Grip Strengthening?

[Panzerschwein]

Anyone do grip strengthening exercises to benefit handgun shooting? I have been thinking of doing them and just seeing if anyone has any techniques or resources to do it. I used to have a grip exerciser for playing guitars but it got lost somewhere.Thanks!

 

[Old Guy]

No, but over the last 6 months or so, I have developed knuckle pain in my left hand, arthritis? In massaging them, and chewing "Gummys" recommended by a buddy, who is a Dr. a big improvement.
In improving grip strength, the grip strengthener, sold in sports stores, I had one year's ago, kept it in my Truck. Now at nearly 82 years of age, sometimes need the gadget to open jars.

 

[Klint Beastwood]

Anyone do grip strengthening exercises to benefit handgun shooting? I have been thinking of doing them and just seeing if anyone has any techniques or resources to do it. I used to have a grip exerciser for playing guitars but it got lost somewhere.Thanks!

i always figured it was a matter of muscle memory...i know sounds weird because we are talking grip strength...but with the right isometric grip...there is not a 35/65 or 50/50 grip from strong hand to weak hand ratio. its more whatever works for the person...squeezing tight only works so much for recoil management. Isometric grip and being consistent with it will give you those follow up shots.

 

[lemaymiami]

Along with "grip strengthening" exercises I'd recommend some static hand weights work - start with five pounds per hand and work up from there. All in super slo-mo then hold the weight for as long as your can at arm's length -trying to hold it as steady as possible...

We recommended this sort of stuff to young recruits with smaller more slender builds (females...) that lacked the basic strength to hold a sidearm steady enough to do well in firearms training.... and it's not a bad idea for any armchair commando, either.

 

[Berger.Fan222]

I've gotten a lot more regular about my grip strengthening work in the past few years due to a reduction in other things that naturally strengthened my grip as well as a tendency toward the usual age related (late 40s) loss of muscle and strength in my upper body. I haven't done any careful tests, but I think it is helping reduce muzzle flip. As a trainer, I have videoed a number of shooters from the side and noticed a lot more muzzle flip (peak angle handgun makes with horizontal under recoil) from shooters with weaker grips. But weaker grips usually go along with smaller hands, so it is hard to say if it is actual hand size or grip strength that is the real issue.

My main motive for strengthening my grip is a more secure hold on the handlebars while mountain biking. I can say for sure that the grip strengthening is helping there. I am trying to figure out how to incorporate a grip strengthening test and improvement in an experiment with some of my colleagues and students to get a better sense on how a stronger grip can really reduce muzzle flip. Please report back with your decision and what you find.

 

[RPZ]

GD Pro 70 grip exerciser on eBay. Good adjustable starter. If you already are in fairly good shape: trainer Captains of Crush from ironmind.com

Grip strength enhances trigger and overall control. Enhances controlling heavier triggers. Arm/upper body strength enhances control and reduces fatique in longer shooting sessions.

 

[WrongHanded]

Get a rock climbing hangboard. Training on one of those will give you more grip strength than you'll need for just about anything.... except rock climbing.

 

[25-5]

I have been using a 7 lb "Grip Master".

 

[Klint Beastwood]

I'd like to reiterate...isometric grip.
If your technique isnt on point...it has nothing to do with your grip strength....its your technique. I dont care if you are 99 y/o...doesnt mean you havent been shooting the right way..maybe it was the best way then but...

 

[Rio Laxas]

I have no opinion on whether or not strengthening your grip is likely to help your shooting in any meaningful way. That being said, if you want to increase your grip strength, the best way to do it is to deadlift. It will also increase your back strength significantly and thus ability to maintain good posture in a shooting position, which is probably more important to shooting than grip strength.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

Any strength training is a good idea, IMO. If not just for health reasons.

I like to do pull-ups on a round bar that twists. It requires that you have some grip to do the exercise.

I also like those little squishy foam balls for when I am watching TV or some such.

 

[Mizar]

My father in law has been fitness instructor for long years and he told me that story: some guy at the gym spends hours sweating on the step machine on every session. And then he takes the elevator... Now, do you get my point?

 

[Meplat 308]

That is one freakin' huuuge wristwatch. (O/T I know, couldn't help myself)

Yes proper grip always helps. I use what looks like a big coil spring with a handle on each end. if you hold it horizontally with your arms straight and move it with just your forearms you'll have forearms (Which give you grip strength) like popeye. Interweb pic but same-same.

 

[RPZ]

Improved grip strength, arm/upper body strength can make a difference, especially with women and elderly shooters, and even many younger men. A stronger overall grip strength and arm/upper body strength improves control of any handgun, and in the case of heavy triggers as well. The reason is less effort is required to accomplish the tasks and smoother manipulation is the result. Better recoil control, better trigger control.

