I will say, for YEARS I was shooting the way Paul showed and I had very bad follow ups and pistol control. It wasn’t until I first saw John’s pistol shooting videos that I changed to his style and had much betters results for me. Everyone has different bio mechanics and John’s style just works better for me. But it was GREAT to finally see an explanation!!
I’m a guard grabber and I’m trying hard for more then a year and a half to switch thumbs forward. I went from top 5-6 at events to 10-11 or worse. 😢 It’s clearly a better method but it’s a struggle to change. I honestly get those old guys who tea cup or wrist grab, (great for thumbing the hammer btw). Just installed a red dot on my new race gun and astigmatism be damned, I’m going for it!
These guys are awesome. But as a revolver shooter who occasionally picks up an auto, ill stick w thumbs crossed revolver grip, and weaver stance. I’m weird, I know. But my strategy for winning a gunfight that I hope to never be in, is to shoot em dead with an invisible gun. Hence, the jacket pocket hammerless.
Went to the range for the first time today by myself after buying everything I'll need for EDC. Thanks so much for the info, your videos helped give me the confidence to pull the trigger and start something new.
not trying to sound provocative, im genuinely curious. are you actively carrying every day? do you believe you have the right edc gun and holster for any social situation?
@@sethkeown5965 what do you think this guy was born with the knowledge of a years experienced person? Don’t be that guy that quizzes a noob only to make yourself feel better.
As a LEO for over 40 years I have always enjoyed learning something new and make adjustments to my craft. I appreciate your ability to improve. Thank you gentlemen..
I’ve tried John’s way of shooting for quite a while and it worked at first but my elbows fatigued faster and I lost efficiency in shooting after an extended period of time. Went back to shooting a bit more traditional and instead of having my arms locked out at full extension I started to put a bit of a bend in my elbows. This had the added benefit of bringing the sights in closer to my eyes, which is great for these tired aging eyes.
Absolutely. Preach it brother. Also, it gets the firearm closer to your center of gravity. For self defense situations it’s the best way to go imo. Better control. I love having the gun closer to my face where I can focus on that front sight. Furthermore, by keeping elbows down, gun closer, I don’t lose time extending my arms and the gun forward. Basically, whatever angle my elbow was at when I pulled clear of the holster, I maintain that angle without extending. Finally, the more relaxed we are the better we perform. A good tip is to keep the jaw relaxed during a mag dump or a Bill drill. Try to imagine a Pringles potato chip on your tongue and you that don’t want to break it while you shoot. Anyways, I’m glad we think alike.
I believe that your grip should evolve with your experience and having high quality instructors like John and Paul should help you get there quicker. Thanks for this vid John!!
I'm a taller lanky guy primarily fast twitch. As such I had moderate mid bench mid level collegiate success in two sports, tennis and basketball. I had a coach early on tell me that the best thing I could do to improve when practicing is teach my brain and body to do with my weak hand what I want my strong hand to perfect. I split reps since I was about 12 in everything I do right and left including shooting. Actually worked in a couple traditional sports pretty well, cut down on student debt, never had pro potential in either but had a great time. I view world class shooters as world class athletes. It's a full body and mind engagement along with talent that sets guys like you apart. I do about 500 rounds a month at the range, preferably alone, half with each hand. Might right dominant hand exponentially improves with every incremental improvement I see in weak left hand results. Love the channel, two opposite guys, two opposite perspectives, both worth emulating.
This video was very informative for me. Fixing to buy my first pistol, so brand new to the community. Been watching several videos on pistol grip and practicing on a practice gun I have at home. And the part I always had trouble with is my support hand. Basically getting my grip to stay together. And John when you mentioned using your support hand index finger as a bit of a leverage point and how you used that. I tried it and something clicked mentally. My grip felt VASTLY improved and it's repeatable for me each time I pick up the pistol. I try to do dry fire with this gun and practicing the grip each day. Obviously I'll need to put live rounds down range to learn and get better. But just a sincere THANK YOU for that small thing that just made everything make sense for me.
Battle Gnome sounds like a really empowering and understanding teacher. Doing an awesome job and I can already tell his classes would be excellent. Hope to one day have the honor to take a course with these guys. Awesome video
Yea the fact that he picks up on new shooters doing that sympathetic support hand index movement along with the trigger pull just shows not only an understanding and mastery of the content, but a high level of proficiency at teaching
I’m over 3/4 century old and been shooting since I was 5. (Handguns since 10, when I took NRA gun safety and marksmanship training. Also several CQB, a couple before the acronym was invented. My point is that one is never too old to learn. I have learned from this excellent presentation why I have never been able to control my shot placement with a semi auto pistol. Thank you two VERY much!
Absolutely fantastic info. I sit and watch with my (cleared) pistol pausing the video and trying out the techniques and really have learned a lot to improve my grip. Thanks so much.
I’ve watched a few of these videos on grip and recoil management and applied the techniques these men are teaching and it’s improved my accuracy almost immediately. I’m not where I wanna be but until I can afford a few of their training courses these videos are helping immensely. Thank you both for the priceless knowledge that could possibly save my life or a family members life if it ever comes down to it. The only advice I could give anyone is to keep things slow and focus on all the details they are teaching until it becomes second nature then work on speed. It’s what I started doing and I’ve improved more in the last two months than I have in the last two years.
If you can’t afford training…this is absolutely the next best thing. In fact, watch several times…apply…watch again…you’ll get it. Then, practice,practice, practice.
note that at 14:45 timestamp Paul shows that he doesn't have equilateral grips despite his repeated assertion on that point. It isn't physically possible to have one hand behind the grip and the support hand on the grip and be exactly equal. That said, both have excellent technique and I agree with Paul's assertion that a less exaggerated support hand cant is more neutral and natural. Great video guys
God bless WPS and my fellow warrior poets! I learned my pistol grip from John 3 ish years ago. I can't get 1quite to where he is but it's fantastic. The control difference is notable
I just want to say that I really love this channel, all of the content, the morals and values of this company and the people behind it, and really just everything. I dont say this much but John is really someone worth looking up to and seems like a fun dude to know. I wish I could have trained with ya'll when I was getting started with firearms. Thank you for all for the awesome, helpful, and insightful videos you've shared with us! I hope to see many more awesome videos in the future. God Bless!
I tried doing passive recoil management this past trip to the gun range and wow, what a difference it was! My grouping was much more consistent and tighter. Thank you guys so much for explaining both ways. I always thought it had to be the active way with having that aggressive grip.
@@stevep7608 he can’t afford it and his gut isn’t bloated. He could just be using 2ius nightly for weight loss though but he’s 100% not natural and I’m 1000% onboard with it.
Glad to see little nuances being discussed. Whatever allows the pistol to return to where it started at the end of the recoil cycle is the correct grip for you 🤙🏻 People worry about “flat shooting” but that largely doesn’t mean anything unless the pistols comes back to were it started and you’re ready for the next shot.
Im a Infantryman served during GWOT but i have always used what you called the old school revolver grip and ive qlways had pretty good results with the grip. I have recently in the mast year started using the other grip and switching my thumb around and its really helped me control my groups and my A zone hits .
Great video as always. My grip is more like Paul's, except that I use a hinge technique that naturally squeezes the handgun equally by closing my palms, relying less on finger strength, as I'm old and retired.
I took a page of notes and am literally getting ready to head to the range to try to apply the techniques. Thanks gentlemen. I'm a South Georgia boy now abiding in metro ATL. I'll try to book a course soon.
I'm an anomaly of a shooter that shoots semi-autos way better with a low-thumb revolver grip and a Weaver stance than modern thumb-over-thumb/isosceles, but even with that John's technique of twisting the pistol into itself by adjusting your elbow position really helps keep the platform steady, and for me even works really well with the asymmetrical Weaver stance. Good info!
Like you, Bill Wilson violated every rule of grip and trigger control; his behavior was bizarre and would not work for normal humans. However, he swept a ton of competitions. I'm not sure a normal person could emulate what he did. I certainly cannot.
Middle finger knuckle on the bottom of the trigger guard and the index finger on front of the trigger guard, I learned as a "wedge" grip, and it's used to resolve a support side wander or shooting low left for me, low right for a lefty.
