which is your preferred stopping point after pressing out? i see the biggest difference in the "tactical" shooters/non-competetion in full extension with elbows essentially locked; the IDPA/IPSC/competition etc shooters seem to favor elbows slightly bent. i personally go to elbows nearly locked even in competitive shooting and most of the videos i have seen from frequent posters on this site seem to favor this as well. whats your preference and why?? trying to gain a little insight. thanks.
I feel that if a gun is good enough to protect something as important as a bar, then its good enough to protect my family. - Homer Simpson
Fully extended is not only bad for your joints, but it does not absorb recoil well. I'm find myself about 1.5" shy of full extension. The closer the gun is to your body, the more pectoral force I can use to squeeze the gun.
This may help, it's pretty close to what I try to do The whole video is good, but 1:40 starts the elbow issue:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xBmN7mpVZWE
Todd Jarrett's take (4:30 'ish):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGhve...eature=related
Last edited by JV_; 09-27-2011 at 11:14 AM.
Slightly bent:
The more locked out I am (to full extension) the better I shoot. I actually feel more in control locked out than slightly bent. That being said, until earlier this year I was always slightly bent. However, about the time I began locking out I saw a marked improvement in my shooting.
I will go out on a limb and say that on a draw it is very common (and I would consider acceptable) to lock out the elbows as a way of getting the gun quickly into a known, repeatable index.
I would say that after the first round or two the elbows should break a bit and any subsequent shooting from the ready should be with a slight bend in the elbows. Locked elbows can lead to pain and also to poor recoil control and can hinder proper sight-tracking.
The act of locking the elbow generally pushes the muzzle down, which is one reason why many people seem to launch their first shot low.
I have a slight bend to my elbow when shooting.
Slight bend. I also try to roll my elbows up, but will catch myself dropping my right elbow sometimes.
I used to shoot at pretty much 100% extension, but listened when Bruce Gray talks about how he's got arthritis from doing that. In addition, with anything larger than a 9mm, I can't manage the recoil with 100% extension due to body mechanics. When slightly bent, my elbows act like the shock absorber they're suppose to be.
I had a chance to take Todd's S.O.M. course in which I saw how paramount having bent joints is with the rest of the body, as well.
Never thought of this before. Makes a lot of sense.Originally Posted by ToddG
If you want a vision of the future, imagine a boot stamping on a human face - forever. -George Orwell
I shoot best when my elbows are close to being locked out. They are still slightly bent, but if I start bending too much, the worse my recoil control gets.
JP Visual Design
I keep my elbows fairly bent compared to dudes like Jeremy or Todd - I actually get better recoil control doing this because I'm squeezing with my pectoral muscles and not my hands.
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