Posted by Mark on August 22, 2001 at 10:32:43:
I have been shooting for
about 4 months now and wish to know what is the best way to grip an air pistol.
I tried the "normal" manner, which is firm but my shots usually fall to the
left. But when I tried holding the pistol loosely, with my little finger off the
grip, my grouping gets better, more centre even.
Any advice greatly
appreciated.
Posted by RML on August 22, 2001 at 11:11:30:
That makes sense. Of the 3
fingers gripping the pistol, the upper finger should apply most pressure, the
middle one less pressure, and the third finger (little finger) should not apply
any pressure at all (it should be there mostly because you have nowhere else to
put it). If you apply pressure with your little finger, you may pull your shoots
down, just like you observed.
Regards,
RML
Posted by Gene Rotsch on August 23, 2001 at 02:24:21:
Hi Mark, There is
more to it than just holding the grip of your pistol. Have you done any work on
the grips to get the pistol to point straight when you bring it up into
position? You should be able to close your eyes, bring the pistol up into
position, and have the sight alignment be very close to perfect. Ideally, when
you grip the pistol, the middle joint of your fingers should be perpendicular to
the bore of the pistol. That way, when you apply more pressure to the grip with
your fingers, the force is straight back and not pushing the pistol left or
right, no matter how much tension you apply to the grip. Even pressure should be
applied with all your fingers and thumb. The pressure you apply with your thumb
needs to be toward the palm of your hand, rather than down, toward your little
finger. You want to be able to grip the pistol the exact same way every time you
pick it up. It will start to be like putting the pistol "on". Matching features
of your hand to mating features on the grip. This is why the grip work you do,
or have done for you, is so important. After you have your grip sorted out, the
next step is a smooth shot release, without upsetting your perfect sight
alignment. Jerking the trigger can also cause your shots to go low left. I hope
this all makes sense to you. As you work with your shot technique, make one
change at a time, and take notes on the different things you try. That way you
can track your progress and avoid repeating something that didn't work for you,
a few months earlier. You have chosen a sport that is both challenging and
rewarding. If you can, find a coach in your area that can get you headed in the
right direction. So you can build your technique from good basics. Have a great
time.
Deep 10's,
Gene
Posted by Alexey on August 23, 2001 at 03:35:47:
IMHO the thumb thing is
disputable. It should not have any active part in the business at all, because
it somehow interferes with the freedom of your trigger finger.
Posted by Alexey on August 23, 2001 at 04:08:00:
Dear Mark,
My first
coach had it this way: Imagine that you caught a sparrow. How should you grip
it? Obviously not loosely; it would fly away. And not tight, because you didn't
want to squeeze the life out of the poor thing. He never claimed the formula, by
the way; he attributed the idea to the fencing community. Also, he never advised
to employ your thumb otherwise than in strictly passive capacity. He was a good
coach: he set on his way among many others Boris Kokorev, 1996 Free Pistol
Olympic Gold.
My personal opinion on your problem is this: your static grip
has little or nothing to do whith it. It's your follow through, as
always...
Naturally, a beginner got problems. By the way, the experienced
shooter has just the same complement of the same problems, only he has learned
how to cope with them. Those are the problems of your body and the problems of
your mind. The best thing you can do, forget the problems of your body. The
shooting sport is essentially a mental activity. You see, you are always tempted
to address your body, because its pliable (let me tighten my grip, it will solve
my problem; let me set my feet further apart, it will solve my problem; let I
face the target more squarely, it will solve my problem...), and leave alone
your rogue uneducated mind, which is the real culprit. You must carefully,
possibly (necessarily?) indirectly address it, cheat it, if needs be, into
positively and unconditionally follow through. It will take you some time and
the best of your intelligence and ingenuity. So and no otherwise...
Another
piece of advice: read carefully every line left by such experts as JP O'Connor
and Don Nygord. Of course, the less experienced are also capable of sound
advice, but they are many, and you cannot yet tell the pearls from the cowflop
all on your own.
Best regards, Alexey
Posted by Patrick Haynes on August 23, 2001 at 18:19:17:
In Reply to:
Gripping Weapon posted by Mark on August 22, 2001 at 10:32:43:
Too much
pressure by the little finger usually produces shots low and to the left (as
does snatching, pulling down on the trigger or too much thumb).
I was told
to perform a grip similar to what one of the other gentlemen said:
1. thumb
is loose and relaxed along the thumbrest
2. primary gripping pressure is
produced by middle finger
3. secondary pressure is provided by third finger
(the one beside the little finger) - also this finger can produce minute changes
in front sight elevation by increasing/decreasing the pressure
4. little
finger is loose, just along for the ride.
Make sure the grip is firm but not
to the point where your hand starts to shake (that is _bad_). If your fingertips
or nails whiten, you are gripping too tight. Back it off until colour returns to
them.
Lastly, when you find a good grip (pressure), maintain it.
Good
luck!
Posted by Mark on August 26, 2001 at 05:51:12:
Thanx for the advice. It
has helped me a great deal and restored my confidence in shooting.
Mark
Posted by sct on September 04, 2001 at 08:17:44:
When someone swings a
baseball at you in a back alley they are using a weapon. When playing baseball
it is only a piece of sporting equipment
When shooting your firearm at the
range it is not a weapon, just a piece of sporting equipment!
Why give the
anti-gunners verbal ammunition?
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