An H-pattern shifter selects gears by moving a lever through a grid of gates, as in a manual road car: first is up and left, second down and left, and so on, with reverse in a locked position. A sequential shifter moves the lever forward for one gear down and back for one gear up (or the reverse), as in rally cars, GT3 cars with a stick, and touring cars.
Which cars use which
- H-pattern: road cars, classic race cars, trucks in Euro Truck Simulator and American Truck Simulator, many drift cars. Needs a clutch pedal to be realistic.
- Sequential: rally cars, older GT3 and touring cars, some prototypes. No clutch needed once moving.
- Paddles: modern GT3, formula cars, hypercars. No shifter needed at all.
Products
Logitech’s Driving Force Shifter and Moza’s HGP are H-pattern only; Moza’s SGP and Logitech’s RS Shifter and Handbrake are sequential (the latter doubles as a handbrake). Thrustmaster’s TH8A and Fanatec’s ClubSport Shifter SQ V1.5 switch between both modes. Our shifter guide compares them.
Do you need one
Only if the cars you drive have one. A GT3 and formula driver will never touch it; a rally, drift, or truck driver will use it every lap. Buy the clutch pedal before the H-pattern, and mount the shifter to a stand or cockpit rather than a desk edge.
Related terms
Hall effect sensor · Load cell pedal · Roundup: best shifters and handbrakes
