Previous
"Tips of the month"
Here are the previous "tips of the
month.
The first few are "lost forever" due to a hard drive failure. But - they
will all be here from now on.
Some tips are
available in Spanish! Click Here.
Tip #26:Goal
Setting - part 1
Updated 19.01.06
Goal Setting
It is a well documented fact that people who set goals in life achieve more
than people who don’t. It is also a fact that champions set goals to become
champions. No one wins by accident! One wins through dedication to training
and progress, while remaining focused on achieving a specific goal.
Setting a goal allows you to put what you want into focus and identify a
clear target. This is a very powerful motivator that will keep you on track
through the months of effort as you work towards your goal. Setting a goal
is also necessary for building a training program. If your program is not
geared towards a specific goal, it becomes pointless, and lacks a time
frame.
Simply wanting something does not make it a goal. My goal is to shoot better
next year is not a good goal statement. You need to be more specific. You
need to choose a goal that means something to you, on a personal level.
Something that moves you emotionally. That is why a good goal needs to be
your personal goal. Not faked or pretended. If you try to achieve something
because someone else wants you to, chances are you will not be as motivated.
A goal is not a goal until you have written a detailed plan how to achieve
it, and taken the decision to commit yourself. Until then, it remains a
“wish”. Choosing the right goal is critical, and considerable thought should
go into the goal selection process. But one thing is very clear: goals that
are never set are never reached!
Choosing the right shooting goal for you
The first step is to set the correct goal. This must realistically take into
account your current level of shooting, and the amount of time (and money)
you can dedicate to your sport.
A true goal has to have a date attached. Without a date, there is no time
frame in which to build your plan to achieve that goal. A short term goal
can be weeks away, a long term goal, years. And certainly more than one goal
can coexist simultaneously. A C class shooter can goal set to win his class
at the State championships in 6 weeks’ time, and simultaneously goal set to
win the National championships in 2 years’ time. As long as he has a
separate scheduled plan for each, these two goals can run side by side.
If you set a goal which is too easily accomplished, you lose interest and
motivation. You rightfully feel you can achieve that goal without following
the plan. A goal set too low does not keep you working to achieve it, and
defeats the entire purpose of goal setting.
If you set the goal too high, and build a realistic plan to achieve it,
chances are the plan is unworkable and will be discarded. For instance, a C
level shooter with one year’s shooting experience, setting a goal to win the
World Championships in 12 months’ time, will have a real problem realizing
his goal. In order to have even a chance at winning the World Shoot, he
probably has to shoot 20 international matches, 40 local matches, 300,000
rounds in practice to get his skill level up to the required standard – and
all this in one year. The plan is unworkable, and therefore will not be
followed. It is not a well set goal for this individual, and cannot be
achieved.
You need to set a goal that motivates and excites you, and is within reach
over the set period of time.
in the next update we will list how to use your goal to you best advantage.
Tip #25:Shooting
Position Transitions
Updated 25.11.05
While the actual moments of shooting are a
central part of IPSC competition, the ability to move plays an equally
important role. After all, the time spent on a stage extends from the beep
to the last shot fired, and you may have to move through 5 or more positions
in that time. Shaving off even a few tenths of a second in each transition
adds up to a considerable amount of time. In fact, I would say that one of
the skills setting top shooters apart from everyone else is their ability to
move efficiently and to set up quickly in the next position.
Transitions between positions may require that you run from box to box, or
that you simply move the gun from one port to another while shifting your
weight or taking one step.
Here are some guidelines to improving your transitions between positions.
Make sure of the last shot.
When we are in a hurry to push out of a position and move to the next, our
attention shifts and we very easily forget our follow-through on the last
shot. This leads to mistakes and misses on even the easiest target. Make
sure of your last shot before pushing off!
Get your center of gravity moving.
You can shoot accurately when your center of gravity is moving – while you
are “falling” out of position, as long as your feet are not moving. While
you shoot the last target in a position, begin to shift your shoulders and
weight in the direction you want to go. In effect, allow yourself to begin
to fall in that direction. This requires experience and coordination, but is
essential to being efficient and fast on the transition between positions.
Some call this “shooting while leaving a box”.
Take your support hand off the gun and use it.
Too many shooters move between positions with both hands glued to their gun.
If you take your support hand off the gun and use it to move more
efficiently, you reduce the transition time. You don’t lose time bringing
your grip back together if this is done correctly just before you enter the
next shooting position.
Prepare yourself to shoot as you enter the new position.
As you approach the new shooting position, you must be ready to shoot.
Again, this requires good timing and coordination, but when done correctly,
saves a lot of time. Your grip needs to come together one step before the
position, and your gun comes up as you enter the box. As your lead foot
steps into the position, your arms extend to the target. As your rear foot
touches down, you are ready to shoot, stable and controlled.
Port to port transitions.
These may require little or no foot movement. Be deliberate when planning
where to place your feet in order to avoid moving them as you shoot. Bring
the gun in, close to your chin, as you transfer to the next port. Make sure
you know where the first target is in that port, so you can be efficient in
extending the gun towards it.
Tip #24:Calling
your shots
Updated 15.09.05
The following was first published in my
book Perfect Practice.
If you have never heard of “calling your shots” – welcome to a brave new
world! You are about to raise your level of shooting to a new dimension.
When we talk of “calling a shot”, we are discussing the ability to know
where the shot hit the target without examining the target itself. It is the
ability to know precisely in what direction the shot went. This knowing is
based on the sight picture we saw as we fired the gun, the quality of the
trigger pull, and the gun movement in recoil. It is a skill that requires
some experience, but is well worth the effort and time invested.
Have you ever watched a top shooter shoot a string of shots, 2 per target,
and somewhere along the string he shoots an extra shot at one of the
targets? The split time for the extra shot is the same as the original split
times between the first two. The extra shot is picked up without pause or
hesitation. No conscious thought is involved in the process, and certainly
no eye-focus shift to the target to see if there are 2 holes or not. That
shooter, if indeed the extra shot was intentional and necessary, is skilled
in the art of calling his shots and it serves him well in competition.
When you shoot steel, you cannot possibly wait to hear the hit or miss
before you decide to shoot it again. A top shooter usually knows as soon as
the gun fires, or even an instant before, if that shot is headed in the
right direction. And the pick-up shot, if needed, is almost instantaneous.
I cannot stress enough how important this skill is to top level IPSC
shooting. Since most stages are shot “Comstock” scoring, you are always
allowed to pick-up extra shots. A quick pick-up shot is usually less costly
than leaving a Delta on the target, and certainly less costly than a miss.
However, throwing extra, unnecessary shots on every second target is not the
way to do exceptionally well either.
It is therefore important that you spend time developing this skill and
instinctively know when the extra shot is needed or not.
As mentioned, calling your shot is based mostly on sight picture, trigger
pull and the sense of how the gun reacts in recoil. An experienced shooter
who is paying attention, uses this information to pin-point the hit on the
target without seeing the hole.
Sight Picture.
This is, of course, of utmost importance in determining where the round
goes. You need to learn through experience what, for example, a “left mid C
hit” looks like in your sights at 10M, 15M, 25M and so on. Attention is the
key here, with focused repetitions.
Effect of Trigger Pull.
We know very well that a good trigger pull allows for accuracy, and that
“jerking” the trigger has a major detrimental effect on shot placement.
Through experience and focused practice you need to teach yourself where and
how far a shot is going off-target when you have a poor trigger pull, and
what error is acceptable or not.
Feel of Recoil.
