prolonging concentration

[Steve Swartz]

Got this one from my physical therapist (works wih local professional sports teams football, basketball, baseball, etc.).

It's based on (I forget the exact term) "dynamic adaptation" (?); the principle that to train a complex adaptive feedback and control system/process you need to "stress" the system by adding more resistance (must be variable), more movement (must be variable), etc.

The system adapts to the stressors, and then when the stressors are removed the system can perform at a higher level.

So our system is our platform (stance, grip, etc.) trying to keep teh sights aligned (arm-wrist-eye etc.) while accounting for body sway, muscle fatigue, etc. (maybe even heartbeat?) trying to pull our sights out of alignment *and* off target.

What we want to do is magnify the forces trying to pull our sights out of alignment/off target.

Preparation

Suspend a tennis ball off of a rubber band so you can hang it from the muzzle and have it dangle 2-3 feet off the end of the pistol. Alternately, use one of those "novelty shop" critter that has the rotating weight inside so it wiggles around. Use a couple of rubber bands of different resistances; the point is you want to be able to set the ball bouncing around so it tries to pull hte muzzle around somewhat unpredictably.

Drill 1: Alignment

Establish NPA against neutral surface. Raise the pistol and perform alignment/holding exercises (with single or multiple lofts, etc.) with ball suspended from muzzle. Set teh ball in motion as you settle and pump the trigger (dry fire not required but a good addition to drill) while trying to maintain crisp front sight focus and perfect alignment.

Drill 2: Align and Aim

Perform same drill, but against a distraction bull and attempt to pump trigger and/or dry fire while maintaining both alignment and aim.

Now- and this is important- don't lower your standards for what is "acceptable" just because the drill is physically impossible! It's an easy drill if you let yourself get sloppy. It's darned difficult if you try to achieve the same (or better) level of performance as without the bouncing ball.

Also

Do 5-10 reps with the ball, then a couple without. "Lather Rinse Repeat!"

[ronpistolero]

Hi Steve,

I'll do this and try to see where I can go with this exercise. But I do remember many years ago that some of our senior coaches would always remind us not to squeeze the trigger in less than ideal sight alignment condition, lest we train ourselves to release our shot in such condition.

[Alexander]

Hi Steve,

I'll do this and try to see where I can go with this exercise. But I do remember many years ago that some of our senior coaches would always remind us not to squeeze the trigger in less than ideal sight alignment condition, lest we train ourselves to release our shot in such condition.

I think that I might understand what the coach may have *meant* or had in mind when saying so (discipline and concentration; don't force it; when it goes worse, lower pistol, relax, and concentrate again).

But in pistol, the rendered wording above would be a sure recipe for disaster. Actually, pistol shooters must consciously train themselves to increase pressure (gradually or lateron very quickly) once they have reached their circle of hold, not matter whether the momentary sight alignment within it appears ideal or not. Shoot quickly when you are exactly and ideally "on the 10-X", and you'll jerk a 6 ;-).

Or am I so wrong here?

Alexander

[Steve Swartz]

Great point!

Maybe I should have added that.

You are trying to maintain alignment at all times (that's what makes the exercise hard).

You are not "pumping" or "dry firing" the trigger mindlessly or on some kind of rythm.

You should not abandon *any* of the other fundamentals when you perform *any* drill.

Including proper foot position, proper shot plan, etc. etc. etc.

You are *adding* an additional stressor(s) without leaving anything else out.

As to sight alignment and trigger control . . . yes, there are exercises specifically designed to improve performance on these elements. (And you should certainly be doing a buttload of those no matter what your current performance level is.) That doesn't mean they get ignored (ever!) on any other exercise.

For this drill, when you are manipulating the trigger you are focusing on and following all proper procedures.

For me, even though it's really hard to do, I will try to manipulate the trigger in conjunction with perfect(ing) sight alignment.

Also

Even though some people find it an unecessary chore . . . it is important to actually think about your overall training program and strike a balance between different types of drills. I do the "tennis ball" drill for maybe 15-20 minutes, 2-3 times a week. I do specific sight alignment/trigger control drills a lot more than that. And focused physical therapy, overall aerobic conditioning etc. for 30 mins a day (PT)/1.5 hrs @ 5xweek (aerobic). Etc.

If you only have 30-60 minutes a day to dedicate to training, you have to really think about where you can get the most "bang for the buck."

The more time you can dedicate to training, the less you have to worry about "optimizing" ("bettermizing" is a better word) yoiur training effort.

[2650 Plus]

Alexander I believe your analisis is dead on. These old coaches were leading their shooters into a concept that is impossible . I never met a champion level shooter that described his shooting technique in those terms, but many marksman and sharpshooters describe the way they fire a shot in those exact terms. Come to think of it even the expert class shooters avoid this type of shot sequence and no masters even consider such an absurd idea. Attention new shooters !! The old coach s idea is to be avoided at all costs as it leads to the dreaded flinch. Good Shooting Bill Horton