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Back in college, I took a marksmanship class. I was already on the varsity rifle team and in ROTC, so I spent the class helping the other students.
One day, we were shooting .45's at the local Air Force base (those were the days!). One girl was having a very hard time. She had done well with the pellet pistols and .22 target pistols on the school range. She was afraid of the M1911's reputation for recoil, and could not control it. The first shot caused her to stagger back, and nearly hit herself with the pistol. She was about 6', and I'd guess 250 lbs. We stopped her, calmed her down, reemphasized the basics, and asked if she wanted to try again. Fear got to her, and she did not finish the magazine.
Just down the line from her was a thin girl who was barely 5'. The pistol was big for her hands, but she just rode the recoil, controlled the pistol, came back on target, and lined up for another shot.
Attitude made all the difference.