dravz
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Posts posted by dravz
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My best iron sight shooting has ocurred when I look "through" the sights as opposed to "at" them.
I think I read something from TGO about that a long time ago...
It really comes down to seeing what needs to be seen. No more, no less.
Focus on the front sight was drilled into me very early, and for a long time I thought I did exactly that. But I've noticed when I'm shooting at speed: I'm focusing at a point that's like 5 feet past the front sight! I don't know when this happened.
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Deep down, I know I need to practice what I am not good at, as opposed to practicing what I am good at.
Old rule of thumb I live by: Practice what you hate.
More than likely you hate it because you aren't good at it.
If I ever catch myself saying, "Oh man I hate doing [this drill]," I automatically double the reps. Keeps your attitude positive too after long enough.
(And this pre-dates gun stuff, it applies to any sport/practice.)
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You could also be in a section that is having a really hard time giving away it's Single Stack slots, that it doesn't matter what your classification is or how well you've done over that past year's matches.
Do clubs try to send their "best" shooters to Nationals? Like an all-star team from their area?
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I shoot Production (although I have open guns too). I chose Production as it seems to be the most level playing field, and is based more on the shooter, than the equipment (this is my opinion, and others may disagree with it, as is their right.)
I'm a noob but I think the same way.
I also shoot Production because I figure if I can shoot my stock XD9 well I can shoot anything well.
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The classification system also allows D, C, B, and A (actually all shooters) shooters a chance to go to the nationals. Slots are awarded in each section of state to those top shooters in each class. If it wasn't like that, all you would ever see at the nationals would be M's and GM's. The way it is now, just about everyone has a shot at getting a slot to the nationals, within your respective division and class.
Nationals is invite-only? Wow, I didn't know that.
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What do the top shooters make per year anyway? Ballpark guess.
Let's total up sponsorship deals, match winnings, actual salary, etc. for a truly legendary shooter in our sport to get an idea. What does Rob Leatham take home?
This is not from a I'm-in-this-for-the-money point of view, rather it stems from a I-like-football-and-other-pro-sports and am curious how it compares. Obviously Dave Sevigny makes less than Tom Brady, right? Are these kinds of contract details in the public domain or reported on?
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I read this post this morning before going to a match "shoot slow and do everything else fast" thought about it all the way there and on every stage along with shooting with some very good shooters...scores havent been posted yet so I dont know how much better than normal I did but it sure felt like things meshed way better than normal for me. On several stages it seemed like in my mind "shoot slow and do everything else fast"....beep the buzzer went off...then show clear the stage was over. I just I guess made a plan before the stage and did that plan without thinking. No Im sure I didnt beat the way better shooters but I believe I beat my old self and thats who I really compete against at every match. Back on thread I 100% agree shooting with better shooters does make you better, just like any sport.
I've also heard it phrased as: Minimize the time your gun isn't firing.
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It does make sense in the context of our sport, especially when you think about it being the right hand that actually aligns the sights and breaks the shot, while it is the left hand that does everything else -- most of the controlling, grabbing the mags and all the reloading, operating stage obstacles, and so on.
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I'm surprised that hat isn't done in houndstooth.
After all, this is the ALABAMA Sectional
Guess that means I'm wearing an Auburn shirt to this match!
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I would like to attend, and this will be my first major match. Looking forward to it!
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Oh yeah, something else too, regarding Self Talk.
It's okay to talk to yourself negatively, IF and ONLY IF the negative talk is temporary and specific, and followed by positive talk after. It is never okay to say, "Wow, another interception, fantastic. Great job, dumbass." But it is okay and honest to say, "Wow, really underthrew the ball on that play. Next time just put the ball where it needs to be." Temporary, and specific.
This is great for matches. I can admit to myself my reloads were slower than they needed to be, and make a note to practice them more, but then also acknowledge all the great things I did on the stage and move on. Rather than throwing my hands up and thinking I bombed the stage completely. I'm sure everyone has their own examples.
