Excuse me ... is this the stupid question line?

[jfinet]

I have read several descriptions of how to hold an auto with two hands ... and watched the requisit videos from Springer and others ... for right handed person ... seems the right thumb rides on top of weak hand thumb with both pointing towards target ... well ... I seem to require a weak thumb over strong thumb in order to keep the web of my rather large hand from receiving tracks from the slide ... this on my XD 45 tactical ... now when I shoot my Kimber 1911 ... I am using the left thumb over the right thumb for consistancy ... and I have a Sig 229 Elite coming next week ... and I imagine it may also get the left over right treatment ... seems it is important to keep the grip the same for all firearms so training is consistent ... I cannot shoot a Glock because the slide will imprint tracks on my hand no matter what I do ... ok ... big farmer hands ... guilty ... just wondering ... am I the only one who has this challenge ... or are there others who also need to keep that right thumb down to prevent injury? Thanks ... Happy Holidays ... John

[MGD 45]

About the best advice I could give you is this....can you hit the target consistantly and with accuracy with the grip that is comfortable to you?

If so, then don't change a thing. Shooting pistol's is kinda like playing golf. There is a recommended way of swinging the club by the experts, but some golfers swing totally different and score just as well!

I changed my grip, and now shoot with the right thumb (I'm right handed) riding parallel over the left thumb, both point toward the target. This places more of your week hand on the guns grip area and leaves less room for the gun to twist or move during firing.

[knuckles]

jfinet, my grip on XD's is completely messed up compaired to other semi-auto's.

I pull my three lower fingers in to my fist pretty good/firm....and as if I were trying to pop a cigarett lighter open from the thumb pressure against the upper grip frame, and almost making contact w/slide (but I never make contact w/slide) my left (support) hand wraps around the right hand fingers, and left thumb aims forward.

It looks stupid with my right thumb sticking straight up in the air, but man does it make the XD stable in my mit, (even one handed/off hand) and like others have stated if you can hit when you aim....you got it licked.

Good luck/have fun...Bud

[doubletapp45]

I have pretty much the same grip as jfinet. I've even had it mentioned to me at the range the my thumbs forward technique is off. That usually stops after I get my targets and they see the groups. Shoot how it's comfortable for you. It will let you shot more rounds - more often, which will make you a better shot.

[wahoojohn]

I've got some big paws, and the "combat grip" doesn't work too well for me. If I put my left (weak hand) thumb closest to the slide then put my right thumb on top of it, both pointing to the target then I don't depress the grip safety. Pretty stable grip, but with the gun not firing - not too practical.

I grab the gun with my right hand, right thumb pointing towards the target along the little thumb groove in the grip. Then I put my left hand on the gun with my left thumb on the left side of my right thumb pointing downrange.

I've got 1100 rounds of .45acp downrange with this grip and I'm getting to be a pretty fair shot.

[slugger6]

The grip I use on my XD45 Service is similar to wahoojohn's except I lay my left thumb over my right thumb. For me I have found that sometimes if I am shooting alot my weakhand (left) grip relaxes a little and I start pulling my shots to the left. As the others have recommended, find a grip that works for you and practice, practice, practice. By the way, I need to follow my own advice. Merry Christmas!

[jfinet]

There are others doing the same thing ... or similar ... so I shall continue to use what has been working ... and ignore the 'combat' technique ... since it doesn't work for me ... thanks ... John