I started using a modifed weaver stance with kind of hybrid style of grip between these guys back when I first started EDC'ing in the early 90's. I know for a lot of people, especially new shooters or guys shooting competition a squared off stance is better, but I like standing with my feet angled close to where they would be for a fighting stance.
I think this may boil down to what you are practicing for. The "square" stance is probably best for winning trophies. But if I am training for a real world situation, my "target" may not be stationary, and I may need to retreat and create distance while still on target, or while firing. With my feet at roughly 45 degrees to the target, close to a Weaver stance, I can push back with my front foot and start to generate distance immediately. Try that with your feet parallel to the target - you are only able to generate immediate force in a sideways direction, and have to shift your balance to start fore/aft movement. I still have a strong lateral capability with the 45 degree stance as well. There is a reason it is called a "fighting stance". And don't get me started on my "old school revolver" grip. I've won plenty of trophies that way, and I've watched guys stop a gun with their thumb. Ask Massad about strength of gun retention with thumb up vs down. I find I need too many subtle tweaks from one auto to the another to be sure not to tangle with controls or the slide itself to have one practiced "thumbs up" grip that works for me on all of my platforms. I also shoot revolvers sometimes, and I don't want to have to think first if I'm using the grip that will remove the end of my thumb when I fire.
Weaver is fine. But the reason for square stances is to make sure that you have only one bullet going through as few organs as possible. Less trauma, more survivable. Truthfully if you aren’t moving while you’re shooting and changing targets, you’re not practicing anyway
@@nickshipley4372 100% - That's why I encourage people to get into some sort of league or matches like IPSC where the course is always dynamic and never the same twice, and you are under pressure from the clock. Still won't match being shot back at, but it'll have to do for me at least. You will uncover issues you need to tackle this way that will never arise standing in the range booth shooting. There are a lot of good arguments for each style, but I tend towards what I can keep from being hit at all with, vs not hit as bad. Being able to move quick seems best to me, it feels like an eternity to me when I try to move back with my feet square to the target. A story I've repeated many times is about a LEO who was killed by his training. They were trained to draw, shoot two rounds at center of mass, and re-holster, which they did constantly and exclusively. When he was faced with a gun, he did what he had trained, only the attacker did not go down after two rounds. The incident was the end of that training technique for his department.
I do a fight stance also. Very aggressive and keep as little of my front body exposed as possible. I have been told this is wrong, but a smaller target as possible is what I want to present to any opponent.
I would think weaver is better because it makes you a smaller target if your shoulders are bladed vs squared off. Also weaver I would think puts your feet in a better position to scoot, duck, grapple, or whatever else since it's more of an athletic stance.
You guys are very informative.im an old army medic and I'm very familiar with most pistols but I definitely learn and familiarize myself with safety and firing protocol..I appreciate yall..stay blessed..
Evan failed to explain the knife grip technique - and what’s wrong with a WPS steak knife in a fight? The steak has lost every time! And yeah the pistol Grip stuff was good too.
How fun to see how much fun you have - while still producing a densely informative (and, er, gripping) vid! I watched the whole thing twice and I still can't tell which of you is the warrior and which is the poet... I'll watch it again.
This was such a great video. From the instructions, to chemistry between the two. I’m just now getting into shooting and falling in love. You guys helped out a lot with what I should be aware of and what I should be practicing.
Trying these techniques at the range ASAP!! I'm a new shooter and the way you guys broke this down definitely will help so thank you!! I'll come back with an update on accuracy!!
Check out Rob Leatham he is the guy who made this grip famous, him and Jerry Michulek are considering the two best handgun shooters in the world, have the world championships to prove it.
Been learning to shoot right-handed I am a lefty since most guns I have the safety in on left side of gun but still learning I like the weaver & like to use different guns each week I go have 2 9mm, 2 40 Cal , 2 45 acp 1911 Doing ok but I still need lots of practice & learn to pace my shots Thanks for the great tips
Thank you John, and Paul.. I'm always looking to improve grip. I wish to be a better shooter but struggle with consistent grip and grip strength to control recoil. I'm working on it so thanks for alternative thoughts on grip pressures and placement.
I enjoy these videos of Tit for Tat discussions. The 29 round versus 30 round and a 30 round magazine. As far as that one goes I have had magazines from the same manufacturer that I have found her hard to see with a closed Bolt. Not often, but I have run across them at times. Now I have been teaching shooting for 52 years now and I've seen a lot of changes in the way people hold their firearms and as an application, I have found the Weaver to be superior for tactical work and for almost everybody and I have yet to see any other grip for being better. Mitigating recoil is always passive. I taught my three boys how to grip a firearm with a weaver stance and handle the recoil of my 44 Magnum with Full House loads before each of them was 10 years old. It was not that difficult to handle the recoil even at that age . When we start speaking of the baby cartridges like 9 mm 40 Smith 45 ACP 357 Sig 38 Super in semi-autos the biggest difference in Recoil happens to be how much energy it takes for that Locking System of that pistol to unlock and how much of that speed is taken up in unlocking and how much slide mass is coming back in cycling. That is perceived recoil. Because the recoil of the cartridge is minimal. I moved into semi-autos just in the mid-2000 era after carrying a 357 4-in for several decades because 357 Magnum is still the best first shot fight stopper there is it's the gold standard in pistol efficacy. I have tried the isosceles the isosceles has a huge flaw in tactical application. You don't always want to present your pistol out so far that it can be taken from you. I Weaver allows you to pull the pistol all the way back almost against you and still have it indexed towards whatever you may have to shoot. I disagree with those who think that you are not always finessed enough to use a weaver stance. Weaver stance does not require a particular amount of finesse it's a push pull method which allows your arms to absorb this minor recoil and return to index quickly. It keeps recoil from transferring through your elbows through your shoulders to the rest of the body. As for this video. We're usually I see where I have things that I agree with on both sides. I called b******* on both of you. Sorry but the Weaver stance to me is far superior in teaching method and application than almost any other. It's not like I'm going to be shooting at 100 yards even though I regularly practice that 100 yards. When I was in regular practice I could shoot a 4-inch Group at 100 yards with my 357 4-in in double action. I don't suggest that holding a firearm that steady for long enough to make that shot is particularly wise If you're receiving fire. But if you can practice that it's more than possible and it is possible to do that from some semblance of cover or concealment. I have taught a number of people over the years. It is far easier to teach a woman who may have inadvertently bought a 38 2-in it's a weaver grip to mitigate recoil impulse on a gun that they do not plan to carry but just plan to use it in the house. They should have bought a four or six inch gun yes they should have bottled larger frame gun that is easier for the parts to function and easier to shoot. The weight of the firearm alone would mitigate recoil. But I watched them struggling with isosceles almost always because they at least take the two hand grip and I've stopped counting how many husbands have come over to me at the range and say can you show her how to shoot this. And I will take the paper and I'll turn it around backwards and have them shoot up blank white piece of paper at about 30 ft and show them a weaver hold where they're not perfect with it but they don't have to be. But they're hitting every shot on that paper usually in a fairly tight centered group within moments. Admittedly it's easier to teach a woman how to shoot than it is a man because you have to unteach all the b******* he's been learning from TV and movies about how to shoot. There's only one person ever in the movies that I have seen who consistently holds a firearm exactly the way you're supposed to. And although I don't particularly care for him as an actor or an individual that is Steven Seagal. And he always uses a weaver because it is the most flexible grip that is possible and allows you the most movement of the firearm and the ability to keep it in tight or extended out however you may find the situation as it is constantly in flux in a tactical situation. One other caveat I would like to add my trigger control had to change when I went from a revolver to a semi-auto. With the revolver I was easily able to reach reset and then squeeze the trigger in double action. When I use a semi-auto especially a single action semi-auto which are my favorites because it's always a consistent trigger pull. Even with the POs Glock, which I hate by the way I do not like Firearms without a safety that are semi-auto. The reason to going to a more complicated firearm is so that if somebody happens to get my primary firearm from me they can't make it go bang until they figure out what switch to make it go bang with. 1911 works great if I were worried about weight I wouldn't be tearing a firearm I'd be selling pansies on the corner. The first decision about the need to carry a firearm to protect myself and others is that weight is not the issue it's application. You want to mitigate recoil don't buy a gun that only weighs 18 Oz and still carries 15 rounds of ammo. The other reason I like a 1911 is it can be run with a single hand you can reload it you can cycle it you can do everything with that firearm with a single hand. It is a handgun, not a hands gun. It was designed that way because it was designed to be a Cavalry pistol where you're writing a horse where while you're controlling the horse with your other hand if it runs empty you can drop the slide holster the gun grab a magazine put a magazine in the gun pick it back up and hit the slide release and now it's ready. The Glock was not designed to be used with one hand or they would have put a slide release on it. If they wanted a slide release on it they would have put a lever out there for you to be able to push down. As it is it's barely a bump. And I don't know what that little lever on the trigger supposed to be for they said it's to keep you from making the gun go bang unless you intentionally pull the trigger. Well that goes without saying. If you stick a twig in there The Twig can pull the trigger just as well as your finger can. That is not a safety it's an encumbrance. Stupidest thing I ever saw put on a pistol a lever on the trigger that does nothing whatsoever except just be there. Let's see what kind of dumpster fire this starts
I have to admit I initially thought John was a clown with his no suppressor for HD stance, but after giving him a second chance, I've realized he has the best 2A/gun content on the tube.
