THE  EFFECT OF GRIP SIZE AND GRIP STRENGTH ON PISTOL MARKSMANSHIP IN POLICE OFFICERS: A PILOT STUDY

Robin M. Orr; Rofe; Ben Hinton; Jay Dawes; Gianpiero Greco; Robert Lockie

doi:10.5937/nabepo26-32292

Robin M. Orr Tactical Research Unit, Bond University
Rofe Faculty of Health Sciences and Medicine, Bond University
Ben Hinton New South Wales Police Force
Jay Dawes Tactical Fitness and Nutrition Lab, Oklahoma State University
Gianpiero Greco Ministry of Interior, Public Security Department, State Police
Robert Lockie Department of Kinesiology, California State University, Fullerton

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5937/nabepo26-32292

Sažetak

Background: Police officers may be required to use their firearms in self-defence. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationships between hand grip size and strength on pistol shooting accuracy in police officers. Methods: Twelve (age = 38.08±6.24 years; height = 174.42±7.33 cm) police officers had their hand sizes (palm width and hand span) and hand grip strength measured. Handgrip dynamometer was set at a Glock 17 pistol’s grip width (50mm). The officers fired 10 rounds from their service pistols at a stationary target. Independent samples t-tests were performed to identify differences between the sexes. Correlations were used to investigate relationships between measures of hand size, strength, and marksmanship. Alpha levels were set at p<0.05. Results: Male officers were significantly stronger (p=0.01) and had a bigger hand width (p=0.03), but not hand span. There were no significant differences in marksmanship between the sexes. Conclusions: Neither hand size nor grip strength had a significant impact on marksmanship even though there were strong and significant relationships between hand size (span and MCP) and grip strength. A V-shaped curve appears to exist between grip strength and marksmanship and hand span and marksmanship, with a potential influencing factor being the standard sizing of the pistol grip.

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