Pistol - Cross thumbs hold - OK or bad? (Read 10288 times)

passivekinetic

Pistol - Cross thumbs hold - OK or bad?
« on: July 20, 2013, 08:44:24 PM »
I am right handed. I found that (dry firing) instead of the thumbs PARALLEL to each other, if my dominant hand thumb is over the other thumb, my trigger press is more straight back. The parallels way, my trigger press tends to move the gun off a bit near the end of the press.

The thumbs crossed are on the left side of the pistol (not the back where the slide comes!).

Is this OK form?
"The sheep fear sheepdogs, because they fail to see the wolves."
- Anonymous

Q

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« Reply #1 on: July 20, 2013, 08:47:52 PM »
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« Last Edit: September 10, 2016, 11:10:11 PM by Q »

passivekinetic

Re: Pistol - Cross thumbs hold - OK or bad?
« Reply #2 on: July 20, 2013, 08:59:33 PM »
ok sounds good
"The sheep fear sheepdogs, because they fail to see the wolves."
- Anonymous

mnpfamily

Re: Pistol - Cross thumbs hold - OK or bad?
« Reply #3 on: July 20, 2013, 09:07:59 PM »
Agree with the above, comfortable is usually good.  However, does that thumbs crossed grip afford you the same recoil management as thumbs forward?  For me, thumbs forward allows me to turn my support hand grip further forward which in turn gives me better recoil control, which in turn helps my second shot.  I need all the help I can get.

spanner1751

Re: Pistol - Cross thumbs hold - OK or bad?
« Reply #4 on: July 20, 2013, 09:34:26 PM »
I have crossed by weak hand thumb over my strong hand thumb since I remember. I know that parallel is supposed to be better, but I haven't been able to make the subconscious change. 

ACADEMI

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Re: Pistol - Cross thumbs hold - OK or bad?
« Reply #5 on: July 20, 2013, 09:43:30 PM »
Your the shooter, you choose my friend!  :shaka:

Tom_G

Re: Pistol - Cross thumbs hold - OK or bad?
« Reply #6 on: July 20, 2013, 09:49:49 PM »
For a semi-auto, whatever works for you, works for you.  If you switch to revolver, your method will handicap you.  What you'll want there is for the support hand's thumb to have free access to the hammer.  Having the dominant thumb pinning the support thumb to the gun will cost you time if you are firing single-action or if you need to decock.
The difference between theory and reality is that, in theory, there is no difference between theory and reality.

passivekinetic

Re: Pistol - Cross thumbs hold - OK or bad?
« Reply #7 on: July 20, 2013, 09:58:52 PM »
Agree with the above, comfortable is usually good.  However, does that thumbs crossed grip afford you the same recoil management as thumbs forward?  For me, thumbs forward allows me to turn my support hand grip further forward which in turn gives me better recoil control, which in turn helps my second shot.  I need all the help I can get.

thumbs are forward, but crossed.
"The sheep fear sheepdogs, because they fail to see the wolves."
- Anonymous

passivekinetic

Re: Pistol - Cross thumbs hold - OK or bad?
« Reply #8 on: July 20, 2013, 10:00:22 PM »
For a semi-auto, whatever works for you, works for you.  If you switch to revolver, your method will handicap you.  What you'll want there is for the support hand's thumb to have free access to the hammer.  Having the dominant thumb pinning the support thumb to the gun will cost you time if you are firing single-action or if you need to decock.

I see. Didn't realize that for revolvers. Yes I am shooting Glock mainly.
"The sheep fear sheepdogs, because they fail to see the wolves."
- Anonymous

Jl808

Re: Pistol - Cross thumbs hold - OK or bad?
« Reply #9 on: July 20, 2013, 10:08:46 PM »
Speaking of revolvers, make sure NOT to do a revolver hold (thumb on other thumb across other side) on a semi auto.

Keep your thumb out of the way of the slide or else, owie thumb!
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drck1000

Re: Pistol - Cross thumbs hold - OK or bad?
« Reply #10 on: July 20, 2013, 11:00:06 PM »
One thing the thumbs parallel will allow you to do is get your grip higher on the gun and reduce the amount of offset between your grip and the bore axis, which will help reduce muzzle flip and allow you get back on target quicker.

