-JQ- Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 I almost forgot to preface this...I'm starting my second season and I'm currently a "D" class shooter (soon to leave this class though ) So the conversation below will not sound (assuming here) like a "pro"...just a beginning "joe"... Yesterday at a local match, while in a transition between targets I had an interesting (to me) conversation with my "inner" self... Self: I wonder if that shot was an A? Self: Why are you asking these things now? Self: Well, I can't see where I hit the target? Or for that matter of I hit it at all... Self: Why are you looking at the target? Do you have sights? Self: Yes I have sights...a nice bright red one...why do you ask? Self: Where was that sight when the shot broke? Self: In the center of the target A zone...I think because the target was fuzzy... Self: Do you trust your sights? Self: Yes. Sights: Do you trust me? Self: Yes sights I trust you. Self: Trust your sights. Self: Quit talking about it and GO! $@%$%! Self: Trust your sights. Self: Trust your sights. Self: Trust your sights. Self: Trust your sights. ----- This seemed to become clear in the middle of a run...I shot well for the rest of the day and ended up with my best classifier to date...everything seemed so slow... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NMBOpen Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 Now insert the external "Bang" in the appropriate place(s) of your internal dialog. In other words, how busy was your mind during the splits/transitions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-JQ- Posted April 13, 2009 Author Share Posted April 13, 2009 The rest of the day... Self: Trust your sights. BANG! Self: Trust your sights. BANG! Self: Trust your sights. BANG! Self: Trust your sights. BANG! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nwb01 Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 Should you really be thinking "Trust your sights" while shooting ?? Shouldn't that already be burned in the brain prior to stepping to the line ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seth Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 I think that's a sign of speed. I have JUST started to have an awareness of the course as I shoot it and have that inner dialog... If nothing else, its nice ot have someone to talk to while shooting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-JQ- Posted April 13, 2009 Author Share Posted April 13, 2009 If nothing else, its nice ot have someone to talk to while shooting! It gets lonely in here sometimes... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chuckbradley Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 Usually those are with content I cant repeat here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GentlemanJim Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 Mine usually goes like this.....Crap! I shot the noshoot...bang....Crap I shot him again Jim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dajarrel Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 I get tickled at my son (28) sometimes. He will be shooting and for some reason starts talking to the targets.... "Yeah, come get ya some of this....You want some of this?.....Just stand there, I'll get you eventually." The first time I noticed it was when the RO was laughing his behind off. Although it does come natural. When I shoot revolver, I have a lot of time on my hands and for some reason I talk to the targets, RO, Myself... It doesn't matter. Ain't this a grand game dj Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Bell Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 (edited) I start with the internal dialog when things aren't going as expected. Sunday first stage I shot the first array of targets then took off running to the next planned position and for some reason I stopped short and started shooting at a target in an unplanned sequence. That got me talking to myself. Edited April 13, 2009 by Greg Bell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris iliff Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 I shoot with my Dad and nephew. Anyways, the nephew is going to shoot a speed shoot, 4 poppers of which any will activate two drop turners. These drop turners are fast. There and gone fast. Nephew steps up to line, buzzer goes off, shoots two most right poppers then right drop turner, then left drop turner, and finally last two poppers. I look at timer and whistle, 13 year old nephew did a 4.75 and all A's. My turn. Self..... "kid ain't better than you" "Shoot all 4 poppers then paper." "NO", "YES" , "NO" , "YES" , BEEEEEEP!!! What a nightmare. Down 3 and a second slower. SELF TALK SUCKS FOR ME. I usually just watch my movie and shoot. I'm really proud of that kid! He ended up 3rd on the stage, only a Master and A guy beat him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrawandDuck Posted April 13, 2009 Share Posted April 13, 2009 Only 3 stages left before cold cervezas....maybe I should leave now to get a table for everyone.....the faster I go the quicker we get done.....Oh look, a butterfly......not much as for shooting thoughts up there... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlamoShooter Posted April 14, 2009 Share Posted April 14, 2009 yes that is funny even into my 19 year at shooting matches. The funny thing about the Bang is when you are shooting good the Bang is a bit of a surprise. The best thing about shooting is when all that can quiet the mind and just watch. You see things that take place in one tenth of a second that takes ten lines of print to explain. That is what makes training worth wile. Well really that is the main reason I shoot. The extra traffic in your head is part of the Leaning Curve. