TargetTalk

Hi all

I've been having some problems with my neck in prone. After my last match the muscles in the neck and shoulders were so stiff I had visit my chriropractor twice to fix it...

- I use a pretty "flat" position.
- I also have very much "downforce" on the chiek piece (really don't know why it is so)
- I use "normal" amount of raiser blocks, nothing extraordinary.

I've been thinking of raising my position from flat to high. Does anyone know if this will result in is a better and more relaxed position of the head?

You may want to try raising your position a little bit. It sounds to me like you're craning your neck to work with the riser block/cheek piece combination. If you lower your cheek piece, does it take off some of the stress?

Hi BGC,
I was thinking of posting about this same problem several months ago. I'm glad you brought it up.
I shot prone many years ago and could never get comfortable with shooting metallic sights. I was actually getting a flat spot looking through my sight. I later learned I was seeing the top of my eye socket and it was causing me to see a flat spot in the rear aperature on the bottom. Weird!

I tried a higher position, which helped, but I was not as stable. I just kept shooting the low position with the problem and trying my best. I was only able to win one metallic sight aggregate.

In 2001 I had a bicycle accident and was subjected to 37 x-rays. When I was in rehab, I was told that my neck didn't have the proper curve. This is what prevented me from bending my head back like most people. My spine looked straight. I can't get in the proper low position on my road bike without strain on my neck and finally I knew why I had such a hard time shooting prone. I also had a difficult time shooting sitting. In fact, my kneeling scores were the same or better.

I have since switched to pistol. I still miss the prone matches and the friends I made there.

I suggest you have your neck checked for proper curve. I was told if I was younger I possibly could have added flexibility, however, I was also told I couldn't. Please let me know what you find out.
Good luck!
Ben

post a picture of your position, but be prepared for a barrage of advice.

I made the move from a nearly 30 degree position to a much higher position in November and I'm not looking back. My neck feels better, it's easier to reach the chamber, and I'm not flirting with the 30 degree rule. I do not use risers in prone personally, but a higher position might also mean you dn't need them anymore.

Most international coaches are teaching a higher position now mainly to keep match officials from bothering you in position to check your arm angle. The other main benefit is that you have move of your body behind the gun with a higher position, leading to better recoil control. This is a common trend right now in all smallbore positions, getting away from maximizing the base of support in order to position yourself for better recoil control (see shooting out of the position in kneeling, and no more back bend hip twist in standing).

I partially disagree with Freepistol in regard to a high position being less stable. A higher position is inherently less stable due to a higher center of gravity, but I strongly doubt that you will have any problems with your hold should you switch. So long as your left (assuming your a righty) elbow is relatively under the rifle, you have good shoulder pressure, and a good tight sling, your hold should remain unchanged.

Good luck.

Thanks all, I will try the high position at tommorows practice.

I've tried that position before. And yes, I got nice groups and solid recoil. But the problem for me was that the new position of the swivel and sling, forced my left hand down, causing a strange and painful angle of my wrist. So I changed back to the low position. But I'll give the hig position a new try - the pain was at least more acceptable than the one in my neck :)

Whe using the higher position be certain that the forestock lies over the heel of your thumb, not in the palm of your hand. this should help end pain in the wrist from having the wrist bent. You'll have to slide you elbow slightly more towards the gun to do this.

OK, short report.

1. Lowered the chiekpiece 1,5 inch.
2. Swapped back to just one regular straight raiser block (instead of earlier offset block)
3. Adjusted buttplate (1 inch inwards).
4. Shorter sling 2 notches.

And guess what: No pain in my neck.
I also got a lot more "solid union" between me and the rifle.
But when I also tried to move the swivel bak just 1 inch to get a higher position, I got pulse in my left arm, and the recoil went all over the place. But with the swivel back at the same place as before, the groups were fine again. Funny.

Cheers

BGC