It's the one that counts

[OpenDot]

Something i've noticed and I need to get over real quick is my thinking of "this is the one that counts" and choke the Qualifier stage. I've done 5 qualifiers now and have choked every one of them or had a malfunction. The other 3-5 stages i'll finish in the 70% mark but because I freeze at the qualifier stage with my thinking of "oh here it is...the one i'm ranked on" then CHOKE CITY!. I need some help on how to overcome this. I'm alot better shooter that what i'm being ranked on. Just seems like i'm freaking out over it and I have no clue why. I've come a long way in the last 2 months. I used to finish bottom or middle of the pack, now after my one on one with Burkett and watching every one of his dvd's plus my 1/2 min dryfire drills i'm doing daily..now my mental game is messing with me very bad!

Last match results last thursday (stage 2 I had a jam and had to do a reload)

5/26/2011 Cactus Combat Match League

PLACE NAME CLASS STAGE 1 STAGE 2 STAGE 3 STAGE 4 STAGE 5 TOTAL

1 Pesuti, Vince Master Open 2.40 -1.67 -2.04 -1.57 5.17 2.29

2 Gallegos, Phillip D. Master Open -0.32 -0.93 -3.57 0.75 8.36 4.29

3 Maguire, Paul Master Open -1.83 5.90 1.33 -4.20 9.06 10.26

4 Inscho, Marvin Master Open -4.00 4.07 -2.55 -3.28 19.87 14.11

5 Muegge, Brian Master Open -1.42 6.88 -1.76 4.27 6.61 14.58

6 Kantor, Ian D Limited 0.89 3.50 4.77 1.85 13.55 24.56

7 DeWeese, Brent Master Limited -3.51 11.26 1.96 6.87 11.89 28.47

8 Costa, Sterling Master Limited -0.70 6.29 0.86 7.50 16.66 30.61

9 Weinberg, Steve Master Limited 6.43 15.79 2.28 1.34 16.16 42.00

10 Reiners, Gale A Limited 0.62 19.47 1.67 4.79 15.68 42.23

11 Thomas, Tim Master Limited -1.40 7.44 1.83 11.95 22.99 42.81

12 Owens, Tony Master Limited -2.04 8.44 14.82 5.37 16.53 43.12

13 Davis, Randy D Open -0.80 19.93 5.08 5.00 16.40 45.61

14 Metcalf, Jim Master Limited 0.75 7.40 11.72 14.46 14.36 48.69

15 Schwartzkopf, Matt B Limited 0.90 12.34 4.86 5.94 24.66 48.70

16 Sally, David D Limited -0.40 4.18 7.35 6.64 31.27 49.04

17 Rolston, Patrick Master SingleStack 1.07 9.96 2.80 18.56 24.30 56.69

18 Eng, Ray Master Limited 2.78 16.66 8.38 16.95 14.43 59.20

19 Magness, Bill Master Revolver 3.39 21.08 11.31 12.94 12.71 61.43

20 Koemptgen, Joe Master Limited -2.14 15.85 18.19 1.16 32.42 65.48

21 Hoag, Eric B SingleStack 2.10 26.33 9.71 6.05 22.22 66.41

22 Trainor, Brian D Limited 0.12 9.67 10.71 12.55 34.67 67.72

23 Van Patten, Dale D Production 4.38 18.17 11.67 25.63 22.21 82.06

24 Turnquist, Scot Master Limited 6.30 22.58 18.38 14.84 23.11 85.21

25 Krizan, Chip A Limited 9.98 37.47 14.16 8.66 33.44 103.71

26 Jenkins, Steve D Limited 10 12.39 39.11 15.40 21.46 18.26 106.62

27 Pekera, Bryan B SingleStack 7.65 23.13 12.80 17.86 46.49 107.93

28 Gaffner, Cory Tyro 2.41 40.25 22.47 27.16 21.02 113.31

29 Dewyer, Ken C Limited 1.79 17.07 47.27 8.43 39.93 114.49

30 Bazinet, Hazen D Limited 3.21 28.28 18.60 17.82 52.21 120.12

31 Macaluso, Mac B Limited 0.41 57.69 12.57 11.14 50.57 132.38

32 Yunker, Paul D Limited 2.25 57.34 27.87 19.02 33.01 139.49

33 Gonzalez, Ed Tyro 6.97 30.23 35.96 48.58 28.76 150.50

34 Moore, Steve D SingleStack -0.45 52.25 17.35 37.36 64.40 170.91

35 Geluso, Frank C Revolver 15.52 42.99 26.19 45.37 42.45 172.52

36 Juengel, Eric D SingleStack 12.53 69.47 41.65 42.84 39.66 206.15

37 Hammac, Evan D Limited 4.83 78.95 19.42 53.03 61.11 217.34

38 Aleksa, Brian Tyro 23.09 78.30 33.77 54.46 58.15 247.77

39 Sherrell, Jimy Tyro 31.66 82.35 48.80 57.16 100.00 319.97

40 Sherrell, Kaaren Tyro 12.73 100.00 103.66 57.36 100.00 373.75

41 Anderson, Steve Tyro 42.79 226.32 292.00 340.00 175.00 1076.11

Anybody else have this problem?

[OpenDot]

for the record i'm at 26% Open D because of this...

[dagger10k]

Forget classifiers. They are just another stage in the match. If you do this, you will end up being classified where you belong, which is a good thing.