This is less “black and white” and more of a “feeling” or “sense”. When our
muscle tension on the grip is as it should be and the gun tracks straight up
and down, the shot goes where it should. When there are conflicting forces
at work, the gun recoils “unnaturally”. This affects the shot and needs to
be part of your “call”. It is not as much the changed recoil that makes the
difference (as the bullet is out of the barrel before it starts to recoil
up), but the feel of recoil that indicates if an error has been made.
Tip #23:How
to get Sponsorship in IPSC Shooting
Updated 12.07.05
IPSC is an expensive sport. If you doubt it, you probably don’t
practice or travel to matches very often. A fellow shooter, a wealthy
businessman, once said to me, “Naaa, it's not an expensive sport – it's a
lot cheaper than breeding race horses.”
Well, that is one way of looking at the bills, but since most of us don’t
own race horses, we generally agree IT IS EXPENSIVE TO SHOOT IPSC.
IPSC shooting at international competition level demands experience acquired
through constant practice and participation in international matches. Some
would say that the minimum training required is to shoot over 40,000 rounds
a season and to participate in at least 15 major matches a year. This is not
to say you can't do well and enjoy your shooting with less. However, if your
goal is to be counted among the top 16 in the world, you need to make an
investment. You need to invest time, talent, dedication and money. Natural
talent and physical ability can take you some of the way, but you must shoot
and compete to make it happen. And that is where the money comes in.
We all need to face the harsh truth that IPSC is not a money-generating
sport, not for the shooters nor, in most cases, for the match organizers and
sponsors. (So if you are looking for the big bucks in sports earnings, read
no further!) IPSC shooters are dedicated to the sport for its own sake, for
the thrill of challenge and competition, and should accept that it will
bring them little or no income.
It’s a true "Catch-22" situation. Talented shooters with sufficient income
to support their sport usually don’t have the time to practice 5 times a
week and travel to competitions. Those who have the time can't afford it.
The solution? Like in most sports, professional sponsorship. Without
sponsorship to pay the bills and allow time and freedom to devote to the
sport, many gifted people wouldn’t reach their potential.
IPSC is different from other sports in that the funds available for
sponsorship are very limited. It's almost impossible to get the big spenders
like Coca Cola or Nike to even look at IPSC. IPSC shooting is not a
spectators’ sport and is never broadcast on national TV, the lucrative way
to see a return on the investment. In addition, public opinion has decreed
shooting as a "politically incorrect" sport, better ignored.
The only potential sponsors of IPSC are, therefore, the companies active in
the sport. This considerably narrows available prospects, especially as most
of these companies aren’t huge, profitable concerns. They are not keen to
spend money without being sure of receiving an adequate return on their
advertising budget.
I am in the rather unique position of having experienced sponsorship from
both ends of the deal. As a professional shooter, I actively seek
sponsorship for my shooting career. As Marketing Manager for BUL Ltd, the
manufacturer of the BUL M-5 pistols used in IPSC shooting, I consider
requests from shooters for support. I have therefore learned many valuable
lessons about sponsorship over the years.
Let’s examine them here. You are a serious shooter who has already gained
some success. Your ambition is to become a world-class IPSC competitor. You
know you will need sponsorship to do this, and you want to approach some
companies for support. Consider these guidelines.
Present yourself professionally!
Approach a sponsor with a clear mind. Pay attention to impressions,
intentions and attitude. Write down your request and your shooting CV: your
achievements, your goals, how you plan to achieve those goals. A company
interested in representation wants to have a high-level shooter on the team,
but also one who is known as a good communicator - a friendly person always
eager to speak with others. Don't be a snob! Not now, and certainly not when
you are being paid to represent a company.
What do YOU have to offer THEM?
Most companies are not actively seeking to sponsor new shooters. In fact,
many have had disappointing experiences and don't view sponsorship as a good
way to spend advertising money. You need to convince them. Tell them what
you can do for them, and at a small cost. You are trying to make a sale, and
as is the case with any sale, it must be worthwhile for both parties.
Be willing to work for your sponsorship. Offer to help at trade shows and to
present demonstrations at matches and events. Offer to help with product
development, feedback and to write and publish reports as best you can.
Being able to win matches is great, but that is not always the deciding
factor. Sometimes a top-notch shooter that finishes in the first few places
is more valuable as a sponsored shooter than one who always wins, but is not
approachable or communicative.
Make it less expensive to sponsor you.
Many companies are more willing to sponsor in products than in hard cash.
You should suggest this and work at selling the products to supplement your
income. Not only does this make it less expensive for the manufacturer to
sponsor you, but it also gives them the added value of your sales promotion.
A very attractive deal.
Only represent companies and products you truly relate to.
Avoid representing a company only because they agreed to give you a little
more. It will be impossible for you to honestly promote a product you don’t
relate to or one that isn’t suitable for your type of shooting. You will do
the best job for your sponsor if you represent a product you truly recommend
and believe in, one you would use yourself even without sponsorship.
Seek a number of sponsors, not only one.
I am proud to represent and be sponsored by no less than 8 leading
companies. This enables me to collectively earn more from sponsorship and
dedicate myself to my shooting career.
When you have a group of sponsors, the amount requested from each is less
(which makes it easier for them to agree), while the total sum is greater
than you would normally receive.
When seeking several sponsors, make sure that the products do not compete
with each other and cause a clash of loyalty.
Be loyal!
Often the return for investment in sponsorship may take some years to
realize. The sponsor looks upon the arrangement as long-term and wants the
shooter to become associated with the product he represents. This takes time
and will never happen if a shooter jumps from offer to offer. All the big
names in IPSC are loyal to their sponsors. When you say Robi Leathan, you
think Springfield, Todd Jarrett - Para-Ordenance, Eric Grauffel - Tanfoglio.
IPSC is a very small market. You may well find that few companies will talk
to you after you are disloyal to your sponsor.
If you do receive an exceptionally attractive offer, consider carefully if
it is worth making a move. As I said before, the main game in IPSC is not
the money.
Remember a sponsored shooter represents others.
You are representing a company. Your behavior and sportsmanship are being
tested. Remember to always conduct yourself accordingly.
Be prepared for the pressures of a sponsored shooter.
I sometimes hear "For the professional shooters it's easy. If I had the ammo
and range time they have, I could do as well, or better."
I can assure you it doesn’t get any easier when you decide to take your
shooting more seriously and dedicate more time, money and energy to the
sport. In fact, it becomes more difficult. As a top sponsored competitor on
the range, you are exposed to a new type of match pressure. More people are
out there watching and video-taping you and your success or failure
translates into more than only your own satisfaction or disappointment. You
are expected to deliver. You are expected to do well. You are being paid to
do so. If you think this makes IPSC shooting any easier – it doesn’t.
In summary, let me say that IPSC shooting is an amazing sport. It’s a sport
that challenges the mind and the body, and can thoroughly be enjoyed by
anyone at any level. It is an expensive sport to excel at, and if you choose
that path and are not independently wealthy, you will need sponsorship
support.
When you approach potential sponsors, ask not only what they can give you,
but how you can make it worth their while to support you. Don’t expect
anything for free! Whatever you get – be prepared to pay back. Perhaps not
in cash, but certainly in effort, dedication and loyalty.
And at the end of the day sit back and enjoy the rewards of reaching your
highest possible potential as an international IPSC competitor. You’ve
earned it!
Tip #23: Guidelines to quality practice - part 2
Updated
22.02.05
Spend time improving your precision.
So many shooters ignore this. On the surface, IPSC appears to be a sport
dedicated to fast shooting. But in fact, if you are unable to shoot an
accurate shot, on demand, you will have a real problem in IPSC competitions.
