I have an affliction that affects my shooting
- Thread starter greyson97
- Start date
Suwannee Tim
New member
I concluded your grip was weak.
I love to talk trash but I will be the first to admit that I'm not good at everything, no one is, we can all stand improvement. It is clear you need improvement otherwise you would not have posted the question. I think there is a pretty good chance you are not in a good position to diagnose your problem. I guarantee you a stronger grip will improve your shooting.
I have never met anyone with soft, strong hands. I work out and I introduce and talk to and shake the hands of lots of people in the gym, some very fit, some very unfit and there is a correlation between hard hands and strength. Not a 1:1 correlation but some correlation. I don't see how it is possible to have strong hands that are soft. I bet you are not as strong as you think. The good news is that when you are ill-conditioned you can make big gains in a short time. Even if I am wrong and your hands are strong you will benefit from exercise. Lifting and the grip excercisers I mentioned will help a lot.
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I dont think you have found your "sweet spot" with your grip yet. Keep shootin and adjust your grip until it feels good and you can knock the dust outta a spiders butt! Nothing works as good as pulling the trigger and sending bullets down range. Pistol shooting is like playing pool, practice,practice, and more practice!!!!
I know i have plenty of strength, esp finger strength. i wont explain how i know or why i do. but my hands are still smooth
here. take flat somethings that are smooth, like, 2 pieces of smooth wood, and press them together at an uneven angle. if you apply enough force, they will slide sideways, even though you are more or less pressing them together perpendicular to their plane. and make a note of how much force you applied before they slipped sideways.
now take those 2 same pieces of wood, and rough up the contact edges with sandpaper or something. and do the same thing. you will notice that it takes more force to make the 2 pieces of wood slide each off each other if you press them together exactly the same way
here. take flat somethings that are smooth, like, 2 pieces of smooth wood, and press them together at an uneven angle. if you apply enough force, they will slide sideways, even though you are more or less pressing them together perpendicular to their plane. and make a note of how much force you applied before they slipped sideways.
now take those 2 same pieces of wood, and rough up the contact edges with sandpaper or something. and do the same thing. you will notice that it takes more force to make the 2 pieces of wood slide each off each other if you press them together exactly the same way
christcorp
New member
Well, there you go. You answered your own question. Get some sandpaper and rough up your hands. 
Seriously, you started this thread saying that now that you've "Learned" the "Proper" was of holding a gun, your hands slide on each other. And I'm telling you that you DIDN'T LEARN the PROPER way to hold the gun. That, or you have the WRONG gun for you. If you were holding it properly, "For You", then your hands wouldn't be slipping off each other. Unless of course the gun doesn't fit you. If that doesn't make sense, then use your own observation and use more sandpaper.
Seriously, you started this thread saying that now that you've "Learned" the "Proper" was of holding a gun, your hands slide on each other. And I'm telling you that you DIDN'T LEARN the PROPER way to hold the gun. That, or you have the WRONG gun for you. If you were holding it properly, "For You", then your hands wouldn't be slipping off each other. Unless of course the gun doesn't fit you. If that doesn't make sense, then use your own observation and use more sandpaper.
johnwilliamson062
Moderator
Heavy grips are the best solution.
They have an atrociously aggressive diamond grip texture that will rough up your hands a little as an added benefit.
My hands hae old calluses from playing golf for years without gloves and some new ones from doing pullups, but I think they are by no means heavily callused. I do not think I have abnormally strong hands. I have absolutely no problem like what you are describing and did not at any point in my shooting history(having been weaker and less calloused at times). I think the previous post claiming something else is wrong may be true. Maybe you are just gripping too tight. Your fingers should not be turning white. You want a firm grip, not a crushing one.
They have an atrociously aggressive diamond grip texture that will rough up your hands a little as an added benefit.
My hands hae old calluses from playing golf for years without gloves and some new ones from doing pullups, but I think they are by no means heavily callused. I do not think I have abnormally strong hands. I have absolutely no problem like what you are describing and did not at any point in my shooting history(having been weaker and less calloused at times). I think the previous post claiming something else is wrong may be true. Maybe you are just gripping too tight. Your fingers should not be turning white. You want a firm grip, not a crushing one.
I doubt it's your hands or your gun. It sounds like you might have gotten some bad advise off youtube. Hit Barnes&Noble in the sports section or google Personal Defense TV and pick up some of the early season DVD's, you'll get much better advise on grip and much more on defensive shooting in general.
Personally, I'd probably see if the range you use has a good instructor and ask him to look at your grip. I've been polishing a chair with my butt for too many years now as well and lost most of the toughness of the skin on my hands but I've never had them slip as you describe. I'd bet a good instructor could fix what's wrong in 30 seconds and improve your shooting at the same time, probably for free.
Personally, I'd probably see if the range you use has a good instructor and ask him to look at your grip. I've been polishing a chair with my butt for too many years now as well and lost most of the toughness of the skin on my hands but I've never had them slip as you describe. I'd bet a good instructor could fix what's wrong in 30 seconds and improve your shooting at the same time, probably for free.
