Matt in TN Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 Something I've noticed repeatedly now - whether in dry fire practice, live fire practice, or in a match: When I'm cruising along, focused on the action and fully in the present, things go well. Things sometimes go so well that I think "damn, I'm smokin' this run/drill/etc.". Yes, instead of focusing on the process, just for a split second I think about how I'm doing well. And that's when things fall apart. And no matter how many times I tell myself: "See? You're NOT really awesome, and you need to stay in the present", sooner or later things go well again and my ego jumps back up and gets in the way. I swear my own mind is laughing at me sometimes. Its ability to screw with me is legendary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hi-Power Jack Posted February 23, 2016 Share Posted February 23, 2016 Been there, got the t-shirt ... First stage of my very first major match in 1989, knocking down steel like a bandit - except the very last shot "damn, I'm smoking" and I fell apart. Still happens on occasion ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris iliff Posted March 5, 2016 Share Posted March 5, 2016 (edited) Hi Matt, It kinda surprises me that this didn't get more response. We have probably all done what you describe to some extent or another. What helped me was establishing a mental program. Might want to get Lanny Bassham's book "With Winning in Mind". I think about all kinds of things during a match, but definitely during stage prep and shooting,...my mental program is at the forefront, and this, for me, stops what you describe. Edited March 5, 2016 by Chris iliff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Erttactics Posted March 5, 2016 Share Posted March 5, 2016 This is a part of my game I need to get nailed down, started shooting uspsa just for fun, now I still want to have fun, but I also want to do well. Need to focus more on the task at hand Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reshoot Posted March 5, 2016 Share Posted March 5, 2016 Don't give your conscious mind things like that to do. Keep it simple, keep it clear. You must learn to let your subconscious mind do the work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt in TN Posted March 6, 2016 Author Share Posted March 6, 2016 (edited) Hi Matt, It kinda surprises me that this didn't get more response. We have probably all done what you describe to some extent or another. What helped me was establishing a mental program. Might want to get Lanny Bassham's book "With Winning in Mind". I think about all kinds of things during a match, but definitely during stage prep and shooting,...my mental program is at the forefront, and this, for me, stops what you describe. Thanks for the response! I have Lanny Bassham's book and have read it several times now. It has definitely helped me a lot.But just like sometimes, even though I KNOW I'm supposed to pull the trigger without disturbing the sights - I fail and it happens anyway. I KNOW I'm supposed to focus on the process and try my best to do so, but sometimes my mind creeps in and gets in the way. Damn ego. ;-) I guess I need to read that book again... Edited March 6, 2016 by Matt in TN Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b1gcountry Posted March 21, 2016 Share Posted March 21, 2016 I had this happen on the last shot of a steel match I was shooting. I was on my way to hitting my goal time of 100.0 seconds for the 5 stage match, and I went 4 for 4 on the last string (speed option), and if I hit the last plate I would have had my goal. Instead I missed it. 8 times, including a reload. I shot a 100.66 that match. Recently I've been doing better. Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glock26Toter Posted March 24, 2016 Share Posted March 24, 2016 I've learned to avoid this and just concentrate on all the things you need to do to get there. It just takes time. Sometimes I will talk about a "ham sandwich" to the RO, or picture myself eating one. Sometimes I'll say "shoot like you shoot" and that's my way of telling myself not to do anything different than normal. I find that sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't, but it's getting to be less of a "big deal" to me now so hopefully that means improvement. You'll find the same thing. The less of an issue you make it, the less of an issue it becomes. p.s. The ham sandwich comment was from a post about this very issue a loooong time ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
petrojc Posted May 22, 2016 Share Posted May 22, 2016 I did this yesterday on Razor's Edge. A, C, A, A, C, M/NS.....feeling special until I saw the hole in the white dude Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DASR4 Posted October 10, 2016 Share Posted October 10, 2016 Thats happened to me a few times, i will be doing good on a stage and think to myself "man i hope i keep this up the whole match" and then it goes to crap! Its hard not to think about it when your doing good on a stage Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt in TN Posted October 11, 2016 Author Share Posted October 11, 2016 12 hours ago, DASR4 said: Thats happened to me a few times, i will be doing good on a stage and think to myself "man i hope i keep this up the whole match" and then it goes to crap! Its hard not to think about it when your doing good on a stage Exactly! If my mind would just get out of the way I'd be a pretty good shooterr. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AzShooter Posted October 11, 2016 Share Posted October 11, 2016 Change your mind thought and make it easier. Just think. You've just shot a stage with all hits. Now, you know it's possible and you proved it to yourself. Next is to just relax and let it happen again. Believe that you already hit the next stage clean before you shoot it and then just shoot the stage. Don't think "Can I do it?" Think " It's Easy," because I've done it before and can keep shooting clean. Why would you miss the last shot? Example: In archery we had to shoot 60 arrows at a 3" bullseye from 20 yards. Most people I knew could put 59 in the bull but would miss the last shot. I always thought " I just made 59 perfect shots. There is no reason on earth to miss the next one." I went on to shoot perfect scores regularly winning many matches. Pistol shooting is no different. After a long layoff I'm trying to believe in myself again. Each time I've shot the Steel Challenge match my scores have improved. I keep seeing in my mind how easy it is. And it's getting easier. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IHAVEGAS Posted October 22, 2016 Share Posted October 22, 2016 I think sometimes it is your minds way of protecting you from knowing that you suck. Sort of a built in something to blame it on. Could just be me though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
abb1 Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 The part about egos is that once a stage is completed with excellent results, yeah, we feel like we are gods, and that is what gets you down as subconsciously you think that you have reached your plateau and your next stage, match, etc., you want to hit that limit again. Do NOT put limits on yourself! When you shoot an exceptional stage or match, the next time you shoot, you do not want to shoot that good again, you want to surpass that! If you limit yourself, you will forever be pressured in trying to meet the goals you achieved, the key is to subconsciously forget about that good score or time, and focus on surpassing that by shooting as quick as you can without any limits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benos Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 A danger in having a goal is that you might only reach it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoyGlock Posted November 16, 2016 Share Posted November 16, 2016 7 hours ago, benos said: A danger in having a goal is that you might only reach it. Wow!! Truth hurts ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alotur Posted January 16, 2017 Share Posted January 16, 2017 I think this is one of my big problems. I spend so much time on fundamentals, I kind of fall apart in the middle of a stage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alotur Posted January 20, 2017 Share Posted January 20, 2017 Sometimes it all seems to be happening so fast, I find that I do the best when I just do my walk throughs and visualize the stage and just shoot it. At a match your draw is yoru draw, yor reload is what it is, if you try to do more than you can it just makes for a bad stage. Not to say that these can't be improved by practice, but to try and out shoot my self has never worked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hunter91 Posted August 9, 2018 Share Posted August 9, 2018 On 1/16/2017 at 5:42 AM, alotur said: I think this is one of my big problems. I spend so much time on fundamentals, I kind of fall apart in the middle of a stage. Sports Psychology 101 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
benos Posted August 10, 2018 Share Posted August 10, 2018 On 1/16/2017 at 3:42 AM, alotur said: I think this is one of my big problems. I spend so much time on fundamentals, I kind of fall apart in the middle of a stage. Go here: https://brianenos.com/pages/words The scroll way down to the "Fundamentals & Technique" topic. (The link at the top of the page to that topic doesn't work.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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