Really? His rationale for home defense makes sense to me for like the suburbs where a neighbor is close enough to hear shots. Being out in the sticks you'd probably do better with a suppressor, especially if you had the opportunity to engage bad guys before they entered the home.
His gear videos are are a bit too far out there for me. Everything else though, from tactics and home defense to politics and social commentary is spot on. I'd like to attend some of his classes in the future.
I agree he is a bit of a clown. But I think that is what I like about him. Like "Not Sure" said, "from tactics and home defense to politics and social commentary is spot on." but its his odd sense of humor that I love. He is a goofball, not so serious all the time. From one tactical dad to another, Great Dad Jokes.
I'm not big on giving the government so much money to suppress my ARs. I've found flash cans/forward sound devices, to work better for me. The flash and noise will affect the person(s) in front of me way more than anyone to the left, right, or rear.
My thoughts exactly -- cameraman completely missed where the focus SHOULD have been -- the gun and grip. Even Paul was looking at his own grip, that should have been a clue for the cameraman.
Same here. But the background noise (I wouldn't call it "music") was even more annoying than that. Tried turning on closed captions and turning off the sound, but that made it too difficult to watch. I just don't get it, never did, why so many RUclipsrs ruin their videos with loud, distracting, annoying background noise. Couldn't watch.
This, ladies and gentlemen, is wisdom! What an awesome breakdown. Just a thought on John's technique, is it possible that it comes from his rifle shooting? With long guns he uses an extended support arm with a full hand wrap over the barrel, I think. To me it seems like a very compact version of his rifle grip. Just an observation but thanks for everything you guys are doing
Yep, it's the pistol version of the c-clamp grip I'd say! I shoot shotguns a lot better c-clamped for sure. Also, I freaking love the dynamic between these two. So much mutual professional respect between the two of them, and genuinely the funniest banter I've ever seen in a firearm video. Also love how intentionally the philosophy of a 'warrior poet' is incorporated into every aspect of their training. Went to make sure I was already subbed after.
I have applied the instructions and it works. By far this is one of the best videos of John. I made the most out of it. Combing this videos with my brother tips was a hit.Thanks for sharing.
Disclaimer: I have limited experience here, but what I noticed is that using John's technique seems to help me be able to present properly with a red dot. I don't know why but the forward thumb has really helped make sure my dot is ready when I present. Usually had to adjust a little before using that forward thumb.
Lex, what type of gun do you shoot? It could be that the grip angle of the gun you shoot doesn't match your natural point/grip angle, and using John's method adjusts your angle slightly, making the dot line up better... I find that my natural point angle works better with my CZ and EAA Witness grip angle vs a Glock, which requires me to adjust slightly to bring my sights into correct alignment
My general though process when correcting my horrendous point when drawing was to point with my thumbs as opposed to pointing the gun and that helped me significantly, I was also borrowing my old mans Glock and learned after I bought my CZ that I always drew and aimed the Glock slightly high because of grip angle
John's grip in the thumbnail is actually better physiologically. Reason for this is support hand is applying friction on the gun higher near the bore axis and closer to the end of the barrel, which increases mechanical advantage. The high elbow from shooters like Vogel is actually not required. You can apply that rotational pressure through the wrists quite effectively while also keeping the elbow down. The principles of a good grip are always the same, but they will look different based on the individual's characteristics. Loved hearing you guys mention Bob and JJ. Good friends of mine for decades. Good job here fellas.
I've never shot that way, but it seems stressful on the support side wrists and hand. Seems like a ton of pressure to be applying. It works, just not sure how long it would work for me.
Paul is where it's at. I never could sign on to John's high tension system. Tense muscles create sore and out of control muscles. Whatever works best for you. Just be sure to try things out and evaluate.
Yea, that's the way I was taught when I started shooting pistol and started getting in to going to matches. It runs counter to what I've learned about muscle tension from playing drums. If you want to play hard and fast for a long period of time you gotta stay loose and let the instrument work for you.
Great guidance on grip. I can always tell an experienced instructor when they acknowledge that there are different "right" ways to do certain things and also some things where we don't compromise. Good stuff.
Paul & John- Thank you. This is a great tutorial on grip! You both have helped me. Once I relaxed my elbows a little bit and didn’t try to grip the gun as tightly my accuracy improved. I wish I would’ve figured this out several hundred dollars ago in ammunition. Lol You guys rock.
sympathetic motor movement of the offhand index finger...im certain keep tension on that finger is something that i have been not doing. great video with great info, thanks guys
Great video. For me, I naturally fell into the "aggressive" grip. Mostly I think it was because you can come as close as you can to locking your support wrist forward so follow-up after firing falls in the same place. Your wrist can only cant so far forward. Now, this does vary based on grip angles of various weapons but I use my strong hand/arm to dictate how far the presentation is which thus defines where my support hand can go.
As always a great presentation. A few things, I wish I could have seen what Paul was demonstrating better. Between the captions floating by in front of his hands and the camera person being a bit too close, I couldn't get a grip on what he was showing us.. (Pun intended). They kept mentioning "choose a technique"', I totally agree, with that said, also chooses a trainer, either in person or via RUclips and stick with them. I follow 3 different sights that teach the same basic structure . Good job guys!
I've been researching recoil management for 19-minutes and 18 seconds, and what I can definitively say is recoil management correlates to the fold of your hat brim.
A lot of it is impressive, the questions is how the body takes it in the long run. Lots of shooters with wrist and elbow surgeries around. Not saying that Milspec Mojo Jojo falls in that category, just in general.
Adorable, you two matching watches. I have heard the name "Battle gnome" thrown around before. I believe it was by flannel daddy. And when I saw him, holy shit is that a glorious nickname. (Bravo Zulu to whomever came up with that one)
Really great detailed video and informative. The finger locking into the trigger guard was an awesome point.....but still not as bad ass at the video some years ago on the pitfalls of moral relativism. That video was the single most important video I have seen in a very long time.
I like hooking my support finger too. But I might need to change Glock frames. I'm on the 22 rn, but the trigger guard is pretty far forward. I also have larger hands. But still like half and inch too far forward.
I have really long slender fingers, used to play violin before becoming a gunsmith …. I have always naturally wanted to wrap my support index finger over my trigger guard and really dig into the frame but I spent years trying to tell myself not to ….. the passive style always grip always felt awkward and no matter how much work and dry fire I did, my groups were always about torso size….. after watching this vid I stopped trying to use the passive grip and made sure that my index finger was an active component to the grip ….. almost immediately my groups went from torso sized to putting every shot in the 9 or ten ring ( about 1 inch groups give or take ) ….. thank you for the breakdown…. I had been getting rather discouraged with pistols …. And now I’m shooting a LOT more pistols when I go train
Thank you John and Paul for this video. There are fundamentals, which all shooters need to have in their tool bag. However, you both make the point that it’s results that matter. I took a Frontsight course late last year, with the thought of potentially working there as an instructor. While I’ll never bash their school (full disclosure: I’m a lifetime member), I observed things that I didn’t care for and therefore didn’t absorb. One of these was the insistence on using the weaver grip on semiautomatic pistols. I’ve trained for a very long time with dominant hand thumb over support thumb, and found that trying to change my grip only messed up my mechanics (sight picture, hesitation after holster draw to engage target, etc.). As you say, work hard but smart.