Just let it happen. The classification system is not a contest. Relax!

[jar]

Maybe calling them by the correct name will help.

Seriously though, don't obsess over the classifier. It's just another stage. Try making a commitment not to look at your classification page for six months. I bet if you do that you'll be pleasantly surprised by a card in the mail.

[DoubleA]

I had this problem and what fixed it for me was using the classifier as a test for your subconcious. Don't think about it and just let your body do what it is going to do when you shoot. Now I look forward to the results because it let's me know what skill I need to spend more time with to drive into my subconscious.

If you choke, that is because you are trying to think your way through the stage. If you are thinking then your subconious(which is the only thing that is capable of controlling so many actions at once) cannot drive, and you end up in a kind of limbo between the two and blow the entire stage.

Let go and use the results to better yourself.

[wurm]

I don't get to shoot a ton of classifiers but when I do I just shoot them like any other stage in the match. I tried a few times to kick ass on them but when I screwed up it hurt my overall score too much, and I really like to win. That desire to do well in the match keeps me from doing anything too goofy in a classifier.

[Seth]

If you believe you're qualifying, that may be part of the problem.

The goal ISN'T to go as fast as humanly possible, but to shoot the stage to the best of your ability. Treat it like another stage that counts towards your match performance and you'll be happier.

[t0066jh]

My ego told me I didn't want to be a D shooter so I worked on getting to C with all of my guns. Now I'm a C and can't shoot good enough to place well in a match. Now I need to go back and focus on what I should have focused on to start with. Stage planing, reloads, movement, sight picture etc. That's the game we're playing......not stand and shoot. Oh well, now I've got a new challenge.

[OpenDot]

Thanks for teh help guys, much appreciated.

[Neomet]

Its only the one that counts if you think it is the one that counts. You could also view it as (probably) the stage worth the least amount of stage points since they are normally the shortest stage, or the non-memory stage, or even not think of it as a stage at all but as dot on A, squeeze.... dot on A, squeeze.... dot on A... well you get the idea :-)

One of the really cool things about this sport is it helps teach us to tame our monkey mind which thinks too much and to just focus our concentration on what we are doing in that exact moment.

Now you know of course I am going to stand behind you and watch you run your classifier Sunday at BA right?? LOL!

[OpenDot]

Its only the one that counts if you think it is the one that counts. You could also view it as (probably) the stage worth the least amount of stage points since they are normally the shortest stage, or the non-memory stage, or even not think of it as a stage at all but as dot on A, squeeze.... dot on A, squeeze.... dot on A... well you get the idea :-)

One of the really cool things about this sport is it helps teach us to tame our monkey mind which thinks too much and to just focus our concentration on what we are doing in that exact moment.

Now you know of course I am going to stand behind you and watch you run your classifier Sunday at BA right?? LOL!

Thanks for the help, much appreciated!!

I'm doing Saturday at PRG and Sunday at Avery, so on Sunday you're gonna stand right behind me arms crossed whispering "Don't Choke..Don't Choke" hahahahaahahahaa

See you there i'll send you a PM

[Flexmoney]

Listen. Your classifier doesn't mean a thing. Nobody cares where you are classified. Nobody is watching you to judge. Everybody there has their own things going on.

Lose the focus on expectations. Lose the speed mindset. Lose the "outcome" mentality.

Focus on the execution. Turn up your vision. Have the visual patience to aim. Be sure to follow through before you move the gun.

When you focus on the right stuff, the shooting will take care of itself.

[OpenDot]

hAD A MUCH BETTER QUALIFIER TODAY FOR SURE

Stage: 1 CM06-10 Steely Speed VII

Place Name No. Class Division Pts Pen Time Hit Fact Stg Pts Stg %

1 Garcia, Eddie 54 GM Open 30 0 3.48 8.6207 30.0000 100.00%

2 Smith, Tim 30 M Open 30 0 3.57 8.4034 29.2438 97.48%

3 Micklethwaite, Eva 41 A Open 30 0 3.80 7.8947 27.4735 91.58%

4 Stutz, Alex 29 B Open 30 0 3.87 7.7519 26.9766 89.92%

5 Draughn, Bret 11 B Open 30 0 4.21 7.1259 24.7981 82.66%

6 Micklethwaite, Russe 42 B Open 30 0 4.60 6.5217 22.6955 75.65%

7 Davis, Randy 59 U Open 30 0 5.21 5.7582 20.0385 66.80%

8 Little, Sue 13 C Open 30 0 5.28 5.6818 19.7726 65.91%

9 Clifford, John 25 B Open 30 0 5.32 5.6391 19.6240 65.41%

10 Shedlock, Rick 10 A Open 30 0 5.36 5.5970 19.4775 64.93%

11 Ramsay, Dave 55 B Open 30 0 5.90 5.0847 17.6947 58.98%

12 Korzep, Rick 52 B Open 30 0 6.47 4.6368 16.1360 53.79%

13 Phipps, Danny 2 U Open 30 0 7.06 4.2493 14.7875 49.29%

14 Ross, Tim 1 C Open 30 0 9.09 3.3003 11.4850 38.28%

15 Woodring, Nicholas 18 A Open 30 0 16.34 1.8360 6.3893 21.30%

[IL-SIG]

Friendly reminder....it's a Classifier