What's With a Hook on the Trigger Guard?

Why do some shooters hook their index finger on the front of the trigger guard, and is it a good thing?

In the late 1970s and into the 1980s, many pistol designs (especially European models like Glock, Beretta and certain SIG Sauer pistols) featured squared-off trigger guards with a flat, often checkered, front face. This wasn’t an accident - manufacturers intended it to serve as a “rest” for the support-hand index finger. The theory was that placing the finger there would increase control, helping manage recoil by providing a bit of forward and/or downward pressure to mitigate muzzle rise.

Some competitive shooters and instructors adopted the practice, believing it gave them a stronger “clamp” on the pistol in rapid fire. For a while it was widely taught in IPSC/USPSA competition circles and even showed up in law enforcement training.

Notable Shooters Who Used or Advocated It

It’s rare among today’s elite, but you can still find a few top shooters who use (or have used) the support-hand index finger on the front of the trigger guard—mostly because it feels more stable for their hands and gun setups.

·       Jerry Barnhart – IPSC/USPSA champion in the 1980s–90s, known for using the finger-forward grip in competition.

·       Rob Leatham (early career) – He experimented with the technique before settling on his current grip style.

·       Brian Enos – Another influential competition shooter who wrote about and demonstrated the method in the 1980s.

·       Eric Grauffel - IPSC multi-time world champion is “one of the few guys having a support finger in front of the trigger guard,” because it’s comfortable for him. But he also cautions students against copying it blindly.

·       Some law enforcement trainers of the 1980s, particularly those influenced by the squared-guard Berettas and SIGs, taught it as a viable option.

Even Jeff Cooper—while not a fan—commented on the trend, noting that it was fashionable for a time but not optimal for real-world defensive shooting.

Why They Do It

·       Physiology & leverage: On certain frames—especially with squared or checkered guards—the finger gives a bit of forward brace to manage muzzle flip, which some shooters with particular hand sizes find beneficial.

·       Personal consistency: Eric said it’s simply more comfortable for him over long shooting days, which can reduce fatigue—again, a personal fit issue rather than a universal rule.

Context

Most current champions and major instructors default to the modern thumbs-forward grip with all support-hand fingers wrapped on the grip (not the guard). That approach tends to be more repeatable across different pistols and under stress. Hence, the finger-on-guard style is now an exception, not the norm. Discussion threads and coaching pieces from high-level shooters reinforce that it’s largely legacy or individual-preference territory today.

A Champion's POV

However, one of the top female competitive shooters in the world, Lena Miculek (multi-time IPSC/3-Gun champion and daughter of Jerry Miculek), does in fact use the finger-on-the-trigger-guard grip.

Lena has explained in interviews and demonstrations that the grip simply fits her physiology and recoil control style. A few key points:

·       Recoil management for her hand size: With smaller hands compared to many male shooters, placing the support-hand index finger on the front of the guard gives her a sense of added leverage and stability, especially during rapid fire.

·       Consistency from training lineage: Her father, Jerry Miculek, experimented with and used variations of the technique in the 1980s–90s. Lena adapted the method early and built her shooting around it.

·       Competitive performance focus: In high-speed competition, she’s demonstrated that the grip allows her to control muzzle flip and return to sights quickly. For her, consistency outweighs the criticisms often made of the technique.

·       Personal preference: Lena is open about the fact that this grip doesn’t work for everyone, but she’s honed it to the point where it is second nature, and she has the results to prove its effectiveness in her hands.

Context in the broader shooting world

While most modern instructors teach the thumbs-forward grip as the standard, Lena is a reminder that elite shooters sometimes make exceptions when a technique complements their build, experience, and training. She’s quick to emphasize that the key is finding a grip that gives you maximum control under recoil, not simply copying someone else’s style without testing it.

Over time, however, most top trainers moved away from it. Critics pointed out that:

·       The finger on the guard can compromise grip consistency, especially under stress.

·       It reduces the amount of hand that wraps firmly around the grip panels.

·       Under recoil, the finger often slips, creating inconsistent muzzle control.

·       Modern “thumbs-forward” two-hand grips give better recoil management without relying on the trigger guard.

Today, most instructors recommend keeping all support-hand fingers wrapped around the grip, not the guard. But you’ll still see the hooked-finger technique occasionally in competition or among shooters who trained in the 1980s–1990s.

Well known competitor and instructor, Ron Avery, offers this:

“Now some shooters like to put their index finger on the trigger guard, thinking that it is creating more force or leverage. Just touching with the tip of your finger will not work. You must use significant, directed force with the finger in order to exert meaningful pressure.

