You can fine-tune your gun with a great optic, matched springs, and the best ammunition, but if it doesn't feel right in your hand, you’ll never use it to its full potential. And that's what this article is all about – how to choose grips for your competition pistol so the gun fits like a glove.
What functions do pistol grips serve?
Grips on a pistol definitely aren't just for decoration. They serve several important functions:
- Firm and stable hold: Grips fill the space between the pistol and your hand so you can hold it truly firmly. Thanks to this, recoil won't knock the gun out of your hand, and it won't slip even when your hands sweat during a match, or when shooting in rain or dust.
- Proper grip: With properly selected grips, you hold the pistol in a way that allows you to easily reach all the controls without experiencing hand fatigue or pain.
- Consistent grip: You can tell good grips by the fact that as soon as you pick up the gun, you don't have to spend time adjusting it in your hands—you hold it the exact same way every single time.
- Balance and recoil control: If you choose heavier grips (especially brass), you add weight to the lower part of the gun, shifting its center of gravity downward. Based purely on the laws of physics, this reduces muzzle rise during firing.
Where to find grips on our site
You can find grips in our Grips category, where you can search by model or by whether you need long or short grips. What is long grips and what is short grips you ask? Long grips are on your gun if it does not have any magwell. Short grips are on your gun if it has magwell (I explain deeper further in the article).
Why is replacing factory grips so essential?
Out of the box, you received a gun equipped with universal grips designed to fit the hand of an average shooter. How do you calculate an average? The manufacturer takes a large man with huge hands and a woman with tiny hands, adds them together, and divides by two. There's your average. And then they make grips for these average hands. Logic dictates that they won't fit a large number of shooters, because who is truly "average"?
It's a logical step for manufacturers, as production needs to be as universal as possible. Between large and small hands lies a broad spectrum of shooters, and factory grips may fit some of them just fine.
However, you still might not be satisfied with their shape, texture, or material. That's why, if you're serious about shooting and looking for ways to tune your firearm, grips should be one of the very first accessories you invest in.
How to choose the right grips
We know why, now let's solve how. What should you look for to select grips that will ensure a comfortable hold and precise shooting? There are several angles to consider:
1. Hand size
Grips are meant to help you hold the firearm correctly. This ensures good aiming, comfortable shooting, and keeps your hands pain-free even after a long match or training session.
What does a proper grip look like?
- The pad of the index finger's distal phalanx (strong hand) rests perpendicularly on the trigger.
- You aren't gripping the gun excessively tight just to compensate for unsuitable grip size.
- There are no empty spaces between your palms and the pistol.
- During and after shooting, you don't feel fore-arm cramps, wrist pain, or get chafing at the base of your thumb or any pressure marks.
- Grips too thin: Your finger goes too deep into the trigger guard, and you end up pressing the trigger with your second knuckle. Grips too thick: You can only reach the trigger with the very tip of your index finger.
How to choose grips for small hands?
Do you have small hands and trouble reaching the trigger? In that case, you need thinner grips. The thinnest profile is usually offered by aluminum grips. If you see the word "alu" in the product title without extra terms like "Palm Swell" or "3D," they are usually flat and thin grips.
TIP: Take a look, for example, at original aluminum grips for CZ TS 2, CZ Shadow 2, CZ 75B & SP-01 models.
How to choose grips for large hands?
Do you have large hands and factory grips feel too thin? The thickest grips feature "Palm Swell" in their name and are very robust. You can find these on our site from manufacturers like Boss Components, Toni System or LOK Grips. Ergonomically shaped 3D grips are also chunkier and specifically contoured to fill out the palm nicely.
How to choose grips for medium hands?
Are your hands "just right," but your grip still doesn't feel quite right? Wondering whether to get thicker or thinner grips and can't decide?
The solution might not be in the grip thickness, but rather in the texture or shape. We’ll cover texture right next.
Different CZ models come from the factory with differently shaped grips. For instance, the CZ 75B model has more contoured grips, while newer models like the CZ Shadow 2 or CZ TS 2 often come with flat grips.
