What is double clutching?

Double clutching is a driving technique that is used to downshift a manual transmission vehicle smoothly and effectively. In this technique, the driver first shifts the manual transmission into neutral, releases the clutch, and then presses it in again before shifting to the lower gear.

The primary purpose of double clutching is to synchronize the engine speed with the transmission speed before engaging the lower gear. By doing this, the driver can prevent transmission damage, avoid wheel lockup, and achieve smoother shifting.

Double clutching is commonly used in older manual transmissions, racing cars, and high-performance vehicles. However, it is not commonly used in modern-day cars since most modern cars are equipped with synchromesh gears that make the process unnecessary. With a synchromesh transmission, the manual gearbox has a synchronizer mechanism that matches the engine and gearbox speeds, making shifting between gears smooth and seamless.