Personally I don't think it really matters. I like to reach my hand out and touch the outside of the bell to make sure my shoulders are square. The fist position helps generate tension and gives you a solid finish position. I use either or.I thought I saw a comment here the other day about the off hand on a single arm swing. It said it should be in a fist at the high point of the swing. After seeing that I noticed mine is a knife edge . What should the off hand be at the top of the swing?