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jmac2112

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Posts posted by jmac2112

    Target focus, front sight focus, and....something in between?

    in Handgun Techniques

    Posted

    Just an update:  What I've ended up doing is using just the "computer glasses" lens for my right eye (dominant eye) and no lens at all for my left eye (wearing hardware store safety glasses over it).  I can see well enough at a distance without glasses, so this works OK.  I tried using my regular distance prescription lens for my left eye, but I really had a hard time getting used to the different magnifications.  My next step, one of these days, will be to get an "astigmatism-only" lens for my left eye, i.e. without any magnification, since astigmatism is by far my biggest problem as far as distance vision goes.  It would be nice to be able to see a little better at a distance, although I don't know how much of a difference it will make in my shooting.  In any case, I'm pretty satisfied with my current setup.

    Anyone use "Performance Analysis Journal"?

    in Training Techniques

    Posted

    Hi,

     

    I'm pretty new to competition (USPSA, Steel Challenge, unsanctioned matches), but I like the idea of tracking my progress and have been doing it in a somewhat haphazard fashion, partly on paper and partly on my computer.  Anyway, I've been reading "With Winning in Mind," and I see that Bassham recommends a "Performance Analysis Journal" which he sells on his website.  Sounds like a winner, but before I drop $32 on one (the price of the journal + tax + shipping) I'd like to know what others think of it.  Is it worth the price, or is there a cheaper alternative that's just as good?  I see that there is a subforum in this forum where you can record your performance, and that looks like a good way to get feedback from others.   So, whaddya think?

     

    Thanks,

     

    John

    Applying "With Winning in Mind" to USPSA

    in Mental Conditioning

    Posted

    Hi,

     

    A bit of background: I've been shooting competitions for about 9 months, currently shooting Production in USPSA/Steel Challenge.  I started out shooting mostly unsanctioned matches at my local range, then Steel Challenge, and recently I've gotten into USPSA.  I'm C class in Steel Challenge, not yet classified in USPSA.  I've become an avid dry-fire practitioner, currently working my way through the drills in Stoeger's book "Dry Fire Reloaded."   I've read Brian's book once, which is to say that I have only scratched the surface.  I've also just finished reading "With Winning in Mind" for the second time, and it is opening up a lot of possibilities to me.  

     

    Anyway, my main question is focused on the Mental Program aspect of Bassham's book.  I get how this program applies to sports where you are only taking one shot/making one swing, followed by taking your time to get set up for the next shot/swing, but how do you apply it to something like USPSA?  Do you repeat the "Point of Focus" phrase/image/thought every time you face a new target, or a new array of targets?   Or is one "point of focus" moment enough to carry you through the entire stage?  I've tried searching the internet for an answer to this question, but I'm not having much luck.  If this has been discussed ad nauseum, please just point me to the right link.  Otherwise, I'd love to hear what people have to say!

     

    Thanks,

     

    John

    Target focus, front sight focus, and....something in between?

    in Handgun Techniques

    Posted

    Also, I wanted to clarify what I see when I'm focusing hard on the front sight.  Because I have the sights lined up with my right eye, I'm seeing the front sight at an angle when I focus on it hard with both eyes.  In other words, I don't see the sight post squarely from the rear, but instead I see along the left side of the sight post.  I assume that must be normal, since the only way to see ONLY the square face of the sight post would be to line up the sights with the bridge of your nose.  Right?

     

    Thanks,

     

    John

     

     

    Target focus, front sight focus, and....something in between?

    in Handgun Techniques

    Posted

    I mentioned earlier that I am in the process of getting some shooting glasses.  The eye doc messed up the first go-round, so I'm going in for a recheck next week, and we'll try again.  My thought has been to have both lenses the same, with the focal point starting at the front sight and moving outward.  I think what I'll do when I go back for the recheck is to ask them to make me a third lens as well, so that I can see distance with my left (non-dominant) eye.  That way I can experiment by switching out the left lens to see what works best.  