I think self-talk has to include that honest self-critique, but you can't dwell on mistakes or beat yourself up because that can cause even more negative performance and a quick downward spiral into a blown match.
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I really like that pacing analogy, wonder if it'll apply to shooting a match.
The one thing I don't see on your list (and I agree maybe it isn't a Big 4) was attention control. I know BE talks about it a lot, it is the ability to focus on the one thing that needs it at that moment. To shift your attention to your hand and only your hand as it makes the grip, to the sight picture, to the trigger as it comes back, and so on. That laser focus on the only thing that matters at each moment, and to ignore all the distractions at the same time. I think BE may call it being in the now or in the present, something like that.
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Yes, the second book is for those who are now more interested in winning matches than improving classifier scores.
It may seem counterintuitive, but classifier scores don't have a lot to do with winning matches.
Now, that will be more or less true depending on the actual stages, but think about a field course and compare it to a classifier... totally different challenges and a different set of strength/weakness evaluations.
The classifier system would work much better if nobody ever knew which stage was the classifier. It could never work that way, but it would prevent the sand/grand bagging and emphasize more well-rounded training.
It's important to remember that both books were written from the perspective of my experiences.
Book 1 was written after I made open GM and got tired of giving my drills away.
Book 2 was written after I made GM and realized I was still miles away away from where I wanted to be.
And don't worry about telling BE. He knows the books are very different and work well together. Brian's book is like the bible... full of useful stuff but it can be overwhelming when read straight through.
It isn't counterintuitive at all. After only competing for a year, even I can tell which stage at a match is the classifier just by stage descriptions alone. Everyone knows they are different skillsets, right?
But you just sold me on your second book. If PoP helps me as much as R&R I should build a statue in your honor, probably in my front yard, out of snap caps. There's no shame in that.
Brian's book was a little too "airy" for me. While I may read it once a year to stay on the zen path, it's your book(s) I'm opening three times a week for practice. Probably depends on what kind of learner you are though.
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You're thinking the same way I was... The reason that competing at that level is so hard is that the top GMs are very, very good at things that classifiers don't measure.
Stage strategy
Movement
Entries/exits
Shooting on the move
These are things not normally found in classifiers, and would be noticably absent from your skillset if all you did was practice classifier skills.
Is this what Principles of Performance focuses on? As opposed to those classifier-esque drills in R&R? Or is that the sort of thing only learned in the wild (hard to drill stage strategy, eh).
Thanks again for your input, Steve. Your R&R book has done more for me than any other! (Don't tell BE though!)
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Here we are not allowed to shoot ANYTHING that resembles a human being. USPSA targets are therefore not allowed - only metric IPSC targets. If I were to bring an election sign to the range and punch holes in my least favorite politician, I would be banned from the club in a heart beat!! And since club membership is compulsory for owning a hand gun, I would loose my guns as well. So for me, only paper plates.....
I still shoot a lot of paper plates just because they're so darn convenient.
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You also must read Bassham's "with winning in mind"
It's never too early to start working on the mental game.
I was a flawed shooter for most of the first phase of my shooting career, and understood why after the first chapter.
Now I'm a much more mature competitor and am shooting better at matches than in practice for the first time ever. I never understood that phenomenon, now I understand it perfectly.
It has to do with turning pressure into focus, and picking the right conscious mind desire.
I have it and have read it. Great book and highly recommended (it's also a quick read). Believe it or not, it's even helped me when playing Call of Duty!
And honestly that kinda prompted my earlier question about measurable goals. Notably, I want to be a GM -- so, the Lanny Bassham question which immediately follows is: what can a GM do that I cannot? So now we start down the list of: GM can do 6 reload 6 in x seconds, GM can do a 5A/1C El Pres run in x seconds, GM can do a draw to first A shot in x seconds, and so on. I am/was looking for those GM-level metrics to strive toward.
