If you run the lanyard over the BACK of the hand, then over top to the thumb, you accomplish several things. One, the twisted cord serves as a stop to keep the knife moving forward out of your hand. Two, you can move your hand rearward on the handle, snug up against the cord, and extend the chopping ability of the blade. Three, and most important , is that if the knife does go flying out of your hand, it tends to swing OUTWARD from your body, instead of inward. .