One technique that works for me, use it or not as it might work for you...
First, draw the pattern on your kneeboard the way it would appear on a chart. When controller says "hold East of..." you draw a wind arrow coming FROM THE EAST, i.e. "<-----" and know that the arrowhead is the FIX. Then draw in whatever else you need to define the fix and the holding pattern, i.e. "... the whozit VOR on the 090 radial, 10 mile legs, left turns." (VOR at the fix, draw the racetrack, 090 is the radial, 10dme is the start-the-turn-in point)
Then, having drawn the pattern, draw (or picture) your airplane as it is in relation to that pattern... so if you're east of the VOR flying west, you can see you're lined up on the inbound leg, or if you're west of the fix flying east, you can see how you'll hit the fix & be set up for a teardrop, etc.
For me, I find that a "God's eye view" is a good way to "sanity check" whatever answer I get with the other methods (or often yields the obvious answer itself), and keeps situational awareness up. If you're holding at an "as published" fix, well, the first half is already done since the hold is there in front of you on the approach or enroute chart.
Cheers,
Snoopy
First, draw the pattern on your kneeboard the way it would appear on a chart. When controller says "hold East of..." you draw a wind arrow coming FROM THE EAST, i.e. "<-----" and know that the arrowhead is the FIX. Then draw in whatever else you need to define the fix and the holding pattern, i.e. "... the whozit VOR on the 090 radial, 10 mile legs, left turns." (VOR at the fix, draw the racetrack, 090 is the radial, 10dme is the start-the-turn-in point)
Then, having drawn the pattern, draw (or picture) your airplane as it is in relation to that pattern... so if you're east of the VOR flying west, you can see you're lined up on the inbound leg, or if you're west of the fix flying east, you can see how you'll hit the fix & be set up for a teardrop, etc.
For me, I find that a "God's eye view" is a good way to "sanity check" whatever answer I get with the other methods (or often yields the obvious answer itself), and keeps situational awareness up. If you're holding at an "as published" fix, well, the first half is already done since the hold is there in front of you on the approach or enroute chart.
Cheers,
Snoopy