Basic Pistol Class = wife pissed

[Mute]

A good instructor should always look at the individual students and do what they can to help the student improve. The my way or the highway dogma approach is lazy and does not serve the needs of the students.

[DevilDawgJJ]

Yay. Teacup!

[Gun Kraft]

Based on the OP's post, the instructor(s) may not have realized his wife couldn't maintain the thumbs-forward grip for an extended period. As he said, she did okay at first with that grip. It's also possible the instructor had a "my way or highway" mentality. I can't tell from what's been said so far.

As a student, it's always a good idea to talk with the instructor before signing up to discuss any physical limitations and what accommodations might be made.

As an instructor, I try to adjust based on student capabilities but I'm not always able to do so. When that happens I am up front about my limitations teaching such a person and try to work with them to find a solution. Good teachers (regardless of subject) know people learn in different ways and they adjust their teaching style to fit the student.

[Gun Kraft]

A good instructor should always look at the individual students and do what they can to help the student improve. The my way or the highway dogma approach is lazy and does not serve the needs of the students.

Sometimes the situation is a little more nuanced than that. Here's an analogy: your goal is to gain as much altitude as you can so you climb a mountain. You reach the top and are happy with how far up you are. Someone else comes along and says you can climb even higher if you go up that mountain over there. The problem is you have to climb down before you can climb up.

Learning a new technique in any sport is similar. Just because you're comfortable and reasonably proficient using one technique doesn't preclude the possibility you will be even better using a different one. However there is always a learning curve and most people are initially worse before they get better. That's why you'll often hear instructors ask students to be open to new techniques, try them out, and then decide for themselves. Sometimes you'll try something new that doesn't work for you. Hopefully most of the time you do. But you should always approach classes with an open mind. Otherwise why take the class?

Note: this is a general comment and not specific to the physical limitations your wife has.

[ChuckDizzle]

There is only one right way to shoot a pistol...hitting what you aim at.

If you hit what you aim at, you are doing it right. While I find the common methods useful in helping beginners improve, or find a good starting point, if they hit what they are aiming with any technique I say go with that one.

[9mmepiphany]

That isn't a teacup grip.

This is a teacup grip

[IVC]

So then group classes are like YouTube ? Good to know.

The truth is somewhere in between - generally, a group class cannot accommodate each individual the way individual class can. That's why people take individual classes.

You were in the basic pistol class where proper technique is virtually all of the curriculum and many/most students are just learning or have never fired a gun before. It seems appropriate to show them the modern industry-standard technique and "push" them a bit even if it doesn't seem natural. This is true of any sport or activity: just because something "feels better" to a beginner doesn't mean it shouldn't be corrected.

Another problem is that you mention that she was fatigued, not that she couldn't do it. You also stated that "her shooting sessions must be short," which is a very valid concern, but not connected to the particular technique - even with saucer grip the session would've been long.

I am just giving you a "devil's advocate" argument to consider. Obviously I wasn't there and have insufficient information to determine what really happened.

[IVC]

There is only one right way to shoot a pistol...hitting what you aim at. under the widest possible set of circumstances.

If you hit what you aim at, you are doing it right. While I find the common methods useful in helping beginners improve, or find a good starting point, if they hit what they are aiming with any technique I say go with that one.

Added the bolded part.

If you hit what you aim at it's a good start. Now that "what you aim at" can get smaller. Or further away (both smaller and longer bullet travel.) Or might require multiple hits in shorter period of time. Or might involve adrenaline.

A typical example of technique and why it matters beyond just "hitting what you aim at" is defensive presentation where (among other things) one raises the hands along the chest as far as they will go, then extends them straight out as far as they will go. An alterative is to keep arms straight and just raise the gun to the eye level. The former doesn't require muscle control (good under stress) because mechanical limitations are what controls the movement. It also can be performed as fast as one can move the arms. The latter requires arms to stop in particular position which is easy to overshoot under stress. It also has a limit on speed because muscles are used to stop the movement.

[003]

While I do understand that most if not all experienced shooters “fine tune” their shooting grip, technique, etc. I also believe that a new shooter needs to be shown what is considered good basic shooting techniques.

Similarly to the way we were taught to drive, by holding the steering wheel, at 10 o’clock and 2 o’clock. While many experienced drivers do not hold the 10 and 2 hand position, I suspect it is what most /many were taught. Similarly, a new shooter should be shown what is considered most appropriate for a new shooter. After the lesson, that person can hold and shoot their gun in any manner they believe appropriate.

Personally, if I was asked, I would always show a new shooter the thumb forward weak hand over strong hand grip, which I believe is the best way to hold a handgun. I see no value in using the "tea cup" hold absent a specific need.

While it appears the instructor could have been more diplomatic, I see nothing wrong with teaching a new shooter the correct way to hold a handgun.

[Mute]

Sometimes the situation is a little more nuanced than that. Here's an analogy: your goal is to gain as much altitude as you can so you climb a mountain. You reach the top and are happy with how far up you are. Someone else comes along and says you can climb even higher if you go up that mountain over there. The problem is you have to climb down before you can climb up.

Learning a new technique in any sport is similar. Just because you're comfortable and reasonably proficient using one technique doesn't preclude the possibility you will be even better using a different one. However there is always a learning curve and most people are initially worse before they get better. That's why you'll often hear instructors ask students to be open to new techniques, try them out, and then decide for themselves. Sometimes you'll try something new that doesn't work for you. Hopefully most of the time you do. But you should always approach classes with an open mind. Otherwise why take the class?

Note: this is a general comment and not specific to the physical limitations your wife has.

I agree completely. We have specific skill sets to teach and a student need to make a good faith effort to try the new or unfamiliar techniques. However, a teacher/instructor needs to make observations on the students ability (whether based on experience or tangible physical limitations) to learn. The OP doesn't state whether they made the instructor aware of his wife's physical issues with doing certain tasks. Perhaps the instructor would have given additional options to address her specific issues.

[cannon]

To me a good instructor would be able to take into consideration the disabilities/ physical limitations of their students and adjust accordingly. I would look for another class and talk to the instructor and let them know the situation. Any good instructor would accommodate your wife as far as I'm concerned.

I agree with you. One size does not fit all.

[bwhited]

I have been in training classes where they taught one method but I choose to use a different method after trying their method.
It should not be an issue after you try their way.
It is up to you to decide which method works best for you.
Instructors can give you options but the choice is yours.
The best way to show an instructor that your choice of method is good is to shoot well or at least better then when using their method.

I agree with you. One size does not fit all.

[Gryff]

I'm disappointed in the classes one grip fits all way of thinking...is this normal? I was expecting the range time to be a little more individual based.

Yes. And if there are more than eight people in the class, you really can't expect many individual education moments.

[DevilDawgJJ]

That isn't a teacup grip.

This is a teacup grip

No ****!

[pc_load_letter]

Have you wife try the "central axis relock" stance.

It works pretty well. I took a class at Prado that taught it. I shot fairly well with it.