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, a one of a kind data driven look at the draw presentation.  Mantis X10 is the first device to accurately and reliably give you access to unprecedented draw to first shot data to help you improve your holster draw capabilities.  Our TitanX laser pistol can not only analyze draw to first shot but also has an exclusive multi-shot version allowing users to see not only the draw but follow up shots as well.

Holster Draw Analysis will allow you to see a detailed analysis about each phase of the draw and replay the path of the draw stroke.  Furthermore, the TitanX offers exclusive trigger press scores of follow up shots. Holster Draw Analysis and Holster Draw Analysis - Multiple Shots (TitanX) are available by connecting your MantisX app, then launching the drill from the Train tab.

Draw from Holster Training in Five Key Phases

Each draw is broken down into FIVE key phases, to identify inconsistent or slow phases:

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

Analyzing Your Draw

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

 

The TitanX exclusive multi-shot version shows the trigger press trace and a summary view  of split times for follow up shots.

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 or presentation, 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 not only the full draw stroke, but each phase individually and regularly.  Each individual should draw and shoot only as fast as they can do so safely and accurately.

Which holster has the fastest draw?

Open-top holsters or competition-style holsters typically offer the fastest draw times due to minimal passive 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.  Ultimately, skills are what determines draw speed.  A proficient shooter can make any holster draw fast with some practice.

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 with a solid material, like kydex, to prevent accidental discharge.