of my important things going on the left side. Gun is on left hip, cell phone is left front pocket, and wallet in back left. Keys go on right hip belt loop. I can never change that.
 
Righty, wear my watch on the left hand.

But, with that said, I do a fair amount of drawing (both guns and knives) with my left hand. I believe in being able to use either hand if need be. I also went through a period a few years ago where I had to wear a brace on my right hand for quite a while.

Never had my watch even attempt to bind or catch on anything.
 
Right handed, watch on left wrist. I picked up the habit in 'timed writing' sessions in AP English in High School. Nothing to do with 'tactics' but a lot of people assume I'm left handed because of it.
 
When I hit 50 Years of age, I threw my damned watch away.
I'm not that into time anymore and I love it.
Appointment? I'll be there when I get there
It's all relevant and I will no longer be a slave to the time.
I plan on enjoying all the time I have left to the fullest time.
You would be surprised how much your stress level drops when you ditch the watch, as well as making issues such as this irrelevant.
David.
 
Since I was a kid, back when disco was cool, I've worn my watch on my left wrist. I'm right handed. Seems odd (just my own gut reaction) to tie up a dominant hand with something as trivial as looking at a watch.
 
Frisco, you are probably the only righty in the country who wears his watch on his right wrist.
Click to expand...

Actually, I do the same. I wear my watch on my right hand when I shoot IPSC all the time and I've never had it snag or cause any kind of problems.
 
I never thought of this before, but it does seem that most people (shooters or otherwise) wear their watches on their weak side wrist. I'm a righty, and I've always worn a watch on my left wrist.
 
Why would you extend your arm with the watch on it? The BG isn't going to remove it like they are your servant. You will take it off and hand it to them.

Make sure that is part of how you deal with the situation.

Just switch the watch to the left wrist.
 
Front Left Pants Pocket

Neither wrist ~ I keep mine in my left front pants pocket.
 

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