what kind of mental preparation a day before competition

[sham]

hi ....

i just join this site and hopefully will get a good advice from anybody that can help me... i'm going to have a competition tomorrow air pistol. could anybbody help me what kind of mental trainning that i could do before the event.....i always can maintain my score at 540-549 area but, how i can break this score wall.....


thanks to who ever help me...

[Richard H]

There's not much you can with regards to shooting above your normal average the day before the competition. If you shoot close to training average in competition you've done well. Mentally relax, run through your shot plan, visualize in as much detail as possible what you will do. Make sure you're prepared you have all your equipment is ready and working, any tools and spares you might need. Then go and enjoy yourself, try not to do anything out of the ordinary before the competition, eat the same drink the same.

If you don't eat or drink well usually before the match isn't the time to change.

Success in a match begins long before the match, there is really very little that can be done to improve the night before.

Most of all relax enjoy yourself and learn from this match and carry it forward to the preparation for the next match. Good luck, good shooting, let us know how you did.

[edster99]

The only advice I can give that has worked for me is to ignore how you are scoring, and concentrate on technique. The one competition I have been too where I have shot right up to my average, I had a mantra of 'trigger and sights' to block out all the mental chatter about the score.

Good luck!

[sham]

firstly, thanks guy....


my results today is still the same maintaining at the same level as it was.
which is at 545 in air pistol..
can you guys teach me how to break the wall....
honestly to say now i dont have any coach to teach me about it...
what are the kind of trainning that can improve my score...
my free pistol is also very bad, i only can shoot at 510-520...
please teach me guys if you have the knowledge.

[Steve Swartz]

There is a ton of great advice- and differing opinions- on the "historical" threads in this forum.

A good place to start would be to spend a little bit of time reading some of the more "Technique Oriented" (you can ignore all the threads about equipment, pellets, etc.). discussions.

As you ask specific questions, you will get a ton of (sometimes conflicting) advice.

As a starting point:

What do you know about organizing a training program? Do you know the difference between training and practice?

[sham]

both none....

please...teach me...steve..

[Ed Hall]

both none....

please...teach me...steve..

I'm not Steve, but I'll share some input and he can comment further, (maybe, even in contrast). (My response doesn't quite fit into the original title framework, either. It will require a break in your current program and will take a bit longer than a day.)

Practice is basically a way to maintain a learned skill, while training incorporates all the study and changes that one would perform to improve. They are not mutually exclusive - there is some overlap. Practicing will allow you to observe traits that can improve your outcome, as long as you make the appropriate changes.

Change is the issue here for you. If you are consistently producing the same scores, and you continue to practice in the same manner, you will plateau and stagnate, which seems to be your complaint. To change your results, you must change your approach.

I would suggest at this point that you take your shot plan apart and make notes about each portion, specifically focusing on what aspect of that element gives the best result. Take good notes on the positive things. If you find negatives, rewrite them into your notes as positives.

If you haven't, add in mental training in the form of visualization of perfect procedure. Include results imaging to let your subconscious know what you desire. Make sure everything is both positive and in the "now."

When you have highlighted all the traits that produce the best results, rebuild your shot plan with those elements. This is not a final shot plan, unless you would like to remain at (or near) the level it produces, so take notes to use the next time you need to rebuild it.

Take Care,
Ed Hall
Air Force Shooting Homepage
Bullseye (and International) Competition Things

[2650 Plus]

Too Late to do all the best things. Get out your score book [ you do keep a score book don't you ?] Put circles around all the best shots, and erace all the bad ones. Now , visualize the shot sequence you used to shoot only the good shots. Plan to shoot a bunch more of the good shots in tomorrows match. Ignore any mistakes that you might make during the competition. Keep reviewing the best shot plan before each shot and execute the shot according to the plan. Remember the good shots but ignore the score completely. After the match retrain following Ed Halls advice. Good Shooting Bill Horton

[Steve Swartz]

Sham:

Agree totally with Ed. Additional $0.02 comments:

- Training involves improving the weak elements in your technique that will lead to improved overall performance. This requires
-- Identifying the weak points
-- Knowing how to improve them
-- Making the requisite changes and then burning them in with practice
- This is an iterative and ongoing process; must be worked into an overall timeline of what you are trying to accomplish and when
- Both training and practice are important (see above)
- Thetechnique elements include both physical and mental skills/behaviors


See some recent related threads on "Behaviors" and "Training Plans" for lengthy (and sometimes informative) discussions.

I will of corse continue to post my own ideas in this area every once in a while when things get boring.

Also by posting specific questions about training (here's a good one to start with: "What the heck are those individual technique elements and how do I identify which ones need work?") you will draw a lot of helpful opinions.

Some of the opinions posted will be helpful because they are insightful and can be directly applied to improving your skills.

Some are helpful for the exact opposite reason!

[2650 Plus]

Identify your strong points, reinforce them at every oppertunity, Captilize on strengths through out training , practice and competition. concentrating on weaknesses will likely produce negative effects on your competition scores. Remember that you should be learning, training ,practicing and competing in a positive manner. Eliminate every negative practice and thought from your performance. Good things will inevitably follow. How many mistakes can you possibly make ? How many correct acts must you perform to shoot a solid shot ? The mistakes, [read weaknesses]are myrid There are just so many that if you start replacing them with correctly performed acts they will simplly disapear from your repitore. Dont train to eliminate mistakes, train to execute the shot sequence correctly. We have some evidence based on recent scores that training to train rather than training to win are two very different things. Good Shooting Bill Horton

[Steve Swartz]

"We have some evidence based on recent scores that training to train rather than training to win are two very different things."

