New Pardini, need to get a grip!

I bought a Pardini a couple of weeks ago and am struggling to get comfortable with the ortho grip (and have declining scores to prove it). I think I've acclimated mostly to the grip angle--I no longer have major adjustment issues switching back to my 1911 slabs for .45--but I have a very unsteady hold. It seems like all of my muscle twitches--heretofore unnoticed when shooting a 1911--are transferring in a major way to my Pardini hold. There's lots of movement, particularly during the trigger pull, that I just haven't experienced before. Perhaps I'm gripping too hard or not hard enough? Scores are starting to go back up, maybe it's just a settling in period and I have to accept the learning curve... Anyone else have similar experiences they can speak to shooting european .22's or ortho grips in general, and hopefully some suggestions on ways to overcome this? I must say, shooting this thing during sustained fire is an absolute joy in terms of feeling virtually zero recoil. I couldn't believe all the "extra" time I had in rapid fire... Now I just need to stop the excessive movement! Attaching some pictures in case I'm approaching the grip thing all wrong. Many thanks in advance!

Looking at the 2nd and 3rd pics, it looks like you're gripping awfully tightly and/or the palm shelf is pretty tight on your hand. The way it's set up, is it comfortable for you when you're gripping it and hold the gun up at eye level?

My fingers are pretty scrunched together. Maybe create more space there. Should the top of my wrist (top part of my thumb) be coming in contact with the top part of the grip (the part that extends back just under the rear sights)?

I have Dick Horton grips on my Euro guns. I could never get used to the Euro angle. Is like aiming a broom stick. Dick's grips are close to a 1911 angle.

Bill

messenger wrote:I have Dick Horton grips on my Euro guns. I could never get used to the Euro angle. Is like aiming a broom stick. Dick's grips are close to a 1911 angle.

Bill

LOL, definitely feels like aiming a broom stick.

Grip angle is a very personal choice.  Do keep in mind that the factory grip angle is NOT an accident. Never-the-less, if it doesn't suit you there are options.  For full disclosure, Pardini does not offer a grip for my hand so Pardini USA offered me an appropriate "Rink" grip at a reasonable "upgrade" price.
So...
1) Rink grips with "standard" grip angle.
2) Dick Horton can make a work of art with any grip angle you specify.  He made one for me that matches the Pardini GT45.  That's a few degrees less upright than a 1911.
3) Rink also makes a "steep" version of their grip.  It's a few degrees more upright than the "standard".

For me, the one that fits and shoots best is the "steep" Rink.  Unfortunately, I don't know a less expensive way to figure out what fits you.  For me, it took more that a few weeks with each grip to decide on the best and I still don't have a "perfect" fit.  I've played with wood putty and dremel tool but probably don't have the knowledge needed to create an ideal fit.

The Pardini is as fine a pistol you can buy, but I struggle with the "perfect" grip as well. On my third set of ortho grips , being the Dick Hortons. These by far are the best. I have large hands with long fingers. I constantly seem to "fiddle" around with trigger adjustment, grip putty, dremel, etc..In frustration I recently received my Nelson Conversion. I put it on an old Series 70 Gold Cup with a 3.5# trigger. my hand naturally gripped the "slabs" comfortably. No "searching" for the proper finger placement on the trigger. In other words it was just "right", My first time out I shot a better score than with the Pardini. When I transitioned to my .45, my score improved as well. Maybe it was the new stuff factor, but I'm sold on the conversion. So much that I'm having a dedicated lower with long trigger built for it. looks like the Pardini is moving to the back of the gun box.

estuck wrote:The Pardini is as fine a pistol you can buy, but I struggle with the "perfect" grip as well. On my third set of ortho grips , being the Dick Hortons. These by far are the best. I have large hands with long fingers. I constantly seem to "fiddle" around with trigger adjustment, grip putty, dremel, etc..In frustration I recently received my Nelson Conversion. I put it on an old Series 70 Gold Cup with a 3.5# trigger. my hand naturally gripped the "slabs" comfortably. No "searching" for the proper finger placement on the trigger. In other words it was just "right", My first time out I shot a better score than with the Pardini. When I transitioned to my .45, my score improved as well. Maybe it was the new stuff factor, but I'm sold on the conversion. So much that I'm having a dedicated lower with long trigger built for it. looks like the Pardini is moving to the back of the gun box.

Can you get Andrew to make a set of slab grips for the Pardini with a 1911 angle?  The is making some for my V 10 air pistol as I can only get the tip of my finger on the trigger.  Besides all my BE guns have slabs on them.  Don