Shooting experiences with your weak hand

[weaky]

I developed a chronical tendonitis in my right elbow so I cannot shoot anymore using my right hand.

After having discharged a few rounds my elbow starts to hurt. Moreover, sometimes when I'm squeezing the trigger I make some "dumb movements". I assume, provocated by that tendonitis.

Therefore, I'm going to start shooting using my left hand. Despite not having the least idea on where to get a large left hand grip for my SP NEW I would like to hear about your experiences.

[Mike Taylor]

visit: http://www.larrysguns.com/grips.asp
to see the Rink grips. They are available in large left hand model for SP NEW (same model as for SP).
I have one of the Rink grips (in right hand) for my SP NEW. It is a very nice grip; I recommend it highly.
Unfortunately, I too am having to change to my left hand after shooting for years with my right. I've just acquired a left hand Rink grip for my Hammerli AP40 air pistol. I've definitely got a lot of work to do to become as proficient with my left hand as I was with my right (which wasn't all that great, actually). I'm starting at the beginning: establishing the grip and doing trigger and dry-fire exercises.
I've also picked up a left-hand grip for my Hammerli SP20 (in .32). My S&W Model 52-2 with stock grips is ambidextrous, as is my Pardini GT45. I still have to decide which one of several .22 pistols I have that I will convert for left hand, but it will be a Rink grip that I choose.
I am using my left eye, now that I am shooting left-handed. Rink offers a 7 degrees offset option with their grip to aid shooting with right hand and left eye. I suspect that that option in a left-hand grip would aid shooting with left hand and right eye. Which eye will you use?
Mike T.

[Tycho (ext)]

I shot left handed for 6 years. Took me about two years to get up to the level I had before, and two more to set all personal bests on "left". Most of them are untouched 'til today. It's mostly a question of mindset - the beginnings can be pretty frustrating. On the other hand, it's a big chance to start good technique on a blank sheet.

[scerir]

Therefore, I'm going to start shooting using my left hand

I moved from the right hand/eye to the left hand/eye about 4 years ago.
There was some problem, only in the first weeks, especially with the left eye (the dominant right eye pretended to controll everything!). The scores are the same, or even better. A smooth transition would be: use the *left* hand and the old *right* grip. It is possible, and also useful, and the scores are not so bad! But there is a problem here: many develope tendon problems also in the left arm. So, be sure there isn't some hidden problem, i.e. in the way you hold the pistol, etc.
s.

[Guest]

[quote="scerir"]But there is a problem here: many develope tendon problems also in the left arm. So, be sure there isn't some hidden problem, i.e. in the way you hold the pistol, etc.[quote]

Well... one of the problems is that I have absolutely no idea on whether my grip is any good. Nobody wants to tell me that (I bet they don't even know... it's easy to find gun nuts... it's next to impossible to find shooters...).

[Guest]

Is there a list of possible causes to develope a tendonitis? Something to check.

[Richard H]

Is there a list of possible causes to develope a tendonitis? Something to check.

One of the big problems is gripping overly tightly, which it's hard for anyone else to tell you unless thye look very closely and then its still hard to tell. The grip itself most likely wont cause tendonitis, rake of the grip will have an effect.

Have you seen a doctor regarding your problem, are you doing physical therapy? Unless you have some biomechnical problem, tendonitis can be fixed and through proper exercises can be prevented. The most likely outcome of switching to the left hand and not doing anything different is tendonitis in the left arm.

[Fred Mannis]

Have you seen a doctor regarding your problem, are you doing physical therapy? Unless you have some biomechnical problem, tendonitis can be fixed and through proper exercises can be prevented. The most likely outcome of switching to the left hand and not doing anything different is tendonitis in the left arm.

I agree with Richard. I developed tendonitis a number of years ago, went to a doctor for treatment, and it went away never to return. A shooting friend developed a 'tendonitis type' problem last spring. On a doctor's advice he did minimal shooting and exercise and it looks like he will be able to resume shooting this month.

[scerir]

Is there a list of possible causes to develope a tendonitis? Something to check.

Richard and Fred wrote about it already. Also check if the pistol is too heavy (at least for you). A Pardini K2s, old model, is around 1150 gr. It is heavy. Another source of problems is training arms/shoulders with weights (because, sometimes, the subtle action of muscles and tendons becomes unbalanced, have you ever seen a bodybuilder shooting well?).

[F. Paul Figlia]

A left hand Pardini grip is available for $80.00 on Gunbroker.com. Here is the link:

http://wwww.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewI ... m=55916782


The grip looks like it's in very good shape.

If you have any problem getting it shipped to you in Rome, let me know and I will ship it for you.

Ciao

[F. Paul in Denver]

My mistake Weaky - I thought it was Scerir in Rome, Italy who started this thread.

Same offer to you though - if you live out of the country and have shipping problems, let me know.

You can email me directly at paul@figlialaw.com

F. Paul

[scerir]

My mistake Weaky - I thought it was Scerir in Rome, Italy who started this thread.

