Front Sight Focus, Grip, And Stance

[Scrod314]

Hello... I carefully watched some YouTube videos on front sight focus, stance, and grip. All three videos greatly improved my shooting. The grip part was most interesting. I had been pulling shots slightly left of POA. A video I watched instructed me to slightly push forward with my right hand, and slightly pull with my left. Also, instructions were to think of your grip like you're placing the pistol in a vise. I learned that your dominant hand (I'm right handed) should provide around 30% of your "grasp" and your non-dominant hand 70% of your "grasp." Needless to say, my groups got smaller. I also shot much less ammo as I was so focused on my technique. I can't wait to practice again this weekend.

 

[9mmepiphany]

instructions were to think of your grip like you're placing the pistol in a vise. I learned that your dominant hand (I'm right handed) should provide around 30% of your "grasp" and your non-dominant hand 70% of your "grasp."

What were you doing previously?

I carefully watched some YouTube videos on front sight focus, stance, and grip. All three videos greatly improved my shooting

While videos can be helpful, very few people will get as much out of them as they would by attending a training class with a good instructor.

I would also be extremely wary of any instructor who did not teach that the most important skill in shooting a pistol accurately was Trigger Management

 

[Zerodefect]

That's kinda what I do grip wise, for long shots. But equal pressure.

Shorter faster stuff, I'll swing my elbows up and out, which brings the pistol back an inch, and forces the top of my hands into the pistol. The pinch grip.

 

[Scrod314]

Previously, I think I wasn't as focused on my front sight as I should have been. The video talked about seeing other things around the sight almost like "background noise" when you are trying to listen to one voice in a room of voices.
I am working on trigger control. A friend is an instructor, but nailing him down for a few lessons is hard with our work schedules.
My stance needed some tweaking. I had my right foot staggered about 8 inches or so in front of my left. My feet were just over shoulder width apart. Right toes were pointed at target.
I also was not sticking my rear end out slightly and slightly bending my knees. I feel like I was standing up too straight, if that makes sense?
I think to over compensate for rounds hitting left of POA, I was trying to push the pistol right with my left hand? I think I was also squeezing too hard? My hands would tire after shooting 50 rounds. This is with my Smith and Wesson 411.
Anyway, I slowed down, focused on breathing, made some grip, stance, and focus adjustments and my groups improved. Also shot a lot less ammo with better results.
Thank you everyone for responding to my post. You guys that have much more experience shooting than I do really help me and I respect what you all share.

 

[9mmepiphany]

My stance needed some tweaking. I had my right foot staggered about 8 inches or so in front of my left. My feet were just over shoulder width apart. Right toes were pointed at target.
I also was not sticking my rear end out slightly and slightly bending my knees. I feel like I was standing up too straight, if that makes sense?

How you have you feet placed isn't critical. When shooting competitively or taking a defensive class, you'll find that you'll usually be shooting while off balance.

As a foundational base to learn technique from, a classic "boxer's stance" works well...it is the stance that both the Weaver and Modern Isosceles use; it sounds like you were in something closer to a fencer's stance. Don't think of it so much as "sticking you rear end out"...the mindset is too superficial...it is more important that you aren't leaning backwards to balance the gun sticking forward. What you want to do is place your head/shoulders over the balls of your feet and bend your knees so that you don't lean backwards or fall over.

I think to over compensate for rounds hitting left of POA, I was trying to push the pistol right with my left hand?

Don't do that. The only function of the support hand is to hold the gun as the strong hand points it and manages the trigger. I'd have to see you shoot, but hitting left can be a function of trigger, squeezing with the fingertips of the strong hand, or bringing the strong hand thumb down to grip

I think I was also squeezing too hard? My hands would tire after shooting 50 rounds. This is with my Smith and Wesson 411.

If you're referring to your support hand, it isn't happening there is not such thing as too hard with the support hand. You shouldn't be squeezing with the strong hand at all. Your fingers should be pulling the frame into the "pocket" of your palm...if you have a relaxed thumb either pointing up or forward

Anyway, I slowed down, focused on breathing, made some grip, stance, and focus adjustments and my groups improved.

I hardly ever pay attention to my breathing when shooting a handgun. The exception is when I'm shooting much beyond 50 yards