HeartGlockage

These things sort themselves out. When I raced motocross, I sold all my guitars, basses, drums, and snowboards etc. I got a weight bench. And ate right. The last thing I did everynight was situp/pushups. Oh... and I rode the dirtbike 7 days per week. Rain/Lightning/Mud, I knew that (most likely) no one else I was racing against was doing the same. There is nothing wrong with keeping shooting a high priority. Despite what people will tell you. Unless you are blowing off your daughter's sixteenth birthday party to go the the range etc... Nobody can say anything. If someone rode their dirtbike once per weekend, that is 4 times a month... I had them matched the first 4 days of the month. And almost matched their yearly ride time in a month. Why? I enjoyed the hell out of it. Every second. I would work second jobs to supplement costs. Etc..? Etc... Was work a high priority? Yes. But, it was BECAUSE of the dirtbike. Do I eat and workout properly today, years later? No. I had something to prove back then, to myself. Not anyone else. I was 30 years old, with 12 pack abs (lol), triple my current size, and the best shape of my life. Now. With thise days gone, I don't have the same "drive" for shooting. I could care less if I shoot Steel Challenge or Bianchi Cup. I am 1000% passionate about guns. But it's not the same goals as I had in motocross. Not the same outlook. Like I said. These things will sort themselves out. If you make fitness a shooting priority, you will swim or weight train or walk etc as part of your schedule. If you do NOT consider them necessary, you won't do fitness stuff. It will work itself out. Put in the work (and time) or don't. You will sort things out naturally.

I reset the trigger. If you can reset the trigger per shot, you will have no problem in live fire where the reset per shot is not needed. If you only have one trigger pull in a 10 shot string, it is also a "one shot" drill... Sight alignment can be practiced without a single trigger pull. But, I prefer the extra slide racking and trigger pull practice. For example, if you are at the range and load 3 rounds instead of 10 (or 17 or 33 etc...) per magazine, you will automatically have built in reload practice.

I haven't shot airsoft in years. And before I quit, a separate Glock Copy gas gun maker was sued and had to quit making them. So for it to happen again the company either tried to sell as many as possible before caught, or was stupid enough to not research it and didn't know it was illegal to copy a Glock... Weird.

I got over that from two things. Having past jobs dealing with strangers (Salesperson, Pizza Delivery) and racing motocross. There is no possible way to "look cool" when you crash a dirtbike. You can be entertaining! But, never cool. So when it happens, you learn how to accept when 2 friends in the woods, or 25 strangers on quads or Jeeps or hundreds of race fans watch you make a mistake. It happens. So the pressure is off. Delivering food puts you in tough to handle situations at times. Being 30 minutes late in snow to your best customer. They usually understand and still tip you the $10. Or they freak out. And you explain. You become a master of defusing the situation. Keeping cool under pressure. So buy a dirtbike and deliver pizzas this year. Then you'll feel no pressure. And you'll be ready for anything! Loool I honestly usually shoot better under dire pressure. Two examples. #1 I was playing Texas Hokd Em Poker with a gun. An older range officer at my indoor range measured cardboard to fit a deck of playing cards (minus Jokers). We started at 60 feet. You got 5 shots. Fast time limit. You studied the target and memorized cards. Say 4 aces, and sent the target out. Each card hit was removed, and the target came back 1 foot per hit card. So if I hit 5 cards and he hit 5 cards, the target would be at 50 feet for the next round. Anyway, he had like three 7's. At 37 feet, the ONLY WAY to win was for me to shoot three 10's. I memorized the cards on the grid and he sent the target out. The timer went off and I shot at the first 10. Thought I missed. Shot again. Same. Shot again. Thought I missed and went to the second 10, one shot and last 10, one shot. When he brought the target back: I drilled the first 10 three times, second 10 once and third 10 once. Claimed my Three Tens poker hand and the victory. #2 Went to train with an ex RO at the same range before my first IDPA match. Tirns out the ex Instructor was going to be there. But I didn't know. So thought "Cool! Maybe he'll give me a few pointers!" The guy gave me a full 50 round defensive pistol class. 5 hours, free. Why was it pressure? I had never drawn from my holster with live rounds. I had never had a pistol class. I drilled all 50 rounds on the official IDPA target in the down zero except for ONE shot on the -0/-1 line (my first one handed shot ever weak handed). All the rest were in -0. All while learning to draw and doing new drills. The other thing I do is this: When you are at the indoor range and someone has a Smith & Wesson .500, or a 44mag or .454 Casul, .357 Mag etc... Ask the RO if you can have a lane next to them! Why? Because if you can shoot 3-shot drills and block out the BOOM and physical shake of a .500 round 3 feet away during your string of shots, nothing will ever shake your awareness. Also: If you can't keep your cool shooting NEXT to a high powered revolver, how in the heck can you expect to focus being shot AT by a high powered revolver in a bad home invasion scenario etc... Lol Only half-joking about this last point! Just illustrating the point that if BOOMS shake your focus, it's NOT a good thing. You have to get over your own gun BOOM and recoil. So don't let the shooter one booth over shake your focus with their BOOM!

