Hand in Pocket or belt?

When I started shooting I was taught to put my non shooting hand in my pocket.  Now I see many on the line (including AMU shooters) hooking their thumb in behind their belt buckel.  What happened?
Doc

It allows you to react quicker to a malfunction IF you want to.

When Makin's hot 22 brass keeps pelting you at your pocket with hand inside, and a case sticks between your bare wrist and pants fabric , you start holding your hand behind your back.  

Actually I think letting your non shooting arm hang looser is better.  LtC Miller used to constantly remind me to relax my left shoulder.

I don't like my non-dominant hand to move. My pockets are deep enough that my hand can still move in them, so I hold my belt.

Jack H wrote:When Makin's hot 22 brass keeps pelting you at your pocket with hand inside, and a case sticks between your bare wrist and pants fabric , you start holding your hand behind your back.  

Actually I think letting your non shooting arm hang looser is better.  LtC Miller used to constantly remind me to relax my left shoulder.

Some of us older "seasoned shooters" were taught by "seasoned masters" and military shooting team members (when they wore green fatigues) the hand-in-pocket method. As you sit on the ready line at Camp Perry and observe competitors on the firing line one can usually recognize shooters in the 40s & under demographic because they have their fingers in their belts or hanging loose and their stance (angle to the target) is also different and both are products of evolution of the sport.
A lot of those same old masters set a whole lotta national records with their 'hand-in-pocket" method, old style stance and metallic sights that have stood the test of time and are still in the record books.
However, it's a matter of personal choice, choose the method that is most comfortable, whether it's the hand-in-pocket or belt or hanging loose or a preferred stance. Being comfortable on the firing line of a Precision Pistol Match is paramount. Tension can cause shots in those outer rings that count less.

I changed from the "in the pocket" to the "thumb in the belt method" back when I was actively competing. The theory was that hooking the thumb in the belt kept the elbow in tighter to the body, and more stable (keeping the center of gravity lower).

Myself and another member of the team are hand in pocket shooters. But I always say shoot your own game. Do what works for you.

I moved to hand in belt. I feel more solid in my stance and feel like I hold more steady.

I like the belt to tighten my stance and upper body, I shoot mid to upper 2500's. With that said Jason has his hand in his pocket and shoots mid 2600's. Like Jason said find what you like and be consistent.

I have been taught that either is fine. Some ISSF shooters even wear a special belt that hangs low on their hips, into which they hook their non-shooting hand, to keep their non-shooting arm in a more neutral posture. Generally, putting your non-shooting hand behind your back is not recommended, as it puts the upper body into too much strain.

All of the above, I post sincerely. The following, I post mostly for fun:

First case of coronavirus traced to Marine putting hands in pockets

john bickar wrote:I have been taught that either is fine. Some ISSF shooters even wear a special belt that hangs low on their hips, into which they hook their non-shooting hand, to keep their non-shooting arm in a more neutral posture. Generally, putting your non-shooting hand behind your back is not recommended, as it puts the upper body into too much strain.

All of the above, I post sincerely. The following, I post mostly for fun:

First case of coronavirus traced to Marine putting hands in pockets

John, thats almost as bad as walking on the First Sargeants grass.... almost.  

I do both - will change back and forth - more of feel or comfort thing from day to day.  Have not experienced any measurable difference in performance between either one. YMMV

I have been working with both recently and for many years put my hand in my pocket. What I like about moving to the belt buckle area is reduced tension in my neck and left shoulder. My right shooting eye stays more aligned with my arm and sights and my hold improved.

Dockokol wrote:

john bickar wrote:I have been taught that either is fine. Some ISSF shooters even wear a special belt that hangs low on their hips, into which they hook their non-shooting hand, to keep their non-shooting arm in a more neutral posture. Generally, putting your non-shooting hand behind your back is not recommended, as it puts the upper body into too much strain.

All of the above, I post sincerely. The following, I post mostly for fun:

First case of coronavirus traced to Marine putting hands in pockets

John, thats almost as bad as walking on the First Sargeants grass.... almost.  

Or almost as bad has having your dirt in the Boss's ditch:

https://youtu.be/oudNoKfNUfs

That's what she said?

Hello all,

I have to chuckle a bit.  I've hooked my thumb on my front pocket for decades.  The best, or worst, of both worlds.

Jim

Relative novice here

I've asked my physical therapist and my chiropractor suggestions for stance. From those discussions I've been trying putting my offhand in a fist at the base of (behind) my back, holding the shoulders low. Shoulder back with offhand and ~centered with shooting hand. This seems to do great things for my wobble and reduces my neck pain while holding the gun but it also seems to be more fatiguing than holding my belt. This is shooting fully bladed to the target.

While it again reduces my pain while shooting, is the clear consensus that this is training a poor behavior that will ultimately hold me back from progressing to Expert and beyond?

I switched to hooking my thumb in my belt buckle for about a month, thinking yeah, it will be quicker to clear a malfunction that way. But I went back to the pocket because I am much more relaxed that way. I don't even know my hand is in my pocket if I take out my money clip, and pocket knife before hand. They are a terrible distraction.

Really?  Are we this bored?
Phil

Apparently so!!

SingleActionAndrew wrote:Relative novice here

I've asked my physical therapist and my chiropractor suggestions for stance. From those discussions I've been trying putting my offhand in a fist at the base of (behind) my back, holding the shoulders low. Shoulder back with offhand and ~centered with shooting hand. This seems to do great things for my wobble and reduces my neck pain while holding the gun but it also seems to be more fatiguing than holding my belt. This is shooting fully bladed to the target.

While it again reduces my pain while shooting, is the clear consensus that this is training a poor behavior that will ultimately hold me back from progressing to Expert and beyond?

I actually hook my thumb in my back pocket for similar reasons, and so I don't slump.

Val