Precision shooting with a pistol is a perishable skill. If you don’t
practice it – you lose it. Make a point at every practice session of
spending some time working on accuracy. Shoot groups free style. Shoot
groups off a rest. Work on your trigger control, breathing and sight
picture. Once those free style groups are nice and small, practice shooting
them strong hand only. And weak hand only. This will serve you well under
pressure in the heat of competition.
Pay attention to accuracy.
All too often shooters think that accuracy in their practice is not very
important. After all, the score in practice doesn’t count, does it? But
understand this: when you train to shoot some A’s, some C’s, D’s and misses,
you are in fact building your subconscious skills for this type of shooting.
When you are in competition, all your shooting is subconscious. You cannot
consciously think your way through IPSC shooting. It is too fast and too
complex. So the subconscious takes over. As it should. This is where our
mental power lies, and all good performances need to be subconscious.
However – and here’s the catch - you build your subconscious skills though
repetitive practice. If you practice hitting 5 poppers with 8 shots, that is
the skill and speed you are developing, and that is what you will get in a
match. In fact, your accuracy may even be slightly less than the usual level
in practice, as match stress does not usually contribute to precision
shooting.
If you want to shoot 90% A’s and 10% C’s in a match, you need to practice
with at least that level of accuracy. There is no other way. Always keep in
mind: “Practice makes permanent, not perfect”.
Do a little dry fire warm up.
Develop the habit of doing some dry fire before you start spending your
bullets. True – most dry fire can and should be done at home, but it is
helpful to do some on the range as well. This ensures that your motion is
fluid and precise before you start to shoot. When you are shooting, much of
your attention goes to the sights and targets, and physical technique may
suffer. A few minutes dry fire helps prevent this.
Don’t start at 100% pace.
Allow yourself a few repetitions at reduced speed when practicing multiple
repetitions. Be sure to be very precise and correct in the technique you are
executing. Then gradually work your way up to 100% speed. Occasionally you
can try to push your limits and practice at a 110% pace – but not too often!
When you do this, your control and accuracy suffer, and you do not want to
practice that mistake too often. Speed will naturally increase with
practice.
Create a level of tension.
A practice session is not competition shooting. Your performance when
shooting under pressure is very different, and the best way to deal with
this is to experience it as often as possible. Most top shooters make an
effort to attend numerous matches during the year in preparation for the one
that is really their goal. Nothing can replace match participation, and you
need to experience the tension in order to learn how to cope with it.
Try to create a level of tension in practice, especially if you are unable
to attend enough matches. Here are some techniques you can use:
Visualization
Imagine, as you shoot a stage in practice, that you are on the range at your
big match. Try to put as much detail into your visualization as possible:
hear the conversations of your competitors, see the professional RO’s and
well-built props on the stage, feel the pressure. Sit and visualize this
before you shoot, and you will feel an increase in tension.
Practice competitions
If you have training partners who are at a similar or higher level than you,
run simulation matches during some practice sessions. It does not require a
lot of preparation. Each shooter sets up a stage or two, you all do a walk
through, and shoot one time for score. Be sure you score points as well as
time, and calculate hit factors for overall ranking and score. Add interest
by betting or challenging one another - “Winner doesn’t pick brass or clear
the range”, “Winner gets free drinks”, and so on. Do whatever keeps you
interested and increases tension. Use this in combination with
visualization.
Make your hits to shoot the stage
This is a nice technique for keeping you interested and focused on accuracy.
Set up a stage that starts with two or three steel targets. Each shooter has
to make these 3 shots on the steel, no extras allowed. If you need an extra
shot, you miss your chance to shoot the stage. In this case you unload and
go back to the end of the line. This practice is particularly effective with
4 or more shooters, as you need to wait some time for your next turn. You
feel the tension on those first shots.
This is an excellent practice technique and can be used in many
combinations. Use your imagination.
When you are at practice – be all there!
We all have a lot going on in our lives and putting private matters aside is
difficult. However, it is of the utmost importance during training to
concentrate all your attention and focus on shooting. This is why well
funded sports teams go away to training camps once in a while. They may have
all the necessary facilities back home, but they have the everyday
distractions too.
Detaching oneself from everything else is very important. Make an effort in
this regard. Of course, it is not always easy.
Each practice session teaches you something.
Be aware that every repetition burns an action into your subconscious. If
you do good repetitions, you build good subconscious skills. If you do bad
repetitions, you build bad subconscious skills. Do not allow yourself to do
bad practice! You will get very good at being bad…
Try to vary your practice times, conditions and locations.
Many shooters train only in the evenings. Some train only in the mornings on
weekends. Our matches tend to last all day, and often stretch over three
days or more. You need to get accustomed to shooting at all hours. Try to
vary your practice times as much as possible, so that you can be prepared
for all eventualities.
This applies to weather conditions as well. We all like to stay out of the
cold and the rain, but competitions are sometimes conducted in horrendous
weather. It is to your advantage to be familiar with such conditions through
practice. The same goes for locations. Try to practice on various kinds of
ranges - indoor, outdoor, ranges with various types of surfaces. This will
ensure you are better prepared for anything you may encounter in a match.
Strong hand, weak hand shooting.
You may be wondering why this book does not have a chapter on strong hand
weak hand drills. The reason is simple: almost every drill here can be shot
strong or weak hand too. And should be! Cultivate the habit of always
shooting part of your practice one handed. You need to shoot weak hand well
enough not to lose points on such a stage. Group shoot, draw, and make
transitions both strong and weak hand. This will make you a better shooter.
Tip #22: Guidelines to quality practice - part 1
Updated
07.01.05
We have all heard the phrase “practice makes perfect”. Well, that simply is
not true. Practice does not make perfect – it makes permanent. Whatever you
do will be improved by practice. If you practice shooting badly, you will
get better at shooting badly. If you practice shooting without taking care
to be accurate, don’t expect anything else in competition.
Here are the guidelines I consider crucial to quality practice.
Be a goal setter. Set your goals and plan your training schedule
accordingly.
Keep in mind that the goal of an individual practice session is not the
session itself. Sure, you can enjoy your shooting, but if you’re aiming to
participate in competitions, an individual practice session is rather about
improving your skills than having fun on the range.
A specific goal helps to keep you motivated and on track with your training.
If you are unfamiliar with setting goals and building a training schedule,
read up on this topic. There is plenty of good information out there.
Plan your practice content in advance.
Don’t come to the range without knowing what you plan to shoot that day.
Keeping track of your performance and shooting skills answers the question,
“What should I work on today?”. It is important that you train with a plan,
so that you don’t always repeat the same elements and fall short on other
skills.
Avoid the trap of practicing only what you are already good at.
This is a very common mistake. Many shooters enjoy shooting what they are
good at. This keeps them happy about their performance, and in a group
session makes them look good in the eyes of their peers. So there is a
tendency to keep training the “easy and fun” stuff. Speed shoots, simple
stages, fast shooting. Many shooters avoid training weak hand shooting,
bobbers (swingers), tough accuracy shots, difficult body positions, and so
on. It is very important to train your weak points. Once you have brought
your weakest skill up to strength, your overall match performance greatly
improves.
The “KISS” principle: Keep It Simple and Small.
I am an advocate of practicing small drills and simple exercises with many
repetitions, rather than shooting big stages. I believe you can more
effectively improve a technique by repeating it many times. In addition, you
can better isolate the skill you are working on by not combining it in a
stage that inevitably introduces additional elements. If you are practicing
reloads, there is no need to complicate it by drawing the gun from the
holster – start with the gun in hand. If you are training shooting on the
move, don’t add the complication of reloading in the middle of the string.
