Tips, suggestions, Critiques of my shooting.

[Filishooter]

Hi, I just turned Expert SSP shooter in IDPA. Please take a look at the local match I shot last weekend. A few of the stages may not completely be IDPA legal (the MD decided to use a few setups left over from the IPSC match the day before). My hits were good, probably 85-90% -0s and only 2 targets -3 on each. No Mikes. I won the match but there were no Masters in attendance. Any advise or critism good or bad is welcome.

I also shoot USPSA Production, I just shot a classifier (no results yet) but I think I am borderline B/C if that helps.

thanks,

Andy

Edited August 15, 2007 by Filishooter

[Filishooter]

BTT. I got my USPSA Production classification and I am a "C" shooter (high C almost madeB .

I know a majority of you guys are IPSC shooters (not IDPA) but there should be some things that overlap? Anybody have ANY advise? Maybe I should post in the IDPA section?

Edited August 17, 2007 by Filishooter

[Catfish]

that was a pretty solid run there; only a coupla things I could see:

1. when you did your reload, you ducked back behind the wall. If you're properly using cover when you're engaging the targets, then you're properly using cover reloading. No need to duck back behind the wall.

2. When you went to engage the star, you took a long time to set up. Your gun should have been up and ready to get on target a step or so earlier.

edited to add - I just watched the video again - your gun was up and ready, it was your footwork leading into the star that was off and what slowed you down there. You didn't look very sure of where you were going to plant, and it cost you a hop, going sideways...

Edited August 17, 2007 by Catfish

[Filishooter]

that was a pretty solid run there; only a coupla things I could see:

1. when you did your reload, you ducked back behind the wall. If you're properly using cover when you're engaging the targets, then you're properly using cover reloading. No need to duck back behind the wall.

2. When you went to engage the star, you took a long time to set up. Your gun should have been up and ready to get on target a step or so earlier.

edited to add - I just watched the video again - your gun was up and ready, it was your footwork leading into the star that was off and what slowed you down there. You didn't look very sure of where you were going to plant, and it cost you a hop, going sideways...

Thanks Mr. Catfish! Great pont about reloading behind cover. I wasn't aware of the rules (I know, I should know better)...I thought that your body had to be completely behind cover (an SO called me on that one match)? Are you saying that you can reload from your last shooting position?!! I can see shaving a 4-5 seconds (maybe more) throughout the match that way! This is BIG.

On the star, YES! I started to get into position too early probably anticpating the star, i was too far behind cover and had to make an adjustment which cost me some time. I need to practice nailing my spot of rotation.

I appreciate the tips!

Andy

Edited August 17, 2007 by Filishooter

[Catfish]

Take my advice with a grain of salt concerning the reload - when I used to shoot IDPA, that was ok to do.... Check with your local club and see if you can find something in the rule book to back that up, but I'm fairly sure it's ok to do.

[Filishooter]

Catfish...You just saved me a BUNCH of time!!! I just have to educate the SOs!!!

From the rulebook:

More than 50% of the shooter’s upper torso must be behind cover

while engaging threat targets and/or RELOADING.

Reloads must be completed from cover, however this does not mean that a shooter must duck back completely behind cover to reload before reengaging targets from a stationary firing point. The contestant may keep his eyes on his next “opponent” as long as he follows the definition of cover and does not expose too much of his body to

the next threat target.

[Micah]

It might have been you following the IDPA rules (I'm not well versed at this point) but here's where I think you can pick up some time:

When you were engaging arrays, for the majority, you would engage a target, shuffle, engage another, shuffle, etc. Where you want to be is target-target-target without needing to make changes in your position. Decreasing the time in your target transitions will significantly drop your overall time.

[Filishooter]

It might have been you following the IDPA rules (I'm not well versed at this point) but here's where I think you can pick up some time:

When you were engaging arrays, for the majority, you would engage a target, shuffle, engage another, shuffle, etc. Where you want to be is target-target-target without needing to make changes in your position. Decreasing the time in your target transitions will significantly drop your overall time.

