Grips on drills

Before cordless drill/drivers arrived, most drills had pistol grips, where the handle is behind the motor like the handle of a gun.

But most of today's cordless models are equipped with a T-handle:

The handle base flares to prevent hand slippage and accommodate a battery. Because the battery is centered under the weight and bulk of the motor, a T-handle provides better overall balance, particularly in heavier drills.

T-handle drills can often get into tighter spaces because your hand is out of the way in the center of the drill.

But for heavy-duty drilling and driving large screws, a pistol grip does let you apply pressure higher up — almost directly behind the bit — allowing you to put more force on the work.