I am so conditioned to hold the stone with my middle finger above and index finger below that when I pick some potato chips out of a bag I automatically pick them out in the same manner.

Does anyone know if it is proper to hold a go stone with one's index and ring fingers beneath the stone and the middle finger on top of the stone?

Hi pragmatic, maybe you got the impression from HnG, when they animate a close-up view of all the fingertips.
I think the ring finger just happened to 'tag along' near the index finger;
it's not actually touching the stone.
( Unless the fingers are very tiny, like a child's, it's not easy to hold up a stone with all three fingers. )

The point of using two fingers instead of a finger and a thumb is to make it easier to place the stones into a tight position without disturbing the surrounding stones.* Using three fingers to hold the stone would largely negate that advantage (and seems very awkward), so I can't imagine it being done regularly.

When we pick up a stone from the bowl,
usually anywhere from two to four fingers are touching the stone.
( Thumb + index + middle + ring; counting the thumb as a finger )
By the time the hand is about to place the stone,
usually only the index and middle fingers are holding it up.

I usually hold a go stone the proper way with my index and middle fingers, but sometimes I would just use my thumb and index fingers which is supposed to be the 'wrong' way. Does anyone do this too even if it's just from time to time?

Does anyone hold a go stone with one's index and ring fingers beneath the stone and the middle finger on top of the stone? I have seen it being done this way, but I guess it's not common. Is it proper though?

The best way to hold a stone is the way which puts the stone on the best posible point.
The fingers you use are not important, as long as you don't disturb the rest of the board.

I think that to insist or even suggest otherwise is snobbery. No offense.

The best way to hold a stone is the way which puts the stone on the best posible point.
The fingers you use are not important, as long as you don't disturb the rest of the board.

I think that to insist or even suggest otherwise is snobbery. No offense.

I would like to express my strong disagreement with what you said.

When we play go, a lot of people care about aspects that might seem irrelevant at first - board quality, stone quality, color choice, seating - and indeed they won't make you play better go. However they can improve your aesthetic pleasure, comfort and general enjoyment of the game. Holding a stone in the traditional way is more comfortable and makes this satisfying sound when it hits the board that is a part of the physical and aesthetic pleasure in playing.

Even if you only want to become stronger and absolutely do not care about enjoying yourself, why not taking a few minutes to give a try to different grips? If playing becomes more comfortable and enjoyable, then you will play more - or maybe you are a zen master playing on the floor with paper stones, because none of that really matters?

I don't see where the snobbery argument comes from. Who is trying to dictate a behaviour to others here? Just play as you find more enjoyable.