Tech-Info 03: Right or left hand lay is important for handling and using the rope
03 Lay type of wire ropes
A distinction is made between right hand and left hand lay strands. The lay direction is left hand, when (moving away from the beholder) the wires are rotated counterclockwise. The lay direction of a strand is right hand, when its wires (moving away from the beholder) are rotated clockwise. The lay direction of a strand is often given by small s for the left hand lay strand and by a small z for the right hand lay strand.