What exactly is slapping the trigger?

ntobroken · Jun 2, 2009

I consistently shoot slightly low and left with my SW9VE, and I shoot slightly left of center with my XDm(9mm) and also slightly left with a friends Glock 19. From what I have gleaned from these forums is that left of center is a sign of "slapping" the trigger. What exactly is that? I practice dry firing with a gentle and smooth trigger pull over and over carefully watching the sights and only occasionally see movement and then it is after the sear break (and I work to not do that). I do tend to see it mostly on the SW9VE's slightly firmer trigger but I work hard trying to prevent movement. If slapping the trigger is just yanking back then that's definitely not what I am doing. Can somebody explain a what a slap is or provide clues as to why I might be hitting left. My groups are relatively consistent and I have shot different brand ammo's. -thanks

S&W1006 · Jun 2, 2009

A sudden tighening of the grip in anticipation of recoil can cause this also. It will not show up when dry firing because you don't expect recoil. I do this sometimes when shooting a heavy recoiling pistol. Have a friend at the range load or not load your pistol for you. When you don't know if the gun will click or go boom you can catch mistakes that recoil hides. I did this for my wife who dry fires fine until I try this drill and then she could see what she was doing and it solved her problem.Hope this helps.Also slapping the trigger is basically jerking the trigger and tends to shoot low and left that is if you are right handed.

ntobroken · Jun 2, 2009

Thanks 1006, the grip tightening concept sounds like a possibility and I'll focus on that next time at the range. What about grip pressure itself? Firm and tight or more relaxed? If I use a firmer grip up front wouldn't that tend to negate any last second tightening? (If I can concentrate on it enough.... this is so much like golf, a mental game!)
Sorry to ask what might be basic questions for many but I do shoot halfway decent now and would like to go to the next level. (I own a couple S&W firearms and some other brands but I still know where to come for great advise.)

sasu · Jun 2, 2009

I have been shooting actively for 25 years. Still if I go for weeks without shooting, I tend to develop a flinch, i.e. I pull a shot now and then to the lower left.

A 22LR or 9mm is ok, but 45 ACP, 357 Magnum can be trouble. 44 Magnum and 454 Casull is ok again, probably because I have to concentrate with them harder anyway.

The flinch does not come from recoil but from the blast and noise. We people tend to fear loud noises, so it is very unnatural not to flinch. We need to practice constantly to overcome this natural reaction when shooting.

I have used the "loaded/not loaded" gun technique to catch myself flinching, but with experience I have learned to see the flinch while shooting live ammo by watching the front sight all the way through the shot and recoil. I know when I have pulled a shot astray.

The only way for me to keep the flinch in check is to shoot and shoot and shoot. And then shoot some more. Shooting huge mega blaster calibers helps, too, by making the regular calibers seem rather mild in comparison.

ntobroken · Jun 3, 2009

Thanks both for your excellent answers and suggestions. I sub consciously knew the final answer would be flinching when I typed up the post but I needed to hear if from someone else. (...and I am shooting a 9mm, how embarrassing.) Okay, I've got something to work on.

S&W1006 · Jun 3, 2009

Not to worry it can happen to anyone. I have been shooting for a long time and sometimes I have to make myself relax. As to the grip pressure it was explained to me to think of squeezing an orange between your hands. Apply enough pressure that the checkering of stipling on the grips leave small indentations on you hands but not so much pressure your muscles shake. If you have ever squeezed an orange or lemon you know how it will break apart if you squeeze to hard. This has worked for me just remember not to squeeze to hard it shouldn't be painful or too tiring remember shooting is supposed to be fun. Don't overthink it just relax and have fun.Good luck.

HAWKEYE10 · Jun 3, 2009

I will agree with everyone on a very firm grip. Your three fingers that are gripping the frame if left loose will tighten up when you squeeze the trigger causing the shot to go left and a little low. I am left handed and mine go right and low. So grip it grip it grip it.

