Question for experienced pistol shooters who use Modern ISO. As I have progressed over the last few years, I have noticed that I have some issues with my mechanics.
Because I am VERY double jointed, I can either fully lock out the wrist of my support hand OR keep enough bend in my elbows to put pressure on the gun by flexing my chest and applying a “clamshell” to the gun. My support hand literally points 45 degrees down when “locked” at the wrist.
I have had respected instructors stress either point as “key”
So, which aspect is more imortant to your grip and why?
I think so. I am improving month to month. I’m not pulling sub 5 Second F.A.S.T drills or anything but I feel comfortable with the progress so far. I am hoping to avoid building bad habits.
Not wanting to build bad habits is a good attitude to have. Keep in mind that different shooters and instructors are going to emphasize different things.
Generally speaking, grip is more important when shooting at speed, while trigger control is more important for maximum precision - they both overlap to a greater or lesser extent.
Some guys shoot just fine with their thumbs fairly high:
Some shooters have their support thumb super-low:
It also can depend on the pistol type being used. You are probably not going to grip a Hi-Power the same as you’d grip a Glock.
Generally speaking, I think common areas include employing a stronger support hand grip than strong hand grip. Also using as little finger on the trigger as possible, and trying to avoid lateral pressure from the support thumb.
Otherwise there are many different variations that work for many different shooters - one size does not fit all.
I have a question on the support hand grip in modern iso. Is it better, more effective, to have the middle, ring, and pinky finger of the support hand directly overlapping the same fingers on the dominant hand (leaving the index finger on the support hand more out in front on the trigger guard) or to try to have these same four fingers completely grip the other three (somewhat falling into the creases) on the dominant hand? I was watching the Magpul video and it appeared that Costa and Haley do the former technique and currently I do something like the latter.
I would concentrate on fully locking the wrist rather than what finger overlaps what. I’m not Costa or Travis so their opinion may be totally different, but I’m going to go out on a limb and theorize that the real concern is locking the wrist and the fingers just sort of go where they go once that is accomplished.
Very valid point. The largest problem I have is breaking the wrists right before the shot breaks.
I was asking because during dry fire, while trying both techniques, using the first technique, the support hand will be a fraction higher than the second technique. Also with each finger directly overlapping, there is more bone to bone contact which in my limited experience felt slightly more solid, whereas with the second method, it seemed slightly more comfortable. I am probably completely over-analyzing it.
I feel comfortable with the progress so far. I am hoping to avoid building bad habits.