Unless complication is what you are after.
Building complex stages takes time. And you need to wait your turn if you
are shooting in a group. This reduces the number of repetitions you can do
and makes the session ineffective.
I am not saying you should never shoot stages in practice. You should,
especially if you do not participate in enough matches. You need to improve
your stage analysis and shooting skills as well. But this should not take up
most of your practice time. I prefer to schedule stage shooting when I have
a practice partner I can compete against. I am then able to shoot stages
with/against him and create a match atmosphere, which is always good
practice. Be sure to keep track of the points, as well as the time, when you
score stages in practice.
Keep a diary.
Keeping a shooting diary is very important. Write down any conclusions you
have drawn from your session, and anything new you have learnt. Record what
you did exceptionally well in order to reinforce that achievement in your
self image and subconsciouis. Keep records of your times and hit factors on
various standard drills. You will be able to revert back and track your
progress. Keep records of your loads and chronograph testing, your gear
modifications and maintenance, and so on.
Try to sit down and write your diary entry before you leave the range. If
you don’t, there is a good chance you will forget to do it once you are back
home. There is value attached to keeping a diary, even if you never again
read what you write. The act of sitting down to review and record the
practice you have just completed forces you to analyze your performance and
consciously look at your shooting and any changes. This accelerates your
learning curve.
How much to shoot?
There are many considerations in determining how much ammo and time to spend
on each session. Of course, this depends on your budget of both. As a rule –
be careful not to shoot too much. Don’t get to where you lose interest in
your practice. You need to care about the quality of each shot and you may
burn out and lose interest if you shoot too much. I try to shoot 300-400
rounds per practice. However, I may shorten the session and shoot less if
mid-way through I feel that I am losing interest and shooting badly. On the
other hand, if I am shooting really well and enjoying the practice, I may
extend the session.
If possible, shoot more when shooting well. When not doing well, I suggest
you pack up, rather than repeat and reinforce mistakes.
Keep your practice group small.
Of course this is not always possible, but it is an advantage. I try to
practice with no more than one or two additional shooters. I prefer shooting
with a partner to shooting alone, as I find this helps concentration and
focus. Shooting in a big group becomes more of a “social” happening, and
while that is not something negative, it is not what you want when working
on your skills. Many of your shooting buddies may not be as dedicated to
intense quality training as you are, and that may affect the merit of your
practice. In addition, a big group creates more wasted time at the range as
you wait your turn to shoot.
I believe a practice should be as short as possible, while allowing you to
achieve your goal. I see no reason to spend five hours a day on the range,
if you can achieve the same results in two.
Choose your practice partners carefully.
One tends to raise or lower one’s level of performance according to the
level around one. Nothing will speed your progress more than practicing with
shooters who are much better than you. Likewise, being the best shooter in
your practice group will not contribute to your advancement. Wherever
possible, train with good shooters.
Only do good practice. Never practice poor shooting!
Simply put – if you rehearse a bad performance – you will get better at
delivering that exact bad performance again and again. That is why the
quality of your practice should be your utmost concern. When shooting steel,
don’t allow yourself to keep shooting 50% hits. Unless, of course, 50% hits
is what you are aiming for in a match. Slow down! Work on your
concentration, and bring that percentage up. Practicing shooting badly does
not make you a better shooter!
Sometimes, you just can’t do anything right. On such a day you are better
off running the timer for the others, and not shooting at all.
More to follow on this topic next
month.
Tip #21:
Stage preparation. How to have your best
performance
Updated
05.10.04
• In IPSC competition we can shoot each stage only once. Our goal is to have
our best possible run that one time we shoot. If we could shoot it 100
times, and take our best run – we would like that run to close to our first
one – which is real IPSC.
So what can we do to reach this goal:
• Makes sure you know when you are up to shoot in the squad, so you can be
well prepared, and so you can use the time while targets are being scored
for one last walk through. You should always have a rotating order on your
squad, even if the match does not demand it.
• Make sure your mags are loaded well in advance, so you can use all the
time of the walkthrough.
• Make sure you do some stretching and warm up – particularly if you need to
run. IPSC is hard in that way, as we sit around a lot, and then need
explosive top speed. This leads to injuries and muscle strain. Don’t be in
your chair when you are the “shooter on deck”.
• Detach yourself from the surrounding early enough, so that you are not
affected by others as you prepare to shoot.
• Watch the RO: look to see:
1. What kind of timer is he using – what buzz to expect
2. How is he activating it. How long of a delay can you expect
3. How strict is he on the start position.
4. Do this well in advance, not just before you are up to start.
• Make sure you have reached your correct game-plan and that you have
decided on the right tactics. Watch other shooters to help you decide this,
but, do not watch the one or two just before you shoot. You do not want to
see a bad performance, and it’s too late to make changes anyway.
• Run your mental rehearsal – you need to rehears the stage in your mind
many times before you shoot. We will talk more about this in the next tip.
Tip #20:
Match Preparation
Updated
04.08.04
• Success in competition is never an accident. It is a prepared for event!
• You should do all you can to insure you best performance will come through
in competition. Sportsmen who are not professional are often guilty of being
lazy in their preparation for competition, and they do not get the
consistent good performance they HOPE for. Don’t HOPE – make it happen!!!
• Your goal should be to ALWAYS shoot well in the big matches. To the best
of your current ability.
• Every little small thing you do well in preparation adds a little to the
chance of having a great performance. There is no ONE THING that makes or
breaks your success. It’s the little things together. So treat them all
equally importantly.
The month before your big match
• Try to find out all you can about the match. What kind of shooting can you
expect, distances, types of stages, size of shooting bays will tell you
about distance and movement. This will enable you to train more effectively,
and will also give you a mental edge, as you will feel better prepared.
• Try to increase you ammo count in practice, to sharpen your subconscious
skills. Do a lot of dry firing if you cant get to the range enough.
• Do a lot of mental rehearsal. Think often about your competition. Always
in a very positive way. Always see yourself doing very well in your match,
reaching your goals.
• Try to find out all you can about the match location, the range, the
weather, the facilities on the range, what gear you will need. This is
particularly important if you have never been there before.
• Make all your travel bookings. Choose a hotel close to the range, so as
not to have to rush or worry about traffic in the mornings. The match hotel
is a good choice, as they will have many shooters there, and so will usually
offer an early breakfast.
• Make sure you do all your gear changes and gun repairs long in advance.
Don’t leave changing parts to the last minute.
The week before your big match
• You should not train harder the week before. Some even say train less. You
do not want to be burned out, or tired of shooting before the match. You
should have a “hunger” for shooting.
• Do more mental rehearsal – see yourself doing very well. “Daydream” often
about achieving your goal.
• Your gear should be working perfectly. Leave nothing to chance. Most
malfunctions are the shooters own fault, and can usually be traced to bad
preparation. If you are going to make a major cleaning, stripping the gun
down – do that with a few more practices to go.
• Zero your sights. You should try to do it in the same kind of light
conditions you will shoot in competition.
• Prepare you ammo and chrono it. If possible, with the same kind of chrono
to be used in the match. When you chrono – take from your ammo sample
rounds, every 50 or so, and chrono these, so you can see a trend. As a rule
– never be closer to the limit than 5 points. Or even 8. Be familiar with
your load/powder, and know how it will react in altitude and temperature
changes.
• Travel to the match with enough time to rest a little before competition.
Take into account jet-lag if need be.
• Get your sleep cycle in order, if you are a “late to bed late to rise”
person, you will want to try and change that before your match. Otherwise
getting up at 5am may really hurt your performance.
