Critique my Area 6 Shooting

[kgunz11]

http://www.youtube.com/user/kgunz11

They are all listed as Area 6 2009 on my YouTube page. I'm a B class Limited shooter, and this is what I think about them...

Stage 1: I didn't give the steel the respect it deserved and I tanked it. Slow is smooth and smooth is fast, and I was NOT smooth. I would index on the target but only aim at it if it was distant or if I missed it. I would have done better if I aimed on each shot and went 1 for 1 on the steel instead of missing and having to come back to it. The time it would have taken to get a good sight picture would have been less than the transition in coming back to the target, the time wasted in a bad shot, and the time used in the reload.

32 A's

time - 59.62

place - 80

Stage 2: My first stage of the match, a little jittery, and my goal was to work on foot speed and get from point A to point B as quickly as possible while shooting targets in between. On the 2nd shooting position/array, there was a tight set of shooting lanes cluttered with no shoot targets. I put the first 2 rounds in the edge of a no shoot, but stepped back and made them up. Basically I over stepped where I wanted to set up to shoot the targets, but I did make them up quickly enough. My time on the stage was good, but 2 no shoots and 1 unexplained Mike hurt a lot. Were it not for the Mike and the 2 no shoots I would have done exceptionally well.

21 A's, 1 B, 6 C's, 1 D, 1 M, 2 NS

time - 21.99

place - 97

Stage 3: A stage where a retreat was almost a must. I could have went a little faster here, but I was concentrating on the retreat the whole time, which made my feet a little choppy.

19 A's, 7 C's, 3 D's

time - 24.69

place - 31

Stage 4: On stage 4, I was back on the foot speed mission, I even had to reach up and grab my ear protection twice to keep them on. On the 2nd shooting position I shot through the crack on the left that also had no shoots and scoring targets with hard cover painted on them. Well on that array I had a pair of C's 1/2 an inch apart in the hard cover that I did not call. Then on the very last array I was moving so fast getting to the position that slid one foot outside the shooting box and fired 2 shots, but I stepped back in and made the 2 shots up thinking I would not get the foot fault, but I did. So that gave me 2 mikes and 2 procedural foot fault penalties which left a bruise. (How does that work anyway, I made up the shots INSIDE the shooting area)

22 A's, 7 C's, 1 D, 2 M's 2 Procedurals

time - 25.89

place - 103

Stage 5: On this stage, I thought I could shoot the swinger AND the drop turner before they disappeared. It was a ballsy move and didn't work out for me, I got 1 into the board as it was turning. I should have went to the drop turner on the second and final showing, but my mind had programmed something different and I did what I planned which was finish on the 2 static targets. What I should have done was shot the 1st static target and then to the drop turner and back to finish on the final static, but it didn't happen.

16 A's, 9 C, 1 D, 1M

time - 20.34

place - 64

Stage 6: Not much to say about this one. I had to focus on the steel in front of the no shoots. Got 2 D's which didn't help but it was an ok run.

14 A's, 2 D's

time - 14.18

place - 30

Stage 7: Steely Speed VII, the classifier. Again, pointing at the steel and not aiming at it and this time it cost me, and I hate barricades!!!

6 A's

time - 6.63

place - 76

Stage 8: Lots of hard cover on this standards drill. First string is freestyle 1 on each, reload, strong hand only one on each. Second string is 1 on each weak hand only.

9 A's, 2 B's, 5 C's, 2 Mikes

time - 16.42

place - 44

Stage 9: This one was called "Don't Blink" and it was the speed stage of the match. I could have shot it a little faster, but it wasn't a crash and burn so I'll take it. These types of courses are usually one of my strengths. By this point though, I just wanted to get my hits.

3 A's, 4 C's

time - 4.24

place - 38

Stage 10: The texas star was intimidating having to shoot it through a port while holding the port door open. I could have utilized a little more speed here, but it wasn't a blow out so I'll take it.

12 A's, 5 C's

time - 14.77

place - 38

Stage 11: The "Pillars of Samson" had the longest shots of the match on paper targets and I felt pretty good about them. The left side was much harder than the right, but I had 2 misses on the right side, didn't even hit one of the targets, and that still confuses me. The sight picture was good and the shots felt solid in the upper A zone, but there were no holes on the target. At least they weren't on the no shoot. Went to the range yesterday and shot at a target at 25 yards and had all my hits. Went back to 20 yards and was 10 for 10 in the head, but there was no timer and no barricade in my face. Shooting around a barricade is my biggest weakness and I should incorporate it into EVERY practice session, even dry fire. I have known this for some time.

