10m air pistol - now tightly do you grip pistol

[hwtyger]

Indeed, 2 middle fingers are for the grip. The pinky and thumb can touch but dont do anything
I use quite a loose grip too. I actually shot 360s ex 400 with my pinky nót touching the grip of my Tau 7; a real sin
If you have one of those Free Pistols, your pistol kinda hangs into the grip; you barely have to grip it.
I also noticed that grip preference may vary per pistol. Especially with springer pistols but can vary with match pistols too

[McTrucky]

There are basically two things to be aware of here:
The grip itself
The repeatability of holding it.

If you vary where the pressure is being applied, then you vary the natural point of impact. Think about this. Lots of little finger pressure has a lot of leverage on the bore line up and down. Thumb pressure can pust up and down or side to side. Etc etc.

When you shoot when you are hot and sweaty, or cold, or in the club on your own, or at the biggest match of your life with coaches and photographers everywhere, I'm willing to bet you dont grip with same consistency.

So....
You want to adjust the woodwork so that when you squeeze you impart minimal change to the point of aim. So point down range, and try it. Think about what forces are applying where, where does the sight picture go if you ease off the tension slightly. Think what you need to learn, and what can be adjusted to minimise the effect.

Ok a little offf topic, but just saying there is no magic right and wrong answers. The sport is an art not a science.

In general, hold the gun only as tightly as you need to stop it moving when you vary trigger pressure. Remeber, you will be applying at least 500 grams of pull, on a tool which only weighs just over double that, so your grip strength needs to be sufficient to not allow that trigger pull to cause any movement.

Oft used measure is "as if you are shaking the hand of a child"

[PhatMan]

Discocom,

It all depends on how far you want to throw the pistol in frustration

I like to use a recoiling springer pistol to aid grip reproducibility - I use a 1948 Diana Model 5, as it is surprisingly accurate, and has a fair bit of recoil.

(A FWB65 with the recoil plate installed would be ideal.)

I grip the Mod. 5 with enough force that the triggering action does not disturb the aim - about the force you would grip a ripe peach in your palm. I also tend to exaggerate the follow through with the recoiling springer.

Oddly, my 10m scores have increased only moderately, but the fliers that afflicted me have now gone, and my scores are more stable.

The above is applicable to me, a distinctly poor pistol shooter, but I would be interested in what skilled pistol shooters do in this area

Have fun & a good weekend

Best regards

Russ

[Discocom]

Thanks for all the comments and advice, I’m now applying a little bit more presssure with the middle two fingers with no side pressure. Beginning to see more consistency between cards and group staying centred... Most of the time

[Modski66]

Taking another angle on this, I recently made two adjustments to my grip that have improved my consistency; tightened the palm shelf a little so that the grip has more of a hold on my hand than the other way around, and increased the rake of the grip to get my wrist into more of a 'locked' position.
The weight of the pistol is shared between the top of the middle finger and bottom the wrist, I am continuing to train my thumb to stay out of the action and causing flyers!

[BigEars]

I'm only aware of touching the grip with my middle finger and the palm shelf. My thumb lies beside the breech but plays no part. The pistol is balanced rather than held. I hope that helps.

I find I get fewer fliers due to mistriggering.

[RobinC]

Having been around International shooting for more years than I want to remember (perhaps I can't remember now!) and I can assure you there is no right way, its what suits you!
I have seen everything at top level from the Gorilla vice grip to the soft holding a very ripe peach grip, and they all work for the person using it.

Thumb pressure can (note only CAN) disturb the hold but not necessarily, if a top level shooter tells you what they think is best its because it works for them, another one will do the opposite, and tell you that's best, and they all will shoot similar scores!

For the record when I shot top level pistol (not now I'm afraid!), I with an air pistol, held firm ish with three fingers, (but no more than holding an egg), but with the thumb relaxed, but the hold was my preference, it does not mean its the best way of doing it, I'd attach a picture of a Korean Girl shooting in a World Cup if I could handle the techy stuff, I'll email it to a couple of you and perhaps you're clever enough to attach it. She has the Gorilla grip and thumb locked down, and its not doing her any harm!

Have Fun
Robin

[BigEars]

I've seen the photo. It's not possible to judge the pressure of the fingers, only their position. Can't see any signs of white knuckles , Robin.