The stance should be much like a boxer’s stance.  The target is faced squarely and the support side foot is about one half to one foot length forward. That is the “overlap” of  foot prints when viewed from the side has the forward foot heel no further forward than the toe of the trail foot.  The forward (support side) foot should be no further rearwards than the center of the trail foot instep.  The width of the stance should be comfortable.  Generally I think people assume too wide a stance.  The guidance has generally been “about shoulder width”.  I believe that this is more accurately described as “outside edges of the feet nearly directly beneath the armpits”.

The back is straight and the head and neck erect, a slight
forward inclination of the entire upper body moves the
balance forward placing the weight as noted above.

The grip is the basis of the upper body position.
I recommend  a "high grip". Acquire this grip by grasping the pistol
as high on the grip as possible( without interfering with the slide)
with the firing hand.

The firing thumb lies alongside the pistol pointed parallel to the
bore.  Place the heel of the support thumb base on the
support side grip panel immediately below the base of
the firing thumb. The support thumb is aligned with the
radius of the support forearm. The thumb lies just below
the firing thumb and further forward.  The support
fingers are together and wrapped around the three firing
fingers immediately below the trigger guard. Grip mostly
with the support hand and a little less with the firing hand,
about 60%/40% respectively.  This will facilitate good
trigger control.  The position is turreted from the knees,
pivoting the whole position to align on the target as new targets
are engaged.
 

When viewed from the support side the support wrist is
higher and further forward than the firing wrist.

In a true isosceles the position is "square".  In this
position the support shoulder has to be slightly forward
because the support wrist is the length of the base of the
thumb further forward.

Please note that the Excellence in Competition Combat match has
a prone portion, a duel portion and a rapid fire portion.  This
position describes the position from which the actual firing is conducted
in the latter two.  The high grip is recommended for all three positions.

Pistol prone  is another article.   Return to Contents.