7 A's, 3 C's, 3 D's, 3 Mike

time - 15.34

place - 111

Stage 12: The shoot house... When I got to the 3rd target I felt like I was shooting too fast. The gun just kept moving from target to target and I don't feel like I had conscious control over it, it was just punching out there and shooting. So mentally I told myself to slow down some. It's amazing to me that I was able to have this conversation going on in my head while doing all this. The 2 shooters before me both shot one particular no shoot target, which I pasted, and on my run my dumb ass did the same thing they did, but I made up the points. Everything else went fair, and my time was decent, but the points weren't great. I got all my hits on the swinger and the mover so I was happy about that.

18 A's, 10 C's, 2 D's 1 No Shoot

time - 21.94

place - 38

So in retrospect, I know I can get the speed I need to be competitive as a B class Limited shooter, I just have to take my focus off the feet now and back to the front sight. I want the feet to do their thing without me having to think about it so I can concentrate on the accuracy. Now I have the confidence that I CAN make the feet move though, so I have gained some ground. Everyone always says "shoot A's, let the speed come". Well the speed wasn't coming so I had to induce it, but now that it's there I think I can keep it there and go back to front site focus. This match made me really want to get serious about my shooting, now the work begins. Time to show my dedication and desire.

Any more critique from you guys?

Edited May 6, 2009 by kgunz11

[steel1212]

"How does that work anyway, I made up the shots INSIDE the shooting area"

Can't quote the rule right now but shots fired out side of the shooting area are procedurals no matter if they hit or not.

Just from looking at your scores, and I didn't do great, I see a lot of mikes and NS. That tells me that your going a bit to fast, maybe a bit to amped up.

From the videos I saw every target gets the same split speed no matter what range they are, are you seeing your sights on the second shots?

When you have to move any distance MOVE! when I have to go my plan is that my weak hand comes off the gun, the gun stays in my face box, and I haul. When you get close to your shooting position bring your weak hand back to the gun and shoot.

Field of steel, steel speedy, you called it on this one. Notice what you did on the last targets of steel speedy, was the same thing I had to do on the last 2, looked at your sights. I know a lot of people say switch from SS/Production to limited/open and you can focus on your shooting and not reloads. If you shoot SS you HAVE to focus on your shooting because you CAN"T afford the miss.

I'm no master/gm but that is what I saw for now.

[kgunz11]

Thanks for that Corey. The movement has been a big issue for me. When you put a gun in my hand I run like a girl (no offense ladies). At Area 6 I just wanted to move like a wild cat. That match allowed me to prove to myself that I CAN move when I need to, but my focus was on the movement and not on my front sight. Since then, I have brought the focus back to my front sight and just let my feet go. The foot speed seems to have stayed, and now my hits are back where they need to be. At A6, I was not smooth, that is my goal now. Let the stage happen in slow motion in my mind. I've seen the results of that happening, and everytime I think the timer is wrong as it feels slow but the timer says it smoked.

Thanks for the tips Bro!

[steel1212]

Thanks for that Corey. The movement has been a big issue for me. When you put a gun in my hand I run like a girl (no offense ladies). At Area 6 I just wanted to move like a wild cat. That match allowed me to prove to myself that I CAN move when I need to, but my focus was on the movement and not on my front sight. Since then, I have brought the focus back to my front sight and just let my feet go. The foot speed seems to have stayed, and now my hits are back where they need to be. At A6, I was not smooth, that is my goal now. Let the stage happen in slow motion in my mind. I've seen the results of that happening, and everytime I think the timer is wrong as it feels slow but the timer says it smoked.

Thanks for the tips Bro!

No problem that is what we are here for.

[kgunz11]

Thanks for that Corey. The movement has been a big issue for me. When you put a gun in my hand I run like a girl (no offense ladies). At Area 6 I just wanted to move like a wild cat. That match allowed me to prove to myself that I CAN move when I need to, but my focus was on the movement and not on my front sight. Since then, I have brought the focus back to my front sight and just let my feet go. The foot speed seems to have stayed, and now my hits are back where they need to be. At A6, I was not smooth, that is my goal now. Let the stage happen in slow motion in my mind. I've seen the results of that happening, and everytime I think the timer is wrong as it feels slow but the timer says it smoked.

Thanks for the tips Bro!

No problem that is what we are here for.

You shooting the Miss Classic?

[steel1212]

Thanks for that Corey. The movement has been a big issue for me. When you put a gun in my hand I run like a girl (no offense ladies). At Area 6 I just wanted to move like a wild cat. That match allowed me to prove to myself that I CAN move when I need to, but my focus was on the movement and not on my front sight. Since then, I have brought the focus back to my front sight and just let my feet go. The foot speed seems to have stayed, and now my hits are back where they need to be. At A6, I was not smooth, that is my goal now. Let the stage happen in slow motion in my mind. I've seen the results of that happening, and everytime I think the timer is wrong as it feels slow but the timer says it smoked.

