When it comes to holding a transverse flute, it seems there are two camps, one which favors a “classical” grip, and one which favors a “piper’s” grip.
The purpose of this thread is to invite both camps into a discussion of their views, and as to why they do as they do.
As a disclaimer, I’m in the “classical” camp, and I’ll be glad to explain as to why.
I used to be a pipers’ kind of guy, but one of my teachers told me to try classical. I did and haven’t gone back. I DO, however, have to use it on long-spread flutes (like Doug Tipple’s). Another plus for the classical method: I don’t think you can play a keyed flute with the pipers’ grip. I don’t know if that’s true for everyone, but it definitely is for me…
Pat
I play with the classical grip, as described by Rockstro on Terry McGee’s website. Pipers grip doesn’t work for me on the flute. It does on the pipes, of course.
Pat, I have revised the finger hole layout on my low D flute by making the 6th hole smaller (6.8 mm), still a little larger than what some well-known makers are using (6 mm). This reduces the spread between the 5th and 6th finger holes by 5 mm, which doesn’t sound like much but is very noticeable in terms of comfort.
Doug:
Maybe I’ll have to try one of your new ones! The old one was great, but my polymer M&E took it’s place.
Pat
Since I’m just starting out I tried both you mentioned as well as Rob’s “Irish hold”. The Classical or “Rockstro” hold is what works for me. I had a bit of cramping the first week or so but I either adjusted or it just went away. With the pipers grip I just can’t get a good seal on the holes and it feels unnatural. With Rob’s grip my fingers are just too long and I can’t get my first joint pads over the holes while keeping my wrist straight.
-Kirk
What about the “death grip”? As in the only way you’ll get my flute off me is “from my cold dead hands”.
Cheers
Graeme
Since when is the Rockstro grip “the” classical grip? I’ve certainly been taught the five-point grip by people who play fully-keyed flutes, and never the Rockstro grip. And then there’s the Quantz three-point grip, with the three points being two on the left hand and the third the lip. And, of course, the pipers grip can have three-point or five-point support, so it’s not a uniform way of holding the flute, nor even a uniform way of covering the holes, since players can vary in the way they cover the holes, especially with the left hand.
So breaking down the issue into two ways of holding the flute is a false dichotomy.
Charlie,
I’m the one who said that and what the hell do I know (laughing). I just gathered that from what I’ve been reading around here and other places. I pretty much do use the 3 points of pressure thing though.
Cheers,
Kirk
In my humble opinion, “classical grip” gives a lot of more possibilities regarding the use of keys, specially G#, Bb and Long F (Left hand keys)..
I think that playing with sharp and flat notes gives you independance as a musican, not only to play Irish tunes in D or G, but also stuff from minor scales as some Seffardi or Arabic music, Breton repertoire, Asturian, Balkan, etc..
Plus, remember that all classical music written before 1900 was based on the wooden flute’s possibilities.. Mr. Theobald Boehm just simplified stuff afterwards.
I for one get around just fine on both my G# and Long F keys. Add a RH touch for the Bb key, and there will be no appreciable difference in the ability to use keys, period. The damnedest player on the keys that I’ve ever seen is Christy Barry (original R&R flute w/2-touch Bb), and his grip is as non-classical as my own one.
Rob
personally i prefer the rama grip.
ask me why
Why? 
I know I really got the grip when I start to sneeze a lot.
Grab your grip and no griping please.
I use what I take to be classical grip, or one variant of it.
Lip, base of left index, rt pinky and two thumbs.
The left thumb is doing little work and I sometimes play
with it off the flute.
My rt thumb is more under the flute than pushing against it.
The rt pinky does the pushing.
Am I rt that Rockstro has the rt thumb pushing and the rt pinky waggling free?
I tried that, in fact, but couldn’t hold the flute stable.
It seems that there are variants of both classical and pipers.
not wishing to cut/paste…
http://www.mcgee-flutes.com/Rocksto_on_holding_the_flute.html
I didn’t see the word “waggling”
however he does go off on thumb placement
I have some injuries from football where I am forced to use piper’s grip. I am also double jointed in my T1 finger, and when it bends in the classical position, it is stubborn and doesn’t want to move. I find piper’s grip way more comfortable on my hands and fingers. I tried so hard to do the classical grip, but I just couldn’t.
That’s what you get for playing “football” with your hands! I believe hand injuries are rare in real football, except for among goalies! 
P.S. that isn’t meant unsympathetically - it’s just my compulsion to word-play! ('cos I was never any good at any sport… and I actually detest football (“soccer”) as a spectator, but don’t at all mind American Football, though that ain’t a patch on rugby or even Aussie Rules. Spherical balls just ain’t natural! 
C’mon British Lions!)
Yea, I didn’t play music back in my sport days. My favorite was street football, which was playing in the road with no pads or anything. I have a few scars from that.