I'm fairly seasoned with pistols and I still go back and forth with passive vs active grips. So far, I find that both seem to be equal in terms of speed & accuracy when I focus & practice with each style. I'm sure that as time goes on, one will probably suit me better than the other but at this point, I am undecided. Again, I am seasoned but not at an expert trainer/competition/operator skill level yet. I originally learned a passive style grip with locked arms in my youth (Gen-X) and then turned it into/learned the passive technique that is in this video with my elbows slightly bent. It does take more concentration and attention to my form for me when using an active grip IMHO but that could be because of how i learned to shoot in the 1st place. Great video!
On smaller firearms like a P365, is your trigger/dominant hand supposed to wrap all the way around the grip? I don't have space for my support hand to literally touch the grip because my dominant hands fingers are covering it.
Absolutely love this channel. However this particular video the cameraman was zoomed in so much that half the time You couldn’t even see his hands when he’s describing how to put the whole grip and arms together. Appreciate it thank you
I was playing around with this the other day. I initially thought Paul's way was better and the way i have always done this. Alas as i started to practice with my weak and girly left hand, i realized i naturally tended to use John's method.
What just happen!!!!! Watched and learned once again how to grip the gun. I been doing it some what wrong but glad i watched the video. Now the ending of the video Ryan that got me very excited since I just bought my first 6.5 Savage. Need to follow the video serias he is putting out. Keep up the great work John. Will have to see if you come out to TX any time soon.
BattleGnomes technique for “Front and Rear Pressure” was a serious eye opener for me! I have the worst problem with holding down the slide release on my Glock 48. This I believe is the fix I was waiting for!
I had the same issue I always thought I had choked up on the grip perfectly and was seriously able to negate the recoil but the slide wouldn’t lock. It took a cop I was shooting next to at the range to adjust my hands slightly and negate the recoil while allowing my gun to function.
Glad you mentioned small-handed shooters. We just cannot “properly” grip according to contemporary standards, which do not make room for all hand sizes. Everybody doesn’t have long fingers.
John your love and humility is giving Jesus a good name. In these end times Patriots must see the relevance in personally knowing their maker like you do. God bless you brother. Feed the sheep.
The last three years, retired from the military and federal LEO, I’ve been relegated to being the Executor of my late parents estate, liquidating their assets and dealing with lawyers, debtors, bankers, realtors (can you think of a group of professionals that you’d want to least deal with?). After I retired, I didn’t know how much I’d miss ‘shooting the s-t’ with guys like this. Great video!
I hold my gun completely sideways with one hand, leaving my other hand free to hold up my pants as I believe in wearing oversized-waist pants with no belt. The trade-off here is 99.99 percent of the time you will shoot an innocent bystander. Also, you miss your target 100% of the time. The benefit to this is that you believe that people think “you gangsta”. Also, you will most likely end up leaving your weapon on the ground somewhere as you will most likely need both hands: One to hold up your pants, the other to throw pre-bagged drugs over the fence of a pre-school. I hope this is helpful to someone. And remember, if you’ve seen it in a movie, it should work out in real life. P.s. I forgot to mention that thrusting the gun forward with each shot will double the velocity of the projectile while adding accuracy as you are combining shooting your target with throwing the round at your target.
My biggest issue with the passive, is that my grip breaks up due to my hands beginning to swear and having massive slippage causing my recoil control to worsen.
Same problem here. If I’m not aggressive with pressure my hand sweat starts to make the gun slip out of my dominant hand, and my dominant hand starts to slip out of my support hand. Lmao
Oh, get a grip already! No really, get a grip! Talon grip or stipling will help immensely. Grit style grips (similar to sandpaper) isnt fun for CC but it absolutely doesnt move in your hands if your grip is firm.
I have been to multiple training programs where I was told my grip is wrong and was forced to form my grip to something that wasn't as comfortable for me. I'm glad to see I'm not the only one gripping my gun this way.
The trick to controlling recoil is having arms like tree trunks and a beard like Leonidas ✔ got it
Hands like a vice . That gun is not moving.
🦾
Beard ✅
Tree trunk arms.... 😢
Ok. I have only a decent recoil management system
Don't forget the lightly oiled arms to accentuate the recoil control device lol
The beard I can do. The arms...well, not so much... ;D
I will say, for YEARS I was shooting the way Paul showed and I had very bad follow ups and pistol control. It wasn’t until I first saw John’s pistol shooting videos that I changed to his style and had much betters results for me. Everyone has different bio mechanics and John’s style just works better for me. But it was GREAT to finally see an explanation!!
Check out Bob Vogel, great tips for high grip
Could be by changing grip you stop doing bad habbits? You were more focused on learning something new that those habits didn't follow over.
Respect! Johns style hurts my wrist cocking it up like that but I can shoot both ways I say my normal go to is Paul's way for sure
Nice to see different grips addressed. I'm a strong proponent of "one size does *not* fit all," find what works for you.
We must name it the "Tactical Battle Gnome Grip"
Johns grip is geared for guys with girl hands. Its actually called a transgrip🤣
Teacup grip > all other's.... 😜
I’m a guard grabber and I’m trying hard for more then a year and a half to switch thumbs forward. I went from top 5-6 at events to 10-11 or worse. 😢
It’s clearly a better method but it’s a struggle to change. I honestly get those old guys who tea cup or wrist grab, (great for thumbing the hammer btw). Just installed a red dot on my new race gun and astigmatism be damned, I’m going for it!
These guys are awesome. But as a revolver shooter who occasionally picks up an auto, ill stick w thumbs crossed revolver grip, and weaver stance. I’m weird, I know. But my strategy for winning a gunfight that I hope to never be in, is to shoot em dead with an invisible gun. Hence, the jacket pocket hammerless.
Went to the range for the first time today by myself after buying everything I'll need for EDC. Thanks so much for the info, your videos helped give me the confidence to pull the trigger and start something new.
not trying to sound provocative, im genuinely curious. are you actively carrying every day? do you believe you have the right edc gun and holster for any social situation?
@@sethkeown5965 what do you think this guy was born with the knowledge of a years experienced person? Don’t be that guy that quizzes a noob only to make yourself feel better.
@@sethkeown5965 any gun is better than no gun
John really knows how to add beneficial people to his company.
Very true
Hopefully he doesn't add any more than 99 people though.
True, and the common thread to me is that they are good communicators and very comfortable on camera.
i loved him.
Except for Evan...
As a LEO for over 40 years I have always enjoyed learning something new and make adjustments to my craft. I appreciate your ability to improve. Thank you gentlemen..
Paul shooting with his elbows relaxed gives more resistance to recoil than most guys do shooting with their elbows locked into position!
I like to think of relaxed elbows acting like shocks on a car, absorbing recoil.
@@eduardozarate856 a spring isn't exactly in a relaxed state when a car is sitting on top
@@eduardozarate856 I think Dean's point was that Paul's arms weigh as much as a truck and mass is what absorbs recoil.
I shoot with relaxed elbows…always!
Must have something to do with them oiled up biceps.
I’ve tried John’s way of shooting for quite a while and it worked at first but my elbows fatigued faster and I lost efficiency in shooting after an extended period of time. Went back to shooting a bit more traditional and instead of having my arms locked out at full extension I started to put a bit of a bend in my elbows. This had the added benefit of bringing the sights in closer to my eyes, which is great for these tired aging eyes.
Absolutely. Preach it brother.
Also, it gets the firearm closer to your center of gravity. For self defense situations it’s the best way to go imo. Better control.
I love having the gun closer to my face where I can focus on that front sight.
Furthermore, by keeping elbows down, gun closer, I don’t lose time extending my arms and the gun forward. Basically, whatever angle my elbow was at when I pulled clear of the holster, I maintain that angle without extending.
