marionandjohn, I carry a Springfield Armory XD-45 daily in a Blackhawk Serpa holster. There is no need to rotate your thumb to the top to prevent disengaging the grip safety. When I grip my pistol, I have already got a good firm firing grip on it. When the index, or trigger, finger presses the positive retention release and I draw, my finger is alongside the frame, where it belongs. Should I then need to fire, my finger slips down into the trigger guard and pulls the trigger. The SA XD has a Safe Action trigger safety. Both it and the grip safety must be depressed for the pistol to fire. By using your unusual technique, all you are doing is slowing down the presentation of your pistol. Get a good firing grip on your pistol, and don't worry about the grip safety being depressed, it won't mean a thing until you pull the trigger. BTW, on a recent episode of Steven Seagal, Lawman, Deputy Chief Seagal was preparing to go on duty. I noticed he was carrying a Blackhawk Serpa, and he holstered the pistol several times rapidly, testing the function. Great holster.