Limp Wristing

[cbrgator]

How do I teach a girl not to limp wrist my pistol? Took her to the range yesterday, and she was getting failures on nearly every single shot. FTE or FTL every single time. It made me nervous so I shot it myself for a bit without a single issue so I know it was her and not the gun. I'm a good shooter, but not a good teacher. How do I break her of the habit?

[Just One Shot]

Some women just have weak wrist. You need to have her do some kind of activity to strengthen hers like maybe..................










churn some butter!



Hey, this is THR, get your mind out of the gutter!

[conwict]

Try dry fire practice (with snap caps or dummy rounds of some sort).

Some good tricks that have worked for me have been doing at least 70 repetitions of DFP each night, dry fire (30 with laser, 30 with iron sights, 10 with left hand only either laser or iron) concentrating on a smooth pull. My carry gun has about an 8 pound trigger and LONG, so I find it necessary...but even if your gun has a crisp light trigger dry fire will help.

I think limp wristing is a bit like flinching in that the shooter loses concentration because she is anticipating recoil. Get rid of that mindset by shooting with no recoil and emphasizing a stiff wrist.

It could potentially be a gun fit issue, maybe the grip angle is weird (although this would merely be highlighted by the limpwristing issue - it doesn't mean she shouldn't be able to stop the limpwristing).

Another good trick for me to get into the proper training mindset is to do my smooth dryfire practice, 10-20 reps before shooting live fire. Focus on breathing and relaxation during the dry fire and live fire also.

Hope that helped!

[Boba Fett]

Interestingly, I found that Wiki has a good break down of how to solve limp writing (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limp_wristing#How_to_address_limp_wristing)

Basically, if she doesn't have the physical strength to keep the firearm from FTF/FTL due to limp wristing, and you've made sure that she has proper stance and is holding the firearm properly and it still happens, then you can get her a different gun to use or change the type of ammunition you have her shoot with.

Is there an instructor at your range? The instructors at the range I frequent will usually help you out with that sort of thing out of the kindness of their hearts.

Out of curiosity, what type of pistol and ammo are you using?

[MMCSRET]

A revolver will work every time regardless of limp wrist.

[orchidhunter]

cbrgator, Put a revolver in her hand. That is the sure fix for limpwrist. orchidhunter

[cbrgator]

Glock 19 w/ WWB

She HATES revolvers. She isn't strong enough to pull the trigger and had to use 2 fingers. (I know I know)

[Boba Fett]

She HATES revolvers. She isn't strong enough to pull the trigger and had to use 2 fingers. (I know I know)

I think you just answered your own question. If she isn't strong enough to pull the trigger of a revolver, then I doubt she's going to keep from limp wristing most semi-autos.

Try a .22lr perhaps? Ruger, Walther, 1911 conversion?

[orchidhunter]

I bet she can't rack the slide on the Glock 19 even if she gets past the limp wrist thing. orchidhunter

[PO2Hammer]

Isn't it odd that 'limpwristing' didn't become an issue untill Glocks came around?

Try any other brand of pistol.

Glocks rely on the enertia of the hand to cycle like Benelli shotguns need your shoulder's resistance.

Sure, she could learn to stiffen her wrists, but she'll always be riding on the edge of reliability. What if she forgets during crunch time?

Find a pistol that is less reliant on hand strength. XD's are very popular with women, have a simple manual of arms like a Glock.

[cbrgator]

I'm not looking to buy her a gun. She doesn't really like them and I was shocked she even agreed to come to the range. I was just wondering if there was some instruction I could give her. Next time I take her, I'll rent a .22 for her and see how she does.

P.S. She actually is strong enough to rack the slide, but she has to use her whole hand to do it instead of 2 fingers LOL

[CoRoMo]

She HATES revolvers. She isn't strong enough to pull the trigger and had to use 2 fingers. (I know I know)

Too bad, a single action has a light crisp trigger that anyone can fire.

[sturmgewehr]

Glocks are notorious for this problem. If you were using anything other than a Glock chances are she wouldn't be having this problem. You wouldn't happen to have a Sig, XD, HK, or any other polymer pistol laying around, would ya?

[rcmodel]

Leaving Glocks & Kel-Tec's out of it:

Find out if your girlfriend knows how to throw a closed fist punch?

If she does, she already knows how to instinctively lock her wrest and take the force of the punch down her arm.

Otherwise, she would break her wrest-bone when she finds you with another girl and punches you in the teeth next time.

Bet she instinctively knows how to do that already! :D

All she needs to do is carry that locked wrest instinct over into shooting and her problem is gone.

rc

[Boba Fett]

Try any other brand of pistol.