Finally, the more relaxed we are the better we perform. A good tip is to keep the jaw relaxed during a mag dump or a Bill drill. Try to imagine a Pringles potato chip on your tongue and you that don’t want to break it while you shoot.
Anyways, I’m glad we think alike.
I believe that your grip should evolve with your experience and having high quality instructors like John and Paul should help you get there quicker. Thanks for this vid John!!
I'm a taller lanky guy primarily fast twitch. As such I had moderate mid bench mid level collegiate success in two sports, tennis and basketball. I had a coach early on tell me that the best thing I could do to improve when practicing is teach my brain and body to do with my weak hand what I want my strong hand to perfect. I split reps since I was about 12 in everything I do right and left including shooting. Actually worked in a couple traditional sports pretty well, cut down on student debt, never had pro potential in either but had a great time. I view world class shooters as world class athletes. It's a full body and mind engagement along with talent that sets guys like you apart. I do about 500 rounds a month at the range, preferably alone, half with each hand. Might right dominant hand exponentially improves with every incremental improvement I see in weak left hand results. Love the channel, two opposite guys, two opposite perspectives, both worth emulating.
Everybody needs a friend who can bench-press pick-up trucks.
For when that damn harbor freight jack he warned you about gives out 🙃
Well when you're 3ft 11 you don't have as far to go 🤣
Or a giant son-in-law! 😂
The shaved arms help with the aerodynamic when benching.
Women love that too :-)
This video was very informative for me. Fixing to buy my first pistol, so brand new to the community. Been watching several videos on pistol grip and practicing on a practice gun I have at home. And the part I always had trouble with is my support hand. Basically getting my grip to stay together. And John when you mentioned using your support hand index finger as a bit of a leverage point and how you used that. I tried it and something clicked mentally. My grip felt VASTLY improved and it's repeatable for me each time I pick up the pistol. I try to do dry fire with this gun and practicing the grip each day. Obviously I'll need to put live rounds down range to learn and get better. But just a sincere THANK YOU for that small thing that just made everything make sense for me.
Battle Gnome sounds like a really empowering and understanding teacher. Doing an awesome job and I can already tell his classes would be excellent. Hope to one day have the honor to take a course with these guys. Awesome video
Yea the fact that he picks up on new shooters doing that sympathetic support hand index movement along with the trigger pull just shows not only an understanding and mastery of the content, but a high level of proficiency at teaching
Been there in person with both of them, positively outstanding! Well worth your money to train with them
I’m over 3/4 century old and been shooting since I was 5. (Handguns since 10, when I took NRA gun safety and marksmanship training. Also several CQB, a couple before the acronym was invented. My point is that one is never too old to learn. I have learned from this excellent presentation why I have never been able to control my shot placement with a semi auto pistol. Thank you two VERY much!
Man it’s so refreshing listening to you guys! I really miss the banter and social interaction from my service days.
Absolutely fantastic info. I sit and watch with my (cleared) pistol pausing the video and trying out the techniques and really have learned a lot to improve my grip. Thanks so much.
I’ve watched a few of these videos on grip and recoil management and applied the techniques these men are teaching and it’s improved my accuracy almost immediately. I’m not where I wanna be but until I can afford a few of their training courses these videos are helping immensely. Thank you both for the priceless knowledge that could possibly save my life or a family members life if it ever comes down to it. The only advice I could give anyone is to keep things slow and focus on all the details they are teaching until it becomes second nature then work on speed. It’s what I started doing and I’ve improved more in the last two months than I have in the last two years.
If you can’t afford training…this is absolutely the next best thing. In fact, watch several times…apply…watch again…you’ll get it. Then, practice,practice, practice.
I have been using the Miculek grip lately and you can't argue with the leverage of the finger gripping the front of the trigger guard.
First time I've heard Paul talk at length. It is nice to get a better feel for his thought process.
note that at 14:45 timestamp Paul shows that he doesn't have equilateral grips despite his repeated assertion on that point. It isn't physically possible to have one hand behind the grip and the support hand on the grip and be exactly equal. That said, both have excellent technique and I agree with Paul's assertion that a less exaggerated support hand cant is more neutral and natural. Great video guys
God bless WPS and my fellow warrior poets! I learned my pistol grip from John 3 ish years ago. I can't get 1quite to where he is but it's fantastic. The control difference is notable
I just want to say that I really love this channel, all of the content, the morals and values of this company and the people behind it, and really just everything. I dont say this much but John is really someone worth looking up to and seems like a fun dude to know. I wish I could have trained with ya'll when I was getting started with firearms. Thank you for all for the awesome, helpful, and insightful videos you've shared with us! I hope to see many more awesome videos in the future. God Bless!
Love the instruction John gives. One of my favorite sites. May God bless you all.
I tried doing passive recoil management this past trip to the gun range and wow, what a difference it was! My grouping was much more consistent and tighter. Thank you guys so much for explaining both ways. I always thought it had to be the active way with having that aggressive grip.
Would love to see a video on Paul's fitness routine. Also, can we get Paul a shirt that fits.💪
😆
His fitness routine is Trenbalone and Anavar.
Pretty sure it’s shake weights for the win.
T-Rex growth hormone
@@stevep7608 he can’t afford it and his gut isn’t bloated. He could just be using 2ius nightly for weight loss though but he’s 100% not natural and I’m 1000% onboard with it.
Glad to see little nuances being discussed.
Whatever allows the pistol to return to where it started at the end of the recoil cycle is the correct grip for you 🤙🏻
People worry about “flat shooting” but that largely doesn’t mean anything unless the pistols comes back to were it started and you’re ready for the next shot.
Im a Infantryman served during GWOT but i have always used what you called the old school revolver grip and ive qlways had pretty good results with the grip. I have recently in the mast year started using the other grip and switching my thumb around and its really helped me control my groups and my A zone hits .
This should be the Masterclass. The two of you just grinding it out and both emerging victorious. A solid win for all involved.
Great video as always. My grip is more like Paul's, except that I use a hinge technique that naturally squeezes the handgun equally by closing my palms, relying less on finger strength, as I'm old and retired.
I took a page of notes and am literally getting ready to head to the range to try to apply the techniques. Thanks gentlemen. I'm a South Georgia boy now abiding in metro ATL. I'll try to book a course soon.
I'm an anomaly of a shooter that shoots semi-autos way better with a low-thumb revolver grip and a Weaver stance than modern thumb-over-thumb/isosceles, but even with that John's technique of twisting the pistol into itself by adjusting your elbow position really helps keep the platform steady, and for me even works really well with the asymmetrical Weaver stance. Good info!
Like you, Bill Wilson violated every rule of grip and trigger control; his behavior was bizarre and would not work for normal humans. However, he swept a ton of competitions. I'm not sure a normal person could emulate what he did. I certainly cannot.
Middle finger knuckle on the bottom of the trigger guard and the index finger on front of the trigger guard, I learned as a "wedge" grip, and it's used to resolve a support side wander or shooting low left for me, low right for a lefty.
I started using a modifed weaver stance with kind of hybrid style of grip between these guys back when I first started EDC'ing in the early 90's. I know for a lot of people, especially new shooters or guys shooting competition a squared off stance is better, but I like standing with my feet angled close to where they would be for a fighting stance.
I think this may boil down to what you are practicing for. The "square" stance is probably best for winning trophies. But if I am training for a real world situation, my "target" may not be stationary, and I may need to retreat and create distance while still on target, or while firing. With my feet at roughly 45 degrees to the target, close to a Weaver stance, I can push back with my front foot and start to generate distance immediately. Try that with your feet parallel to the target - you are only able to generate immediate force in a sideways direction, and have to shift your balance to start fore/aft movement. I still have a strong lateral capability with the 45 degree stance as well. There is a reason it is called a "fighting stance".
And don't get me started on my "old school revolver" grip. I've won plenty of trophies that way, and I've watched guys stop a gun with their thumb. Ask Massad about strength of gun retention with thumb up vs down. I find I need too many subtle tweaks from one auto to the another to be sure not to tangle with controls or the slide itself to have one practiced "thumbs up" grip that works for me on all of my platforms. I also shoot revolvers sometimes, and I don't want to have to think first if I'm using the grip that will remove the end of my thumb when I fire.
