The hand position used to support the weight of the rifle varies on the athletes preference.
The hand position chosen needs to be stable, allowing for the wrist and arm to remain straight.
Some variations include the flat hand, fist, and split finger hand positions.
The depth of the palm rest can be adjusted to adjust the height of the barrel and allow the athlete to try different hand positions without straining the position.
Flat palm
Fist
Split finger: Typically used in biathlon
Body Types
The athletes body type will determine a lot of the factors associated with how the position is developed.
Slender, tall athletes typically have a narrower stance.
Shorter athletes typically have a wider stance.
Athletes with longer arms may hold the rifle out forward more.
Athletes that are larger tend to sit further back in the position.