A more common issue than people realize is when your thumb is riding the slide.
When your support-hand or strong-hand thumb touches or applies pressure to the slide (even slightly), it can cause:
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Failure to lock back on empty (because your thumb holds down the slide stop)
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Failures to eject or feed properly (interfering with slide movement)
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Inconsistent recoil control or sight return
A few things to check:
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Make sure both thumbs are pointed forward and slightly downward, resting along the frame or below the slide stop, not on top of it.
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If you’re shooting a gun with a smaller frame or low-profile slide (like many competition pistols), be extra mindful—there’s less clearance.
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Try filming your grip from the side in slow motion; you’ll often catch
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contact you didn’t realize was happening.