How To Assume a Good Handgun Shooting Stance & Grip

In this episode of Smith & Wesson's GUNSMARTS series, pro shooter Julie Golob demonstrates the hows and whys of a good stance.

posted on November 22, 2021
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **

Most of the fundamentals of shooting are essentially functions of hand/eye coordination, and most of them apply equally for women and men. However, there are some elements of shooting that go way beyond your contact with the gun's trigger and grip. Specifically, what about your shooting stance? Is the proper shooting stance different for women than it is for men?

In this video from Smith & Wesson's excellent GUNSMARTS series, pro shooter Julie Golob illuminates her stance on ... stance. Although there are several different very specific "poses" that shooters will assume (you'll hear terms like Weaver stance and Isosceles stance bandied about), your primary concern is stability and recoil control. What you're trying to do with your stance is to bring your weight up onto the balls of your feet, lean forward into the gun and use your body's weight and construction to absorb the pistol's recoil. 

For the most part, this looks very similar for women as it does for men. That said, a woman's body is almost always going to have a lower center of gravity than a man's. That's not a bad thing at all; you can think of it as Nature's way of making us stable, and it may actually make assuming a good stance easier for you. Take a look at this terrific video for more surprisingly intuitive and easy-to-assume pointers on your best shooting stance and grip!

Latest

Rao Crosseye Dominance Check Photo By Rao Lede
Rao Crosseye Dominance Check Photo By Rao Lede

How to Train Cross-Eye-Dominant Firearm Students

If you are a firearms instructor, don't let a student simply "compensate" for being cross-eye dominant! Follow these tips for proper training and a more successful student.

Try Something New by Trying Something Old

Want to revive that "new hunter" feeling? Here are a few ways to keep the excitement going from year to year. 

We Love It: Lena Women's Stretch Flannel Shirt and Shirt Jacket from Vertx

We all crave our favorite “comfort foods” when cooler weather invites hibernal tendencies. Now, with the “Lena Collection” by Vertx, we have “comfort clothes.”

The Armed Citizen® February 6, 2026

In the case of machete versus handgun, the outcome is probably a foregone conclusion..

Kim Rhode Receives the NSSF Ken Sedlecky Lifetime Achievement Award

The Olympic great and Team Winchester member received the award at the NSSF Members Meeting during the 2026 SHOT Show.

Basic Wilderness First Aid

Here are a few tips for handling some of the more common scenarios you or your party may find yourself in when out in the wilderness.

 

Women's Interests



Get the best of NRA Women delivered to your inbox.