shaking hands

Question
I am a law enforcement officer.  I struggle each year with qualifications.  From 10 yards in I'm 95-100%.  But when I get to 15 and 25 I really notice the quiver in my hands.  I don't know how to stop the quiver.  I'm sure it has to do with nerves and anxiety.  This has been going on for 10 years now.  Are there any techniques that you could recommend to help with the quiver/shake?  I carry a .40 glock 23.  Thank you.

Answer
Greg,

Thanks for your note.  

As far as the shaking goes, there are a number of things that could be causing the problem.  In many cases, it is indeed nervousness that can come as a result of the stress of qualification.  The best thing I could suggest if it is nerves is to try using 'autogenic breathing' techniques.  Slow deep breathing, in through the nose and out through the mouth can help relieve stress.  Inhale and exhale to a slow four second count and see if it helps you calm down a bit.

Second, you didn't describe your grip and stance, but sometimes that can cause problems if your alignment to the target is out of whack with your natural body alignment.  I have seen guys use dramatically bladed stances that put tremendous stress on shoulders and arms that can cause shaking if the position is held too long.  If you aren't already, try standing square to the target using an Isosceles stance.  That may help as well.

Another thing to consider is the tightness of your grip.  If you have a "death grip" on the gun, your hands will tend to shake after a few seconds of trying to hold the pistol still.  Your grip should be relaxed and just strong enough to control the recoil of the gun.

As a final point, try to keep in mind that you can never completely eliminate what is generally called the 'arc of movement'.  No one, not even the most expert pistol marksman can hold a pistol perfectly still.  If you try to hold and aim until there is no movement, your hands will eventually start to shake.  Try practicing your sight picture and trigger squeeze at 15 yards.  With all the slack out of the trigger, align the sights and press it through gently.  When you are getting 10 out of 10 at 15 yards, then back up to 20 and repeat until you can do 10 out of 10 again.  Then, you can back up to 25 yards.

I wish I could actually see what you are doing so that I could coach you, but without being able to do that I have tried to offer a few suggestions that might address what is happening...

Please feel free to send me a follow up email if you like.

Best regards,

Doug Little