General Discussion

I do not grip a person's hand hard at all unless they are trying to crush my hand, like this guy was.

There is a perfect amount of pressure to apply when shaking someone's hand. Too hard is bad, too soft feels kind of gross. Also, some people awkwardly just grab your fingers and toss them around a little.

Handshakes can make or break an interview, and they definitely leave either a good or bad first impression.

I think you have to gauge your handshake by the person you are shaking hands with. The right way to do it, in my opinion, is to gently place the web of skin between your thumb and pointer finger into the same web on the other person's hand. Then very gently squeeze, and feel what their hand does in response. If they grip a little tighter, you grip a little tighter, etc.

I know that many people have problems with their hands, as I occasionally do.

The problem is, some men think that a "firm" handshake means putting your hand in a vice-like grip and jerking the hell out of your arm. I don't know why this is. To me, that shows a total lack of respect for the other person. If you try to match your handshake pressure to theirs, you will usually give a good handshake.

I had a young relative that I was coaching for his first job interview. We practiced shaking hands, and it felt like he slapped a dead fish into my palm. So I taught him how to shake hands.

I probably sound obsessive over handshakes, but I think they are important enough to do correctly.

By the way, you mentioned people over 60...at the time, the guy discussed in my OP and I were both around 60 years old.

Edit to add: This is making me think that I have had no handshakes since March 2020 because of Covid. No hugs either, no kisses (except for my wife of course). Sheesh...that's a depressing thought! So much has changed...