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Z32MadMan Posted April 15, 2009 Share Posted April 15, 2009 Standby! Beep! Bang! "Somethings not right..." Bang! "This is really ****ing loud" Bang! "Muffs are around your neck idiot, ah that's it, I'm good... Next target... Shoot!!! I always double plug, but I have left without my muffs a few times.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DonT Posted April 15, 2009 Share Posted April 15, 2009 Conversation with self this past Sunday... Last target around that wall, run, run, run No you dummy, you can't run you're wearing a brace on a sprained ankle. Well just go faster Oh crap, what did I trip over This is not going to be a soft landing You have to turn your body in the air to keep the muzzle in a safe direction Make sure your finger is off the trigger Don't let the gun hit the ground when you do Ooomph, that wasn't so bad No bang... RO never said stop... So raise up "Grace" and put two shots in the target and get this thing done Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scorch Posted April 15, 2009 Share Posted April 15, 2009 wow! that reload went good Wow! Look how close I am to the targets after the relaod This will be easy. bang,bang....bang,bang....bang,bang.... Alhpa Mike, Alpha Mike, Alhpa Delta W.T.F. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Graham Smith Posted April 15, 2009 Share Posted April 15, 2009 Mine usually goes something like: I'm ready. I've got a plan. Slow and steady. Beep. Pause. Pause. Crap. What was my plan now? Bang, bang, bang, bang.... You're shooting too fast, slow down. Bang, bang, bang, bang.... Why won't that popper fall? Bang, bang, bang, bang.... The swinger didn't go that fast in the walk thru did it? Bang, bang, bang, bang.... Thank god that's over. What do you mean, "failure to engage". Where did that come from. I never even saw that target. I'm screwed now. Next stage will be better... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rvb Posted April 15, 2009 Share Posted April 15, 2009 "When I'm done shooting this stage, I'll be able to tell who's watching me shoot... they'll be the ones laughing..." -rvb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seth Posted April 15, 2009 Share Posted April 15, 2009 Based on watching some of these videos from GM/M's, I'm convinced that some of those guys are thinking about grocery lists and whether or not they turned off the coffee pot! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pittbug Posted April 16, 2009 Share Posted April 16, 2009 I recently shot a stage that went like this: react on the start of the buzzer, react on the start of the buzzer front sight next target run faster slow down next target I hope the mag stays in the gun my gun feels lighter what was that thud? crap the mag fell out draw another or bend down? but I'm gonna need that mag for the texas star ok, draw another, shoot one handed, bend and retrieve mag front sight crap, how do I hold the gun with a mag in my support hand? never done that in dry fire crap, I shot the hard cover, oh well, burned enough time here, eat it and move on Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Nesbitt Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 At a recent IDPA match. Hmmm. I'm shooting those close head shots and I'm not seeing the sights. Worked out OK though. Down zero on all of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pittbug Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 Bill, I was doing the same until the 5th target when I suddenly realized I hadn't seen the front sight and freaked out. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matt2ace Posted April 17, 2009 Share Posted April 17, 2009 (edited) Once I learned to quiet my inner voice, the silence lead to better stages........ For me, the inner dialog only occurs after the stage is completed. I find that I can run through the entire stage like it was movie and see virtually everything I did right and wrong. Many times, when I have had a miss, I can run through the stage in my mind and realize just where I pulled off a target too fast or even broke a shot when hard-cover was in the sight. I recently had a stage where I had to do an unplanned reload.....fumbled a mag, grab another, reloaded, and racked the slide ejecting a loaded round . I simply reacted to the situation during the stage, no voices telling me a thing. AFTER I finished, my inner voice kept saying....What the @#$@#$!! did you just do on that reload? Why the @#$@#!! did you rack the slide when you knew there was a loaded round chambered? I laughed it off and went on the next stage, there was no point in argueing with myself, I never win Edited April 17, 2009 by matt2ace Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kevin c Posted April 18, 2009 Share Posted April 18, 2009 My inner voice speaks of expectations. My inner voice is critical and judgemental. My inner voice does not allow any deviation from the plan. My inner voice screams "Failure! FUBAR! You screwed up! It's too late! It's hopeless - just give up right now!" anytime anything "goes wrong". I listen to my inner voice. .......... I will no longer listen to my inner voice. I do not need an inner voice. I will not HAVE an inner voice. I will observe the shooting, and let it flow from what I have trained to do. If things go "awry", I will take note, as I would of anything in my shooting, and allow the flow of shooting to compensate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
badchad Posted April 18, 2009 Share Posted April 18, 2009 Mine often says "Why did I just eject that mag?" Or the worst is "Hey alright... followed by "Bob Saget!" I've decided now that the worst thing for me to do is be happy about the way things are going when I'm still on the clock. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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