If your gun came factory-equipped with flat grips that don't give you a secure hold because they don't adequately fill the space between your palm and the pistol, we recommend replacing them with 3D grips featuring more pronounced ergonomics.
2. Texture (Checkering)
The texture or checkering significantly affects how the gun feels in your hands.
Some prefer a smooth texture, while for dynamic shooting disciplines—where your hands sweat and you need absolute certainty of a firm hold—you might need much more pronounced elements.
Gentle texture for sensitive hands and recreational shooting
Recreational shooters and those who dislike harsh surfaces usually prefer non-aggressive, gentler textures. Examples include original aluminum grips for CZ TS 2, CZ Shadow 2, CZ 75B & SP-01 models. In our store, you’ll find them in various color versions and for different models.
The best choice for competition shooting
For competition shooters, the gun must not move in the hand or start slipping due to sweat, rain, or dust.
Every shooter prefers something different—some like a medium-rough texture, while others thrive with very aggressive checkering. You can choose the exact pattern that suits you best from a wide variety—ranging from golf ball patterns to small pyramids and aggressive high-profile spikes.
Popular competition grips on our e-shop include:
- Aluminum 3D grips with a medium texture from Toni System (e.g., for CZ 75B & SP-01, CZ TS 2, CZ Shadow 2, and other models).
- Aluminum grips with the LOK pattern from LOKGrips (e.g., for CZ 75B & SP-01, CZ TS 2, CZ Shadow 2) featuring medium checkering.
- Heavy brass grips from LOKGrips with the GridLOK texture (for CZ 75B & SP-01, CZ TS 2, CZ Shadow 2, etc.) if you're looking for an aggressive pattern. We also offer these in aluminum.
- Short versions of these grips can be purchased directly in combination with a matching color magwell for various CZ models.
Looks matter
Texture, material, and color together give your firearm a unique, personalized look. Whether you opt for bold colors on aluminum grips or heavy brass, grips will transform your pistol into a truly custom piece.
3. Material
Material is closely tied to texture. As you will see in the description, unwanted properties of certain materials can be compensated for by the texture.
Aluminum
- Weight: low / medium
- Pros: wide selection of colors, ability to make a truly thin profile, different shapes
Brass
- Weight: very heavy
- Pros: minimizes flip by moving the center of gravity lower, very unique look
- Cons: price, weight
G10
- Weight: medium
- Pros: highly durable material, does not absorb sweat or water
- Cons: texture may be too sharp for some
Plastic
- Weight: extra light
- Pros: lighter, doesn't feel cold
- Cons: wears out faster
4. Long vs short grips
Although we look at this breakdown last, it is actually the first thing you will focus on right after the gun model.
Whether you choose long or short grips depends entirely on whether you use a magwell or not:
- With a magwell, you use short grips.
- Without a magwell, you need long grips.
And that's all there is to it.
Pay attention to compatibility
Some CZ models share the same base and fit the same grips, but with others, you should be careful.
Full-size models
Grips for CZ 75, CZ Shadow, CZ TS 2, and CZ Tactical Sport models are completely interchangeable.
Compact models
Grips for compact models are overall smaller. Here too, the rule applies: magwell = short grips, without magwell = long grips.
However, grips for compact models cannot be swapped freely between each other.
Grips for older models (CZ 75 Compact, CZ P-01) differ slightly from grips for newer models (CZ Shadow 2 Compact and CZ Shadow 2 Carry) by having one extra cutout. For that reason, new models cannot be fitted with grips for older types of CZ compacts. The reverse works, however – if you have an older CZ compact, you can also buy grips for newer models for it.
TIP: Verify grip compatibility on each item where we list by name the models that the specific grips fit.
How to replace grips? Can I do it myself at home?
With ease. All you need is the corresponding Torx key and blue Loctite to secure the screws. You can find a step-by-step guide on how to do it in our video guide.
