I read a book written by a trumpet player and physicist who (I think his name is John Lynch) and I remember him saying that the physics of the "pistol grip" were such that it changed the pressure from the lips and balanced the horn better for help with the upper range. I think the book was something like, "the new approach to altissimo trumpet playing" and I think Maynard actually endorsed the book. I have it somewhere around the house... Michfan