Where are your eyes before the buzzer goes off?

[itlogo]

I've been playing with where I direct my attention right before the buzzer goes off.  I started off, like most people, staring at the first target that I'd engage, but then I started to wonder if that was what was making me not have a clear sight picture when my gun came into view (changing focal planes).  So now I stare at the ground, about 5 feet in front of me, at nothing in particular.  What I'm waiting for is my gun to come into view so that I can follow the sights up to the target.  But lately, I've been shooting Steel Challenge and wonder if not looking at the target is slowing down my first shot times.  I seem to be going back and forth on this, maybe because I don't have any real empirical data to back it up.  Anyone done any testing with this?

[TonytheTiger]

First target.

[B585]

2 hours ago, itlogo said:

I've been playing with where I direct my attention right before the buzzer goes off.  I started off, like most people, staring at the first target that I'd engage, but then I started to wonder if that was what was making me not have a clear sight picture when my gun came into view (changing focal planes).  So now I stare at the ground, about 5 feet in front of me, at nothing in particular.  What I'm waiting for is my gun to come into view so that I can follow the sights up to the target.  But lately, I've been shooting Steel Challenge and wonder if not looking at the target is slowing down my first shot times.  I seem to be going back and forth on this, maybe because I don't have any real empirical data to back it up.  Anyone done any testing with this?

Interesting thought process.  I would guess age will be a significant factor...over 45 or so and a closer focus point.  Young pups can change focus almost instantly ....aw the gold old days.  Sorry I don't have any empirical testing on first shots though.

[Flatland Shooter]

Concentrate on the center of the A zone on the first target and the sights will follow.

Edited October 17, 2017 by Flatland Shooter

[Glock26Toter]

Just like driving.  Look at where you want to go.  For some straight on engagement like draw-fire... the first intended hit.  If it's a table start of some kind, look at your pistol.  If it's a "go there and start" look "there."  Of course... if it's "facing downrange" you have to look downrange.  

[motosapiens]

12 hours ago, Glock26Toter said:

Just like driving.  Look at where you want to go.  For some straight on engagement like draw-fire... the first intended hit.  If it's a table start of some kind, look at your pistol.  If it's a "go there and start" look "there."  Of course... if it's "facing downrange" you have to look downrange.  

 

yeah. this. if i have to move, i look where my feet need to go. once I start moving, I can direct my attention to the first target and be confident that my feet will find the spot.

[Racinready300ex]

For me it depends, most of the time first target. Sometime, the spot on the ground I want my foot when I get to the first position. Then there are things like a unloaded start, I look down where the gun will be when I insert the mag

[IsaacB]

The place I am looking before the buzzer goes off is...the first place I would be looking after the buzzer goes off.

 

If it's a target right in front of me, that's where I look.

 

If it's a new shooting position that I need to run to, that's where I look.

[benos]

"Vision specialists" will say this is not possible... But here's where I ended up. Before the buzzer, look "softly" at the target, right where you want the sights to be. At the buzzer, bring your focus back to where your front sight will end up. With sufficient practice - especially dry-drawing - you will be able to have the front sight in perfect focus the instant it stops on the center of the target. 

[perttime]

I want to look at where I want to hit, something like Brian describes above. If stage design and description prevent it, I figure out something that helps me get to to the target: doorway, door handle, corner of fault line, etc.

[arkadi]

For iron sights, I look at first target, but no focus - relaxed eyes. Then my perception of the focus change feels better and faster a tiny amount.

[fatjoe123111]

If I don't have to move when the buzzer goes off then I'll look at the first target. If I have to move then I'll look that the spot I need to move to. 

[pjb45]

BE, You probably remember Rod and Cheryl Current from New Mexico.  Rod would tell me the exact same thing you just wrote about.  I know the two of you use to talk a lot.  Rod (and you) was always very generous with helping others (me included) to improve in this sport.

 

[enzo357]

Good stuff, I will try the relaxed approach. Currently looking at the A zone perfs. 

[191138sc]

If it is a unloaded table start with mags on the table, then focus on your gun and mags. If you are looking anywhere else, you will fumble the loading.

[1911builder]

first target

[abigger04]

First target or in the direction of the first array. If facing uprange then I look forward. 

[stick]

Like many have said, If I just need to shoot, then I'm focused on a small spot on the first target (Aim small, miss small).  If I have to move into position, then I'm focused on my visual spot where I need to move to first (Crack in the wood, Shotgun casing Etc).  If I have a table start or unloaded start, then I'm focusing on the gun or magwell.

[Novagunner]

I find the soft focus on 1st target A zone works well for me. 

[casarez]

I stare at my first target's lower A zone like it owes me money.

[Yeti]

If the first target is close <8yrds... I stare at a small area on target. 

If the target is further away>10yrds I soft focus (like waiting for a clay to come out of the trap house or when you are just zoning out and looking at nothing in particular) and try to lock on to that front sight as soon as it comes up. 

It is harder/slower for your eye to change focus from distant focus to close focus than vice versa.  This accommodation only gets slower as we age.  I try not to visually lock on to anything beyond a few yards or it slows down my acquisition.  I need all the help I can get nowadays!    

If moving off the start, I look where I need to go next.

Table?  I look at the grip and visualize picking it up quickly.  

[brianhansen]

Relaxed focus on the first target with peripheral vision/attention on the gun.  Watch the gun go out to the target.  I think that where you direct your attention is more important than where you look.

[3gunDQ]

It really depends on the start. If it is a draw from the holster start then my eyes are on the target if visable through a barricade or just in the open. If I start facing a vision barrier I pick a mark, spot ,or screw on the vision barrier where the first target will appear once I clear the barrier. If we are doing an uprange start I have my head up looking dead ahead and have a plan for the turn and first position/target/gun/whatever.  

 

The unloaded start is where this all changes. If unloaded in the holster I am looking down so I can see the gun and the mag and do the gun manipulation to get it running. If unloaded table start, or loaded table( or barrel) start, I focus on the gun because I am focusing on gun manipulation here again weather that means simply grabbing the firearm or grabbing it and loading.

 

Looking at the ground on the start is not good for any shooting discipline or game.  

Edited December 24, 2017 by 3gunDQ

[americanbrosinarms]

On 10/16/2017 at 8:55 PM, Flatland Shooter said:

Concentrate on the center of the A zone on the first target and the sights will follow.

 

Trying to work on this a lot more and it is already helping with acquiring my front sight faster, hell for the first half a year of shooting I didn't even know it was on there until I noticed it cleaning the gun....

[benos]

Where your attention is and what you are seeing are not different.