Grip: The Foundation of a Flat-Shooting Pistol
Grip is one of the most common—and most misunderstood—fundamentals in pistol shooting. This article breaks down how proper grip mechanics create a flat-shooting pistol, why the support hand does the real work, and how focused reps build consistency shot after shot.
At Valiance Firearms Training (VFT), the most common issue we correct with new students isn’t gear, stance, or sight alignment.
It’s grip.
Specifically, what we see most often is a low and loose grip that creates unnecessary movement in the gun. A gun that should track predictably instead snaps upward and off target because recoil isn’t managed effectively.
This shows up quickly with students, regardless of experience level.
The Problem We Commonly See
Many students build a grip almost entirely with the firing hand, while the support hand contributes little meaningful pressure or frame contact.
The result is consistent:
- The support hand sits too low on the frame
- The support hand barely engages the gun
- Open space is left on the sides and back of the grip
When the shot breaks, recoil escapes through that unused space. The gun snaps upward, sights lift aggressively, and follow-up shots slow down.
The gun often gets blamed—but in reality, the shooter’s grip is creating the problem.
The Tip: Build the Grip From the Support Hand
At VFT, we teach grip with a strong, primary emphasis on the support-hand side.
The support hand should be angled downward at roughly a 45-degree angle, forcing the meaty portion of the palm high up into the exposed frame on the support side of the gun. This rotation fills unused space and creates meaningful contact where recoil is best controlled.
From there, the support hand must apply enough strength to maximize frame contact and manage recoil effectively. Proper position comes first, but it must be reinforced with purposeful pressure to keep the gun stable through the firing cycle.
The goal is to take up as much frame surface area as possible so recoil energy is driven straight back into the shooter, not up and away.
The firing hand’s role is simple:
- Maintain alignment
- Press the trigger cleanly
The support hand does the work.
A strong support-hand grip:
- Rotates downward to drive the palm high into the frame
- Locks the heel of the hand into the grip panel
- Applies inward pressure from the sides
- Provides the majority of grip pressure
When this is done correctly, the gun tracks flatter, returns faster, and behaves consistently from shot to shot.
That’s a flat-shooting pistol.
Getting this right takes reps. A lot of them.
Consistency in training matters, and having ammo on hand removes one more barrier between you and productive range time. Ammo Squared makes it easy to stay stocked so your training sessions are ready to execute as you build and reinforce a proper grip.
Don’t let past frustration slow your progress. Get ammo. Get your grip right. Be ready for what comes next.
This article kicks off a fundamentals series focused on the skills that matter most.
-Nate