The day before your big match
• Make sure you spend some time on the range the day before. So you are
familiar with it, and get a “feel” for the place. More critical if you have
never been there before. This way you know for sure how to find it, and will
not be stressed about this the next day. We fear the unknown. The more you
know about the range/match, the less anxiety will set in.
• Of course you want to spend some time studying the stages. Use your match
book to decide which stages you want to watch shot (in the pre-match). As
you may not have time to watch them during the match. When you go to watch
stages, takes your match book, a stop watch and a pen. Make notes! As you
may not remember after looking at 16 stages or more.
• Take care of registration! Make sure you are entered correctly, and you
know which squad you are on, and where you start. The next day you want to
go directly to your stage.
• Try to see the squad list, so you can see who you shoot with, and also to
know the order of shooting – and can you expect to be up first on the first
stage.
• Make sure you have all you need the day before. Food, drink, chair,
rain/sun protection. Leave nothing to buy the morning of competition.
• Have a good dinner, and get to bed early enough, so you get enough sleep
even if you need to rise very early, as you usually do in IPSC competitions.
The morning of your big match
• Make sure you are up early enough. It takes our body 2.5-3 hours to be
fully awake for activity, like what we need in IPSC shooting! You want to
have a good performance of the first stage – you need to be fully awake.
• Have a good breakfast – but eat early enough, 1.5 hours before the first
stage – especially if that stage requires lots of running.
• Go for a walk/jog or stretch – do some warm up exercises.
• Dry fire – just to get the feel of the gun. Practice perhaps special start
positions.
• Pack you bags – and use a check list if need be. Take more than you need
in food/drink and ammo. You can always leave it in the car - but at least
it’s on the range.
• Leave for the range early enough – so that you don’t need to be worried
about traffic, or feel rushed. You want to feel relaxed.
• Don’t worry about feeling “butterflies” and stress building up. Say to
yourself “this tension I am feelings is good. I need this for my best
performance – and I know how to keep it under control.
• Be positive, and show confidence. Feel like a winner – feel like you are
shooting great – even though you have not even started.
Tip #19:
Activated targets – swingers, turners, movers
Updated
02.06.04
IPSC shooting offers the competitor diverse shooting
challengers and positions, and this is part of the sport's attraction. But
good quality training is essential if you are to be prepared for what you
may face in competition.
Barricades are often used to force tough body positions
while shooting, which may effect accuracy, gun control and set up. Do not
spend all you time in practice shooting "naturally relaxed". you need to
practice the various leans, twists and tilts that the barricades my
challenge you with. Here are some pointers to use in your practice:
-
Try to lean forward around a tight barricade –
not back. Leaning forward will allow you to maintain control of the gun
during recoil.
-
Bring the gun closer to your face – especially
with optic sights. Practice shooting like this even when standing
normally.
-
Lean with your weight on your outer foot – but
keep your feet well apart for balance. Bend your front leg.
-
Practice shooting very tight targets. Once you
convince yourself you can do it, what you see in a match will look easy.
-
“See” the target through the barricade as you
approach the shooting position. This will enable you to bring the gun up
towards the target directly, as you clear the barricade, rather than
sweeping the scenery as you come around with the gun.
-
Bring the gun forward to bear on the targets
from the “high ready”. Do not swing around or over the barricade with the
muzzle of the gun.
-
Do not lean the gun or your arm on the
barricade as you shoot.
-
Be aware that the brass ejects out the right
port in your gun. Be careful not to hold the ejection port too close to
the barricade – this can cause jams.
-
Practice shooting in tough body positions,
such as hard targets around barricades. Once you can shoot this well, you
will have an advantage over less practiced competitors.
-
Tough shots should be viewed as an opportunity
to gain an advantage. As a challenge, not a difficulty.
-
Step out of the box as you push away – this is
allowed as long as you are not shooting.
This is one of the most important keys to
achieving maximum performance.
By “maximum performance” I mean shooting a
stage in a match as best as you can. The key to this level of performance,
which is what you should always strive for, is CONTROL and visual input.
When you shoot in good control, you will achieve top results. This control
is maintained and supervised mainly by our visual input. What we see as we
shoot controls our speed and accuracy – provided that we really SEE, and
not just “stare blankly”.
Many shooters tend to shoot IPSC in various
levels of panic. This sometimes works, but consistency is what we are after.
A shooter in a state of panic moves quickly, aggressively, tends to shoot
many extra shots, often not needed, and is sincerely surprised to find a
miss on a target when he walks back with the RO. This is what we seek to
avoid. You absolutely have to call each shot you fire, and to do that you
need to SEE.
It is vitally important that you see what
you need to see as you shoot. You always have to see something, on every
shot you make, but this something is not always the same. It varies
according to the target type.Sometimes, seeing too much is also possible,
and that costs you time. Brian Enos in his wonderful book “Beyond
Fundamentals” describes these types of targets well:
Type 1: Single target at extremely close
range. Top speed shooting.
Type 2: Multiple targets at close range. Very
fast shooting
Type 3: Multiple targets at medium range,
speed controlled by size of hit areas.
Type 4: Multiple targets requiring accuracy.
Long range or small targets, such as plates or pins.
Type 5: Very difficult targets. Long range.
Accuracy shooting rather than speed.
On each type of target, we will seek to see
something else as we shoot. In essence, we wish to move our point of focus
as we shoot.
On a Type 1 target we really need to see
very little. The single target is up close, we can hit A’s just by indexing
well, with a proper grip. On this type of target our focus should be less
visual and more internal. The main importance here is to remain loose and
move the gun smoothly.
On Type 2 targets we will use our indexing
again, while very clearly looking and seeing the “A” score zone on
each and every target. We confirm the indexing on the first target, then
allow the gun to follow as we look from A to A. This point of focus (on the
A zones of the targets) will allow you to move the gun from target to target
more efficiently and faster. If you indeed keep your focus on the A zones,
you will score A’s, without focusing on your sights! However, the danger
here is when you start to get “glazed over” with your vision, and find
yourself staring at the targets, and not really seeing anything. In this
case you will be dropping many points.
On Type 3 targets you require more accuracy,
which demands more focus on the sights. With an open gunyou look at the A
zone as you approach the target with the swing of the gun, but as your gun
settles on the target, your point of focus should be your red dot. You want
to SEE this dot settle where it should. With a steel sights gun, you
actually have to change your eye’s focus from the target to the sight with
each new target you acquire.
On Type 4 targets the key is follow-
through. You actually want to see your red dot or front sight lift as you
fire the shot. You may or may not shift your focus to the targets as you
acquire the next target. As the shot breaks, you track the sight for a
perfect follow- through, which is “a must” for this level of accuracy.
On Type 5 targets, accuracy is everything.
The focus here is on the sight alone, and you want to continue to see the
full cycle of the sight recoil as you shoot. I like to see the dot return to
the target. Also, a point of focus in this type of shooting is the trigger.
As you break the shot you want to focus on making a very smooth “text book”
trigger pull.
Seeing what you need to see as you shoot will
help to keep you in control. Being very open to experience the visual and
other inputs as they happen, will assist you in maintaining your “present
tense shooting time”, or what can be called the “shooting tense”: It’s
important that your conscious mind is not wandering as you shoot. In fact,
it would be best if it were altogether “disconnected” as you shoot the
stage. Top performance is not possible if, as you shoot, you are thinking
about “Where do I move from here”, “Which target do I shoot next”, “Did I
make my shots on that first target”, “ My draw was great at the start of
this run”, “Is John watching me now?”, “Should I buy a new TV?”, “Does she
like me?” and so on. Your conscious mind has no real part as you shoot. You
depend only on your subconscious skills, which you have built during
training. You should allow yourself to be open to experience the shooting as
it happens, one shot at a time, not thinking at all – just experiencing.
