Revelations ch19 v11; grip pressure. 22 vs 45

Not to appear sacrilegious but I think I have an exceptional answer to something that has vexed me for a while. Specifically inconsistent results with a slab gripped 1911. Consider stable and satisfactory dry fire results, good stability, trigger control, snd feel in DF that is frequently absent when the gun is loaded.

Generally good results with 22 and 32 but less consistent results with the 45 under competition conditions. Forget about good data from shorter training sessions. I’m seeing less stability, poorer recovery, a lot of good shots but with shots that flip out into the white.

So, why? What’s different?

Increased fatigue as the day wears on
Factor of injuries 
Heavier trigger
No recoil factor in dry fire
More recoil in bigger calibers
Different grip design (hint)

Consider also women like all of 100 lbs of Dr Judy Tant, and others, who shoot the 45 very well and do not have or use high grip strength. 

Why?

Here’s what l think is going on: Larger grips like on European guns do not allow one to overgrip or squeeze too tight. You can’t squeeze a softball as hard as a golfball. Switching from large grips to small may let you subconsciously grip tighter. Now here’s the rub: old school style says to grip a gun until it shakes, then back off. Okaaay BTDT. Here's what’s different…it’s still tight enough to inhibit good trigger control and inhibit good feel. Recoil frequently makes you grip tighter for subsequent shots. Tight grip has less damping of motion and also transfers more recoil to your hands and arms. 

I’m thinking that l have to back off grip pressure just a little more and restore the feel and the damping. Confirm the pressure with dry fire in the match and don’t let recoil effects change grip pressure in that 10 or 20 second string. I’m getting better recovery even with shoulder injuries. Of course, you can’t go to the other extreme of too loose a grip. The Three Bears Rule: not too tight, not too loose, Just Right.

I have, but do not use, orthopedic grips for 1911s. I may try them again to see if the above theory holds. This may also explain the top ladies success.

What do you think?

While I am old and not as fit as I once was, I find the ergo grips
are a great help: you HAVE to grip the same every time because of the geometry of the grip.  I also find the death grip not helpful. A
grip that is just enough gives me the best groups. I use ergo grips on every pistol, even 22's.

I don’t bear down on the grip, don’t lock my elbow, don’t really flex anything beside some wrist tension that accompanies gripping with my middle and ring fingers.

I just use enough tension and effort to stay connected to the pistol.  Light target loads are legal for all the matches.  Recoil is minimal and manageable in the worst possible case (.45 ammo with a 9mm power factor out of a steel 1911).  

I have experimented with using more effort, but all I accomplished was getting fatigued.  Scores were not any better in rapid fire.

It has been my observation that people often relax their grip during a string of fire. Keeping your grip consistent shot to shot matters.

Having been a follower of Bill Blankenship I used a tight grip "Tight grip, tight group!". I did shoot Nill adjustable match grips for a time, but switched to plain panels that the high masters, like Larry Carter, used. Whatever works for you, is what is best.

I've been shooting my 45 with slabs for a long while. Recently tried a Rink grip (which I love on my 22) but went back to slabs. Another recent change that seems to have helped is adding pinky pressure and a little thumb to my grip. My conclusion... trigger control trumps all!

BE Mike wrote:Having been a follower of Bill Blankenship I used a tight grip "Tight grip, tight group!". 

A fine shooter who shared insights with me too.  

Im a bit surprised that this thread has not commented more on correct grip before considering how firmly to hold. 

Force applied anywhere other than the front and back straps reduces accuracy (imo).  Thus, if your grip isn't correct, the harder you squeeze, the worse you’ll do. No white nail beds.

I generally shoot and prefer a 2 handed Isosceles Stance. I do tend to prefer a sure and tighter athletic grip that does not tire me..... certainly not a death grip.

Interestingly one of the most comfortable and reproducible grip options in my experience for the 1911 platform has been the very inexpensive and forgiving Hogue cobblestone rubber grips with palm swells. They index and support my grip in a subtle forgiving yet secure and reproducible fashion.

https://www.hogueinc.com/1911-govt-model-cobblestone-rubber-grip-panels-with0palm-swells-black

Bruce, 
You have a very good point.  I recently received a full build .22 from FCW.  And I am finding that I am rather inconsistent with it like I have been with my .45 1911.  This is even coming off a Ruger MkIV 22/45.  The weight is very close and may be heavier than my 45.  

I did review the short videos from Brain Zins on youtube, the day after, shot a 281 indoors.  So there's something to be said that there's certainly a set of parameters that we need to be within to shoot a slab sided 1911 well, whatever caliber it's in.  I even lowered my grip on the gun as well because I did notice that my finger was tending to go slightly diagonal across the trigger. 

I will pay attention to grip placement pressure and how things felt in the leagues this week, and compare notes.

Being one of the dinosaurs who shot all my EIC matches with a 1911 (we use to call them 45 autos) and 230 gr. FMJ ammo, using a very firm grip helped me. It probably isn't that important anymore.

After reading the later stages of Bruce's book I started trying a type of grip on my ballgun that took advantage of the aggressive checkering on the front strap, MSH and Harret grips. I use the friction of the grip and the tension of my hand wrapped around it for slow fire. Great for slow fire. The lighter the grip from the rest of the hand, the better control of the trigger finger. But as chiz1180 noted I started to relax my grip too much in rapid fire and would watch my front sight or whole sight picture get driven by my trigger pull below the black. It's a delicate balance. Dry firing between strings seems to be an OK bandaid while I learn to find middle ground