Why is it called a palm shelf ?

[Dr.Lee]

It only contacts the heel of the hand. What’s up with that ?

[joel]

Because, back in the day, they were originally made from Palm trees. ;) :)

[Dr.Lee]

But the rest of the grip was made of walnut. Sounds like the ISSF had something to do with it.

Dr.

[David Levene]

Sounds like the ISSF had something to do with it.

Going back to 2001 (and I could check earlier versions this evening but will probably forget) the ISSF have called it the "heel rest".

The ISSF do have palm rests, but they're on rifles and are a completely different thing.

[David Levene]

Going back to 2001 (and I could check earlier versions this evening but will probably forget) the ISSF have called it the "heel rest".

I remembered. Going back to 1989 the ISU (which became the UIT, which became the ISSF) were calling it the heel rest.

[Dr.Lee]

So if all the orgs called it heel rest, how did we start calling it a palm rest ?
Is this the Darwinian thing again ?

Dr.

[Rover]

It all began when it started growing hair.

[joel]

It could be one of THE great questions of all time. Joining the ranks of, why are we here, what does it all mean, and why do flammable and inflammable have the same definition? I mean, after all, do we really need two words that both mean 'easily set on fire'?

Joel

[Dr.Lee]

Why do we drive on parkways and park on driveways ?

[Gort]

palm noun (2)

Definition of palm (Entry 2 of 3)
1 : the somewhat concave part of the human hand between the bases of the fingers and the wrist or the corresponding part of the forefoot of a lower mammal

A Palm shelf is a "shelf to rest the Palm upon"
Gort

[joel]

The palm comprises the underside of the human hand. Also known as the broad palm or metacarpus, it consists of the area between the five phalanges (finger bones) and the carpus (wrist joint).

So, sounds like it is everything underneath the fingers.