If a person is believed to have the Upper Hand then people think he or she will win a contest or social situation. The expression dates back to the 1400s and a game involving two or more players. Player one grips a stick at the bottom end and then the next places their hand just above it. The game goes one in this way, hand over hand, until the upper end of the staff is reached. The last person to be able to take a grip has the “upper hand” and so wins. The game was often used in baseball and cricket in the 20th century to decide who got to bat first.