I know of a few world class shooters who use this methodology. I regard it as a style variation of the principle of increasing biomechanical efficiency that you are free to experiment with to see if you can make it work for you.”[1]

Another technique is the ‘Wedge Hold’. Developed by Massad Ayoob, it was shown to be an effective cure for both errant low and lateral shots. Many who tried it said it helped control recoil better. To do the ‘wedge hold’:

·      The firing hand takes its “master grip” with the web of the hand high into the grip tang of an auto or at the high “horn” at the back of a double-action revolver’s frame, grasping tightly.

·      The support hand comes in from the bottom in sort of a rolling motion. The first index point is critical: Let the middle finger of the support hand make contact with the bottom of the trigger guard and lock it there tight.

·      The two fingers below it should lock hard, too. Now, bring in the index finger under the trigger guard, tightly, without moving the other fingers.

·      The index finger will end up ahead of the other three fingers of the support hand. It will vary a bit with hand and gun size, but your support hand index finger should now be tightly wedged under the front of the trigger guard, probably at about the distal joint.

If you are doing it correctly, you should feel the muzzle cam upward. You should also feel the grip tang of an auto pistol press more firmly into the web of your hand. If it feels uncomfortable at first, it’s nature’s way of telling you you’re doing it right. You won’t feel the advantage until the actual shooting starts.[2] 

Another view comes from John Lovell, former Army Ranger and founder of the Warrior Poet Society, and is widely known for his teaching videos and training philosophy. In his instructional material, he does not advocate the finger-on-the-trigger-guard technique.

Grip Technique Comparison

Aspect	Finger on Trigger Guard	Modern Thumbs-Forward Grip
Origins	Popularized in the late 1970s–1980s when many pistols (Beretta, SIG, HK) had squared, checkered trigger guards designed for it.	Emerged in the 1990s–2000s, influenced by IPSC/USPSA champions and widespread law-enforcement adoption.
Mechanics	Support-hand index finger rests or hooks on the front face of the trigger guard, applying forward pressure.	Support hand wraps fully around the firing hand, both thumbs pointed forward along the frame, maximizing surface contact.
Perceived Advantages	Added forward leverage against muzzle rise. Felt like “locking in” the pistol during rapid fire. Some competitors (Jerry Barnhart, Brian Enos, early Rob Leatham) used it successfully.	Maximum grip consistency and recoil control. Keeps both hands firmly on the grip panels. Works across all pistol designs, not dependent on guard shape.
Drawbacks	Grip can become inconsistent under recoil; finger slips or loses purchase. Reduces full support-hand wrap around grip. Less effective with rounded trigger guards. Not widely recommended today.	Requires training to master hand placement but produces more consistent results. Proven effective in high-level competition, law enforcement, and military training.
Current Use	Rare; mostly historical or seen with shooters trained in the 1980s–90s. Some individual preference remains.	Dominant technique among modern instructors, competitive shooters, and tactical trainers. Considered best practice for defensive and duty handguns.
Training Implications	Students exposed to legacy instructors or older manuals may see it. It is useful to explain why it existed but clarify its limitations.	Teach as the standard two-handed grip. Reinforce during dry fire and live fire until it becomes automatic.

Lovell teaches and personally uses the modern thumbs-forward grip. In this grip, the support hand fully wraps around the firing hand, with both thumbs pointing forward along the frame. This maximizes surface contact, grip pressure, and recoil management without relying on the front of the trigger guard.

Lovell has explained in classes and videos that placing the index finger on the front of the trigger guard:

·       Reduces overall grip contact on the pistol grip panels, which weakens recoil control.

·       Creates inconsistency under stress, as the finger can slip off during rapid fire.

·       Offers no advantage with modern handgun designs, since most current pistols have rounded trigger guards not meant to be used as a ‘shelf’.

He emphasizes that shooters should build a grip that is stable, repeatable, and effective across all pistol platforms. For him, and for the students he trains, the thumbs-forward method is more reliable and better suited for defensive shooting than the finger-forward style that was popular in the 1980s–90s.

In short, putting the index finger on the front of the trigger guard was a product of its era, supported by gun design and competition experimentation. A handful of top shooters used it, but the broader training community largely abandoned it in favor of today’s more stable thumbs-forward grip.

But you do you. If you do choose this grip methodology, be sure to review its mechanics, build yourself a strong platform, and practice under dry fire and live fire until it is second nature and drilled into your subconscious. That way the technique is proven in training, and it will perform effectively under real shooting conditions and under stress, whether for sport or for self-defense.

[1] Avery, R., 2023. Reactive Shooting Science.

[2] Ayoob, M., 2020. https://gunsmagazine.com/discover/the-wedge-hold.

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