proudbeard33 Posted August 6, 2012 Share Posted August 6, 2012 I heard it yrs ago that if you hang with a certain skill level crowd you will rise no higher than the crowd, which is fine ifthat is your thing, butf orthose who want to excell to the maximum oftheir abilities??? need to look beyond the comfort zone/squad Recently I heard a similar concept explained as, "You are the average of the five people you hang around with most." Interesting to ponder that, for both shooting and non-shooting aspects of life. This is troubling lmao Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
g mac Posted August 19, 2012 Share Posted August 19, 2012 always good to learn and challenge yourself from better shooters, or better everything else for that matter. Would you rather learn and play with the pros or newbies? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PJones1911 Posted October 19, 2012 Share Posted October 19, 2012 There are so many matches in our area that I could shoot more than one per week. More matches with shooters better than you will make you a better shooter. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a matt Posted October 25, 2012 Share Posted October 25, 2012 I would shoot with the pros too. Observe and compair. Then stay after and run the stage like the pros did and see where I'm losing time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimM Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 Shooting with better shooters has helped me understand the game, learn how to shoot stages and plan reloads, and gain confidence with my gear. Most have been very patient and willing to help new shooters do better. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amish_rabbi Posted November 20, 2012 Share Posted November 20, 2012 me and 3 friends are always at the range together, I'm either the worst or tied for worst of the bunch but it doesnt bother me as i've improved alot more in the year with them than all the years previously Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RANGER3BN Posted November 22, 2012 Share Posted November 22, 2012 "Shoot slow and do evertthing else fast" Where did I hear that? It was from a GM, so I kow it must be true. Yeah, it worked out that way. If you don't think so, try it the other way around and ket me know how it works for you. First time I've heard it put that way. Wise words. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BanksBullets Posted April 23, 2013 Share Posted April 23, 2013 This past weekend I shot space city and went after an open GM, and well all I have to say is that my matched ended shorter than expected Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mikethor Posted April 23, 2013 Share Posted April 23, 2013 I only ever shoot with better shooters and compete with better shooters, it is the only way to go because you also tend to push yourself and actually shoot a lot better. You also tend to shoot in the present as you are not worrying about your results. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S197Shelby Posted April 24, 2013 Share Posted April 24, 2013 I plan on trying to squad myself with at least one of the top shooters at this weekends match (only my second match). I found that my shooting is fast but I need to work a little on movement and a lot on stage breakdown. I hope to watch and pick their brains a little on both subjects. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChuckB Posted May 16, 2013 Share Posted May 16, 2013 I may just be blessed to live by cool people but it seems like the better the shooter the nicer the shooter. The higher end shooters are usually very helpful and I always try to squad with them. To be honest though, I've often wondered if they were just tired of having to wait for slower shooters. That being said, I was squaded with significantly better open and limited shooters at a major match last year and I ended up tring to shoot the match at their pace. Of course I shot too fast for my ability and ended the match with 6 misses. If I would have spent a whole additional second per miss I would have been more competitive in my class and division (L10). I think the best advice to give anyone is shoot slow , do everything else fast and listen to others. It's very annoying to try and help someone out only to get excuses as to why they can't follow the suggestion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nimitz Posted May 16, 2013 Share Posted May 16, 2013 Time spent watching other shooters is time spent not visualizing the stage and getting ready to shoot. When you ask a Super Squad shooter how much they visualize a stage prior to shoting it the answer will be: " continually until it's my turn to shoot". After you shoot a stage, by all means watch better shooters who shoot your same division but before it's your turn to shoot - never. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crowmag Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 I like to ask if three are any M or GMs shooting and try to get on there squad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nimitz Posted July 26, 2013 Share Posted July 26, 2013 Only if they shoot your division. I've seen lots of new Production shooters try to copy what they see Master class open shooters doing with disastrous results. Even within your own division it can be bad if you try to copy what you see right there during the match. Take good notes or video their runs, talk with them and then during your training sessions try to figure out how to do what you've seen them do. Matches are not the time to experiment or try new things. This is the time to let your subconscious takeover and just shoot .