Now obviously that makes me a little hesitant when you mentioned actually competing as a GM on a national stage. I don't know how to measure that, except to maybe talk about having generic placement goals like Top 10 at nationals, etc. But that type of goal isn't as objective as simple skillset goals. All I can do is meet and exceed my skillset goals so I know, and my self-image/confidence knows, I am capable of shooting like a GM, and then I will attend matches as regularly as I do now to ensure I can perform as a GM.
If I am off-base on anything, by all means shoot me down. I would rather hear about it sooner than later!
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Making GM really isn't that difficult if you're willing to invest the time and resources. Now, competing at a national GM level... thst's more difficult and requires more training still.
Roger that. Part of any improvement path is setting measurable goals, and you've given me somewhere to start and good ballparks on time invested. Not to mention all the great drills!
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When it comes to dry fire, I wrote the book.
<...>
Seriously, my first book contains the drills that got me to GM in open in about 9 months...
HAHAHA, nice one, Steve. Well played.
I've been busy chasing your par times in the book for about 6 months now, though usually only doing drills once a week. I've recently started doing your drills more often, but that made me wonder how often you do them. To get GM in 9 months, was that daily dry-fire? I'm obviously not anywhere near that level yet but I'm curious.
And for goal-setting purposes, is using your par times listed in R&R for the drills what is considered GM-level? I'm looking for actionable, measurable goals to set, and your par times are right in front of me so that's what I've been using.
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If he did intense compound lifts (considering he is able) for the same amount of time as jogging on the tread mill, while eating clean, I guarantee he would lose more weight.
Absolutely I agree with that. If you want to read more on the science behind fat loss and being efficient at it, check this article at T-nation to see the hierarchy of activities and their impacts on fat -- #1 is metabolic resistance training, specifically, compound lifts using the legs, chest, and back.
Our goal is to work every muscle group hard, frequently, and with an intensity that creates a massive "metabolic disturbance" or "afterburn" that leaves the metabolism elevated for several hours post-workout.
A study for this showed the group doing metabolic resistance training had elevated metabolism levels for up to 38 hours after a workout! That's how you burn!
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For hands look in a large sporting goods store for the "pouch" you see
NFL quarterbacs using. Buckles around your waiste,swing it around to your back while shooting.
couple of hand warmers inside keeps both hands warm.100% better than gloves
Interesting. I will look into that as I have an especially hard time keeping my hands warm (my core and legs always seem to be fine).
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I was going to suggest drill #1 from Steve Anderson's book, Sight Picture Confirmation if I remember right, but you got the man himself to reply so nevermind!
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How were your points for the match?
Stage results are here = http://www.uspsa.org/uspsa-display-match-results-detail.php?action=summary&indx=3256&compid=7
edit: durr, stage names = first video is Walk the Planks (obviously), second one is Down the Tee
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All your shooting is at the same speed, let your front sight control the speed, not trigger finger or cadence
on the 2nd video, why take the far target before running up. you have to go up there anyways, you have enough rounds. it just delayed you from leaving as hard from the last array
Again, I feel like I'm shooting when my front sight says to, but I will quadruple-check that I'm doing so.
I took the far target early because it made an even 10 rounds, but you're right I should've taken it with the next set (and a lot of other shooters did just that). I plain didn't think of it.
Gotta agree with everyone else, you need a stronger base/lower COG. For much of the shooting, it looked like you were struggling to stay on your feet. Being able to shoot from unstable positions is a good skill to have but make it an exception instead of a rule. Make an effort to keep your weight in balance and your feet underneath you and you'll not only create a more stable platform to shoot from, you'll be able to accelerate and decelerate quicker and smoother.
Noted. I will work on being lower and staying balanced, and doing a better job of entering and exiting positions. Thanks, guys.
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I use the Safariland 5188. Nothing fancy, not expensive, works great.
Shooting without sights?
in Handgun Techniques
Posted
That's awesome!!!
Great pic.