My Grip Just Never Feels 'Right'

gwhysow

gwhysow

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Long time shooter, who has never really felt like he's had a stable grip. Trip to trip, gun to gun, it always shifts and never feels quite right. I feel as though I'm always losing traction no matter where my support hand goes. Thumbs forward, thumbs up...heck, I've tried it all, by era, and by instructor.

I don't find myself milking the grip between shots, but it always seems like my grip loosens significantly. The thought of pairs would be unheard of.

Anyone else ever feel like this? Even find a fix?
 
Off the cuff, how hard do you grip the pistol? I find I do best if I grip until the sights are shaking...and then back off a titch. I push "in" with the heels of my thumbs for the side-to-side control, and the heel of my strong hand controls the back of the grip, while my support hand fingers control the front. Uh....dryfire dryfire dryfire? Consistency is key? Blah blah blah...?
 
gwhysow said:
Long time shooter, who has never really felt like he's had a stable grip. Trip to trip, gun to gun, it always shifts and never feels quite right. I feel as though I'm always losing traction no matter where my support hand goes. Thumbs forward, thumbs up...heck, I've tried it all, by era, and by instructor. I don't find myself milking the grip between shots, but it always seems like my grip loosens significantly. The thought of pairs would be unheard of. Anyone else ever feel like this? Even find a fix?
Click to expand...

I was there, where you are. It took many years to learn what I'd been doing wrong. Some firearms' texturing is just not conducive to a good grip; this is why there is so much discussion of different texturing, and the relative merits of each. Having said that, these three videos - if you watch them - might be helpful for you, as they were for me:


 
I wear a size Large glove, though I don't have abnormally sized hands. I've gripped at all strengths, including different rigidity in the heel of my palm.

Platform wise, I've spent a good chunk on time on 1911s, Glocks, M&P, Sigs, and various CZs, including 75s and the P09. Mostly 9mm and 45, but I've certainly shot some. 40 over the years.

If I have a full heels worth of contact on the grip, I don't feel like I have adequate grip and leverage. When I cant my wrist forward to lock out, I feel as though I'm only really getting contact from the drumstick...the meaty part of the palm at the base of the thumb.
 
Fresh, scratchy skate/traction tape.
Love the stuff
On the front and back straps and if you like that, try it on a set of flat aluminum grips too.
Use a heat gun to apply it.
 
Watch some Carry Trainer videos on YouTube, Mick has a hell of a grip and watching him under recoil is something. He’s got a couple videos talking about proper grip, he makes a lot of sense and gets straight to it.
 
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I think Ron Avery is the gold standard. I think he even made Travis Haley go 180 on his grip. Classic grip, canted arms, looks super relaxed. Gun tracks like a laser. Mind you, there's a clip out there with him shooting that way with his strong hand only...2 fingers actually. That said, I've listened, watched, studied, yet it doesn't quiet come together.

The fact that I can over extend on Glocks and get good recoil mitigation with ease just angers me.
 
gwhysow said:
I find when I cant my wrist, I lose all the traction on my grip panel. I just end up with a little thumb meat on the upper section of the panel.
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That tells me the grip is wrong. you shouldn't have meat on the upper section at all. 1 thumb rides the safety and points at target, the support hand thumb points at target as well and is 90% on the lower frame.

something is wrong with what you are doing. any pics?
 
This grip is incorrect. The support wrist is NOT canted far enough forward and the palm bumps are not interlocked

1911-SIDE-STRAP-2.jpg



This is better but the thumb is not contacting the frame on the support hand.

Screen_shot_2011-04-13_at_1.33.48_PM_0.png


This is much better.

hgcombatg_100206c.jpg


Last one is well nigh perfect. when the support hand wrist is under tension, you are 'driving' the gun.

maxresdefault.jpg
 
gwhysow said:
I love how Rob isn't the apex in that pyramid. All joking aside, perhaps I'm putting too much emphasis on gripping, instead of contact and leverage.
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I just snagged some random images... But a proper grip test is put your hands together all nice and even so the palms and thumbs etc are perfectly aligned.

Now rotate your support hand until the fleshy part of the base of your thumb fits into the crook of your trigger finger hand at the base of the thumb. that is all the cant you need. Impossible to make more. That is your grip.
 
Wendell said:
I was there, where you are. It took many years to learn what I'd been doing wrong. Some firearms' texturing is just not conducive to a good grip; this is why there is so much discussion of different texturing, and the relative merits of each. Having said that, these three videos - if you watch them - might be helpful for you, as they were for me:


Click to expand...

I found that Bob Vogel's technique helped me the most..oh and is it just me but I love how 'worn' his Glock looks lol.
 
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