Thanks for the tips Bro!

No problem that is what we are here for.

You shooting the Miss Classic?

nope, only things I have left is Ky 3 gun, IN sectional, PROAM, and the Battle in the Bluegrass.

[kgunz11]

I'm sure Susan and I can make room for you at the hotel if you can get down there.

[steel1212]

I'm sure Susan and I can make room for you at the hotel if you can get down there.

Its not a matter of want, its a matter of having to switch being on call with only 3 other guys. I've done a ton of switching already just to get what I have. Thanks for the offer though.

[XRe]

Ok... I had some time to send you feedback that you won't listen to... I haven't read the rest of the thread, so... this is straight off the top....

Stage 1

Get that left hand off the gun and RUN from spot to spot. 1st port - pick out your spot better, and get your feet there, so you don't have to shift your feet around to index to targets - you're spending an extra tenth or more each time you move your feet. Stay low moving into positions - you tend to stay tall and, if anything, stand up into position.

Stage 2

Get that left hand off the gun and RUN. Smooth into positions and back out. That first position you moved to, with the stuttery steps? Find where you want your feet to go, and get your feet there just as if you're entering a box. Why the engagement order on the last array? Couldn't you get that last target as you entered the position?

Stage 3

I've always loved that big pine in the middle of the bay...

Spend some time working rearward movment - straight back, and angling back left and right. Stay low, stay smooth in the movement. Run hard, but be smooth around the corners. Call shots - no looking a popper down cause you didn't call the shot on it.

Stage 4

Get better hearing protection! 3rd position - can you squat instead of kneeling? Quicker in and out that way. Get that gun up in front of your face when reloading.

BTW - the vid claims to be Stage 6

Stage 5

Why are you looking at the first target when the buzzer goes off? Is that the first action you need to take? Get that left hand off the gun and MOVE.

Stage 6

That first run... you run like a girl

Do you know how to "bunny hop" sideways? You took four or five steps to get in between the doors - and you needed maybe two w/ that technique. Stay LOW. Did I say that, yet?

Stage 7

Just unfocused hosing. You need to visualize seeing that clean, emphatic sight picture on each target, and then put the sights there and break the shot.

In this stage and Stage 9, you can see a prominent downward had movement on the draw, and also a hunching of the shoulders. You're creating tension there, and you're also moving part of the aiming system that's trying acquire the picture of the sights on the target. Get into the position you're going to shoot from before you begin the stage. That wasted motion slows down the draw through two mechanisms - one being the extra movement, the other being extra time for sight acquisition, as your eye is now effectively trying to align the sights with a moving target. Dry firing in front of a mirror, aiming either at your image in the mirror, or something on the wall behind you reflected in the mirror will make this pretty obvious. Also, bring the gun up to your eye, not your eye down to the gun.

Stage 8

Strong Hand Only - shoot right to left - the gun will carry itself to the next target, instead of you fighting the natural movement of the gun away from your hand. On the weak hand string, your left hand stays in the start position while your right travels to the gun. The hands should move in concert at all times - see if your left hand can beat your right hand down to gun level. This will insure you're not being pokey on that WHO draw.

Stage 9

Nothing huge to mention here.

Stage 10

As you say, just pokey. You're getting tentative, it appears - probably getting fatigued? Did you shoot the whole match in one day?

Stage 11

Why were you taking upper A/Bs on 25 yards when the full A-zone and a C-zone were available in the body of the target (at least, so it appears from the vid)??? Barricades/leans - get that center of gravity low, and get a foot out under your center of gravity. Practice your weak spots, and make no excuses for them

Stage 12

Were you seeing the sights where they needed to be, or were you just engaged in unfocused hosing?

3rd target - your 2nd shot was slow because you stepped hard and bounced the gun off the target to the left (or so it appears from the vid). You stepped hard cause you were off balance on that left foot when you swung around. Get lower to lower that CG. I'm curious why you didn't shoot the target on the right (the 4th target you engage) before the 3rd one? You had to swing past that target, and you weren't departing on the 4th target?

Slightly pokey on the draw and a the movement right before your reload - and your transitions lack emphasis. This is partially you having a conversation in your head...

[shooterbenedetto]

XRE wow!! great analysis just from the video. Critique mine PLEASE!!

Stage 5

stage 4

stage 3

stage 2

http://www.youtube.com/user/edwinbenedetto

[CocoBolo]

I watched the stages noticed a couple of things, read XRE's observations watched again, I have to say he has pointed out a number of opportunities for improvement, small ones but your down to the small mistakes, I'm still working on the big ones.

It was actually an education for me. I have shot with XRE, and have RO'ed him at a couple of majors, it is very interesting to watch him disect a stage, the man is methodical.