Actually, limp wristing is a common problem (according to the Marine-like gunsmith at my range) with compact polymer framed pistols.

I personally haven't had that problem with glocks (even though I'm not fond of them), but I have had that issue with the S&W P990L (I know, I know...should have gone with the Walther...I won't make that mistake again :barf: )

With the S&W P990L, you really really have to make sure your wrist is locked and you have a solid grip on the pistol. Even slightly relaxing your grip or arms will cause a jam. Not something I wanted in my carry pistol.

[donato]

Didn't know that limp wristing was essentially a polymer gun problem. Is this really true?

[FoMoGo]

Wait... people with polymer guns are limp wristed? :D


Jim

[LKB3rd]

Have her try a "push-pull" grip. Push with the strong hand, pull with the support hand. It's an easy way to get a nice firm grip without death squeezing with the strong hand, and it stabilizes it from recoiling so much.

[donato]

Ok, Ford Man

You got me, poorly worded post on my part; but, I'm am asking the question in all earnestness.

Edit: Oops your handle is FoMoGo. My bad eye initially read is as FoMoCo.

[FoMoGo]

It happens with polymer and some lightweight aluminum framed semi autos.
I have seen a guy limp wrist a 1911 so bad it almost flipped out of his hand and it stove piped on him.
I think one reason it happens in glocks is the grip angle.
If you make a fist, and position your hand as if you were to punch something... then hold that same angle with a glock in your hand, you will see the barrel pointing upwards.
For proper sight alignment, a person with weak wrists is already at a disadvantage.


Jim

[donato]

The reason I'm asking about limp wristing is that I'm really not sure what to make of the concept.

Once, I had an alloy subcompact (CZ) that I tried to limp wrist and make malfunction. I held the gun so loosely that I wasn't sure sometimes why I didn't drop it. Never could induce a limp wrist malfunction.

[donato]

FoMoGo,

Thanks for the "serious" answer; I appreciate it.

[Boba Fett]

Didn't know that limp wristing was essentially a polymer gun problem.

It isn't specifically a polymer gun problem. If you will read what I posted a bit closer, I said it was a common problem among compact polymer guns. Though this does not mean that all compact polymer or even all polymer guns will FTF due to limp wristing or that all people will have the same experience with them.

If you went to the link I posted (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Limp_wristing#How_to_address_limp_wristing), you would have read that steel framed pistols/pistols with a heavier frame help prevent limp wristing.

Once, I had an alloy subcompact (CZ) that I tried to limp wrist and make malfunction. I held the gun so loosely that I wasn't sure sometimes why I didn't drop it. Never could induce a limp wrist malfunction.

Then you're not doing it right...or wrong...or...um...

Just stop trying to cause a FTF and everything will be fine. :D

[conan]

LKB3rd has the "solution"!

Have her try a "push-pull" grip. Push with the strong hand, pull with the support hand. It's an easy way to get a nice firm grip without death squeezing with the strong hand, and it stabilizes it from recoiling so much.

[conwict]

Like conan and LKB3rd are saying, regardless of strength a technique fix is the best option.

[donato]

Buba Fett

Thanks for pointing out the link - missed it earlier. It was helpful.

Wonder if arms fully extended (like in the isosceles) helps? Assuming proper grip was taken up also.

[SapperMapper]

I would add +1 to starting her off on a .22. That way you avoid the whole flinch syndrome.

Then work on the grip - it's been stated already - push/pull or isosceles, whatever helps her support the weapon. Make sure the grip isn't too big for her hands.

[PO2Hammer]

Didn't know that limp wristing was essentially a polymer gun problem. Is this really true?

The lower the weight of the auto pistol's receiver, the more reliant it is on the resistance of the hand to compress the recoil spring. A steel frame gun has plenty of enertia on it's own to resist the recoil spring, with any reasonable amount of grip strength.

[jad0110]

LKB3rd gets the cake :D . Good response.

My experience with 9mm polymers is that though the recoil isn't bad, they do produce a lot of muzzle flip, given the fact that they are relatively top heavy. I was able to produce stove pipes with my old Springfield XD9 without trying too hard. So a firm grip (just short of jiggling the gun) is a must. On the other hand, try as I might, I've not been able to induce a stove pipe in my 1911 45 ACP, though I know it is possible.

A 22 is another good option, though I understand that she isn't interested in her own gun at this point. But the best way to get her interested is to rent a 22, as you said, and see how she does with it. A 22 is probably the best to influence somebody who may not be interested otherwise. Maybe the G19 is a bit much for her. My mother has a Hi-Standard Citation in 22 LR and loves shooting it. It feels like shooting a CO2 pellet gun. She really doesn't like shooting anything else.