Don

7shooter · Jun 4, 2009

Two suggestions to try. Consistently shooting low is likely caused by milking the grip ... that is further contracting the fingers on the grip when contracting the trigger finger, The fix for this is the "Ayoob Wedge" which works well for me with guns like the Glock. The wedge involves placing the middle finger of your support hand tight against the underside of the trigger guard and then wedge the index finger up against the middle finger again under ( not in front ) of the trigger guard. This securely locks in the grip and largely prevents milking. The fix for shooting consistently left is to move the pad of your trigger finger in so that the finger is slightly more to the left on the trigger. Shooting left is caused by not pulling the trigger straight back but rather pushing the trigger slightly to the left by not having your finger far enough into the trigger guard. It took me years to figure out why I was shooting low and left and these two techniques work for me.

jed · Jun 4, 2009

I think of slapping the trigger as the way people shoot shotguns. They carry the trigger release over to pistols. The slap is not a precise squeeze.

Others have not commented in the same manner.

Let us know how much experience you have had with shotguns.

jed

ntobroken · Jun 8, 2009

Following up....

I went to the range last Friday with your comments and suggestions in mind and made a conscious effort to really think about and pay attention to what I was doing. I was able to keep my shots much closer to the bullseye and it was a remarkable improvement. I specifically experimented with my grip and with my finger positioning on the trigger and could see results right away. And to Jed, I've had no real history with shotguns. It turns out I wasn't slapping but I did want to know what it was to make sure I wasn't doing it

You all are top notch. Thanks.

wpshooter · Jun 9, 2009

Always remember that you are supposed to "SQUEEZE" that trigger, not, PULL, SLAP, YANK or JERK.

If the shot suprises you when it goes off, then more likely than not, you have made a good shot.

The fact that you need to SQUEEZE the trigger, is why it is sooooooo important that the trigger be one that has little to zero travel on it and that it does not take so much SQUEEZE pressure to trip it, that it throws your shot off.

Unfortunately, recently I made the mistake of buying a pistol that is a double action (instead of the single action that I am used to) and the trigger has almost an inch of travel before it gets to the point where it is about to trip the hammer and so far, I have not hardly been able to hit the broad side of a barn with it.

You could take the finest looking and built gun in the world and not put a high quality and correctly adjusted trigger on it and you have mostly a piece of junk !!!

A word to the wise is sufficent !!!

lebomm · Jun 9, 2009

When I first learned the term "slapping the trigger", it was explained to me as a shotgunners' term, meaning to start mounting the gun with the trigger finger at the front of the guard, then making the pull of the trigger with a long, quick motion, including the movement from the front of the guard to the trigger, thus "slapping" the trigger.

Larry

S&W1006 · Jun 9, 2009

wpshooter said:
Always remember that you are supposed to "SQUEEZE" that trigger, not, PULL, SLAP, YANK or JERK.

If the shot suprises you when it goes off, then more likely than not, you have made a good shot.

The fact that you need to SQUEEZE the trigger, is why it is sooooooo important that the trigger be one that has little to zero travel on it and that it does not take so much SQUEEZE pressure to trip it, that it throws your shot off.

Unfortunately, recently I made the mistake of buying a pistol that is a double action (instead of the single action that I am used to) and the trigger has almost an inch of travel before it gets to the point where it is about to trip the hammer and so far, I have not hardly been able to hit the broad side of a barn with it.

You could take the finest looking and built gun in the world and not put a high quality and correctly adjusted trigger on it and you have mostly a piece of junk !!!

A word to the wise is sufficent !!!

I know what you mean with switching from single to double action. I learned a trick from Jerry Miculek on Shooting USA on how to make better shots with a double action. He has several techniques depending on the degree of difficulty of the shot. For the slow diliberate shots I stage the trigger. Get it to the point of almost breaking and then complete the squeeze. It worked for me. I think they still have the videos posted on Shooting USA.com. I think it is worth a look. It helped me a lot.

flash60601 · Jun 9, 2009

Grip strength maybe?

I don't know if this is pertinent to the OP's issue, but I have had shoulder surgery and in the period of not shooting, my grip had diminished, and when I went back to shooting, (a 9VE) I was shooting low and left. Grip-strengthening exercises have helped immensely. Still not back to pre-op, but strengthening exercises made a difference for me. YMMV.

Flash

What exactly is slapping the trigger?

ntobroken

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sasu

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jed

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lebomm

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