Same. Each read sheds new light. And it's always good to read the intro by Rob Leatham each time. Totally sets the mood for the rest of the book.

Brian Enos' book covers everything you've asked. I found this site becausevof his book. But, I am realizing now that of the 3 threads I've seen, maybe one has read his book? Would love to see a "book icon" next to everyone's name that read it, just out of curiosity! I have also seen quotes from "other newer books" that are already in Brian Enos book. For example someone will say something from Enos' book, but credit it to another author... Never stop learning. Read all you can. But Brian Enos' book is one of the best places to start. After his book, you can try the 3 latest books by Ben Stoeger. When you read Enos' book, your brain might hurt. Let everything soak in over a period of time. Read (and reread) each part. Then move on. Don't just speed read it. Stoeger has great Dry Fire guides. And an easier to read Enos type book. But, Enos book is good info to have before you read Stoeger's book. If nothing else, Enos book teaches you enough to recognize that Stoeger is dead on with his points.

One other problem I've done: The opposite of what you describe. Once you get on a roll and shoot better, if you let that into your mind too much, you might miss by inches. Example: Shot 1 = Great Shot 2 = Great Shot 3 = Great Before Shot 4, you consciously think "Oh my goodness! I have 3 bullets holes overlapping!" Now if you "control your excitement" you may recover and shot 4 = Great. But if your inner voice says: "Wow. 3 bullets touching! And then goes further: "Ok I will do great at the next match!" And then starts racing: "Oh my goodness, I will be on team Glock!" And "What color should my slide be on my Signature Model Glock????" At that point your concious thoughts block out your awareness and Shot 4 = Junk. That is a dramatic example on purpose. But, shooting well can mess you up as bad as shooting poorly sometimes... It's all one in the same. You just need to keep that awareness regardless. If you don't, you will fail hard while leading a match, let alone failing because you shoot badly. Stay out of the Judging. And just shoot.

