New Grip = How Long Will This Take?!?

[Oz]

I've been using an LP10 with a horrible (for me at least) 100% stock Morini grip for about 4 months. I got pretty good just muscling that thing around. I finally got a my custom fit grip back from Rink. The thing is incredible --fits like a glove! I can't even describe how good it fits and how effortless my natural point of aim now is.

So, I've been using it for about three weeks and I am now officially frustrated. The grip has shown me moments of brilliance which is really exciting. I am seeing significantly more 94-96's/100 than I did with the stock Morini grip. But at the same time, I'm also seeing 88-90's/100! I stopped seeing those types of scores many months ago with that stock Morini grip.

Sure, I get that I'm rebuilding muscle memory. I'm just curious how long one might expect this change to take? Everyone's different, I know. Am I out of whack thinking that 3 weeks of 80 shots per day should have me back? Maybe it's normal for a significantly different grip to take longer to re-adapt? Thoughts? Tips? Tricks? Encouragement?

Oz

[RobStubbs]

A few comments;

A new grip really isn't going to be the miracle cure, we adapt well to an ill fitting grip - as long as we can point it onto the target.

It's of little value comparing strings, you need to break it down shot by shot and fully evaluate the process in your training. You are obviously putting in more bad shots so what is causing them. Can you call the shots or are they fliers ? What does your follow through tell you ? When you really squeeze the grip does the gun move it's point of aim, if so where to ?

You then need to work on shooting more technically good shots, so smooth trigger release without disturbing the sight picture, good follow through etc.

Also do some dry firing and see how that helps you - both to evaluate and to improve the shot process.

Rob.

[David Levene]

Maybe it's normal for a significantly different grip to take longer to re-adapt?

If the new grip is more suited to you than the old one then the transfer period should be very short (hours/days/none).

I would suggest that, providing the new grip is anywhere near as good as you think, you should be looking elesewhere for the cause of your score (and therefore performance) variation.

[deadeyedick]

I would suggest that, providing the new grip is anywhere near as good as you think, you should be looking elesewhere for the cause of your score (and therefore performance) variation.

I would think that Davids advice is right on the money OZ.

[Reinhamre]

With an ill fitting grip you did put a lot of attention to how to hold the gun. Now when this part has become "easy" as you may think, you do not make the same effort/care on holding the grip as before.
Kent

[FredB]

Oz,

It all depends on how you define "fit". If, for example, the incredible fit you describe is such that, when you firmly grip the gun, you feel equal opposing pressure at every point all around where you are gripping, that may not be an optimal fit. Ideally you would want to apply more pressure directly in front and directly in back, with less pressure on the sides, thumb rest, etc. As someone already suggested, watch the sights carefully as you apply greater and lesser fore and aft pressure in your grip; there should be little if any movement. If there is movement, there are probably some side forces at work - you will need to figure out which ones and possibly adjust the grip accordingly.

HTH,
FredB

[Oz]

Excellent points and information from EVERYONE -as usual! Often the most obvious things go unnoticed. Based on items here, I have gone back to ensure that the fit is as good as I believe it is. I'll need to evaluate this further tonight.

But what's interesting is when I went to analyze my individual shots, rather than the strings. There is a tendency to shoot high/right when the shot wasn't a 9 or 10.

That got me thinking about trigger control and ensuring that the trigger was being pulled straight back as was mentioned. Of course it must be. Because I did adjust the trigger on the first day I put the new grip on.

WRONG! That trigger was pushed WAY too far forward. Applying pressure to the trigger was pulling the sight alignment around in my hand. I believe that this would be the reason for a tendency to hit high/right. The second observation from the individual shots appears to be related.

When the shots weren't 9/10 and they weren't high/right, they were low/left which had me scratching my head until I realized that I must be trying to muscle the whole pistol down and left, anticipating the sight alignment being pulled high/right when I squeeze the trigger. When I somehow managed to control the trigger through extra-ordinary efforts and it didn't pull high/right, the compensation I have been adding, muscling it low/left wasn't needed but was applied and bang... that's where the shot would land; low/left.

My final theory is that it was only when I had the perfect balance of high/right trigger pull, compensated by a low-left muscle effort to compensate that I would shoot 10's. That sounds like a lot more effort to shoot a 10 than should be necessary!

I just moved the trigger back over 1/4" (seriously --that much) and my pull now appears to be directly backwards. I'm excited to see what effect this will have on my shooting session tonight.

Thanks again everyone. The pool of knowledge on this forum is stunning and I would be nowhere near as good ('good' probably isn't the right word... maybe 'far along'?) as I am, without it.

Thanks again!
Oz

[Rover]

C'mon Oz, your high scores are not your average... (blind hog and all that) otherwise I'd be kickin' butt at the World Cup.

Your high right shots are probably caused by squeezing your whole hand at trigger pull. Play with that with an empty gun; see if I'm right. (Once or twice I've been wrong.)

Good that your grip is better. Keep working on tweaking the fine points. Slowly it will come together and you'll feel you "got 'er dicked."

C'mon down to Phoenix and I'll whip your butt!

[Oz]

C'mon down to Phoenix and I'll whip your butt!

Rover, excellent stuff from you, as usual! I think I saw notice that Zurek's coming to SLC to do a clinic. You should tag along with him if/when he comes up.

Otherwise, yes! I will be shooting in Phoenix when the rest of our club heads down. I wasn't invited last year for some reason. Something about me being so much better than the rest of them. They finally got a little better and are willing to let me come along.

I'll be ready... with my old IZH46 (non-M) in hand. What's your range record? It's about to get an update ;-)

Oz

[Rover]

You're not allowed to shoot until you've eaten at "Taco Feliz" near the range. If that doesn't affect your scores nothing will. You can give us some reports on it.

I'll be pulling cable with John tomorrow and I'll talk to him about SLC.

Do you mean my personal record or the range record held by John?

And what's wrong with your LP10? Or do you just want to blame your dismal scores on your tired old IZH46?

[Oz]

I'm happy to report that I set a new personal best today. Both in score and in the # of 10's shot.

Rover, indeed; the squeeze of the hand pulls the front sight up and right. Now that I can pull the trigger straight back, my hand is in a constant state, never changing the grip strength. The front sight is far more consistent.

The sight picture is tight, I can call the shots much easier. I am now seeing the benefits of a properly fit grip.

Oz

[Rover]

A good fit is everything in life, but sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.
Sigmund Freud

[2650 Plus]

Only referencing the comment about the cigar. Quote " A woman is a woman but a GOOD CIGAR IS A SMOKE'" bY Rudyard Kipling . Good Shooting Bill Horton

[Rover]

2650plus,

Perhaps your quote IS a more apt "fit".