diff --git a/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.cpp b/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.cpp
index 01f84ca246..a5ee3f7fff 100644
--- a/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.cpp
+++ b/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.cpp
@@ -443,7 +443,14 @@ int AvatarData::parseDataAtOffset(const QByteArray& packet, int offset) {
         
         // key state, stored as a semi-nibble in the bitItems
         _keyState = (KeyState)getSemiNibbleAt(bitItems,KEY_STATE_START_BIT);
+
         // hand state, stored as a semi-nibble plus a bit in the bitItems
+        // we store the hand state as well as other items in a shared bitset. The hand state is an octal, but is split 
+        // into two sections to maintain backward compatibility. The bits are ordered as such (0-7 left to right).
+        //     +---+-----+-----+--+
+        //     |x,x|H0,H1|x,x,x|H2|
+        //     +---+-----+-----+--+
+        // Hand state - H0,H1,H2 is found in the 3rd, 4th, and 8th bits
         _handState = getSemiNibbleAt(bitItems, HAND_STATE_START_BIT) 
             + (oneAtBit(bitItems, HAND_STATE_FINGER_POINTING_BIT) ? IS_FINGER_POINTING_FLAG : 0);
         
diff --git a/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.h b/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.h
index 55b35377c0..6564d53317 100644
--- a/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.h
+++ b/libraries/avatars/src/AvatarData.h
@@ -76,7 +76,17 @@ const quint32 AVATAR_MOTION_SCRIPTABLE_BITS =
         AVATAR_MOTION_STAND_ON_NEARBY_FLOORS;
 
 
-// First bitset
+// Bitset of state flags - we store the key state, hand state, faceshift, chat circling, and existance of
+// referential data in this bit set. The hand state is an octal, but is split into two sections to maintain
+// backward compatibility. The bits are ordered as such (0-7 left to right).
+//     +-----+-----+-+-+-+--+
+//     |K0,K1|H0,H1|F|C|R|H2|
+//     +-----+-----+-+-+-+--+
+// Key state - K0,K1 is found in the 1st and 2nd bits
+// Hand state - H0,H1,H2 is found in the 3rd, 4th, and 8th bits
+// Faceshift - F is found in the 5th bit
+// Chat Circling - C is found in the 6th bit
+// Referential Data - R is found in the 7th bit
 const int KEY_STATE_START_BIT = 0; // 1st and 2nd bits
 const int HAND_STATE_START_BIT = 2; // 3rd and 4th bits
 const int IS_FACESHIFT_CONNECTED = 4; // 5th bit