Weaver is fine. But the reason for square stances is to make sure that you have only one bullet going through as few organs as possible. Less trauma, more survivable. Truthfully if you aren’t moving while you’re shooting and changing targets, you’re not practicing anyway
@@nickshipley4372 100% - That's why I encourage people to get into some sort of league or matches like IPSC where the course is always dynamic and never the same twice, and you are under pressure from the clock. Still won't match being shot back at, but it'll have to do for me at least. You will uncover issues you need to tackle this way that will never arise standing in the range booth shooting. There are a lot of good arguments for each style, but I tend towards what I can keep from being hit at all with, vs not hit as bad. Being able to move quick seems best to me, it feels like an eternity to me when I try to move back with my feet square to the target.
A story I've repeated many times is about a LEO who was killed by his training. They were trained to draw, shoot two rounds at center of mass, and re-holster, which they did constantly and exclusively. When he was faced with a gun, he did what he had trained, only the attacker did not go down after two rounds. The incident was the end of that training technique for his department.
I do a fight stance also. Very aggressive and keep as little of my front body exposed as possible. I have been told this is wrong, but a smaller target as possible is what I want to present to any opponent.
I would think weaver is better because it makes you a smaller target if your shoulders are bladed vs squared off. Also weaver I would think puts your feet in a better position to scoot, duck, grapple, or whatever else since it's more of an athletic stance.
You guys are very informative.im an old army medic and I'm very familiar with most pistols but I definitely learn and familiarize myself with safety and firing protocol..I appreciate yall..stay blessed..
Evan failed to explain the knife grip technique - and what’s wrong with a WPS steak knife in a fight? The steak has lost every time! And yeah the pistol Grip stuff was good too.
Well let us know when that steak wins. Means mad steak epidemic is on the rise.
I bought the Steak Destroyers and am saving them for a special enemy before I pop their cherry. :D
Lorena Bobbitt used a big kitchen knife just like that. just saying
How fun to see how much fun you have - while still producing a densely informative (and, er, gripping) vid!
I watched the whole thing twice and I still can't tell which of you is the warrior and which is the poet... I'll watch it again.
Love it! Keeping us informed and giving us the right visuals and breakdowns as usual much appreciated guys. 👍🏾
This was such a great video.
From the instructions, to chemistry between the two.
I’m just now getting into shooting and falling in love.
You guys helped out a lot with what I should be aware of and what I should be practicing.
Trying these techniques at the range ASAP!! I'm a new shooter and the way you guys broke this down definitely will help so thank you!! I'll come back with an update on accuracy!!
Check out Rob Leatham he is the guy who made this grip famous, him and Jerry Michulek are considering the two best handgun shooters in the world, have the world championships to prove it.
8 months later... Update?
@@johnn.2017it didn't go well, I think he might have shot his toe off
Been learning to shoot right-handed I am a lefty since most guns I have the safety in on left side of gun but still learning I like the weaver & like to use different guns each week I go have 2 9mm, 2 40 Cal , 2 45 acp 1911 Doing ok but I still need lots of practice & learn to pace my shots Thanks for the great tips
I chose active mitigation because John told me to. And because it allows you to flex for pictures while shooting. -Have a good reason.
This is great training! Thank you. Me and my boys have been shooting for some time and use this video as part of our training.
Thank you John, and Paul.. I'm always looking to improve grip. I wish to be a better shooter but struggle with consistent grip and grip strength to control recoil. I'm working on it so thanks for alternative thoughts on grip pressures and placement.
I enjoy these videos of Tit for Tat discussions. The 29 round versus 30 round and a 30 round magazine. As far as that one goes I have had magazines from the same manufacturer that I have found her hard to see with a closed Bolt. Not often, but I have run across them at times. Now I have been teaching shooting for 52 years now and I've seen a lot of changes in the way people hold their firearms and as an application, I have found the Weaver to be superior for tactical work and for almost everybody and I have yet to see any other grip for being better. Mitigating recoil is always passive. I taught my three boys how to grip a firearm with a weaver stance and handle the recoil of my 44 Magnum with Full House loads before each of them was 10 years old. It was not that difficult to handle the recoil even at that age .
When we start speaking of the baby cartridges like 9 mm 40 Smith 45 ACP 357 Sig 38 Super in semi-autos the biggest difference in Recoil happens to be how much energy it takes for that Locking System of that pistol to unlock and how much of that speed is taken up in unlocking and how much slide mass is coming back in cycling. That is perceived recoil. Because the recoil of the cartridge is minimal. I moved into semi-autos just in the mid-2000 era after carrying a 357 4-in for several decades because 357 Magnum is still the best first shot fight stopper there is it's the gold standard in pistol efficacy. I have tried the isosceles the isosceles has a huge flaw in tactical application. You don't always want to present your pistol out so far that it can be taken from you. I Weaver allows you to pull the pistol all the way back almost against you and still have it indexed towards whatever you may have to shoot. I disagree with those who think that you are not always finessed enough to use a weaver stance. Weaver stance does not require a particular amount of finesse it's a push pull method which allows your arms to absorb this minor recoil and return to index quickly. It keeps recoil from transferring through your elbows through your shoulders to the rest of the body. As for this video. We're usually I see where I have things that I agree with on both sides. I called b******* on both of you. Sorry but the Weaver stance to me is far superior in teaching method and application than almost any other. It's not like I'm going to be shooting at 100 yards even though I regularly practice that 100 yards. When I was in regular practice I could shoot a 4-inch Group at 100 yards with my 357 4-in in double action. I don't suggest that holding a firearm that steady for long enough to make that shot is particularly wise If you're receiving fire. But if you can practice that it's more than possible and it is possible to do that from some semblance of cover or concealment. I have taught a number of people over the years. It is far easier to teach a woman who may have inadvertently bought a 38 2-in it's a weaver grip to mitigate recoil impulse on a gun that they do not plan to carry but just plan to use it in the house. They should have bought a four or six inch gun yes they should have bottled larger frame gun that is easier for the parts to function and easier to shoot. The weight of the firearm alone would mitigate recoil. But I watched them struggling with isosceles almost always because they at least take the two hand grip and I've stopped counting how many husbands have come over to me at the range and say can you show her how to shoot this. And I will take the paper and I'll turn it around backwards and have them shoot up blank white piece of paper at about 30 ft and show them a weaver hold where they're not perfect with it but they don't have to be. But they're hitting every shot on that paper usually in a fairly tight centered group within moments. Admittedly it's easier to teach a woman how to shoot than it is a man because you have to unteach all the b******* he's been learning from TV and movies about how to shoot. There's only one person ever in the movies that I have seen who consistently holds a firearm exactly the way you're supposed to. And although I don't particularly care for him as an actor or an individual that is Steven Seagal. And he always uses a weaver because it is the most flexible grip that is possible and allows you the most movement of the firearm and the ability to keep it in tight or extended out however you may find the situation as it is constantly in flux in a tactical situation.
One other caveat I would like to add my trigger control had to change when I went from a revolver to a semi-auto. With the revolver I was easily able to reach reset and then squeeze the trigger in double action. When I use a semi-auto especially a single action semi-auto which are my favorites because it's always a consistent trigger pull. Even with the POs Glock, which I hate by the way I do not like Firearms without a safety that are semi-auto. The reason to going to a more complicated firearm is so that if somebody happens to get my primary firearm from me they can't make it go bang until they figure out what switch to make it go bang with. 1911 works great if I were worried about weight I wouldn't be tearing a firearm I'd be selling pansies on the corner. The first decision about the need to carry a firearm to protect myself and others is that weight is not the issue it's application. You want to mitigate recoil don't buy a gun that only weighs 18 Oz and still carries 15 rounds of ammo. The other reason I like a 1911 is it can be run with a single hand you can reload it you can cycle it you can do everything with that firearm with a single hand. It is a handgun, not a hands gun. It was designed that way because it was designed to be a Cavalry pistol where you're writing a horse where while you're controlling the horse with your other hand if it runs empty you can drop the slide holster the gun grab a magazine put a magazine in the gun pick it back up and hit the slide release and now it's ready. The Glock was not designed to be used with one hand or they would have put a slide release on it. If they wanted a slide release on it they would have put a lever out there for you to be able to push down. As it is it's barely a bump. And I don't know what that little lever on the trigger supposed to be for they said it's to keep you from making the gun go bang unless you intentionally pull the trigger. Well that goes without saying. If you stick a twig in there The Twig can pull the trigger just as well as your finger can. That is not a safety it's an encumbrance. Stupidest thing I ever saw put on a pistol a lever on the trigger that does nothing whatsoever except just be there. Let's see what kind of dumpster fire this starts
I have to admit I initially thought John was a clown with his no suppressor for HD stance, but after giving him a second chance, I've realized he has the best 2A/gun content on the tube.