I started the strong hands line but what I didn't do before I did was find out what you are shooting.
My recommendation was based on my experience. When I get lazy and let the hand exercises slide some of my guns will slip in my grip. I prefer aggressive grips but not all of them are equipped that way. When my hands are hard then it doesn't matter if I use one handed or two handed grips. Only my 41 mag with the original wooden grips give me problems but I don't know anybody who doesn't have problems with the small smooth grips of that gun. Pact gloves are the answer, Pachmayr grips are a better solution but even then if my hands are down to normal strength it is a handful.
Small grips give me a problem and I understand what you are saying about your hands slipping inside each other under recoil. Some of that may be normal but without seeing you shoot or knowing what you are shooting it is a wee bit difficult to diagnose and correct. I do know that grip strength eliminates a lot of difficulties in my shooting and it doesn't matter if it's a 22 pistol or a 10 gauge shotgun. Best part, it only takes a minute a day to keep it up.
My recommendation was based on my experience. When I get lazy and let the hand exercises slide some of my guns will slip in my grip. I prefer aggressive grips but not all of them are equipped that way. When my hands are hard then it doesn't matter if I use one handed or two handed grips. Only my 41 mag with the original wooden grips give me problems but I don't know anybody who doesn't have problems with the small smooth grips of that gun. Pact gloves are the answer, Pachmayr grips are a better solution but even then if my hands are down to normal strength it is a handful.
Small grips give me a problem and I understand what you are saying about your hands slipping inside each other under recoil. Some of that may be normal but without seeing you shoot or knowing what you are shooting it is a wee bit difficult to diagnose and correct. I do know that grip strength eliminates a lot of difficulties in my shooting and it doesn't matter if it's a 22 pistol or a 10 gauge shotgun. Best part, it only takes a minute a day to keep it up.
what??? provided you could afford them and find some to buy, Unobtanium .357 magnum rounds have the recoil of a .22lr, yet the stopping power of a .44 mag HP. you barely have to aim them cause they have a trajectory adjusting flight path with intelligent iff chip embedded in each bullet. they also make your breath smell better and more attractive to the opposite sex
foghorn leghorn
New member
wow
go to menards and buy a 14.00 package of asphalt shingles. bring it into the garage and open the package. grab about 4 at a time off the floor, and pick them up and put them in a nice neat pile on the other side of the garage. when you get the pile moved, move it back. do that every night for about an hour.
after a week, your grip will be stronger and the pads on your hands and finger will be raw. after a couple of weeks you can stop, if you want.
For 15 bucks your going to be conditioned. Why go to the gym, why buy fancy
equipment. Do what you want, but my hands are working man's hands, and I roofed an out building at my son's house a couple of year ago, and it tore up a pair of workgloves. I never moved more than 4 at a time, they are heavy.
want results, listen to experience. want soft hands, get the conditioner.
go to menards and buy a 14.00 package of asphalt shingles. bring it into the garage and open the package. grab about 4 at a time off the floor, and pick them up and put them in a nice neat pile on the other side of the garage. when you get the pile moved, move it back. do that every night for about an hour.
after a week, your grip will be stronger and the pads on your hands and finger will be raw. after a couple of weeks you can stop, if you want.
For 15 bucks your going to be conditioned. Why go to the gym, why buy fancy
equipment. Do what you want, but my hands are working man's hands, and I roofed an out building at my son's house a couple of year ago, and it tore up a pair of workgloves. I never moved more than 4 at a time, they are heavy.
want results, listen to experience. want soft hands, get the conditioner.
Greyson: 
Just for you I looked up where I'd read that. In a THR thread about Smif's scandium J-frame .357 M&P340.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=5045542&highlight=hand+strength#post5045542
Just for you I looked up where I'd read that. In a THR thread about Smif's scandium J-frame .357 M&P340.
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=5045542&highlight=hand+strength#post5045542
Two suggestions:
1) Skip Checkered Grips from Kim Ahrends (scroll down a bit for the skip checkering). Enough traction, even under sweaty palms, without the "bite" of traditional checkering to keep even the feistiest pistola under control. Looks good too! Mr. Ahrends is the only guy I know who offers this checkering pattern and I've come to love it.
and...
2) Find an empty milk jug and fill it with ten measuring cups of water. Two cups = 1 pint = 1 pound. Voila! One five-pound "dumb-bell". Now, the exercise. Hold the milk jug/dumb-bell out in front of you, arm fully extended, just as if you're firing a pistol. And hold it there. Keep holding until you can't any more. Switch arms. Repeat for ten reps or so every day or evening (I do it while watching the evening news, personally).
1) Skip Checkered Grips from Kim Ahrends (scroll down a bit for the skip checkering). Enough traction, even under sweaty palms, without the "bite" of traditional checkering to keep even the feistiest pistola under control. Looks good too! Mr. Ahrends is the only guy I know who offers this checkering pattern and I've come to love it.
and...
