TargetTalk

Is it legal to use double tape to fill in gaps on a free pistol grip in a match? A guy on my range says it isn't. He says any filler has to be a permanent part of the grip.

No, I think he's wrong, the grip can be composite, wood or candy floss or all three. The only stipulation is that the grip must not support the wrist. See ISSF 8.16

I can't don't know the exact paragraph, but I think that somewhere the rules say that a grip can't be made of flexible substance, it has to be hard stuff. I've filled parts of grips with layered duct tape before, and nobody raised an eyebrow, so I think that qualifies as hard enough...

Tycho wrote:I can't don't know the exact paragraph, but I think that somewhere the rules say that a grip can't be made of flexible substance, it has to be hard stuff. I've filled parts of grips with layered duct tape before, and nobody raised an eyebrow, so I think that qualifies as hard enough...

I'm pretty certain the rules mention nothing of the sort. I have used blu-tac on my grip before which is a sticky plasticene type material and that passed equipment control on many ocassions. I thought the only real grip specifications were with regards it's dimensions and the orientation in the hand (such as not extending past the wrist etc).

Rob.

Tycho wrote:I can't don't know the exact paragraph, but I think that somewhere the rules say that a grip can't be made of flexible substance, it has to be hard stuff.

Nothing that I can thing of, with the obvious proviso that the flexibility doesn't make the grip break another rule.

No problem using tape, with the same proviso.

Thanks guys. I thought that I should be able to use it, but wasn't sure. Basically the guy I was talking to on our local range said that he had seen equipment control remove some double tape from a guys pistol during a national level competition, claiming that it was offering illegal support even though it was only a few pieces.

If you mean a double thickness of tape there should be no problem. If you are referring to double sided or double-stick tape, I believe that would be banned as would coating your grip with any other sticky / tacky material.

visitor wrote:If you mean a double thickness of tape there should be no problem. If you are referring to double sided or double-stick tape, I believe that would be banned as would coating your grip with any other sticky / tacky material.

AFAIK there is no such rule.

For rifle there is rule 7.4.3.2.1 "Material that gives increased grip may not be added to the forend, pistol grip or lower part of the stock." There is no equivalent rule for pistol.

The shooter might in some cases fall foul of the second sentance of 8.4.1.1 "Anything (pistols, devices, equipment, accessories, etc.) which may give a shooter an unfair advantage over others and which is not mentioned in these Rules, or which is contrary to the spirit of the ISSF Rules and Regulations, is prohibited", but that would be a jury decision.

IMHO, as we allow shooters to use a "grip spray" on their hands or to wear grip improving gloves (clear of the wrist), why should we stop them from using a bit of double sided tape. It does make me wonder though, why the heck would they want to.

Yes I was referring to double stick tape.

visitor wrote:If you mean a double thickness of tape there should be no problem. If you are referring to double sided or double-stick tape, I believe that would be banned as would coating your grip with any other sticky / tacky material.

I agree David. It does sound messed up that they would want to remove the tape if grip spray and grip enhancing gloves are allowed. Maybe the officials at that particular event misinterpreted one of the rules. I plan on getting an official 'take' on the matter in the next competition. Hopefully, they shall see the light :D

David Levene wrote:

visitor wrote:If you mean a double thickness of tape there should be no problem. If you are referring to double sided or double-stick tape, I believe that would be banned as would coating your grip with any other sticky / tacky material.

AFAIK there is no such rule.

For rifle there is rule 7.4.3.2.1 "Material that gives increased grip may not be added to the forend, pistol grip or lower part of the stock." There is no equivalent rule for pistol.

The shooter might in some cases fall foul of the second sentance of 8.4.1.1 "Anything (pistols, devices, equipment, accessories, etc.) which may give a shooter an unfair advantage over others and which is not mentioned in these Rules, or which is contrary to the spirit of the ISSF Rules and Regulations, is prohibited", but that would be a jury decision.

IMHO, as we allow shooters to use a "grip spray" on their hands or to wear grip improving gloves (clear of the wrist), why should we stop them from using a bit of double sided tape. It does make me wonder though, why the heck would they want to.

No Fear wrote:I agree David. It does sound messed up that they would want to remove the tape if grip spray and grip enhancing gloves are allowed. Maybe the officials at that particular event misinterpreted one of the rules. I plan on getting an official 'take' on the matter in the next competition. Hopefully, they shall see the light :D

In the post above you stated it was removed 'because it offered illegal support'. That to me is a different issue to being too sticky. Do you know for sure that it wasn't making the palm shelf touch the wrist, or some other reason that affected the grip dimensions making it illegal in that respect ?

Rob.

No Rob I don't think that it was touching the wrist. Basically the guy who recounted the incident to me said that double tape or double stick tape could not be used on a free pistol grip, period. He said that the officials would remove it as anything on the grip and palm shelf had to be permanent and of rigid material.

He's been led up the garden path.
No such rule and I doubt any official would even take any notice
given its a free pistol.
Commonsense prevails in most instances even if the unusual is encountered.

I agree. Do you think that the same would apply if it was a air or Standard Pistol?

John Hadjichristou wrote:He's been led up the garden path.
No such rule and I doubt any official would even take any notice
given its a free pistol.
Commonsense prevails in most instances even if the unusual is encountered.

No Fear wrote:I agree. Do you think that the same would apply if it was a air or Standard Pistol?

John Hadjichristou wrote:He's been led up the garden path.
No such rule and I doubt any official would even take any notice
given its a free pistol.
Commonsense prevails in most instances even if the unusual is encountered.

Yes.

I would assume that the person who complained about the tape has read the rifle rules, which don't apply to pistol.

If memory serves, I was told when I first started shooting International(About 15 yrs. ago), that I wasn't allowed to use powdered rosin either. I had a cloth sprinkled with it, with which I "dried" my hand.
Paul