One of my favorite blogs (bluesheepdog.com) posted an article titled “Off Hand Shooting: Priority or Passing Trend?” and I got excited because I expected to read about unsupported shooting with a rifle and maybe I would learn something about using a sling, a body indexing technique or something… I was wrong.
The post was about using your non-dominate hand to shoot around non-dominate hand cover.
I have written about this idea in the past, I don’t know of any reputable instructors that teach this technique, if you want to read about it click here… http://www.balloongoesup.com/blog/2012/09/hey-hollywood-youre-doing-it-wrong-vertical-cover/
This is the 1st time I have heard the term “Off-hand” used this way, but now I understand why.
off-hand also offhand, 1690s, ”at once, straightway,” from off + hand. Probably originally in ref. to shooting without a rest or support.Hence, of speech or action, ”unpremeditated” (1719).
Let’s look at other potential terms…
weak 1. not strong; liable to yield, break, or collapse under pressure or strain; fragile; frail: a weak fortress; a weak spot in armor.
support 12. something that serves as a foundation, prop, brace, or stay.
When I am speaking with a shooter and know their hand dominance, I use right and left as appropriate to describe the desired technique, when speaking in general I tend to default to “weak-hand” but in either case I am always describing “weak hand ONLY” shooting.
This author argued against using weak hand because of how it might be construed by a non-shooter (but was talking about what I would call “mirror image” shooting). The Magpul Dynamics guys argue that the warrior is not weak and therefore it should be called “support” (but support is an adjective and I use it to describe the hand not operating the trigger).
I am a firm believer that mindset is important, but I am also fairly pragmatic and believe that the communication of the idea is more important than anything else.
What do you think?
Off-hand, Weak-hand, Support-hand or Mirror Image? Do you need to explain that is one-handed or do you assume that both hands are use?
Is it important because of public perception, the mindset of the shooter or does it matter as long as the idea is communicated?
Post a comment below, Tweet me @BalloonGoesUp or message me on Facebook and let me know what you think!
Final Note… Richard, the Site Admin (the guy in the pictures), used to have a podcast and post frequently on YouTube.com both resources are worth checking out.
Ron is the Founder and President of When the Balloon Goes Up! He competes regularly in IDPA as an ESP/Expert, his focus is on concealed carry, home defense and analyzing equipment to find “Gear that Just Works!”
