Really weak hand shooting

DialONE911 · February 9, 2001, 10:37 PM

How much adaptation is allowed in IDPA or IPSC rules for a shooter who cannot shoot from his weak hand? I'm missing my left thumb and cannot shoot anything stronger than a .22 in that hand without great difficulty.

The recent replay of American Shooter's Bianchi cup coverage with the paralyzed shooter got me wondering if there is any way to work around a disability in a fair way.

Ned Roundtree · February 10, 2001, 09:54 PM

Don't exactly know the answer in IDPA. Except to say the Match Director would probably work with you. The purpose of training with your weak hand is of course in case something happens to your strong hand. But when you already have a handicapped hand, what does one do? Adapt and overcome. If you can not shoot the already weak hand safely, then I would not attempt it. You are also suppose to be using the same firearm through out the match. So, I don't think shooting a different gun weak hand is the solution either. My hope that they would cut you some slack.

Scooter2 · February 10, 2001, 11:26 PM

Contact IDPA directly. They will tell you a definitive answer. Print it out and take it to matches to ensure that match directors don't give you different answers. IPSC alreadys has a solution by incuring a 20% time penalty if you are unable to perform the specified course of fire due to an injury. I'm sure they will be fair also. They don't want to lose potential shooters because of an injury. We have one member that shoots from his wheelchair. I was very impressed that he showed up for his first match, having never seen an IDPA match.

February 9, 2001, 10:37 PM	#1
DialONE911 Senior Member Join Date: June 7, 2000 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 214	How much adaptation is allowed in IDPA or IPSC rules for a shooter who cannot shoot from his weak hand? I'm missing my left thumb and cannot shoot anything stronger than a .22 in that hand without great difficulty. The recent replay of American Shooter's Bianchi cup coverage with the paralyzed shooter got me wondering if there is any way to work around a disability in a fair way.

February 10, 2001, 09:54 PM	#2
Ned Roundtree Senior Member Join Date: December 8, 1999 Location: Lexington, KY,USA Posts: 738	Don't exactly know the answer in IDPA. Except to say the Match Director would probably work with you. The purpose of training with your weak hand is of course in case something happens to your strong hand. But when you already have a handicapped hand, what does one do? Adapt and overcome. If you can not shoot the already weak hand safely, then I would not attempt it. You are also suppose to be using the same firearm through out the match. So, I don't think shooting a different gun weak hand is the solution either. My hope that they would cut you some slack.

February 10, 2001, 11:26 PM	#3
Scooter2 Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2001 Posts: 115	Contact IDPA directly. They will tell you a definitive answer. Print it out and take it to matches to ensure that match directors don't give you different answers. IPSC alreadys has a solution by incuring a 20% time penalty if you are unable to perform the specified course of fire due to an injury. I'm sure they will be fair also. They don't want to lose potential shooters because of an injury. We have one member that shoots from his wheelchair. I was very impressed that he showed up for his first match, having never seen an IDPA match.