Really? His rationale for home defense makes sense to me for like the suburbs where a neighbor is close enough to hear shots. Being out in the sticks you'd probably do better with a suppressor, especially if you had the opportunity to engage bad guys before they entered the home.
His gear videos are are a bit too far out there for me. Everything else though, from tactics and home defense to politics and social commentary is spot on. I'd like to attend some of his classes in the future.
@@availableusername41 me too. I prob couldn't afford it though and I doubt he comes to the commie states
I agree he is a bit of a clown. But I think that is what I like about him. Like "Not Sure" said, "from tactics and home defense to politics and social commentary is spot on." but its his odd sense of humor that I love. He is a goofball, not so serious all the time. From one tactical dad to another, Great Dad Jokes.
I'm not big on giving the government so much money to suppress my ARs. I've found flash cans/forward sound devices, to work better for me. The flash and noise will affect the person(s) in front of me way more than anyone to the left, right, or rear.
The way Paul explains how he grips the pistol has clicked with me. Thanks Paul and John.
The Camera operator seems to be more interested in Paul’s arms and chest than the weapon and hand grip positions that Paul is demonstrating for us.
My thoughts exactly -- cameraman completely missed where the focus SHOULD have been -- the gun and grip. Even Paul was looking at his own grip, that should have been a clue for the cameraman.
Same here. But the background noise (I wouldn't call it "music") was even more annoying than that. Tried turning on closed captions and turning off the sound, but that made it too difficult to watch. I just don't get it, never did, why so many RUclipsrs ruin their videos with loud, distracting, annoying background noise. Couldn't watch.
Sure it wasn't a camera woman?
No kidding. He's trying to show us how to hold the pistol, and you're not showing how he holds the pistol!
I think the camera person might have been @Rachel Putnam Olson from her earlier comments...and gives old grey-bearded goats like me renewed hope. 😂
12:20ish... so helpful. The whole video is but that in particular was such a simple way to explain "the problem" with that style of grip. Thank you!
This, ladies and gentlemen, is wisdom! What an awesome breakdown. Just a thought on John's technique, is it possible that it comes from his rifle shooting? With long guns he uses an extended support arm with a full hand wrap over the barrel, I think. To me it seems like a very compact version of his rifle grip. Just an observation but thanks for everything you guys are doing
Yep, it's the pistol version of the c-clamp grip I'd say! I shoot shotguns a lot better c-clamped for sure.
Also, I freaking love the dynamic between these two. So much mutual professional respect between the two of them, and genuinely the funniest banter I've ever seen in a firearm video. Also love how intentionally the philosophy of a 'warrior poet' is incorporated into every aspect of their training. Went to make sure I was already subbed after.
1.) Try both 2.) Pick which one works best for you 3.) PRACTICE 4.) PRACTICE 5.) PRACTICE etc., etc., etc.... GREAT VIDEO!!
Spent a week in class with Paul a few months ago, this makes me want to sign up again! Awesome instructor.
I have applied the instructions and it works. By far this is one of the best videos of John. I made the most out of it. Combing this videos with my brother tips was a hit.Thanks for sharing.
Disclaimer: I have limited experience here, but what I noticed is that using John's technique seems to help me be able to present properly with a red dot. I don't know why but the forward thumb has really helped make sure my dot is ready when I present. Usually had to adjust a little before using that forward thumb.
Cross eyed shooter?
Lex, what type of gun do you shoot? It could be that the grip angle of the gun you shoot doesn't match your natural point/grip angle, and using John's method adjusts your angle slightly, making the dot line up better... I find that my natural point angle works better with my CZ and EAA Witness grip angle vs a Glock, which requires me to adjust slightly to bring my sights into correct alignment
My general though process when correcting my horrendous point when drawing was to point with my thumbs as opposed to pointing the gun and that helped me significantly, I was also borrowing my old mans Glock and learned after I bought my CZ that I always drew and aimed the Glock slightly high because of grip angle
@@mooreapi The two that I shoot the most are my CZ P10S and Canik SFX. This method seems to have improved dot presentation in both.
Jerry Miculek says most have got a limp noodle. Grip it tighter. And y'know, his way works well too.
John's grip in the thumbnail is actually better physiologically. Reason for this is support hand is applying friction on the gun higher near the bore axis and closer to the end of the barrel, which increases mechanical advantage. The high elbow from shooters like Vogel is actually not required. You can apply that rotational pressure through the wrists quite effectively while also keeping the elbow down. The principles of a good grip are always the same, but they will look different based on the individual's characteristics. Loved hearing you guys mention Bob and JJ. Good friends of mine for decades. Good job here fellas.
I've never shot that way, but it seems stressful on the support side wrists and hand. Seems like a ton of pressure to be applying. It works, just not sure how long it would work for me.
Never seen a short sleeve turtle neck on a battle gnome before🤔…. My bad Paul 😂😂😂
You guys have way too much fun! Love it, great vid!
Paul is where it's at. I never could sign on to John's high tension system. Tense muscles create sore and out of control muscles. Whatever works best for you. Just be sure to try things out and evaluate.
Yea, that's the way I was taught when I started shooting pistol and started getting in to going to matches. It runs counter to what I've learned about muscle tension from playing drums. If you want to play hard and fast for a long period of time you gotta stay loose and let the instrument work for you.
Great guidance on grip. I can always tell an experienced instructor when they acknowledge that there are different "right" ways to do certain things and also some things where we don't compromise. Good stuff.
Paul & John-
Thank you. This is a great tutorial on grip! You both have helped me. Once I relaxed my elbows a little bit and didn’t try to grip the gun as tightly my accuracy improved. I wish I would’ve figured this out several hundred dollars ago in ammunition. Lol
You guys rock.
sympathetic motor movement of the offhand index finger...im certain keep tension on that finger is something that i have been not doing. great video with great info, thanks guys
Great video. For me, I naturally fell into the "aggressive" grip. Mostly I think it was because you can come as close as you can to locking your support wrist forward so follow-up after firing falls in the same place. Your wrist can only cant so far forward. Now, this does vary based on grip angles of various weapons but I use my strong hand/arm to dictate how far the presentation is which thus defines where my support hand can go.
I appreciate the safety in this video…stripping the firearm to demonstrate. Bravo WPS!
So the downside of the active recoil management is increased fatigue. I may have missed it, but what is the downside to the passive technique?
As always a great presentation.
A few things,
I wish I could have seen what Paul was demonstrating better.
Between the captions floating by in front of his hands and the camera person being a bit too close, I couldn't get a grip on what he was showing us..
(Pun intended).
They kept mentioning "choose a technique"', I totally agree, with that said, also chooses a trainer, either in person or via RUclips and stick with them.
I follow 3 different sights that teach the same basic structure .
Good job guys!
I've been researching recoil management for 19-minutes and 18 seconds, and what I can definitively say is recoil management correlates to the fold of your hat brim.
Perfect 240 degree fold
Love the bromance 😍 thank you for the excellent tips😍
Evan: Have you ever found yourself in the north Georgia mountains?
Me: No lol
me: every day
@@racerdude888 lucky you sir
"...in the north Georgia mountains?" You mean with dueling banjos, and everything?
Im actually in Georgia...in quarantine!! Quarantine on an ARB!
Awfw8ww
The way Paul grips is the natural fit for myself. Tried the aggressive and nope not for me. Awesome vid guys!!
