Direct, parallel, or teardrop?
Watch the wedges.
The AIM diagram is static. This one isn’t. Type any inbound course, any aircraft heading, and any turn direction — the sector wedges and racetrack redraw in place. The classifier uses the published 70°/110°/180° boundaries from AIM 5-3-7.
The course the aircraft flies TO the fix on the inbound leg.
Direction the aircraft is currently pointed.
Standard holds use right turns. Left turns must be specified by ATC.
teardrop
70° sectorCross the fix, then fly outbound on a course 30° (or less) offset from the holding course on the holding side. After about a minute, turn right to intercept the inbound course.
Relative heading: +150° · AIM § 5-3-7
Direct
180° wedgeFly to the fix, then turn in the direction of the racetrack onto the outbound leg.
Teardrop
70° wedgeCross the fix, fly outbound at ≤30° offset on the holding side, then turn to intercept inbound.
Parallel
110° wedgeCross the fix, fly outbound parallel to the holding course on the non-holding side for one minute, then turn through >180° to rejoin.