This is the key to top performance. When you achieve this, you will never
again have that surprise miss you didn’t call. You will see and call every
shot you fire, and that is what will give you the consistency to be at the
top of your game every time you take the line.
Tip #16:
The
Mental and Physical Connection
Updated
28.01.04
Mental
stress has many physical signs. We all know and experience these: fast pulse
rate, sweaty hands, rapid shallow breathing, muscle tension, dry mouth and
so on. When we are under mental stress, our body physically reacts. The
less- known fact is that this link works well the other way too: If we can
control some of our physical conditions, we can reduce the mental stress.
This is the most useful “anti- stress” tool available, and it can easily be
implemented. The principle is simple – by lowering your breathing rate and
muscle tension, you can force yourself to relax, mentally as well as
physically. For this technique to work well, you have to practice at home,
in relaxed conditions.
“Breathing
Easy”:
Practice breathing in a deep, slow, manner. Breathing in to your full lung
capacity, but without stressing your chest muscles. Hold the air in for the
count of 4 seconds, then release. Very slowly, and very deliberately. Hold
for 4 seconds, then breath in again. Durng the entireprocess concentrate on
your breathing, how it sounds, feels. Imagine as you breath out that you are
allowing all the tension to slip out of your body. Tell yourself as you do
this “easy”.
Repeat this word to yourself.
“Getting
loose”
Practice at home after several minutes of “Breathing Easy”. Start the
“Getting loose” exercise. Here you will focus on each section of your body
in turn, right foot, right leg, lower, upper, then the left…. You cover each
group of muscles in turn. Each time you tense these muscles, and then very
gradually release them, saying to yourself “let go”. (You can choose
another phrase is you prefer. This is just one option.) It is important to
use a key word in your mind as you practice these exercises.
Spend
10 minutes a day practicing your “Breathing easy” and “Getting loose”
exercises. Do this at a quiet and convenient time, perhaps even in bed
before falling asleep.
Once
you have practiced this for a while, you will have developed better control
over your breathing and muscle tension. This will serve you well to reduce
tension at a match. You don’t have to do the whole 10 minutes on the range.
Just take a few deep breaths, and this along with the key word and some
muscle relaxing will have an amazing effect. This effect will work for you
only if you have laid the ground-work with your practice at home.
If you
feel you have a problem with performance in a match due to stress, it would
be well worth your time to spend these 10 minutes a day to help resolve this
situation.
You may never again need
to worry about match stress interfering with your shooting ability!
Tip #15:
Managing Match Stress
Updated
24.11.03
Many
sportsmen feel that stress is a factor reducing their performance level in
competition. And indeed, many shooters perform better in practice than they
ever do in a match. The interesting thing to observe though, is that many
champions perform just as well in competition as they do in practice –
sometimes better! Is this because they don’t have match pressure? No!
Actually, the top competitors have more pressure than the others, since they
have made the sport a bigger part of their lives, the success means more to
them, as does possible failure. They are being watched by their peers, their
sponsors, and in some cases their country. So how do they manage to perform
well under pressure? Here are some tips:
-
Accept
that match stress is a given situation, and cannot be avoided. Accept that
this tension has many advantages too, and focus on those. It will make you
faster, sharper, and in IPSC shooting, this is actually a good thing.
-
Avoid the
spiral of anxiety. Stop it before it gets out of control by keeping your
conscious mind busy – on positive things.
-
Look
around the range. See the signs of pressure on others. Recognize this. It
will make you feel calmer about your own tension level.
-
Occupy
your mind with positive thoughts. During your “down time” don’t even think
about the shooting. Just focus your mind on something that makes you feel
happy and relaxed. Your last ski vacation for instance. Think about it in
detail.
-
Visualize
yourself shooting the first stage extremely well. Total success. Tell
yourself: “I always do really well on the first stage in a match.”
-
Think back
to your practice and previous match successes. Say to yourself: “I am
ready for this, I have done my homework, and I am here to prove it.”
Tip #14:
Mental Rehearsal for a Stage
Updated
13.10.03
You may be able to shoot the stage only one time in a
match – but mentally you can shoot it as many times as you wish.
And sometimes you have to!
Remember, as you shoot, you want to be in the “shooting tense”, allowing
yourself to experience the shooting, and focus on what you are seeing as you
shoot. You certainly cannot be concerned with trying to remember which way
you have to move next! That preparation has to be done beforehand, during
the mental rehearsal for the stage.
- Always decide on your tactics before you start to
rehearse mentally. Otherwise you may be rehearsing two or more options,
and this can be confusing in real-time.
- Do not decide on your tactics, or begin to run your
mental rehearsal until you have actually seen the stage from the shooters
point of view. Otherwise you may be practicing the wrong thing.
- Do your mental rehearsal well in advance. Do not feel
rushed while doing it, and don’t do it as you stand on the line loading
your gun.
- Always run a positive mental rehearsal! Visualize all
your poppers falling on the first shot, your movement being smooth and
precise, and always see what you need to see in your mind’s eye as you
rehearse the stage.
- Try to run the stage in your mind in slow motion, as
well as in real-time. Being able to imagine shooting the stage in
real-time is a useful tactical planning tool to master.
- When you rehearse, try to sit or stand aside, so you
are not disturbed. Close your eyes if this enables you to concentrate
better, and detach yourself from surrounding distractions.
- In your rehearsal, run through the stage, planning all
the target sequences, magazines reloads, movements, and if there is any
special thing that you know you must pay attention to as you move (such as
checking on where that mover is as you cross doorway A).
- Be sure you start your rehearsal from the beep, or even
from the loading.
- “See” all the targets and props on the stage in your
mind in as much detail as possible.
- You are ready to shoot only when you can run through
the whole stage in your mind, without hesitation as to what you should see
next.
- On the simplest stage you should run a mental rehearsal
10-15 times or more. On a complex stage I sometimes need to run this
rehearsal 50 times or more before I shoot.
Tip #14:
Kneeling and Prone positions
Updated
09.09.03
-
You should always try to kneel forward rather
than stepping back. This is because you can see the ground in front of
you. Also, this is usually the direction in which you will advance.
-
Have a wide base to your kneeling position.
This is especially important if you come into this position from the side.
-
Sit tall on your right knee – do not sit down
low. Try to keep your upper body in the same position as when you shoot
standing. Do not lean back – lean forward.
-
When you move to the kneeling position, bring
the gun to the high ready, and extend out to the target only once your
knee touches down. This will prevent the gun from bobbing.
-
Be aware that the magazine pouches are not in
their natural position when you are kneeling. Practice making magazine
changes from this position, as they will feel different.
-
Kneepads are recommended. They will allow you
to be more aggressive going down into position.
-
If possible, avoid touching down with your
knee on the floor. Rather shoot in a squatted position. This will prevent
the “bump” which occurs when your knee touches the ground. Also, you will
be able to get up faster from a crouching position.
-
Practice shooting kneeling through very low
windows, rather than prone. Leave your left leg straight, and tilt the gun
sideways.
Prone Position
-
Use your left hand to support your weight as
you throw your legs back to go down.
-
Keep your gun hand extended all the time –
keep your eyes on the target.
-
Push your gun hand out in the direction of the
target.
-
Bring your left hand to your right as soon as
possible.
