Weight and grip of sarissa and shield in macedonian phalanx

[PMBardunias]

Now, prior to this, the order had been expressly given to “keep their spears on their right shoulder” (dorata epi ton dexion ômon echein) and then, on the signal to lower (kathentas) them for the attack.
Clearly if the spear is rested on the shoulder, lowering it for the attack means dropping it off the shoulder and carrying below the shoulder – “couched” in an upward angle as in the art above.

This is not nearly so clear as it may seem at first glance. For one thing hoplites often seem to have carried the spear resting on their shoulder at the balance point, about 1/3 up from the base, by holding it on or near the sauroter. In this position it can be "lowered" and held underhand, but the five feet or so of spear jutting up from the shoulder can also be "lowered" by dropping it forward into the overhand position. Probably the most important thing is that spears that are sticking up and back move to facing forwards, not the exact drop in elevation of where the spear is held.