Want to shoot well? You’ve got to have a proper grip that minimizes recoil.
When a bullet leaves the barrel, there’s force that goes backward, and how you hold your handgun will make or break your control of that recoil.
So, follow along as I cover how to best absorb that force without giving yourself a booboo.
In this guide, we’ll cover:
- What makes for a good grip
- Where all your fingers and hands go
- How hard to grip
- Best grips for both semi-auto handguns AND revolvers
By the end, you’ll be shooting better in no time.
Table of Contents
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What You Need Before You Start
Before practicing your grip, make sure you have…
Must-Have Tools
- A handgun (unloaded and in a safe environment for dry fire practice)
- Eye and ear protection (if you’re doing live fire practice at the range)
- A firm understanding of firearm safety rules
Nice to Have, But Not Required
- Hand strengtheners to improve grip endurance
- Dummy rounds for safe handling drills
- A training partner or instructor to provide feedback
Step-By-Step Instructions: How to Grip a Semi-Auto Handgun
Step 1 – Get Aligned
If you’re new and pick up a handgun…chances are you’ll grip it at an angle that’s the most comfortable for you.
But resist!
That recoil is going to go straight into your (weak) wrist. You’ll want the gun turned so the recoil can go into your arm and locked wrist.
Step 2 – Get Your Dominant Hand High on the Grip
On to grip height…let’s get it as high as possible without putting your hand in the slide’s way.
Look at the empty space in the picture below…I want it gone!
Take a look at the webbing on your dominant hand between your thumb and index finger.
Jam it up as high as possible on the grip without getting behind the slide.
It’s going to feel weird at first, but you’ll get used to it.
Keep your gun aligned correctly, and the right side of the gun (if you’re right-handed) should look like this.
Keep your trigger index finger along the slide. Remember the safety rules…no finger on the trigger until you’re on target and ready to shoot!
Step 3 – Placement of Non-Dominant Hand
You want to fill up as much of the empty space as you can on the remainder of the gun.
To do this, take your non-dominant hand, point it forward, then tilt it down 45 degrees.
Wrap those four fingers around the knuckles of your dominant hand.
Keep that thumb pointed along the frame. Depending on your hand geometry, it might look different from my long fingers.
Again, it’s going to feel very awkward at first.
And remember your dominant hand’s thumb? You can have it down on your other hand or up…it’s a personal preference.
If you’re shooting a 1911 or something else with manual safety…I like to rest my thumb on it.
Step 4 – Get the Right Wrist Angle
Lastly, when you punch out with your gun, I like to set my wrist at an angle that keeps everything steady and prevents limp wristing.
Limp wristing refers to floppy wrists that mess with proper ejection and loading of the cartridges.
Step 5 – Grip Strength
You’ll want to grip the pistol as hard as you can without losing full control of your trigger finger or having your gun shake.
Lately, I’ve been imagining my hands as a clamp that hinge on my fingers. And it’s my job to clamp down the grip of the gun as much as possible.
Want to beef up your hand strength? Try a hand strengthener…they work!
Step-By-Step Instructions: How to Grip a Revolver
The basics are the same as the semi-auto handgun; however, you don’t have to worry about a slide moving back and forth.
That said, a revolver brings with it a whole new set of other things! So, let’s get into it.
Step 1 – Get a Proper Grip Angle & Wrist Alignment
First…get that angle correct. Same for all handguns. Now, you want your grip up as high as possible.
There’s no more moving slide to worry about…but there’s a hammer!
You want your hand high, but not so high that you get hammer bite. I wouldn’t worry about this too much for modern guns…you’d have to be unnaturally high for the hammer to get you.
The dominant hand is the same…three fingers on the grip and keep your trigger finger along the frame.
Step 2 – Non-Dominant Hand Placement
Your non-dominant hand is, again, going to fill in the empty space but watch out for the cylinder gap!
In revolvers, the cylinder gap is where all the hot gasses escape when you shoot a round. Depending on the gun and caliber, you can get a simple owie, a messed-up nail, or even some things missing.
To clear that gap, you’ll have to modify your grip a little so you won’t be near it.
Since I have long fingers, I adopt a thumb-tucked position instead.
Or you can also try out a thumb-over position which helps a lot for smaller revolvers that tend to kick up and down more.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Teacupping – Popular in TV shows, teacupping (placing your non-dominant hand under the magazine of the gun) doesn’t help with recoil at all.
- Gripping too low – This leads to increased muzzle flip and less control.
- Weak wrist alignment – Limp-wristing can cause malfunctions while shooting.
- Ignoring cylinder gap (revolvers) – Hot gases mean range boo-boos.
FAQs
Q: How hard should I grip the handgun?