Thanks for the reply. yeah...I was following IDPA rules lower body must be completely behind cover and 50% of upper body must be behind cover. The other targets in the array can't be visible so you are shooting just one at a time. On some target transitions there isn't anyway around it...but in more than a few cases where the arrays were closer, I could have gotten a little farther out on my initial target then leaned out rather than shuffle which would save some time.

[Catfish]

Catfish...You just saved me a BUNCH of time!!! I just have to educate the SOs!!!

From the rulebook:

More than 50% of the shooter’s upper torso must be behind cover

while engaging threat targets and/or RELOADING.

Reloads must be completed from cover, however this does not mean that a shooter must duck back completely behind cover to reload before reengaging targets from a stationary firing point. The contestant may keep his eyes on his next “opponent” as long as he follows the definition of cover and does not expose too much of his body to

the next threat target.

Excellent, glad that hasn't changed. I'd keep a copy of the rulebook handy for when those discussions pop up at the range.

Good luck, and have fun!

[Duane Thomas]

You looked pretty solid on most stuff. You could use a bit of work on moving into position. You keep the gun high and don't drop it down, which is good, and much better than a lot of people. The falldown is that it looks like you're waiting until you're actually at the next position to fully extend your arms and acquire the front sight. Try making it a rule that, two steps before the next position, slow down slightly and acquire the front sight well before you get to the next position. This will save you immense time on your first shot at the next position.

To ensure you move into position precisely without any repositioning necessary, immediately after the last shot at the previous position, SNAP you head and look at the ground, right where you want your lead foot to go as you move into position. Then keep your focus there until you're two steps away, at which point you'll shift your focus to the front sight. This will make your movement into the next position MUCH more precise.

(I'm an SSP Master, if that helps give my advice any more weight.)

BTW, it looked to me like you did slide forward reloads on a few of the stages. Does your club not insist on only IDPA-legal reloads?

[Filishooter]

Mr Thomas,

Thanks for the reply! All of the reloads done in my video are IDPA legal reloads and ou club DOES enforce it. We do try to enforce ALL IDPA rules, however we were not using cover garments for this match because temperatures were close to 100 down here in Florida! On stages 1,2,3 I did slidelock reloads. It may look like the slide was forward because my M&P automatically drops the slide from slidelock if the mag is inserted with enough force. if you count the rounds I reloaded after every 11th shot. On stage 4 I did a RWR.

Snapping my focus to the ground (where I'm going to run) is definately something I am NOT doing right now. I do practice snapping my vision from target to target transitions so I know what you are talking about. I'm looking forward to practicing that. And you are correct, I am also waiting until I am in position and viewing the target, before getting on the sights. I am a little confused though...are you saying I should have my sights in focus 2 steps BEFORE I am in position and see the next target then ride that sight picture to the target? That will take alot of practice! I'm just trying to think how I would do that. its kind of like reading a book and driving at the same time, my vision isn't able to both read and see where I am going at the same time. Is the sight picture in the perhipheral vision and blurred but noticed?

Thanks again for the tips! Hopefully one day I'll make it to Master.

Andy

[Duane Thomas]

are you saying I should have my sights in focus 2 steps BEFORE I am in position and see the next target then ride that sight picture to the target?

Yes, you've only got to take two more steps at this point, and your mind/body can remember how to move your lead foot right onto that spot for the one second and few feet it'll take to get there.

BTW, I'd like to take credit for this one, but it was taught to me by Grand Master Travis Tomasie - who has some of the best movement skills in USPSA.

[Filishooter]

are you saying I should have my sights in focus 2 steps BEFORE I am in position and see the next target then ride that sight picture to the target?

Yes, you've only got to take two more steps at this point, and your mind/body can remember how to move your lead foot right onto that spot for the one second and few feet it'll take to get there.

BTW, I'd like to take credit for this one, but it was taught to me by Grand Master Travis Tomasie - who has some of the best movement skills in USPSA.

Thanks again, I've been practicing this and can SEE how it can be faster....but I have a long way to go!

[Duane Thomas]

Moved to the new IDPA Match Discussions & Videos subforum.