Every shot you fire needs your concentration, in that moment. In other words, last week's target means nothing. Last stage target means nothing. All that matters is the shot you are firing while you fire it. I have had what you described happen 2-3 times since I started shooting again at my range. Out of 60 times out this year, I have had 2-3 where -if I focused on them- I probably wouldn't have kept shooting. Lol Perfect example was one of the last times out in fact. All my shots were well within the down zero zone. But I couldn't hit center to save my life. And not only that, but, it was one shot up 3 inches, one shot down 3 inches, etc... Not just a group off center. I take a break. Refocus on basics. Load one round at a time, and relearn my gun. That will work. The other thing I did once was after my first shot was off like 6 inches left of center, first shot of the day, I said "F it! Whatever." After I let go of "caring", I shot my fastest and cleanest, target up to that point (except that first shot). The most important thing you can do, is follow Brian Enos advice, and stay aware of each shot, at the time you are shooting. I focus on this more than anything. Letting my mind be clear and just observe the sight, the target, and subconscious trigger squeeze... If you are doing it right you will see the muzzle flash. As Brian said: "How can you claim your sight was on target if you don't see the muzzle flash?" In other words: If you blink or whatever and miss the flash, you also may have moved the gun slightly while in the blink during trigger squeeze. Seems to me that you having found that "zone" or "peace" or "awareness" lately where the only thing on your mind is NOTHING, and you are just watching/observing what the sight/target are telling you etc... If you have ever pulled the trigger, and fired a round, and before you see the hole, you KNOW it was a bad shot (the gun moved and you fired anyway etc...) then THAT is the awareness I speak of. The "bad shot" means nothing, because you were aware that you messed up before the bullet even left the gun. The best shooters (or other athletes) in the World can get into that awareness regardless. Divorce. Life's chaos... Whatever, won't affect the best shooters or racecar drivers etc... Because they are able to "shut off" the other problems and just stay in 100% awareness of the sight/target etc... I learned parts of that from racing motocross. If I am thinking about a girl or money or work I would end up on my face... Motocross is 100% awareness, scanning ahead, etc etc... Split second decisions. Or you get hurt. Shooting is the same "constant read/react and nothing else is important" until you stop those shots. So if you are the type to hold onto failure. Or be mad all weekend because you shot bad Friday afternoon... Then you could see how your mind can't focus "in the moment". I never judge a target until I leave. And on top of that, I never truly judge a target. If you let a bad first shot determine your mood, you may as well tear up a $20 bill, because if you can't "Shake It Off" (Sorry Taylor Swift haters) then you will never find that "zone" of letting your eyes and sight and target picture dictate the shots, per shot. So try a few day break. Try an "F this!" And just let the shots fly. Or start with 1 round per magazine (with ONE magazine) to force a "slow down" type relaxed shooting. All 3 have helped me. So they may work for you. The biggest concern (if you understand the "awareness" I mentioned) is your "expecting to win, based on past matches" mindset. A target is not the Mona Lisa. You don't shoot a great target or great match and are able to do that same performance for the rest of your life. It's on a match by match, shot by shot, split second by split second awareness. In other words, your last shot has nothing to do with the next. Awareness and solid fundamentals are everything. So your last match has nothing to do with your next. The best results will come from staying in the moment and getting each shot right. You can bet your behind that Jessie Duff, Tori Nonaka, Julie Golob, Rob Leatham, etc etc etc aren't relying on World Championships to win the next one. They are taking it stage by stage, shot by shot. I would try and do the same. And I wouldn't change guns. Because you have done well before. It's you, not the gun. My Glock won't make me an A shooter one day and a C shooter the next. It's all based on ME. And what happens "in the moment, every moment". Hope this helps!

I am way late replying. I was never a Master or Grandmaster shooter. So you may want to ignore my advice (since I'm a "lesser" shooter). But, I sold all of my firearms on at least 3 ocassions. And I mean ALL. As in DONE. Now I am rebuying. Nothing is worse than seeing my old CX4 Storm Beretta carbine is no longer listed in .45 (although they can be found online leftover) and that a used AK is selling for literaly close to double the price of what the used to be New! I lucked out on Glock, as I chose to replace a 26 and 17 with the "new" Gen 4's I prefer. But still wish I had the new Gen 3's I bought, to hold onto. Unless the gun is complete junk (a .22 that jams on anything but high-end expensive .22 etc...) I would advise holding onto all of your gear. I've done it with Guitars, Amps, Basses, Guns, Motocross bikes, etc... And I not saying you need to keep EVERY gun ever purchased. But, just here to warn you to make absolute DARN SURE, before you sell that it's the right choice. People talk about "Don't Worry! Gear changes! If you come back you can -upgrade-!" And while that can be true, say perhaps with a Glock M.O.S. For a red dot instead of expensive cut/grind old school mods to get the optic on a Glock... I find this to, more often than not, be false. People will argue, for example, XD vs. M&P vs. Glock etc etc until the sun burns out... I understand. But, having owned/cleaned/shot each, I have my own preference. Experience and your own targets will tell you more than 10,000 internet reviews or message boards. If you can afford to own each and try each. Instead of rent for 30 minutes etc... Getting off topic. Sorry. My point is. Take a break. Clean and oil your competition guns. Preserve them. But, I wouldn't sell. For example, the thousands of dollars I got selling everything, is nothing compared to the comfort level I had with good, quality guns I've sold. And that doesn't count discontinued or for example getting $280 for an AK that costs $650 now and has a bunch of different USA parts to be "compliant" with current laws. That hurts. Again, I am not a top shooter. But, can say, out of maybe 35+ guns sold, I only back up the sale of 3-5 guns... The rest I made a mistake selling. For various reasons. I would take a break. Yes. But, clean/oil the comp guns and pretend they don't exist right now. The $$$ you gain selling won't be worth a darn thing should you re-purchase in 1-4 years from now. Just my "regular guy" opinion.