-
There are three possible arm/gun positions for
shooting prone:
· Elbows on the ground, gun in the air: this is
the easiest beginners position. You can get a good sight picture, but the
recoil control is not good. You have to move your elbows to pivot the gun,
if you need a wide swing.
· Elbows and gun pressed to the floor. This
will give you the best stability and recoil control. However, sighting is
more difficult. Using a long mag to support the gun is a plus, but you have
to be sure that your mag is not pressing up against the slide, as it will
jam it. Have a designated prone mag for this type of shooting.
· Elbows and gun in the air. This position
takes a little longer to set up in, and it is physically the hardest. But –
it will give you good gun control, and great swing possibilities. The gun
will be less stable – so it not recommended for accuracy.
· It takes time to get in and out of the prone
position. Use it only when you have to. Learning to shoot through a low
window in kneeling can save a lot of time on a stage.
Tip #13:
Magazine Reloads
Updated
29.07.03
Gear:
• Make sure your mags fall free from the gun when the release is pressed. If
they do not, investigate the cause and seek to fix it.
• Number your mags so you can identify them easily. If one tends to stick in
the gun, do not use it for a reload stage.
• Use good quality mag-pouches. At least three. Four would be better.
• Position them so you can get to each one in turn at the most comfortable
angle. The front pouches should usually be angled back, and the rear ones
more upright.
• Adjust the retention of the pouches in accordance with the stage. If you
have to run – tighten them so you do not loose you mags. If you are making a
standstill reload – have the mag pouches looser.
• Keep your magazines clean. If you drop one on the ground, take it apart
and clean it.
• Tip: Lightly oil the inside of your long magazine. Only do this just
before you use it. Do not allow the oiled mag to collect dust.
Technique:
• Speed is economy of movement! You do not have to move fast to have a good
reload. All you need is smooth, fluid movement.
• When practicing, start slowly and build up speed. Trying to rush from the
start will teach you the wrong movement.
• Make the reload with the gun high, up in front of your face, and close in.
• Be visual! You have to see the magwell on the gun as you reload. You can
even mark a specific point on the magwell (lower side of magwell is best),
and make a point to see that dot as you reload.
• Grip your new magazine with the index finger on the top round. This way,
you can “point” the magazine into position.
• The base pad rests in the palm of your hand. The base pad should be
roughened, to prevent slipping.
• When inserting the new magazine, bring the gun down a little onto the new
mag, as you insert it up. This makes the overall motion much shorter.
• Roll your support hand back into position, and grip the gun in the “high
ready” position.
Tip #12:
The Draw,
Various Starting Positions
Updated
03.07.03
-
Speed is economy of movement! You do not have
to move quickly to have a fast draw. You need to have smooth, fluid
movement.
-
Always try to move symmetrically with your
hands on the draw.
-
Always stand by and wait for the first tone of
the beep. Don’t wait to hear the beep, wait to hear the first tone of the
beep.
-
Don’t start until you are ready. If there is
shooting noise on the range, you can ask the RO to wait. Taking a long
time on the line only makes your anxiety level increase, and makes it
harder to keep your mind on the stage.
-
On the other hand, don’t keep the RO waiting
too long once you have loaded. Don’t run a 7-minute rehearsal on the line!
When you walk up to the line, be ready to go. Do your preparations before
you come up to shoot.
-
Listen to the beep a few times before it’s
your turn to shoot. See how the RO is activating the timer.
-
Relax and breathe deeply while you wait for
the beep. Do not allow your muscles to be tight. Do not allow yourself to
be deprived of oxygen.
-
Position your holster so that you can bring
the gun up to the target along one plane. Avoid the need to rotate the gun
as you move it to the target. Move your holster to the right position, as
dictated by your body’s position, and not vice versa.
-
Use a good quality holster AND belt. The belt
is very important. Even the best holster is no good if it’s swinging
around and moving as you try to draw.
-
Have something to think about while you wait
for the beep. Don’t let your mind wonder.
Hands at sides:
-
It is not allowed to touch your gear. But that
does not mean you should have your hands locked down and pinned to your
sides.
-
Your entire body should be in the shooting
position. The only body parts moving are your arms. It is particularly
important that your head (eyes) are not moving as you draw the gun. Trying
to align the sights with a moving eye slows you down.
·
On the draw,
inhale. This will allow your rib cage to lift, so you can get more speed.
-
Move both hands together.
-
Keep your eyes focused on your target. If that
is not visible – imagine it. Try and keep your eyes focused on that
distance.
-
Get a good grip on the gun before you draw.
There is little time to correct. Remember, a poor grip can cost you the
whole stage. It’s not worth rushing the draw to make up a couple of
tenths, if it costs you points the whole stage.
Hands at
surrender:
-
Exhale as you move your hands down.
-
Don’t have your hands held higher than is
necessary. Palms above shoulder height is all you will need.
-
Again – only the arms move – the head is
totally still.
-
Be sure of a good grip before plucking the gun
from the holster.
Sitting position draw:
-
I like to move my holster slightly forward,
and have the gun between my legs, rather than round the back. This can’t
be done, of course, with a Standard gun.
-
In some cases, when you know you have not
practiced a position, there is an advantage in looking at the gun and not
the target, as you wait for the beep. Of course, your eyes have to move up
to the target as soon as possible. It takes time for the eye to adjust to
a new range and lighting.
-
Get your grip on the gun before you start to
rise. If your body is moving as you are trying to grip the gun, you are
making things more difficult for yourself.
-
Tip: Imagine you are drawing 2 guns - one
with your right, and one with your left. This will help to keep your hands
moving symmetrically.
Gun on table-top:
-
Grip the gun, using 2 hands as you lift it.
Slip your support hand’s fingers under the slide or scope, so you can tilt
the gun up into your strong hand. The correct grip is very important.
-
A large slide racker can help with this in
Open guns.
-
Check to make sure that your mag-catch button
will not be pressed if you press down on the gun while lifting it from a
tabletop. If it does, you have to shorten the mag button, or build some
support that will prevent this from happening.
-
In the start position – have your eyes focused
on the gun. As soon as your hands make contact with the gun – lift your
gaze to the target you wish to shoot at.
-
Bring the gun up from the tabletop to the high
ready, and move out towards the target from there. Do not try to make
short cuts in the movement.
-
Practice and time yourself to the first shot.
Keep track of your score, and seek to improve. Do this in all kinds of
start positions.
-
Often it is better to remain seated to shoot,
rather than taking the time to stand. You should then make a point to move
your feet as you draw, to position your body in the best shooting stance
you can, while still seated.
Turns:
Back to the target:
-
Always turn with one step only. Do not shuffle
your feet.
-
Turn you head and eyes to pick up your target
as soon as possible. Your head should turn before you body does.
-
Consider the 4 options available to you:
stepping forward with right or left, stepping back with right or left, You
should practice all options, so you can choose what is best for each start
position you may find yourself in. Use your timer to learn during
practice!
-
Place you hand on the gun as soon as possible
– but watch for the 180!!
Tip #11:
Moving between shooting boxes
Updated 22/05
-
This is where many shooters loose time on a
stage. You can gain or lose time in every position, entering or leaving.
This can add up to big points in a match.
-
Pay attention to your last shot while leaving
a box, and first shot when entering. If you leave too fast, and miss your
last shot, you have gained nothing. You will have to back up into the box
to pick it up. If you fire too soon when entering a box, before you are
stable, you will miss your first shot, and that can throw you off for the
whole string. Timing is everything.
-
Try to choose a big target coming in and
leaving.
-
Practice shooting while you are “falling” out
of balance. With practice, you can learn to do this. Shooting while
already “committed” to the motion saves time. Bend you knee as you lean
out of the box.
