Draw From Holster Training & Analysis

Learning the right way of drawing a pistol from a holster is one of the most important and most fundamental parts of safe shooting. Drawing a gun from its holster is a crucial skill for self-defense, competitive shooting, and law enforcement alike.

A smooth, efficient draw can be the difference between successfully defending yourself and missing critical seconds in a high-pressure situation.

Effective holster draw training focuses on:

• Speed: Minimizing the time it takes to draw and fire accurately.
• Consistency: Developing a repeatable draw stroke that's reliable under stress.
• Safety: Ensuring safe gun handling throughout the entire draw process.
• Efficiency: Eliminating wasted movement and optimizing your technique.

Draw from Holster Practice with Mantis

We are excited to bring Holster Draw Analysis to the Mantis X10 Elite! Mantis X10 is the first device to accurately and reliably give you access to unprecedented data to help you improve your holster draw capabilities.

Holster draw analysis is available by connecting your MantisX app to a Mantis X10 sensor, then launching the "Holster Draw Analysis" drill. This drill will allow you to perform any number of holster draws in a session, giving you detailed analysis about each draw, in two diagnostic screens.

Draw from Holster Training in Five Key Phases

In the first screen, MantisX breaks down your holster draw into FIVE key phases, to identify inconsistent or slow phases:

• Grip: Time from the start beep to when your hand grips the gun.
• Pull: How long it takes you to pull the firearm out of the holster.
• Horizontal: Time from the pull to when the gun is drawn and rotated to horizontal alignment.
• Target: How long it takes you to get on target after getting the gun horizontally.
• Shot: Time from being on-target to when the shot breaks.

Analyzing Your Draw

In the second screen, MantisX displays overlaid traces of all the holster draws in that session. This is valuable in assessing the path of the draw, the consistency of the draws across your session, and highlighting any variance or wobble in your draw.

 

With unprecedented details, this analysis allows you to identify and isolate areas of deficiency to optimize your holster draw more effectively.

Holster Draw Practice FAQs

What is holster draw?

A holster draw, sometimes also called a pistol draw, is the process of removing your firearm from its holster and preparing it to fire. This involves several phases including gripping, pulling, aligning, and targeting.

What is a good holster draw time?

A good holster draw time depends on the context. For competitive shooters, the average draw time from a holster hovers around 1 second. For self-defense, consistency and accuracy are just as important as speed, with an average draw time of 1.5 to 2 seconds being considered effective. One of the most effective ways to learn how to draw faster is to practice regularly!

Which holster has the fastest draw?

Open-top holsters or competition-style holsters typically offer the fastest draw times due to minimal retention features. However, concealed carry holsters like inside-the-waistband (IWB) models prioritize security and comfort over raw speed. Finding the best holster for your needs is important, and there are a lot of factors to consider, you can find more recommendations here.

Can a gun go off by itself in a holster?

A properly functioning firearm should not discharge in a holster unless the trigger is intentionally pulled. Always practice safety and use a holster that fully covers the trigger guard to prevent accidental discharge.