No problem :-) I've got my left grip (Pardini K2) directly from Mr. Vito Spilotro, the grip-maker, at Pardini. I went there in the morning, I had it in the afternoon. Perfect, a sort of glove, I thought. No room for air, between the skin of my left hand and the wood.

The interesting thing is that Mr. Spilotro showed, to me, many grips he was making for Pardini shooters, like Schuman, Basinsky, Dumoulin, etc.
These grips (differently from mine) were very very simple and poor, nothing special, nothing anatomical, 'broomsticks' (if there is such a word). I suddenly realized that my grip was *too* perfect!

[Guest]

The interesting thing is that Mr. Spilotro showed, to me, many grips he was making for Pardini shooters, like Schuman, Basinsky, Dumoulin, etc.
These grips (differently from mine) were very very simple and poor, nothing special, nothing anatomical, 'broomsticks' (if there is such a word). I suddenly realized that my grip was *too* perfect!

That's interesting! Where the Pardini grip maker has his factory in? Perhaps, I'll have the possibility to go there.

What was the procedure for making it? It'd be nice to know how the real pros like Schuman fit with those grips.

That second hand grip could be nice if it is a large left hand grip for an SP NEW. Although I don't have an account there. Perhaps it would be better to look for another medical opinion regarding my elbow.

I already visited a doctor and I followed a treatment. That included a full year do-nothing-with-your-arm and three infiltrations plus some more stuff. I'm afraid I can have something else as they always refused to x-ray me.

[scerir]

That's interesting! Where the Pardini grip maker has his factory in? Perhaps, I'll have the possibility to go there. What was the procedure for making it?

Unfortunately it is in Italy, at the Pardini factory, not so far from Pisa and Florence. See their site, and e-mail. The usual procedure (but there are different possibilities I suppose) is to go there on Saturday morning. In that day Vito Spilotro, who is also a good shooter, has some spare time, to make fine grips, they are not so expensive, he needs about 4 hours to make a 'perfect' grip. (The feeling is that the grip holds your hand, and not viceversa, and this is exactly what top shooters dislike, I suppose ...).
http://www.flickr.com/photos/scerir/237087636/

[2650 Plus]

I found a problem if I let the grip hold me. My shooting was much improved when I held the pistol. Subtle but most important for real sucess. Worse solution is to try to shoot custom grips that dont fit. Good shooting Bill Horton

[2650 Plus]

Strong hand vs weak hand. Years ago a coach told me you shoot with your mind, not your hand. Perhaps a little history will help. Harry Reaves,A Detroit police captain was cridited with firing 2600 with both his right and left hand. I do not know the time span between the two scores. My father in law an army shooter developed a serious problem with his right hand. He switched hands and the next year he fired on tha national trophy match with me and we won the match. He is also a 2600 shooter with both hands.His name is L.ennon Trueblood.Your hand has simple tasks to perform. Hold the pistol as still as posible and apply steadily increasing pressure to the trigger. The rest is up to you. Good Shooting Bill Horton

[Richard H]

Hold the pistol as still as posible and apply steadily increasing pressure to the trigger. The rest is up to you. Good Shooting Bill Horton

Is that your advice for everything. The guy was talking about tendonitis a year ago, and your advice a year later is "hold the pistol still" ????

[Southpaw]

I also develpoed tendonitis in my right elbow in 2004. Probably a coincidence but I was also shooting a Pardini (K2-AP).
After being diagnosed and establishing a treatment regimen, it still took almost 18 mos. to recover. During that time I switched to left hand, to stay in it and I because I enjoy shooting.
I switched back to right-hand and with a reoccurence of tendonitis, I've now switched permanently to left.
I don't have any sure-fire (no pun intended) solution to your problem, just to let you know that you are certainly not alone. It is very frustrating, but I keep both left and right hand grips on hand just in case.
Both my hobbies and work contribute to recurring tendonitis and rotator cuff strain. If I were to make a serious committment to competitive shooting I would certainly have to look closely at the affect of my other activities on the health of my shooting arm.
Find a good doctor/specialist, and grips are easy to get from your dealer or within the shooting community.

my 2 cents,
SP

[2650 Plus]

altho september is not a year ago in the lower 50 states perhapes you didnt understend the issue I was addressing. I simply advised the shooter to change hands and not be concerened about it . Its been done before with substantial success.

[Richard H]

altho september is not a year ago in the lower 50 states perhapes you didnt understend the issue I was addressing. I simply advised the shooter to change hands and not be concerened about it . Its been done before with substantial success.

Whatever I stand corrected it was only 10 months ago and not 12. Was the issue you were adressing something different than the orignal question in the first post.

Maybe you can offer some more advice other than "hold the pistol still" which you've now stated in a few different threads as answers to many questions. Maybe something like how " you keep the pistol still" while still being alive becaues I have yet to see or here of anyone breathing who can actually hold the pistol perfectly still.