The 'Thumbs-Forward' grip????

[VictorLouis]

Ok, this one's been niggling at me for a bit. Thing is, when it occurs to me to POST about it, I wait too long...and ...well, you know...the damn Thought-Train de-rails so easily.

WHAT is the origin of this one? Can it be attributed to an instructor? Successful competitor? Military unit? Hollywood?

I just can't wrap my mind around it. You know darn well that your grip is
exponentially stronger with your thumb cinched down, like God designed, LOL.

Please, school me on this one, also. Thanks.

 

[Neversink n Klapperthal]

is there another way?

 

[JayFramer]

Having the thumbs clinched down on a semi-auto can often interfere with controls like the slide release or even safeties/decockers etc.

On a revolver no problem but then again the thumbs forward grip is mainly used with automatics.

 

[armorer951]

I can't speak of the technique's origin, but I can say as a revolver shooter, I had a hard time with this also. I can say though, that I shoot striker fired guns, like the Shield for instance, more consistently if I place my off hand thumb (left) up against the frame just above the trigger.

I never understood why I was plagued by horizontal stringing and fliers until I started training with a laser trainer pistol. The SIRT trainer does visibly show that I was not doing a good job keeping the gun stabilized during the trigger pull and follow though. This inadvertent movement of the gun is very easy to see using the trainer. Keeping the gun stabil during the trigger pull is so fundamental that I didn't realize there was a problem with my semi-auto grip until I used the trainer, and my son pointed out this flaw in my grip.

The weird thing is, this is not a problem during revolver shooting. With the revolver, I still use the same grip I've used for decades without any issues.

As Rosanne Rosanadana used to say, "It's always something." We are never too old to learn something new.

 

[murphydog]

I don't know from where the technique came.

What I have experienced firsthand is rapid right-handed shooting tends to make my shots print leftward, and having the left thumb forward exerting pressure on the frame tends to make them go more straight. It may not make the same difference for you based on your hand size, grip strength and gun.

 

[squidsix]

I have been in the military 24 years, and I think we started doing this about 15 years ago.
I train new military shooters all the time (I did before the thumbs forward technique also) and I will tell you this:
A new shooter taught thumbs forward grip on a semi-auto pistol shoots better groups earlier than a new shooter taught other grip technique.
I shoot 240/240 left or right handed thumbs forward. I did not shoot as well with other techniques.

 

[blues7]

When we transitioned from revolvers to semi-autos in the middle to late 80's we weren't trained with thumbs forward grip, and the grip employed was similar to that used with revolvers.

A few years back, (post-retirement), I began training myself to use the thumbs forward grip.

I thought it would be hard to do, but it came pretty naturally, to the point I have a hard time remembering how I did it before, let alone employing the previous method.

I remember that I ran a couple of LEOSA qualifications within a couple of weeks of first working with the grip, and my scores did not suffer in the least, and generally improved.

It simply works. At least for me, (and apparently many others.)

 

[Trooper224]

The technique was developed by competitors Brian Enos and Rob Leatham. It provides for more contact between the hands and the weapon, as well as allowing a higher grip on the gun. All of which result in superior recoil control. It is a superior technique regardless of what you think God may have designed.

Note: it isn't well suited for use with revolvers.

 

[WR Moore]

I don't know if it can be traced to any specific individual. It originated in practical shooting competition. It can be valuable in other arenas as it can provide better support of the pistol.

However, depending upon hand size, frame size of the pistol, size and location of controls, you may not be able to use it because your digits interfere with operation of the firearm*. I'm not sure it's got much application with revolvers, but this might be a hand/frame size thing.

The one hand version doesn't provide as strong a grip on the firearm, so if going one handed, thumb down does provide a stronger grip. But, you used to see a version of it in Bullseye competition (the thumb rests on the thumb safety) with 1911 type firearms.

If it works for you and whatever you're carrying, it usually improves scores/groups/speed.

* You may get slide stop early, the slide stop not engage the slide at magazine empty, trigger finder dragging on the support hand, slide dragging on the thumb(s), etc. Some folks have issues with the grip safety on 1911 designs-it's where we got the grip safeties with bumps on the bottom.

 

[Hapworth]

...You know darn well that your grip is exponentially stronger with your thumb cinched down, like God designed, LOL...

