Air Pistol training at the OTC

Rover · Post by **Rover** » Sat Sep 19, 2009 10:17 pm

I got this email from John Zurek about his recent activities at the Olympic Training Center and found it interesting.

"Hello Everyone, An exciting day here at the USOTC in Colorado Springs. The Men's National Pistol Team is training with Korean Shooter Jingh Jung Oh(sp?) this week - Jingh set a new 10m world record this year at the World Cup Korea, a 594/600 HUGE accomplishment and that score is going to hard to beat...

Today we shot a "bundesliga" competition - 40 record shots in 50 minutes(10m air pistol). We paired off with shooters of an opposing team, 7 teams total. Of course I am a bit slow in my shooting so it came down to my pair to decide the winning team. In bundesliga, noise and commotion is encouraged, the announcer on the loud speaker was sure to let me and the crowd know that the teams were neck in neck to the last shot...after the scores were totalled... Rich Gray and I tied, so there would be a shootoff to decide the winning team. Finals format for the shootoff - 1 record shot in 75 seconds. My first attempt was aborted with the crowd cheering (and jeering) I took another lift and held on as Rich had already fired his shot...my sights lifted as the shot broke and I called the shot "high"... the scores came in, Rich had a 9.3, and my target scored a 10.0 out the top.Whewwww! That tiebreaker put our team(the Seals) ahead of the Polar Bears. Good training is how I put it!

Another training competition followed... A SuperFinal. Which is basically a 10 shot final fired twice then the total score combined and then a shot by shot shootoff til one man remains. I shot a personal best final for the first 10 shot series - a 102.4, which put me in second place behind Jingh(anything over 100.0 is a good final score). Then the next 10 shot string was more of an average score 100.9, but still good considering my combine score kept me in second place for the shootoff - of course behind Jingh, by now he had a 4 point lead! I did not fair well in the shootoff, however, slipping to 5th place in a very close race. Again, as I walked off the line the value of this training drill was in the forefront of my mind - how can I replicate this type of atmosphere and adrenaline rush while training on my home range???

On Sunday the team flies to Ft Benning GA. for the Fall Selection Match which is used to determine who will represent the USA at the first two World Cups of 2010(New Dehli and Beijing). We will shoot 50 m Free Pistol and 10m Air Pistol. This training session is valuable experience for the upcoming match, and glad I could be apart of it."

Vicdad · Post by **Vicdad** » Sun Sep 20, 2009 6:34 am

What do people think of Jing Jung Oh's grip?

If you look at issf-sports.org t.v. video, his grip looks super solid with that hooking right thumb down.

I tried that hooking right thumb down grip, it feels VERY solid.

But it definitely defy conventional teaching of leaving your thumb alone.

David Levene · Post by **David Levene** » Sun Sep 20, 2009 7:08 am

Vicdad wrote:But it definitely defy conventional teaching of leaving your thumb alone.

Conventional teaching on all matters of technique should only be regarded as a starting point.

If you experiment with something, and find that it works for you beyond the initial novelty period, then why not stick with it.

Before trying anything too unconventional however it might be worth thinking why nobody "at the top" is doing it.

Vicdad · Post by **Vicdad** » Sun Sep 20, 2009 2:56 pm

Jing jung Oh of Korea is at the top right now, broke a 20 year old record.

He will probably come up on top at the World Championship next month.

I look at the Olympic gold medalist for both men and women. Both of them are also "hooking their thumbs down".

So I think it is not as a bad practice as some people might think. You are right about looking carefully at what the top guns are doing differently.

David Levene · Post by **David Levene** » Sun Sep 20, 2009 3:09 pm

Vicdad wrote:He will probably come up on top at the World Championship next month.

The World Championships aren't until 29th July next year in Munich.

Vicdad · Post by **Vicdad** » Sun Sep 20, 2009 3:40 pm

I mean World Cup Final next month.

Who are the top ten shooters qualified for this World Cup Final next month?

How is the qualification for the World Cup Championship determined?

World Cup Championship carries more prestige than World Cup Final?

David Levene · Post by **David Levene** » Sun Sep 20, 2009 4:07 pm

You can read about qualification for the World Cup Finals here.

Qualification for the World Championships is to be selected by your National Governing Body to represent your Country at the Championships. A maximum of 3 shooters per country per event but there are also maximum overall team sizes.

The winner of the World Championship is the World Champion so it is much more prestigious than the World Cup Final, participation in which is no mean feat in itself.

For the non-Olympic events the World Championships are the pinnacle of the sport.

Vicdad · Post by **Vicdad** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 8:25 am

Who won the most Olympic gold and World Championship over the last 20 years? Men and Women?

David Levene · Post by **David Levene** » Mon Sep 21, 2009 9:24 am

Vicdad wrote:Who won the most Olympic gold and World Championship over the last 20 years? Men and Women?

I've no idea. You can look it up yourself on the Historical Results page of the ISSF web site.