To full-grip, or not to full-grip.
A makeshift title indeed, but let me explain further:
The full-grip, or full grip, as it is known by by the initiated, is a way of holding the deck that is perhaps the most common method used by neophytes, or "unlicked cubs". I will give a short description of the grip itself:
The deck lies across the left palm, as is usual for dealing. The left thumb is resting on top of the deck, ready to push off the top card at will, while all of the fingers are laying against the opposite side, squeezing the deck against the ball of the thumb.
This grip will fly in any game where hand grips are allowed, since it appears that you cannot execute any subterfuges from it. This is believed because:
1: You're exposing the entire front end of the deck, since all the fingers are held at the side.
2: You would have to move the four fingers out of the way if you were to bottom deal, whichwould be easily noted.
3: It shows that you are a "normal" player, that does not know of any "mechanical" ways of holding the deck.
While these are all true, you can certainly perform certain subterfuges from this grip, in fact, there is one that you can arguably do exclusively from this grip alone, that is, keeping the bottom palm while dealing, which, in turn, eliminates the need for bottom dealing, "by proxy".
It is, however, harder to perform the bottom deal from this grip, and any attempts at "deal shifts" i.e. shifts that are performed during, or directly after or before the deal has begun, when the grip has been adopted. This, because of point No.1. The "Longitudal Shift" may be used here, but a heavily modified one, which would not fly in fast company.
Note that the shifts themselves, would not be any harder to execute from this grip, but the break that is usually held by a finger, can be more easily spotted when there are no fingers covering the front of the deck, or stabilizing it.
It is also, just generally and uncomfortable grip, which certainly makes certain slights more difficult.
The best grip for holding a standard break would most likely be the "mechanics grip", or the gene-maze grip. For bottom dealing, i would say that the trusty Erdnase grip is perfect. Of ourse it depends on what exact bottom deal you are using, certain ones actually are designed to work exclusively with the full grip.
An other grip that would be worth mentioning is the "Straddle-grip", a relative to the mechanics grip, which i will describe now:
Mechanics grip:
The deck is held like the full grip, but with the exception of it being held slightly higher up , so that it is just barely touching the palm, and it is not squeezed, so much as just held between the fingers and thumb-ball. The first finger is held at the front end, which gives the deck more stability, and can cover any breaks at the front, that might be seen if using the full grip.
The "Straddle-grip" is very much like the mechanics one, the only difference is that the pinky is held at the inner end, so as to give even more stability.