TargetTalk

Deal All,
First I would like share with you my appreciation for all your efforts which has already added value to my shooting.

Actually I began the 10M air pistol from only six months and my score now is around 490 to 520 with LP10 air pistol.

My first match will be after 21 days, actually I know that the tension in the match may be will down my score to 450 or less :(

So guys, please I need all your support to transfer to me all your experience especially with the first match because I do not need to be disappointed from my result after the match, this will reflect badly with me sure.

Please note that I am very tension in my life especially in the situations like this.
Sorry for long post and thank you in advance for your time.

BR,
Amr.

The biggest thing to remember in your first match is that, whatever you may think, nobody else is watching your score.

Providing you are safe and follow the rules, nobody could care less how you are shooting, so just relax and enjoy your shoot.

If reading about shooting helps, you can find a lot of useful information here:

http://www.pilkguns.com/pistolcoaching.shtml

I'll recommend the "Hitchhikers Guide to Shooting Glory" and the "On the Firing Line".
21 days will probably be long enough to go trough all that.

At your level, my first advise will be to learn to cancel bad shoots before they leave the barrel. If you start shaking to much or you try to force the shoot, it will probably be a bad one. In those cases, put the gun down, breathe, and try again.

Focus on the front sight, relax, and enjoy the match... after all, you are not being forced to go, you're only going because you like shooting, right?

If you don't already have it get the book With Winning in Mind 3rd Edition by Lanny Bassham - Olympic Gold Medalist and 35 other medals in international competition.

This book and several others of his have helped me progress much faster than I thought possible by breaking down both the physical and mental processes of shooting and even competing. As shooting skills increase, all the shooting sports become far more mental than physical.

The book suggests that the 2 causes for a poor performance are #1 Trying too hard #2 Not having a mental program as part of your shot process. These two are responsible for more missed shots than all other causes combined.

One of his quotes I really like is "work hard in practice and enjoy competition". To me this means we should let what we have learned in practice take over and just execute the shot.

Dave

Amr wrote:...

My first match will be after 21 days, actually I know that the tension in the match may be will down my score to 450 or less :(

...
Amr.

Sorry to say this, but if your thoughts right now that you will score 450 or less, then you will score 450 or less. You have to focus on the positive. You know that you are capable for shooting 520s, so keep telling yourself that! Imagine minutes after the match and satisfaction you get from performing as well as in training. Get familiar with that feeling, because you will feel it again in 21 days.

Your brain is like a single core processor, one thought at a time. So, if you think positively, and especially think positively during the match, then the "bad" thoughts will stay away. Thinking about executing the fundamentals, keeping your focus on things that you need to do to shoot one good shot at a time, will work as a firewall (yet another computer analogy) and will keep the hackers away.

If a bad shot happens, or well, it happened and nothing you can do about it. Forget it and start over prepping yourself for the next shot. This is the only thing that you can control.

kaban56 wrote: Your brain is like a single core processor, one thought at a time. (...) Thinking about executing the fundamentals, keeping your focus on things that you need to do to shoot one good shot at a time, will work as a firewall (yet another computer analogy) and will keep the hackers away.

Good analogy. But what you meant was that your brain is like a single tread processor, since single core processors can do multitreads (multiple tasks)... Sorry for the geek stuff... :)

Most importantly is what you wrote last:

"Thinking about executing the fundamentals, keeping your focus on things that you need to do to shoot one good shot at a time (...) This is the only thing that you can control"

The following advice is easy to say but hard to do. But they all work.

1. Be well rested and don't eat a big meal at least 2 hours before you shoot. No sugar drinks at least 2 hours before shooting - water only till you finish the match.

2. Check that all your equipment is packed - pistol including both cylinders (filled), ammo, glasses, earmuffs, water bottle, diary/score book, etc.

3. Check your squad times and shooting position. Arrive at the range in plenty of time. Find your range and check the squadding sheet.

4. Use your preparation time to set up your equipment and do some arm raising and breathing exercises then sit down and visualise the process of firing a perfect shot - repeat this a few times. Sip some water.

5. When the match starts, keep a note of the time so you don't run out of time or have to rush at the end. If you are the last shooter, do not be bothered by this. Keep shooting at your own pace, concentrating on your technique.

6. Use sighting shots to affirm your technique and your sight settings. If you have trained well, you should not have to make any big changes to your sights, grips, technique. Use the sighting shots time to familiarise yourself with your shooting surroundings, particularly the presence of other competitors. Do not be put off by other shooters and their techniques. DO NOT look at their targets.

7. Each shot is its own competition. Once you have fired the shot and have completed the follow through, lower the pistol and wind your target in. DO NOT keep score throughout the match (either written or mentally). When the target comes back, notice the position of the hole then turn it over on the bench and forget about it. Then start work on the next shot. At the end of the match, record your scores and the shot positions in your score book/diary. DO NOT gauge any shots.

8. If you start to lose concentration, take a break. Sit down, sip some water, mildly stretch your shoulder, neck, arm and hand muscles. When ready, visualise a shot or two then go back to your shooting.

9. At the end of the match, make any entries in your shooting diary, thank the range officer and find out when the official scores will be posted. If convenient, wait around in case you need to protest or be called for the finals.