A: You want to grip the handgun as firmly as possible while also maintaining trigger control and minimizing shake.
Q: Can I grip a semi-auto and revolver the same way?
A: Mostly, but be mindful of the cylinder gap in revolvers and avoid the slide in semi-autos.
Q: What’s the best way to improve my grip?
A: Practice dry firing with a focus on grip strength and alignment, and consider using grip-strengthening tools.
Final Thoughts
Keep your grip aligned with your arm, get a high grip with your dominant hand, and cover as much area with your non-dominant hand.
Remember the basics of recoil and how all the aspects of grip go to fight it.
And finally, grip it as hard as possible without affecting your trigger finger!
Want to shoot even better? Check out our Ultimate Guide to Shooting More Accurately. Better yet…want to learn everything in video in under 2 hours? Check out my Beginner Handgun Course.
18 Leave a Reply
Thanks Eric! Fantastic step by step tutorial. The photo and concise explanation of gun alignment in dominant hand is especially helpful. Even for regular shooters, it’s easy to get lazy and not lock in proper gun to wrist/forearm alignment. Great work!
Thanks so much, Adam!
This is an excellent article for beginners - I just bought my first pistol, Kel Tec P17, and am just getting used to the feel of a gun and the idea of having one in the house (I'm a 77 year old woman who had never held a gun before!) so this article and photos on grip and shooting stances are informative and right to the point - thank you!
Why don't ya'll just make these how to grip and use articles a sticky type of thing instead of reposting them over and over again over time as articles ?
Sometimes we add new info, or in this case, a new video in there. But we appreciate the feedback and will definitely consider that when we make changes to the site. Thanks!
I was thinking maybe have them always available like you guys stick the "most Popular" in the sidebar on the main page. Maybe a 'Guide' section where they are (links) always there showing on the front page, for example "[Guide] How to Grip a Pistol", they could still be updated. Its some good information for a novice (or even as a reminder for some) but as it is right now, for example, unless a novice looking for information visiting the site searches for it or it appears again as an article they don't see it.
Now that's an article worth sharing. I'd say 90% of gun owners don't know proper grip. Which is why I'll be sharing. With firearms sales at a record high, PLEASE write more on techniques.
First step, get a gun that fits. Then work fundamentals.
extended dovetail, best thing since sliced bread for a new gun owner.
I get these new gun owners come to class and they have been trying the new gun out at the range before starting the class. Sometimes they have slide bite and one of their first questions is "look what happened! Is this going to happen every time?"
I tell them, "Its not going to happen if you don't let it happen. And how you don't let it happen is a proper grip, and for extra precaution an extended dove tail if you want to do that and can." Then they ask "whats that?" and I say "I'll cover it in class, so lets get started."
Beavertail?
Yes 'bever tail'.... screwed up spell check on my phone. I added some phrases a while back for something and haven't removed them yet and now every time It sees the word 'tail' it adds 'dovetail'. Yes. I mean 'bever tail' and not 'dovetail'
"Beaver"
Come on, dipshit. Get it right
I purchased a Mantis X. With the cost of ammo, cost of range time I had hoped it has value.
However, I do not seem to get the same corrective suggestion twice out of 10 shots. Either I do not regularly do the same thing wrong which I could work to correct. Or, I rarely do everything right.
I have a question. I’ve been shooting a kimber 1911 and a s&w 2.0. I bought a s&w shield 9mm and I shoot low about 5inches at ten yards. Why do you think that is. I’ve tried 115 and 124gr whith no noticeable difference.
Sounds like trigger "Jerk" instead of "Press". I have the same issue (I'm working on it !! ...LOL)
My shots are low and left. About 7-8 O'Clock consistently. But if I slow down and focus on my Pressing the trigger they dead center, right where I want em'. But that affects my speed. So, I will continue to practice practice practice........Something to look at Mr. Brooks.
This was very helpful, thanks!
Question, though, on one item that would seem to defeat that nice straight line to keep aligned with the direction of the recoil: "when you punch out with your gun I like to set my wrist at an angle" That's a different dimension than the original straight-line advice you gave at the top, but why wouldn't you want to have this dimension lined up straight too? Thanks Eric!
Hi Eric!
I just finished reading the "how to shoot better by improving your grip" segment. Very informative!
I'll try to incorporate in that in every range day from now on. I have been doing the "fingers of the non dominant hand over the knuckles of you gun hand" technique, but I never considered the space between the grip and the webbing of my hand. Something to work on, especially drawing from a cross-body draw as I do.
Keep doing what you're doing. I enjoy every article you write and, like you, am trying to soak up as much gun knowledge as possible.
Thanks for your time, Eric, and I look forward to your next great article.
I want a revolver but it has to be no longer than my hand. Is that a possible option?