     

    John

    Target focus, front sight focus, and....something in between?

    in Handgun Techniques

    Posted

    Thanks to all who have replied so far!  

     

    Jake Da Vita:  I hope the new glasses help, but then again they will not be radically different from my computer glasses.  I'll just have to wait and see (pun intended).

     

    MemphisMechanic:  I always shoot outdoors, but I dryfire in my garage.  I have noticed that the "problem" is not as bad when I'm outside, but it is certainly an issue there as well.  I am not totally opposed to the red dot sight, although at the moment my wallet is very much opposed.  

     

    boss281: I've done a little experimenting by wearing two pairs of glasses in sort of an X shape so that it approximates what you are talking about.  It does seem to work OK, but I can see that it would take some getting used to.

     

     

    I should clarify that this will only be a PROBLEM for me if it turns out that the "hard" focus on the front sight that I mentioned is the only way for me to get the results that people talk about when they talk about front sight focus.  The "soft" focus seems to work pretty well, but I don't want to handicap myself if there is something better.  

     

    Thanks again for the replies!

     

    John

    Target focus, front sight focus, and....something in between?

    in Handgun Techniques

    Posted

    Hi,

     

    I've been lurking for a while and trying to absorb as much info as I can, but I'm finally ready to ask a question.   As a little background, I have been shooting off and on since I was 8, but I've only gotten serious about it in the last 2 years.  I recently joined a range where they host lots of matches (Peacemaker National Training Center), and so far I've shot two matches (didn't do great, but didn't embarrass myself either). 

     

    My question is about focusing on the front sight.   Or maybe not.   Here's my problem: I'm 48 years old, and I wear bifocals for general use and computer glasses for (wait for it....) using a computer.  I'm right-eye dominant, and my eye doctor has never mentioned anything weird about my vision; astigmatism is my biggest problem, and is really my ONLY problem for distance vision.   I've also been using my computer glasses for shooting, since the bifocals are not at ALL good for shooting; the only range I CAN'T see with my bifocals is the range where my sights are.   WITH the computer glasses, I can see the front sight crystal clear, while the target is blurry but not so blurry I can't find it.  (I'm having shooting glasses made right now which will move the focal point out to the front sight instead of starting at 18" like my computer glasses).   Anyway, when I'm shooting with these glasses on I can achieve three types of focus: 1) target "focus," using the term loosely, since it's still pretty blurry, and with this kind of focus the sights are too blurry to be of much use; 2) what I'd call a "hard" front sight focus, where both eyes converge totally on the front sight, which is razor sharp, but the problem is the rear sight all but disappears, so I can't line up the sights at all; and 3) something in between, where the front sight is still sharp, though maybe a little "softer," and I can see the rear sights pretty well; the target is blurry but I can easily find center mass.


    So, am I the only one who experiences this?  I'm I just doing it all wrong?  I never see it mentioned in books or video's when people are discussing front sight focus.  The only place I've found something similar is on this site.   I ran across this post by Jschuberg from five years ago (excerpted from here: https://forums.brianenos.com/topic/180369-front-sight-focus-i-dont-get-it/?page=4)

     

    Lets say you have 2 targets - A and B. You start with target A. Your binocular convergence should be on the target, meaning there should be one of them. Your optical focus should be on the front sight - it should be crisp and clear, but there will be 2 transparent front sights.

    You take your shot.

    You should now move your optical focus outward and move your eyes to target B. At this point both your bincoular convergence and optical focus are are the target. Your eyes should lock onto your intended POI.

    You should now bring your pistol to target B where your eyes are looking. At the same time you should pull your focus back to the front sight. However, your point of optical convergence should remain on the target.

    You take your shot.

     

    I THINK he (she?) is talking about the same thing I am, but I'm not really sure.  I'm just throwing this out there in case it sheds light on my problem.   I do get the feeling that when I am using my "softer focus" my eyes are maintaining this sort of binocular convergence on the target while my right eye is focused on the front sight.  I'm really not sure what my left eye is doing. 

     

    Thanks in advance for any light you can shed on this!

     

    John 

     

     

     

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