NTD

Those Vertex pants look great.

New shooter myself, I don't know if it's a good thing or not but I rarely remember even seeing the no-shoots, that's not to say I haven't nicked one or two

I'm in the same camp as the others...The book is in my top 5 and every time an Ender movie is mentioned I start feeling bi-polar. If they get it right it could be awesome!

Thanks, I'll check Priceline out and see what kind of deal I can get, was just curious if there was a a "traditional" hotel for out of town guys going to that club.

Just had my registration confirmed for the AZ State IDPA championship (Thanks again Brian!) and I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for decent hotels near the Phoenix Rod and Gun Club?

I'm a new sufferer as well. Never had the problem when I had a crossed thumbs grip and a weaver stance, the change up in techniques is hurting. I don't know if what I'm experiencing is "shooters" elbow as the pain for me is more in the very top of my forearm and not in the actual joint.

Thanks so much for this thread. I've been frustrated recently because the 2 other guys I shoot with have not changed anything since our first match and they don't practice, I have gone from a weaver stance to an isoceles, crossed thumbs grip to a thumbs forward, learned how to track the front sight and put several hours in a week for dry fire drills and I have watched my performance go down compared to them ...not hugely so but enough to wonder why the heck was I practicing devouring shooting books and videos or changing anything up. Steve's words reminded me of how we used to mention in martial arts that in the beginning you will be a worse fighter than before you ever walked through the door. Hard to fight well when you are thinking about how you are throwing your punch, how your feet and hips are angled at the opponent, how your chin is tucked etc etc...This thread helped me remember those lessons. Thanks guys. Nate

Wow! I generally think Glocks have no value aesthetically, but that's a pretty gun.

Shot my classifier on Saturday and squeaked in a Marksman ranking for both ESP (183) and CDP (181). What I find interesting is that my ESP gun (Walther PPQ .40) was purchased a week prior and the Classifier was my first time shooting that gun, and I was only 2 seconds slower than with my 1911 which I have been shooting for years. I'm now trying to figure out which one I should shoot for the State match in April. While I don't wish poor performance on anyone I had a little boost to my confidence when I scored better than my 2 buddies who shoot IDPA with me. One of them is stuck in Novice and the other scored 192 in CDP, they've both beat me in the 3 matches we've shot together before. I've beat them on individual stages before, but not the whole match. I'm thinking maybe some of my practice is starting to translate to matches. Either that or they both just had really bad days I know that 180's isn't anything to brag about but I accomplished my short term goal of making Marksman and now have a benchmark for myself. Next year I'm coming away with an Expert ranking

Cute pup! Schnauzer?

2 years and 4 months huh, my daughter is 2 years and 3 months...at this age she is just too much fun, makes me laugh everyday and her yelling "daddy, daddy, daddy" when I come through the door is just the greatest feeling. Congrats on the second one coming, haven't convinced my wife yet to let the 2nd one happen. Hope the pregnancy goes smoothly and safely.

Thanks for the input guys. I've added a barricade to my dry fire course and am doing most of the drills behind cover. It definitely makes the par time goals about useless, but I'm starting with my own base times and just keeping track of those.

Thanks for all the advice on cover. I will do my best to be mindful of it. I got some tips on movement that I think will help me be more aware of it. On the round dumping...Dang it seemed like every "top" guy shooting round dumped. I did a make up shot in that first video because I needed it. It was a hard cover target and I was sure I had nicked the black. But the other guys would shoot the third round prior to a reload and when you went to tape, the rounds would be nearly clover leafed. Being a newbie I am still confused on that whole issue, seems too subjective to me.

No problem Progun, I will work on that I'm shooting the State Match in April so the last thing I want is to be nailed with procedurals left and right.

Thanks for all the kind words guys. Yes that was John France. ProGunGuy, Didn't get any PE's in that one, watched the video again and I can see where I might have deserved them, although I think it's hard to tell with video if it's not directly behind me, in my or the SO's line of sight. HKguy, Yep second video was once at each target. Weird but I think it's a good test for those who are prone to an automatic pair Thanks for the tips too. Haven't shot a classifier, that will be next month's match. I've got a lot to work on, hope I can at least make Marksman... Nate

Shot my 3rd IDPA match today. I think I did okay but there are definitely lot's of things I need to work on. Thing's I'm seeing- -Grip, Left hand is not cammed well and it's resulting in my thumb pointing up. Even disengaged the slide lock when it should have locked back twice today. -Movement, I'm feeling very awkward mostly because I'm having a hard time moving rapidly and not stepping out of cover. -Lack of Zen. On the first video, about the 18-19 second mark I anticipated slide lock. I was thinking I should be empty and wasn't. I need to just shoot and do what I need to do when the moment it needs to be done arrives. Things I did better this time I was more accurate, my draws where much better (thanks to all the drills I've been doing in Steve's book) I felt that my transitions were better and that I was reacquiring my sights quicker on follow ups. Still tons of work on all those areas of course but trying to find successes I can build on. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0rgRP_wdQ4&list=UUaYojwzdCadcUNyIAZ5WTvQ&index=2&feature=plcp http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZuHRlwTnbeM&list=UUaYojwzdCadcUNyIAZ5WTvQ&index=1&feature=plcp

I just use the timer from here. http://www.predatortactical.com/uploads/media/Flashfiles/drawbeepSlider082504.swf Not an app exactly but it works on my Samsung Epic and has 10ths of a second. Hope this helps.

Thanks Erick, I'm looking forward to the match. Checking the schedules, shooting the classifier at PRAG will get me classified 2 weeks sooner than at PPC. I'll have to see how my schedule is this month and see if I can make it up to Phoenix. Nate

Yes he is!

Since, from the horse's mouth, rookies are welcomed, you can have the slot. Please confirm that you will go for sure though. be Brian, Thank you. Will definitely be going. The only thing that was going to keep me was if the slots were taken before I classified. Wife has already approved the time too Thanks for this opportunity! Nate Danforth

"The timer is supposed to be a measure of what happened, not a dictator of what will happen. I believe the point is to do what is needed more efficiently, not faster. If you time every run it seems like, despite good intensions, your mind gradually gears towards the goal of having a shorter time at all cost vs the process goal of doing it more efficiently so that the end result is a shorter time." I'm new to the game but absolutely agree. I've only started real practice drills the last 2 weeks but have found myself getting sloppy trying to beat the timer. Thanks for the great post.

I ordered Steve Anderson's Refinement and Repetition a couple weeks ago and have been doing the drills in there 4 times a week for 45 minutes to an hour each time. What a great book, I really feel like it's allowed me to have some focus and direction in my training. Because I am shooting IDPA right now I do practice the drills with a cover garment. I also put up a couple barriers in my garage and have modified one of the advancing while shooting drills to include moving forward to cover. Has anyone else come up with some ideas to modify the program to fit IDPA needs? If so would you mind sharing them here? Thanks. Nate

I was waiting to enter because I'm shooting my classifier in march and was hoping the slots wouldn't fill until I could get classified.

Brian, I'm new here but my friend and I who just started shooting IDPA a couple months ago were hoping to make it there, we heard State was good times. I'd be interested if they'll have a rookie.