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S197Shelby Posted July 27, 2013 Share Posted July 27, 2013 I'll find out at Area 8. First year competing, first major match... squadded with Dave Sevigny. I hope to get an education and pick his brain a little. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a matt Posted July 27, 2013 Share Posted July 27, 2013 ask if it's cool . Then video him. I'm sure you will at lease see some things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stick Posted July 27, 2013 Share Posted July 27, 2013 I had the luxury to shoot with a GM at a match once, although he was shooting open and I was shooting production. I asked him if I could tape his run, he allowed me to and when I finished I took his video and put it side by side with mine on the computer. I learned so much by watching his run compared to mine. Shooting with better shooters will make you better as long as you have the fundamentals in place. Being fast and sloppy doesn't help your ability. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nimitz Posted July 27, 2013 Share Posted July 27, 2013 Yeah, great idea. Sometimes it's hard to see what good shooters are doing different than you until you see the same run side by side ...l then it becomes really obvious ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ultimo-Hombre Posted July 31, 2013 Share Posted July 31, 2013 Train with better shooters. At matches it depends... If you really want to beat the better shooters and you have the skill, don't squad with them or don't pay any attention to their run. If they are way beyond your current skill set or you don't care about beating them, heck yeah! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madworx Posted September 8, 2013 Share Posted September 8, 2013 I always shoot better when I do stage planning with a M/GM It makes a huge difference in my scores. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanD1 Posted September 17, 2013 Share Posted September 17, 2013 I have found this applies to all sports, if you are going to train with someone, or compete against someone who you think has the edge on you, you mentally up your game in preparation and execution. Do this often and your performances will improve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vluc Posted September 17, 2013 Share Posted September 17, 2013 When, then, do you plan to give back to the new shooters who will be in the shoes you just left behind? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin c Posted September 23, 2013 Share Posted September 23, 2013 I recently started to shoot with a new group of friends, as the many of my previous crew have moved on to other sports. The new gang nearly all shoot in my division (Production) and we are all fairly close in ability and classification. I see this as a potentially very good change. My old friends actually all shot higher capacity divisions, especially Open, and were Master Class level. I would often be the only Production shooter in the group, and much of the time time finished tail end Charlie in time/points/HF. My stage breakdown was always different, given the ten round capacity limit, the differences in the platform, and my own ability. It was hard to judge progress because I didn't have useable benchmarks. My friends would offer advice, but sometimes what works for Open/Limited doesn't translate well to Production. There was also the insidious expectation of finishing well behind the others that started to affect how much I thought I could improve my shooting. With my current squadmates we pick each other's brains, suggest and try different things/techniques, and, being in the same Division, it seems more pertinent. There is also a bit more friendly competition, again because we're in the same Division at the same level, all looking to improve. So, strictly from the perspective of improving one's own shooting, shooting with the right group of shooters may be as important as shooting with better shooters. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trgt Posted November 14, 2013 Share Posted November 14, 2013 Regarding doing things with those better than you, it's not the association that automatically makes you better, but the expectation you place on yourself of what you should do or can do. That expectation may change as you hang with the better folks. (IMHO based on many things outside of shooting) That's probably why the good folks don't slow down when with others, they are playing to their expectation of what they should do, not the average of the group they are with that day. So why work with those at a level below yourself - once you have mastery at any level? The sharing and teaching actually make you even stronger as now you have to not only understand why you do what you do, but be able to explain it so others can understand. (Again, IMHO -- for USPSA I'm very much on the learning / improving end right now :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Idoktr Posted January 17, 2014 Share Posted January 17, 2014 As a newer shooter, I have met some master level shooters at matches. They have been more than helpful with tips and are very responsive to my questions. I hope to do the same if I ever get better……... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now