Not sure what this means.

What is "training to train?" Who does this? How does one "train to win" when winning is dependent on how other competitors are doing? What evidence/what recent scores?

One can identify what needs improvement - and then focus on improving it- without ever dwelling what is being done wrong.

AAMOF, it's pretty much a requirement to doing things right to, well, focus on doing them right . . .

Are you replying to a post the rest of us can't see?

[2650 Plus]

IMHO worse than a waste of time it is counter productive. Train to repeat good performances. Confidence building based on success. Study the best shots. What was your emotional state when you fired the best shots ? Can you repeat that emotional state at will ? Work on controlling that state. Negative concept is starting a 3 day match expecting to shoot a certain number of sevens and eights and starting off with a 509 on the first day. Work at perfecting the rather simple act of firing the next shot correctly. If your hold is steady enough the shot will be a ten. Witch craft doesen't enter into the issue. [ Read subconcious release of the shot as you swing by the ten ring] We call that " trying to shoot a ten on the fly" and even a blind sow will find an acorn every now and then. Yes it can be done ocasionally but how many matches have you won doing that ? And Steve, I dont get into pissing contests with a skunk. The skunk enjoyes it and the other participant just end up smelling bad. Good Shooting Bill Horton

[Fred]

Bill,

When I shoot Standard Pistol or Rapid Fire, I have some difficulty achieving a smooth arm raise, and my first shots are often worse than my 2nd through 5th shots because of this. Surely you would not advocate ignoring the arm raise and the first shot, and just training on the follow-up shots? If I train to improve my arm raise and first shot, I'm not "training to eliminate errors", but neither am I "capitalizing on my strengths". I would think that's an example of what Steve was saying. Do you really differ that much?

FredB

[Steve Swartz]

Quibble: A petty evasion or cavil.
Quibbled: to evade the truth of a point under discussion by caviling.

Cavil: To object unecessarily; resort to trivial faultfinding; carp.

Strawman: A false position raised in rhetoric to divert a point; an extreme example raised in lieu of addressing an opponents actual position.

The youngsters get to larn them all kinds of innerstin stuff on Tahgit Talk.

This is a regular occurence Bill; repeats about every three months- are your meds on a 90 day cycle? Are you getting the help you need?

[Richard H]

Bill you left out your signature piece of shooting wisdom "just hold the pistol still".

By the way a sow would find an acorn by scent, so it's blindness has nothing to do with its ability to find an acorn.

[2650 Plus]

Steve , why don't you just defend your position and I'll defend mine. You seem to have an uncontrolable urge to denegrate others and , rather than defend yourself you attack others and their opinions as though only your own are worthy of consideration , Just hold the pistol still, get it to go off without disturbing the stillness and allign the sights in your aiming area. Now that wasn't too hard was it ? Good Shooting Bill Horton [Beware , the SST have arrizzen again ]

[Steve Swartz]

Try replying to the points raised here:

***************************************
"We have some evidence based on recent scores that training to train rather than training to win are two very different things."

Not sure what this means.

What is "training to train?" Who does this? How does one "train to win" when winning is dependent on how other competitors are doing? What evidence/what recent scores?

One can identify what needs improvement - and then focus on improving it- without ever dwelling what is being done wrong.

AAMOF, it's pretty much a requirement to doing things right to, well, focus on doing them right . . .

Are you replying to a post the rest of us can't see?
******************************************

"You seem to have an uncontrolable urge to denegrate others and , rather than defend yourself you attack others and their opinions as though only your own are worthy of consideration."

Every one of us is somewhat self-unaware; there are are however those among us who take it to a fine art form!

[2650 Plus]

Note the subject, Steve, You are still making personel attacks and not defending your positions on shooting. Or is it that you hope every one will forget the less than outstanding 509 you started with in the match in whitch you made childish challenges and predictions prior to the competition ? Just what scores do you point to to justify your pretensions of being the great Guru of American shooting sports ? What are your qualifications that support your views ? What is your best shooting performance in actual competition ? Have you ever been assigned a slot on the US Shooting team ? Would you concent to stopping this rather childish exchange and get back to trying to help our shooters improve their shooting performance ? Paying your own way to a competition in Europe where the US team was competing and entering the match seems to be pretty weak as credentials for a Guru. Good Shooting Bill Horton

[Steve Swartz]

You really do need to get help soon.

[Richard H]

Far be it from me to speak up for Steve, he's more than capable himself. But Bill your personal attack are a little over the top, I take it you've never had a bad match? Bill you're always talking about Bullseye shooting do you even shoot any ISSF events, I don't remember you talking about any of your AP or FP experiences in your incoherent rants.

I don't agree with everything Steve says all the time, but at least he can articulate a sound argument for what he's talking about. On the other hand Bill all you do is spout rhetoric (Chetisms), with what you think is that folksy good ole' boy charm.