-
Once your foot has lifted off the ground, the
shooting stability is over. Shooting while your foot is in the air is only
possible on very close targets.
-
Use your left hand to move – take it off the
gun. This will enable you to move faster, and also makes it easier to keep
the gun safely pointed down range. Any distance above 3-4 steps justifies
taking the support hand off the gun to run.
-
Look at the box you are moving into as you
approach it. When you are 2 steps away from the box, and you know which
foot will lead into the box, you should focus your eyes on the target, so
you can efficiently present the gun in that direction.
-
Bring your support hand back to the gun at the
same time, 1.5-2 steps before the shooting box. Bring the gun up to the
high ready just before you enter the box.
-
As your leading foot steps into the box, you
extend your grip out.
-
If you extend too soon – the gun will bob up
and down as you settle into position to shoot. If you extend too late, you
are losing time.
-
Always step in with your leading foot as far
as you are going to enter the box. No extra steps should be made in the
box. If you are moving to the right, step in with the right foot. If left,
enter with the left foot.
-
When entering a position at high speed, try to
lean your shoulders back, so you do not over travel with your center of
gravity beyond your feet base. This can cause you to fall out of the box,
loosing stability and time.
-
Tip: Don’t build up too much speed in a short
distance. It may cost you more time to stabilize yourself to shoot than
you have gained by speeding.
Tip #10:
Adapting your Equipment to YOU Too many shooters are afraid to
make changes to their gear. They like their equipment to look shiny and new,
and wouldn’t dream of taking a Dremmel tool to their new race-gun or
holster. But remember: Prizes are not won for looks! You can gain a
competitive advantage by making sure your equipment is perfectly fitted to
your style of shooting and your grip size.
Adjusting
your holster:
-
Experiment continuously with the multiple axis
adjustments that are available on a modern holster. Do not settle for what
feels “OK” the first time out. Look for improvements and experiment.
-
When adjusting your holster, consider your
most common start position. For example, in Steel Challenge, all the draws
are from “hands at surrender”. For that type draw, it’s better to seat the
holster a little higher, and perhaps more vertical too.
-
Don’t hesitate to shorten the body of your
holster if you don’t need the full length for your type of gun. The
shorter holster is less of a bother on your belt as you move and shoot.
-
Don’t settle for any movement of the gun in
the holster. Sometimes a simple add-on can hold the gun more stable.
-
In some holsters, polishing the locking
mechanism will result in a draw that feels smoother.
Adjusting
your magazine pouches:
-
Make sure they offer a good grip on the
magazine, so that you do not loose your magazines when you run. A good
belt goes a long way to ensure this, as it prevents the magazine pouches
from bouncing about.
-
To prevent the magazines leaning too far
forward, you can try to heat and bend inwards the base of the pouch. This
works great on Safariland. Here too a harder belt will work wonders.
-
Add Velcro to the inner loop of the magazine
pouch, so that you do not loose grip with your inner belt. This will also
ensure the pouches do not slide around.
-
If you have a tension adjustment screw on the
pouch – replace it with a type of screw you can turn with your hand,
without the need for a tool.
Adjusting
your magazines:
-
Never underestimate the importance of the
magazines in the function of your firearm! Magazine malfunction is
responsible for MOST jams in a semi-auto pistol. Especially when your gun
was working great – and suddenly does not…
-
Make sure your springs are not worn. They
should apply firm pressure even on the first round in the magazine. Test
them by manually stripping out the rounds, and look to see how they feed
out.
-
Slightly bend the top coils of the spring to
allow more pressure on the front end of the follower can often help avoid
nose-diving.
-
Polish the lips of the magazine, so that it
does not scrape the bullet case as it feeds out, and scratch your thumb as
you load you ammo.
-
Make sure your magazine followers have sharp
corners or plastic burns.
-
Adding skateboard tape or similar on the base
pads of the magazines will assist in ensuring a slip-free grip while
reloading.
-
Check to see if you can use a “prone mag”.
Test to see if it will work.
Adjusting
your pistol:
-
Remove some material from under the trigger
guard, to allow for a higher grip.
-
Remove material from the bottom of the grip
safety, again, for a higher grip.
-
Checker your grips! Usually, the sharper the
checkering on the grip, and the more surface the checkering covers, the
better control you will have. Skateboard tape can once again be used, or,
sand and paint.
-
Add skateboard tape on your slide for a better
load. Be sure this does not get in the way of the gun’s cycle, or scrape
your hand as you shoot.
-
Build up the grip of your gun to fit you hand
more fully. Having a large area of contact pressure with the gun’s grip
can greatly improve control when shooting, and will allow you to have the
same control with a more relaxed grip, which is always an advantage.
-
Experiment with different types of trigger
shoes. There is a huge difference in the feel of a curved trigger versus a
straight one. Try both.
-
Also, experiment with the length and position
of the trigger shoe. A longer or shorter trigger can also affect the speed
you are able to shoot at
-
Slide rackers, test types and what is best for
you.
-
Recoil springs – how this affects the feel of
the gun shooting, and the reliability.
Tip #9:
Shooting on the Move
· This
is an advanced skill, but one that can save you time on a stage, and offer
you solutions the others may not have. Usually you can save time by shooting
while moving in the direction the stage requires.
-
Do not shoot on the move if you cannot reach
the required accuracy! There is little point in moving to save a little
time, if this will cost you points. You have to be able to shoot A’s on
the available targets while moving – or you should not attempt to shoot on
the move. Points always come first!
-
The key to shooting well on the move is
learning to keep the gun’s sights stable on the targets as you advance.
This can be improved by:
·
Bending your
knees. Keep your center of gravity low. Do not lean forward at your waist,
but at the knees.
· Taking
small “rolling” steps. Heel to toe, heel to toe as you move. Keep your feet
pointing straight forward, not out to the sides.
· Bringing
the gun much closer to your eyes than you usually would. This will greatly
improve its stability.
-
PRACTICE! Dry fire; move in all directions
while watching your sight on a target. Using a laser pointer connected to
your gun can teach you a lot.
-
On tough shots while moving, try to break the
shot just before your foot comes down for a step. That will be the most
stable time.
-
Be aware of the ground surface. On rough
ground shooting on the move becomes harder, and must sometimes be avoided.
-
Fast shooting while moving is not possible.
You have to accept slower splits, to give you time to watch the sight
longer as it moves over the target.
-
Don’t insist on shooting while moving just
because you can. Analyze the stage wisely, and decide whether to shoot on
the move or not. You always pay in speed and accuracy when shooting on the
move – and this should be done only if you are well practiced, and can
gain by moving in a particular direction as you shoot
Tip #8:
Calculating the Hit factor on a stage – how this effects you
It is
important to understand how the scoring system works in IPSC. If you are a
competitor trying to get the most from your current ability, you can gain
from this understanding. It will tell you if you should focus more on speed
or points on any particular stage, and, should you pick up that miss you see
or not.
Here’s how the points are given:
For
example, we take a 16 rounds stage worth 80 points maximum (16 x 5 points
for an A hit).
Max
shoots this stage in 12.00 seconds. He shoots 12 A’s and 4 C’s. The points
he scores are: 12x5 + 4x4 = 76 points. Since he shot it in 12.00 seconds,
his stage hit-factor is:
76/12.00 = 6.3333.
Jerry
shoots this stage in 10.5 seconds. He shoots 10 A’s and 6 C’s. The points he
scores are:
10x5 +
6x4 = 74 points. Since he shot it in 10.50 seconds, his stage hit-factor is:
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