2) Find an empty milk jug and fill it with ten measuring cups of water. Two cups = 1 pint = 1 pound. Voila! One five-pound "dumb-bell". Now, the exercise. Hold the milk jug/dumb-bell out in front of you, arm fully extended, just as if you're firing a pistol. And hold it there. Keep holding until you can't any more. Switch arms. Repeat for ten reps or so every day or evening (I do it while watching the evening news, personally).
Suwannee Tim
New member
I know several people who have a very strong grip until presented with a 200 pound Heavy Grip.
You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink.
For the benefit of the others reading the thread, one of my exercises is to use a 150 pound or 100 pound Heavy Grip with a nylon rope loop through the hole in the spring which is looped around an eight pound dumbbell. I hold the thing out with one hand or two with the Heavy Grip squeezed parallel and hold it there.......for as long as I can. When doing this my trigger finger is not involved in holding the HG but I am moving it to stimulate fine muscle control while holding the HG tight and the weight up. Pretty good exercise I invented if I may say so myself. You are authorized to use it, just send a royalty check to Suwannee Tim in Florida.
You're welcome.
You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink.For the benefit of the others reading the thread, one of my exercises is to use a 150 pound or 100 pound Heavy Grip with a nylon rope loop through the hole in the spring which is looped around an eight pound dumbbell. I hold the thing out with one hand or two with the Heavy Grip squeezed parallel and hold it there.......for as long as I can. When doing this my trigger finger is not involved in holding the HG but I am moving it to stimulate fine muscle control while holding the HG tight and the weight up. Pretty good exercise I invented if I may say so myself. You are authorized to use it, just send a royalty check to Suwannee Tim in Florida.
You're welcome.
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gearchecker
New member
Get Rosin, it will give your hands a sticky grip.
Go to your local sporting goods store or a gym and buy a Rosin bag.
The type that is used by a gymnist on parallel bars.
Or you can get rosin from a music store. Rosin is used on the bows for stringed instruments.
Go to your local sporting goods store or a gym and buy a Rosin bag.
The type that is used by a gymnist on parallel bars.
Or you can get rosin from a music store. Rosin is used on the bows for stringed instruments.
greyson97:
You want tougher, rougher skin? Do what the old bare knuckle boxers did for centuries, go soak your hands in salt brine. It definitely does work.
There is another way: Brick mortar or concrete will roughen up skin in one application. I know because I've been helping a bricklayer do some work on a house I'm renovating. The guy laying the bricks could sand rock maple with his palms but he does this type of work 5 days a week.
Note: You may want to try different grips also. I sounds like you're trying to put a square peg in a round hole. I can't keep a good grip on stock S&W K-frame wood grips but with a Pachmayr Gripper, I'm all set. A decent, well fitting set of grips will make a huge difference.
You want tougher, rougher skin? Do what the old bare knuckle boxers did for centuries, go soak your hands in salt brine. It definitely does work.
There is another way: Brick mortar or concrete will roughen up skin in one application. I know because I've been helping a bricklayer do some work on a house I'm renovating. The guy laying the bricks could sand rock maple with his palms but he does this type of work 5 days a week.
Note: You may want to try different grips also. I sounds like you're trying to put a square peg in a round hole. I can't keep a good grip on stock S&W K-frame wood grips but with a Pachmayr Gripper, I'm all set. A decent, well fitting set of grips will make a huge difference.
If slippery is a problem, there is a product called Pistol Pro Grip Enhancer which sprays or rolls onto your hands and reduces slippage. It forms a moisture barrier on your skin and is common in competition circles, but it will rub off on the gun. It does no harm, and the grips on my guns look dirty, but it is just Pro Grip.
I never tried rosin, but this stuff has worked pretty well for me.
Lee
I never tried rosin, but this stuff has worked pretty well for me.
Lee
Greyson,
What type gun are you shooting (brand and model number)? What caliber? What type grips?
It's hard for me to get a clear picture of what the problem is from what you describe. From what you say (or what I understand you saying) your hands are plenty strong enough. You do not say that the gun slips in your hands but that one hand slips off the other hand. You seem to describe a "teacup" type grip. But I'm not sure.
Many young women and men who have quite smooth and uncallused hands are able to shoot well without having one hand slip out of the grip of the other. Something else may be going on I think.
tipoc
What type gun are you shooting (brand and model number)? What caliber? What type grips?
It's hard for me to get a clear picture of what the problem is from what you describe. From what you say (or what I understand you saying) your hands are plenty strong enough. You do not say that the gun slips in your hands but that one hand slips off the other hand. You seem to describe a "teacup" type grip. But I'm not sure.
Many young women and men who have quite smooth and uncallused hands are able to shoot well without having one hand slip out of the grip of the other. Something else may be going on I think.
tipoc