2.7.2 Pistol These are modern, orthopedic grips, shaped vaguely like a pistol, but still grasped in the traditional way. They provide a pronounced strength advantage over the traditional grips, but reduced finger control as well. Pistol grips all have the features of a large protuberance below the tang for the aids to grasp, a curved prong above the tang that fits in the crook of the thumb, and a large prong that extends along the inside of the wrist. Some varieties (eg. Visconti, German) are heavily sculpted for the fingers, while others (eg. Belgian, Russian) are relatively smooth but may provide an extra prong for the middle finger (Belgian only).