TLDR version: Counter-intuitively, for my size extra large hands the small backstrap and long trigger has allowed me the love the EDC X9. It works a lot better for me than the large backstrap. If you've been having trouble getting comfortable with this fine pistol try the small backstrap long trigger combination you may like it.
My journey with the EDC X9 began in earnest when I held one for the very first time at the NRA show in Atlanta in April 2017. Holding it in my hand and examining it closely, the EDC X9 seemed like a Browning Hi-Power Detective Special and a Colt Combat Commander got together and had a 9mm love child. I simply couldn't believe how small pistol was and how well it pointed. I wanted to love it but it felt really small.
Sometime after the NRA show in Atlanta I started looking to acquire an EDC X9. I actually bought my mine second hand from a pistol forum member roughly a year ago. It had a large backstrap and long trigger installed. At the range for the first time I shot it really well was happy with the sights and enjoyed how tight and slick this little pistol feels.
After several range sessions I started trying to get serious working on my draw stroke with the EDC X9 with the large backstrap and long trigger installed in preparation for making it my daily carry gun. I'm right-handed and carry what I call offensive line appendix which is basically appendix carry but instead of closer to the center line it's more around 1:15 or thereabouts.
After lots and lots of practice trying to draw this pistol and not really being comfortable I took a few classes using my EDC X9 with large backstrap installed and every session when I would try to draw the pistol in a hurry, repeatedly I would run into a problem. Sporadically throughout the session when establishing my master grip to draw the gun I would grip too high and the web of my dominant hand would ride up above the backstrap just enough to foul my grip, slow me down and often allow the web of my hand to get chewed up when the slide reciprocated. This photo shows the pistol with the large backstrap installed.
I tried to train around the issue I would go away from the EDC X9 and go back to my other guns come back and try fresh I kept thinking it was an Indian and not an arrow issue. But the reality was I could not carry my EDC X9 because I didn't have confidence I could draw it at speed and get hits on target quickly.
I trained hard to overcome what I thought was a limitation of the pistol before it finally occurred to me maybe the problem was the way I had the pistol setup. Once that light bulb came on I thought let's try the small backstrap....what could it possibly hurt.
After installing a small backstrap acquiring a master grip on the pistol from the holster is no longer a problem. To my significant amazement I discovered the small backstrap allows my master grip to get up into the pistol under the beavertail and I have now successfully resolved the problem I kept having. Drawing full speed and going hard at it no longer causes the problems I had with the other configuration.
As we all know one is none and two is one and now I enjoy my long trigger small backstrap EDC X9. Recently, I traded around and acquired a second with the Carry Melt option an orange front sight. I have it set up with the long trigger and small backstrap
I can't say enough good things about the Carry Melt but the orange front sight is not nearly as bright as a trijicon HD so I'll be going back to fiber optic.
So if you have extra large hands and you just haven't been able to enjoy drawing, gripping and shooting an EDC X9 try it with a small backstrap and a long trigger I know it's not supposed to work but it absolutely works for me and it may work for you.
BTW: The three 18 rounds mags a used in training yesterday worked perfectly!