very good information on this post. I have a follow up question though. I shoot an XDM 4.5 9mm and has just completed my 1st year of shooting. My natural hold on the pistol is to use my left index finger wrapped around the trigger guard. I think it helps me to control the recoil but up to this point am not particularly sure as the only thing I can remember while shooting is the front sight. I look at the times I do and think I should be going faster but like I said when the timer goes beep all I can remember is the front sight. I am at a crossroads on the gripping technique should I change at this point or just go forward with the finger around the trigger guard. Here is a video of a stage I did in a competition last week
