Minecraft wiki entry for Dual_wield, associated text: Players can equip an item to the off-hand slot from the inventory, similarly to armor. Players can also select an item and press F to automatically equip it. The off-hand slot then appears beside the HUD opposite from the main hand. If the player is in first person view, then the off-hand appears in the screen along with the held item. Whichever hand should be the main hand is configurable in the Skin Customization menu.