Try the drill where you place and spent casing on the front sight and dry fire and break the shot without the casing falling off.

mnpfamily

Re: Pistol - Cross thumbs hold - OK or bad?
« Reply #11 on: July 20, 2013, 11:11:26 PM »
thumbs are forward, but crossed.
Got it now, sorry 'bout that, automatically assumed was thumbs crossed revolver type grip.  I get it, so support wrist is cammed, thumbs are forward, you're just crossing the thumbs in that grip.  Heck, if it works, why not?  I like the thumbs forward parallel as it helps me get a better grip with my support hand, but the only way to know is to try different things.  My 1911 is the oddball of my handguns, feels thicker than my 2011 or M&Ps, so I find myself having to turn my strong hand grip when shooting it.  Might have to try that and see if it makes a difference.

Funtimes

Re: Pistol - Cross thumbs hold - OK or bad?
« Reply #12 on: July 20, 2013, 11:47:14 PM »
Crossed thumbs generally does not distribute grip pressure evenly, nor does it really allow you to get as much skin to frame as possible.  It's kind of a hold over from the revolver days.   Mechanically speaking, the other methods are more sound; it's a matter of physics, so it's not really something to argue.

Now, the real questions:

Can you shoot good that way? Well, maybe.  Some people can shoot in all kinds of way and hit the bullseye all day long. 

Do you currently shoot like shit when trying to stay on target?  Well then maybe changing your grip would be more beneficial.
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Funtimes

Re: Pistol - Cross thumbs hold - OK or bad?
« Reply #13 on: July 20, 2013, 11:48:33 PM »
I guess I could do a quick youtube video on this for you if that would help?
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oldfart

Re: Pistol - Cross thumbs hold - OK or bad?
« Reply #14 on: July 21, 2013, 04:59:39 AM »
I am a right handed 1911 shooter.
My preference is left thumb holding down right thumb because:

1- My right hand is not extremely strong so my grip feels more secure like that.

2- Supposedly prevents accidentally engaging the extended thumb safety.
I don't recall ever having that happen, but I've seen it happen to others.
What, Me Worry?

passivekinetic

Re: Pistol - Cross thumbs hold - OK or bad?
« Reply #15 on: July 21, 2013, 07:26:41 AM »
I have to report on results later. I only just started observing my finger travel in dry firing and realize that at the last part of travel, my right hand seems to move the gun to the right side, as the finger comes back the last part (pulls to the right).

But putting the right thumb over, seems to alleviate this final movement.

I remember I have shot at the range in this way before, but then later just used parallel thumbs. I do not remember now which way was better. The crossed thumbs MIGHT have been more accurate, which might have been why I used it before, but then learned that it was not the best way so used parallels.

Still just a theoretical observation right now.
"The sheep fear sheepdogs, because they fail to see the wolves."
- Anonymous

Surf

Re: Pistol - Cross thumbs hold - OK or bad?
« Reply #16 on: July 21, 2013, 08:08:03 AM »
If your muzzle or sights are moving at the end of the trigger stroke you don't have the proper trigger reach on the pistol and an adjustment in your grip or finger placement on the trigger would be ideal.  As for rolling your primary shooting hands thumb outbound, away from the slide over your support hand thumb, this is not too much of an issue and is often a common fix for the thumbs forward grip where the shooters thumbs may be interfering with the controls on the pistol.  This is common for an aggressive and high thumbs forward grip on say a Sig Sauer or for the Glock with the extended slide stop.  I will note that what I am describing is NOT the same thing as a "crossed" or "tucked" thumb grip that is common on a revolver grip.

I will also mention that there are indeed better techniques out there that will produce better results depending on your type or style of shooting.  Just because one technique might work better for you than another, the old "Use what works for you" may not always be the best.  Proper training or instruction can help remedy much, shy of an actual physical limitation. 

Teichi

Re: Pistol - Cross thumbs hold - OK or bad?
« Reply #17 on: July 21, 2013, 03:38:02 PM »
Remember not to place your thumb or anything valuable near the cylinder gap

passivekinetic

Re: Pistol - Cross thumbs hold - OK or bad?
« Reply #18 on: July 21, 2013, 03:50:09 PM »
Remember not to place your thumb or anything valuable near the cylinder gap

Yup, always knew that and told my friends with revolvers.

Never saw such a graphic explanation though! :-D
"The sheep fear sheepdogs, because they fail to see the wolves."
- Anonymous

Funtimes

Re: Pistol - Cross thumbs hold - OK or bad?
« Reply #19 on: July 21, 2013, 05:20:41 PM »
Remember not to place your thumb or anything valuable near the cylinder gap
The hell kind of grip is that? Shes not even on the grip with the other hand lol
Check out the Hawaii Defense Foundation.
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Defender of the Accused in Arkansas Courts
Posts are not legal advice & are my own, unless said so.