S&W686 Posted October 9, 2015 Share Posted October 9, 2015 I want to shoot with the best shooters I can. It always pushes me to do better. I have always been competitive and like to test my skills up against top shooters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shooterrdy Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 Just like Golf you always Play up. if your squad is great then you know you have to do your best and you learn something form everyone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GunBugBit Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 Being at a match where I can spend 2 or 3 hours with good shooters who also provide friendly coaching is gold to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrewHewes81 Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 Sometimes I think it helps and hurts to shoot with better shooters. I seem to learn things and it pushes me harder when I shoot with better shooters. On the other hand, some times I shoot too fast and screw up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yibomb Posted January 28, 2016 Share Posted January 28, 2016 (edited) I have played sports sense the age of 4-5 and i think composition between friends/others breeds excellence. Especially if someone is by far better than you in every way. I remember throughout my life their was always someone I knew that was better than me at something. Even if i was the best out of my friends i always knew the people that had more determination and grit. those people are my role models, normal people just working as hard as they can. I know of 2-3 local skateboarders/snowboarders that are now professional, even Michy Brusco the first person to land a 1080 on a skateboard only like 18 years old now. I used to skate with him when he was 5-6 and he was killing it on halfpipes 13" high. Those people are always out there find them and try to be a sponge. Another was Bryan Walters, We both graduated from the same high school in 06 and he is now a professional football player for the Jacksonville Jaguars.Played for the Local Seattle Seahawks when we went back to back Super Bowls and now has a ring to prove it. Edited January 28, 2016 by Yibomb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigboy69 Posted January 29, 2016 Share Posted January 29, 2016 For the Area 8 this year I will finally be shooting with my buddy Travis Tomasie and Steve Martin who is an Open Gun GM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rowdyb Posted February 1, 2016 Share Posted February 1, 2016 If you're the "not better" shooter then please be respectful of the "better" shooter. Approach them after they've had their run and had time to do their own post stage actions/rituals. If the "better" shooter is really good they probably have a side business teaching classes, maybe ask them about taking one instead of trying for 8 hours of free tips and attention. If you're the "better" shooter be patient with the "not better" shooter. They often don't know exactly what to ask and you probably have only shot with them at this match. So try to give the most accurate answer you can. Learn how to politely let people know you need your own time for focusing and preparation. There is a saying in the medical world, "nobody sues a doctor they like." Just being nice can go a long ways for you, the shooting community is small. We all know who is a jerk and unpleasant to deal with and you probably don't want to be added to that list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cnote Posted February 1, 2016 Share Posted February 1, 2016 (edited) Always makes you better, unless you assume that the plan they execute is right for you, sometimes it beyond your skill level. Now I'm not saying that it isn't the better plan( and one you should aspire to successfully execute at some point in time) just not the better plan at that specific time. Speed it up as far as it goes with the wheels about to spin off, then let off a bit. I've had to find a missing wheel on a stage now and then? Edited February 1, 2016 by cnote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ultimo-Hombre Posted February 20, 2016 Share Posted February 20, 2016 If you're the "not better" shooter then please be respectful of the "better" shooter. Approach them after they've had their run and had time to do their own post stage actions/rituals. If the "better" shooter is really good they probably have a side business teaching classes, maybe ask them about taking one instead of trying for 8 hours of free tips and attention. If you're the "better" shooter be patient with the "not better" shooter. They often don't know exactly what to ask and you probably have only shot with them at this match. So try to give the most accurate answer you can. Learn how to politely let people know you need your own time for focusing and preparation. There is a saying in the medical world, "nobody sues a doctor they like." Just being nice can go a long ways for you, the shooting community is small. We all know who is a jerk and unpleasant to deal with and you probably don't want to be added to that list. This is well said. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob1125 Posted March 13, 2016 Share Posted March 13, 2016 I have always tried to shoot with higher level shooters. I find that makes me push myself that much harder. The best match I ever had was at the USPSA Nationals. I was traveling with two friends and we were all in the same squad. One of my friends was a Master and I was a B. I ended up being the lowest ranking shooter in the squad. By watching the other shooters make their stage plan and actually shoot the stage, I was able to step up my performance. I earned my National A card at that match. I found all of the higher classed shooters to be very helpful. When we would do our walk-through, several of them would point out to me potential problems areas in the stage and how I could mitigate them. I had taken several classes prior, but this was a great education under match pressure. Tommy Campbell was in that squad and noticed I was having minor problems with my new at the time Safariland holster. We spent about 20 minutes in the safe area adjusting the holster and my draw. I never forgot how helpful he was and try to pay it forward when I see a newer shooter having problems. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IGOTGLOCKED Posted April 7, 2016 Share Posted April 7, 2016 I agree 100%. Nobody likes to be the worst shooter of the bunch. That's why I thank god for new shooters! Thanks for serving! I switched from shooting IDPA to GADPA, more fun and yes a great bunch of guys! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigdaddyZ Posted April 11, 2016 Share Posted April 11, 2016 ive noticed this in other competive sports with me also....golf...3-d archery...ect....if im with people that do better then me ill do better...if im with people that don't take it seriously I tend to coast..lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shooterclay Posted April 16, 2016 Share Posted April 16, 2016 Also shooting matches in different locations can help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IGOTGLOCKED Posted April 19, 2016 Share Posted April 19, 2016 I agree. It always helps to learn new things, especially from someone who can not only tell you what to do, but can actually do it. Amen!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audioman Posted May 17, 2016 Share Posted May 17, 2016 Our group has 2 good shooters and like 6 that's in the middle so its a race to not get last in the middle group Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wishfulshooter Posted May 17, 2016 Share Posted May 17, 2016 I enjoy shooting with better shooters as it does help push yourself. At the same time you have to remember to keep things to your level. Sometimes the stage plans that the higher level shooters come up with might be outside your comfort zone. So just try and remember to make it your own to a point and keep it at your level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kells81 Posted June 1, 2016 Share Posted June 1, 2016 I am fairly new to IDPA and I have noticed that I do generally do better when I shoot with the better end of the group. I think its more about watching them and taking notes on how they approach stages along with the advice given. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kcobean Posted June 3, 2016 Share Posted June 3, 2016 I have the good fortune of being able to shoot with Todd Jarret occasionally, and he's even competing in my division these days which is even better. I won't say I shoot better when I'm squadded with him, but I certainly do put on my learning hat and try to absorb how he does what he does. I just look at it as free instruction from one of the best shooters in the world. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RecoilJunkie Posted June 6, 2016 Share Posted June 6, 2016 You have to shoot w/ better shooters if you want to get better. You need to pay attention to their game and what they are doing differently besides pulling the trigger. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
teros135 Posted June 6, 2016 Share Posted June 6, 2016 You have to shoot w/ better shooters if you want to get better. You need to pay attention to their game and what they are doing differently besides pulling the trigger. Amen. It's hard to pull away from where we are without learning from others who are where we want to be. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickbfishn Posted June 22, 2016 Share Posted June 22, 2016 As a new shooter I'll admit that I only want to shoot with good shooters. I closely watch the way they move, how they get to their target, how they present, how they fire, how they transition and the overall way they operate while in action. I talk to them to see how they practice and prepare. I'll ask them to watch me and give me advise on ways that I can improve on what I'm doing. I take it all in and try to immolate all of the smoothest aspects I glean from each. I hadn't started moving fast yet because I'm still thinking about my next step or shot instead of just taking it as an instinctual reflex. I know I can run as fast as the big dogs, and I'm pretty accurate as well, but doing both together isn't something I'm comfortable with...yet. So I think if you participate with good shooters for the sake of them being guides, instead of looking at them as guys doing the impossible, then it should be very beneficial. On this same thought, I try like hell to avoid the new shooter squad. Sure there's something to be said for fumbling through and learning from each other's mistakes, but I simply don't want to take that route. I used this same approach when I decided to play tennis when I was younger. I would always seek out and play (and get destroyed by) the best players on the court. Sure we were playing to win, but I was playing more to watch and learn. By the time I hit the 10th grade I was practicing, and regularly beating, guys from a nearby college tennis team. By my senior year I was serving the ball 115+ and couldn't find anyone around who could hang with me. Sure I practiced 5 days a week, but I was still practicing and trying to do what the those guys did 5 years earlier when I was getting my ass handed to me on the regular. So, play up to the best and do what they do, just do it a little better... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nickbfishn Posted June 22, 2016 Share Posted June 22, 2016 Also, maybe it's a southern thing, but I hadn't come across anyone yet who wasn't willing to share advise or help when asked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tanks Posted June 22, 2016 Share Posted June 22, 2016 One thing one can also do when squadded with a better shooter (same division) is to video tape their runs. Then one can see what they did vs what you did on the same stage and learn from it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IHAVEGAS Posted June 29, 2016 Share Posted June 29, 2016 Have worked a couple level two matches so far as scorekeeper. You get to shoot with the staff, and then you get to watch and see how all the good shooters at the match run a stage. While you are watching you are not under any pressure related to your own shooting. I think it is a great learning opportunity and they even give you free match fees and prizes & stuff for it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigboy69 Posted June 29, 2016 Share Posted June 29, 2016 SOME of the M and GM's I noticed are a bunch of prima donnas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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