Meanwhile, Milspec Mojo is like, “I choke up on it so hard, my left thumb sits on the slide.” *Proceeds to make 9mm recoil like .22 LR.
I just came from a video with him to watch this
A lot of it is impressive, the questions is how the body takes it in the long run. Lots of shooters with wrist and elbow surgeries around. Not saying that Milspec Mojo Jojo falls in that category, just in general.
“It’ll work, promise, watch”
Mojo is just built different literally that man is legend when it comes recoil control.
It's PNW thing! It's from felling trees, and wrestling with sasquatch, we get natural resistance to recoil. 😉
25 seconds in and I have big smile on my face and gave an immediate thumbs up when Paul looked at the camera and smiled back.
All these years I thought I was doing John’s method but I’m actually doing Paul’s methods with locked elbows.
Actually you're not if yours are locked. Paul even states that his are relaxed enough to help absorb some recoil.
Generally speaking unlocked elbows help your acquisition to a new target at a different angle. After the first round target is always moving.
@B Barker that’s my point. I’m doing Paul’s version except I lock my elbows.
U90a
Been training my first time shooter boomer parents. Really been learning a lot teaching them, you guys have been great.
Probably the best grip video out there.
Great video. Yall are fun. I see great energy between yall two. Thanks for the tips and explaining the correct ways to hold and shoot a pistol.
Adorable, you two matching watches.
I have heard the name "Battle gnome" thrown around before. I believe it was by flannel daddy. And when I saw him, holy shit is that a glorious nickname. (Bravo Zulu to whomever came up with that one)
Really great detailed video and informative. The finger locking into the trigger guard was an awesome point.....but still not as bad ass at the video some years ago on the pitfalls of moral relativism. That video was the single most important video I have seen in a very long time.
I always wish manufactures would make an abbreviated trigger guard with a hook. Very stable.
Some guns, like the Bersa Thunder have em. It's probably the pistol I shoot most accurately too.
Like the shadow systems MR918? Is that kind of what you mean?
I like hooking my support finger too. But I might need to change Glock frames. I'm on the 22 rn, but the trigger guard is pretty far forward. I also have larger hands. But still like half and inch too far forward.
@@dknollRX7 similar but half the length of the trigger guard so you don't have to reach to get your finger around it.
I have really long slender fingers, used to play violin before becoming a gunsmith …. I have always naturally wanted to wrap my support index finger over my trigger guard and really dig into the frame but I spent years trying to tell myself not to ….. the passive style always grip always felt awkward and no matter how much work and dry fire I did, my groups were always about torso size….. after watching this vid I stopped trying to use the passive grip and made sure that my index finger was an active component to the grip ….. almost immediately my groups went from torso sized to putting every shot in the 9 or ten ring ( about 1 inch groups give or take ) ….. thank you for the breakdown…. I had been getting rather discouraged with pistols …. And now I’m shooting a LOT more pistols when I go train
I'd like to hear the war story revealing how the Battle Gnome lost his neck.
tourniquet accident.
Thank you John and Paul for this video. There are fundamentals, which all shooters need to have in their tool bag. However, you both make the point that it’s results that matter.
I took a Frontsight course late last year, with the thought of potentially working there as an instructor. While I’ll never bash their school (full disclosure: I’m a lifetime member), I observed things that I didn’t care for and therefore didn’t absorb. One of these was the insistence on using the weaver grip on semiautomatic pistols. I’ve trained for a very long time with dominant hand thumb over support thumb, and found that trying to change my grip only messed up my mechanics (sight picture, hesitation after holster draw to engage target, etc.). As you say, work hard but smart.
I'm fairly seasoned with pistols and I still go back and forth with passive vs active grips.
So far, I find that both seem to be equal in terms of speed & accuracy when I focus & practice with each style.
I'm sure that as time goes on, one will probably suit me better than the other but at this point, I am undecided. Again, I am seasoned but not at an expert trainer/competition/operator skill level yet.
I originally learned a passive style grip with locked arms in my youth (Gen-X) and then turned it into/learned the passive technique that is in this video with my elbows slightly bent.
It does take more concentration and attention to my form for me when using an active grip IMHO but that could be because of how i learned to shoot in the 1st place.
Great video!
Awesome Mr Lovell, thank you both for a great video.
On smaller firearms like a P365, is your trigger/dominant hand supposed to wrap all the way around the grip? I don't have space for my support hand to literally touch the grip because my dominant hands fingers are covering it.
Yeah for smaller fingers just use your shooting hand as your grip for your support hand
Great video! Really explains the rationale behind each school as well as giving details for how to grip properly each way
Absolutely love this channel. However this particular video the cameraman was zoomed in so much that half the time You couldn’t even see his hands when he’s describing how to put the whole grip and arms together. Appreciate it thank you
Just like the importance of a proper golf grip so is the gun grip to shooting accurately. Much thanks for the lesson.
I was playing around with this the other day. I initially thought Paul's way was better and the way i have always done this. Alas as i started to practice with my weak and girly left hand, i realized i naturally tended to use John's method.
What just happen!!!!! Watched and learned once again how to grip the gun. I been doing it some what wrong but glad i watched the video. Now the ending of the video Ryan that got me very excited since I just bought my first 6.5 Savage. Need to follow the video serias he is putting out. Keep up the great work John. Will have to see if you come out to TX any time soon.
BattleGnomes technique for “Front and Rear Pressure” was a serious eye opener for me! I have the worst problem with holding down the slide release on my Glock 48. This I believe is the fix I was waiting for!
I had the same issue I always thought I had choked up on the grip perfectly and was seriously able to negate the recoil but the slide wouldn’t lock. It took a cop I was shooting next to at the range to adjust my hands slightly and negate the recoil while allowing my gun to function.
Glad you mentioned small-handed shooters. We just cannot “properly” grip according to contemporary standards, which do not make room for all hand sizes. Everybody doesn’t have long fingers.
John your love and humility is giving Jesus a good name. In these end times Patriots must see the relevance in personally knowing their maker like you do. God bless you brother. Feed the sheep.
The last three years, retired from the military and federal LEO, I’ve been relegated to being the Executor of my late parents estate, liquidating their assets and dealing with lawyers, debtors, bankers, realtors (can you think of a group of professionals that you’d want to least deal with?). After I retired, I didn’t know how much I’d miss ‘shooting the s-t’ with guys like this. Great video!
John: I dont put too much muscle tension into it
Translated for regular folk who arent jacked as hell: put loads of muscle tension into it
Battle Gnome (Paul) crushed this instructional video!!!! Well done!
I hold my gun completely sideways with one hand, leaving my other hand free to hold up my pants as I believe in wearing oversized-waist pants with no belt. The trade-off here is 99.99 percent of the time you will shoot an innocent bystander. Also, you miss your target 100% of the time. The benefit to this is that you believe that people think “you gangsta”. Also, you will most likely end up leaving your weapon on the ground somewhere as you will most likely need both hands: One to hold up your pants, the other to throw pre-bagged drugs over the fence of a pre-school. I hope this is helpful to someone. And remember, if you’ve seen it in a movie, it should work out in real life.
P.s. I forgot to mention that thrusting the gun forward with each shot will double the velocity of the projectile while adding accuracy as you are combining shooting your target with throwing the round at your target.
😐.....😆
Haven't seen any of your videos in years. This was an entertaining welcome back and hoooollly crap congrats on your success man.
My biggest issue with the passive, is that my grip breaks up due to my hands beginning to swear and having massive slippage causing my recoil control to worsen.
Same problem here. If I’m not aggressive with pressure my hand sweat starts to make the gun slip out of my dominant hand, and my dominant hand starts to slip out of my support hand. Lmao
Oh, get a grip already!
No really, get a grip! Talon grip or stipling will help immensely. Grit style grips (similar to sandpaper) isnt fun for CC but it absolutely doesnt move in your hands if your grip is firm.
I have been to multiple training programs where I was told my grip is wrong and was forced to form my grip to something that wasn't as comfortable for me. I'm glad to see I'm not the only one gripping my gun this way.
Kill the music… love the information. It’s good to see different approaches to get to the same goal.
this content makes me a better human. yes I'm a subscriber to the WPSN - just trying to help spread the word on youtube