 

[herrwalther]

I have minor neurological damage. Sometimes my hands go numb. Sometimes I can't grip or release. I try not to use anything that would break if I dropped them because my hand didn't work. I use grip strength exercises and they help reduce the issues I have. The benefit to my shooting ability is just an added side benefit.

 

[Klint Beastwood]

I have minor neurological damage. Sometimes my hands go numb. Sometimes I can't grip or release. I try not to use anything that would break if I dropped them because my hand didn't work. I use grip strength exercises and they help reduce the issues I have. The benefit to my shooting ability is just an added side benefit.

Thats a most suitable challenge. My wife fell off a mountain on a hunt (long story) and the way she broke somethings around her elbow cause cubical tunnel syndrome..which lead to nerve issues and weakened grip in her strong hand as well as pain. She does what she knows...she only shoots .45's and she only owns guns in .45. She's also only 100lbs. She had to retrain herself to compensate for the weakened strong hand grip relying on the support hand more...the pain...nothing to be done about that. One handed shooting needed to be done switch sided...as her left hand no longer her weak side....which made her officer sized 1911 a little awkward to relearn until she had her surgery.
So I get it.

 

[Rexster]

Grip strength is a very good thing to have, in and of itself. An important part of shooting, however, is working on controlling the trigger finger independently of the other fingers. There is pure grip strength, and then there is the skill to use the fingers independently. Both are important.

 

[Klint Beastwood]

Grip strength is a very good thing to have, in and of itself. An important part of shooting, however, is working on controlling the trigger finger independently of the other fingers. There is pure grip strength, and then there is the skill to use the fingers independently. Both are important.

Sure for accurate shooting. For recoil management...you can pull that trigger and with the right isometric tension have good recoil management but have a shotgun pattern on target. So of course good technique is important. For combat shooting, the most practical shooting might be instinctive shooting, and good smooth draw with proper technique, and good isometric grip will provide a good initial shot and good follow up shots for the oh **** situations. For shooting on paper or if you insist on using your sights in every situation, then use isometric grip tension that allows the slide to cycle in and out of battery aligning the sights back up with each shot, with out fishing for the front sight or regripping the pistol.
However the OP never wasnt talking about any of this...just ways to work out for grip strength.So to that I have to agree with lemaymiami
on the work out advise...

 

[4v50 Gary]

Old Chinese martial arts technique. Open the hand with fingers outstretched. Now close it into a fist. Repeat. See if you can do that 180 times a minute (with both hands). Best I ever did was 150.

 

[RPZ]

Or you can plunge your open hand into a bucket of dry beans; close, extend, close, extend......

 

[waterhouse]

I can't recall which training I went to (I want to say Jeff Gonzales with Trident, but apologies if it wasn't his class), but I took some training a few years ago where they stressed using a stronger than normal grip with the ring and pinky finger of the strong hand. Grip strengthening was recommended, especially doing a farmer's walk while holding a kettle bell with only the ring and pinky fingers.

Like many things from training classes, I gave it a try. Unlike some things I have tried, I found that it helped. Since then I have done more grip strength training and squeeze more firmly than I used to on the bottom part of my grip.

 

[lemaymiami]

I've already posted up what we advised our recruits to do to improve their physical ability to hold a firearm steady and improve their shooting results... but in my case after retiring out of police work - I went back to my first love, fishing, and became a full time fishing guide.

The picture on my avatar says it all - I literally pole a small skiff day in and day out. I never intended the result -but my arms, shoulders, and hands are in far better shape than when I was in police work. Nothing like regular physical effort in your day to day routines.... In a similar fashion I noted, on the one trip I took my family to Alaska... that everyone that lived there was in much better shape than I was (I was in police work still back then...). I'll bet that anyone that rides a bike to and from work each day sees similar benefits...

Modern life works against good old fashioned physical labor and we all suffer from it... just my opinion....

 

[shafter]

Throw a doubled over hand towel over a pullup bar. If you can't do a pullup then loop it around a vertical bar and practice holding onto it with one hand while leaning away. I like this method because unlike most other methods it forces you to squeeze with the thumb also. You can build beastly hand strength this way.

 

[Good Ol' Boy]

In regards to grip specifically, I use this several times throughout the evening with one hand at a time while watching TV. Usually reps of 20 and I've got it set at the max of 90lbs but it's adjustable down to 20lbs. Got it at Walmart for I think $10.

There are other weight exercises that involve the wrist and/or forearm that can aid in keeping your wrist and arms locked that aid in shooting as well.

 

[Panzerschwein]

Thank you much, gang. I will look into those methods. I think it is a good idea, certainly can't hurt.