Sure, grip is stronger on a narrow point...but control is better spread out over as much of the source of recoil as possible.

 

[Hapworth]

...The weird thing is, this is not a problem during revolver shooting. With the revolver, I still use the same grip I've used for decades without any issues...

I'd wager part of this is due to the very different recoil impulse between a revolver and semiauto.

 

[somorris]

T

Note: it isn't well suited for use with revolvers.

Nope. You can burn any portion of your hand that gets in front of the cylinder. With a revolver, I think it is better to put your thumb over top the grip.

 

[THEmodelof1989]

Always thumbs cinched down for this guy. Left thumb locks down right thumb when shooting right handed, opposite when I shoot left handed. I use this technique with revolvers and semi-autos.

When I instruct, I teach both grip techniques so the individual can do what feels best for them. Through instructing others I've noticed that bigger handed people were the ones that typically like to stretch their appendages down the frame, but nobody is in a box.

The only reason I warn against using the thumbs forward grip is it forces you to master a different grip style when shooting one handed, whereas the shooter that cinched their thumbs down effectively has the same stronghand grip, and generally a much better purchase on the grip, whether they are shooting with one or both hands.

 

[bulletslap]

I shoot better using thumbs forward with a semi, but not with a revolver.

 

[blues7]

Always thumbs cinched down for this guy. Left thumb locks down right thumb when shooting right handed, opposite when I shoot left handed. I use this technique with revolvers and semi-autos.

When I instruct, I teach both grip techniques so the individual can do what feels best for them. Through instructing others I've noticed that bigger handed people were the ones that typically like to stretch their appendages down the frame, but nobody is in a box.

The only reason I warn against using the thumbs forward grip is it forces you to master a different grip style when shooting one handed, whereas the shooter that cinched their thumbs down effectively has the same stronghand grip, and generally a much better purchase on the grip, whether they are shooting with one or both hands.

I believe that Mas Ayoob told me the last time we discussed grip via PM on another site, that he went back to the thumb over thumb (lock down) grip. I still use that for two handed revolver shooting, and thumb down for one handed shooting with either type of gun...but much prefer thumbs forward with semi-auto.

My hands are what I would consider medium sized. So, there's no hard and fast rule with hand size imho.

 

[ISCS Yoda]

Funny thing is, I can't recall when I started doing that. I just picked up a revolver and held it for shooting and my thumbs automatically went to both thumbs forward on the "off" side. I laughed and thought to myself, "Self, how else would you shoot this gun?".

Then I put my non-shooting thumb over the backstrap. Ohhhhh....ICK!!! Don't like it!

 

[lawandorder]

If you look around at Smith grips both factory and customs you will see thumb shelfs or rest built into the grips. Also a groove cut into the grip for the thumb to rest in on modified factory grips.

Old bulls eye shooters, maybe just a preference.

 

[bulletslap]

Just a warning, a good friend of mine who is a very competent and experienced shooter used the two handed thumbs forward grip the first time shooting his son’s Chippa .357 revolver. A strange revolver that has the barrel low and aligned with the chamber that is at the bottom on the cylinder; and dang near lost the tip of his thumb. So if you are shooting something with a cylinder gap mind where your digits are.

 

[Rastoff]

When I instruct, I teach both grip techniques so the individual can do what feels best for them.

As all instructors should. Many in the gun community make the mistake of thinking that their way is the only way. Nothing could be further from the truth. The best way is whatever works to get rounds on target.

The only reason I warn against using the thumbs forward grip is it forces you to master a different grip style when shooting one handed,...

I don't understand this. I use the same grip regardless. Granted, my grip is not crazy forward like some show, but I do keep my thumbs up and relaxed.

I believe that Mas Ayoob told me the last time we discussed grip via PM on another site, that he went back to the thumb over thumb (lock down) grip.

Mas teaches what he calls the crush grip. It is the locked thumbs type of grip. The idea is that you put so much pressure on the grip that you have nothing left to flinch with. It's not completely unreasonable. I don't like it, but I can see his point.

 

[hogblue]

Started training thumbs forward at GLYNCO late 90’s. Another aspect of it is if your thumbs are pointed at the threat. The bore of your gun is pointed there also increasing the chances of a hit in a stressful situation.

In a gunfight you’re less likely to look at your front sight because you are concentrating on your adversary.