10. Celebrate your achievement.

You're going to lose the match and perform badly. So relax, have fun, and learn what you need to know to be ready for your next match.

Then you can worry!

David : Good note, I will consider it, thanks.

rmca : Thanks for your support, I will read it.

dronning : Thank you for your time and your support.

kaban56 : Thanks.

jliston48: Thank you a lot for your efforts with your post, it’s really great.

Rover: thanks brother.

Thank you all, it's really added value, all notes will be considered ISA.

jliston48 wrote:The following advice is easy to say but hard to do. But they all work.

1. Be well rested and don't eat a big meal at least 2 hours before you shoot. No sugar drinks at least 2 hours before shooting - water only till you finish the match.

2. Check that all your equipment is packed - pistol including both cylinders (filled), ammo, glasses, earmuffs, water bottle, diary/score book, etc.

3. Check your squad times and shooting position. Arrive at the range in plenty of time. Find your range and check the squadding sheet.

4. Use your preparation time to set up your equipment and do some arm raising and breathing exercises then sit down and visualise the process of firing a perfect shot - repeat this a few times. Sip some water.

5. When the match starts, keep a note of the time so you don't run out of time or have to rush at the end. If you are the last shooter, do not be bothered by this. Keep shooting at your own pace, concentrating on your technique.

6. Use sighting shots to affirm your technique and your sight settings. If you have trained well, you should not have to make any big changes to your sights, grips, technique. Use the sighting shots time to familiarise yourself with your shooting surroundings, particularly the presence of other competitors. Do not be put off by other shooters and their techniques. DO NOT look at their targets.

7. Each shot is its own competition. Once you have fired the shot and have completed the follow through, lower the pistol and wind your target in. DO NOT keep score throughout the match (either written or mentally). When the target comes back, notice the position of the hole then turn it over on the bench and forget about it. Then start work on the next shot. At the end of the match, record your scores and the shot positions in your score book/diary. DO NOT gauge any shots.

8. If you start to lose concentration, take a break. Sit down, sip some water, mildly stretch your shoulder, neck, arm and hand muscles. When ready, visualise a shot or two then go back to your shooting.

9. At the end of the match, make any entries in your shooting diary, thank the range officer and find out when the official scores will be posted. If convenient, wait around in case you need to protest or be called for the finals.

10. Celebrate your achievement.

Hi , could you pls elaborate your point 1. no sugar drinks ... thanks.

ron88nnie wrote:Hi , could you pls elaborate your point 1. no sugar drinks ... thanks.

Sugar as well as caffeine may make you shaky or jittery. Not all people are the same but you need to know how it affects you.

Dave

Thanks Dave, it's clear now.
Actually I was eating to much before shooting as well as the chocolete and tea.
All of things was wrong with me, thanks guys.

dronning wrote:

ron88nnie wrote:Hi , could you pls elaborate your point 1. no sugar drinks ... thanks.

Sugar as well as caffeine may make you shaky or jittery. Not all people are the same but you need to know how it affects you.

Dave

Sugar "hits" that come from high sugar, so called "sports drinks" (a 1-pint or 600ml sport drink will contain about 6 teaspoons of sugar - 36 grams), cause a spike in the blood/sugar levels then as the body processes the sugar, a blood/sugar low is produced in about half an hour or so (depending on the person), creating a need for another "hit" - and so it goes.

The important thing in a match is to try to maintain an equilibrium in the body so it is not digesting food, having sugar highs and lows, etc - while it has to cope with dealing with the physical and mental stresses associated with competing, particularly in a match that will last for 90 minutes or more. By the way, if prescription medications need to be taken, the competitor needs to be aware of the effects they may have on their body and, in consultation with the doctor, decide when the best times are for taking the medication in relation to the commencement of the match (assuming of course that they do not contain any substances that are banned by the sport).

Staying hydrated by sipping water will assist in maintaining the body in good condition throughout the match. Even without sweating, the body will lose water to the air and to the bladder and sipping (not gulping!) will offset this.

Most sports nutritionists say that only after about an hour or more of strenuous physical activity (football, tennis, basketball, etc) will the body need mineral or electrolyte replacements. Shooting does not fit this category.

While I am by no means an expert I was told one thing that really does ring true with me in competition:

"Forget the score, concentrate on your process". As someone said earlier, if you think you are going to score 450 you will probably score 450. Be positive - I know it's beaten to death but a Postive Mental Attitude is everything in shooting.

If you have a wobble - ignore it and shoot through it - you can't really control a wobble but you can work with it. You can however control your sight picture, you can control your trigger release and you can control the follow through. If you keep control of these things your score will show it.

Remember to put down any bad shot before you release. Excessive wobble -PUT IT DOWN, poor sight picture PUT IT DOWN, running out of breath PUT IT DOWN and any negative thought at all comes into your head PUT IT DOWN AND START AGAIN. I recently shot next to one of GBs best pistol shooters in a competition and I was amazed at how many times he put his pistol down to start a shot again - so even the best shooters don't have it perfect all the time but they know when to put the pistol down and start the process again.

In my first competition I shot really really quickly and it showed. Andrenalin will be pumping and there is a tendancy to shoot quickly - a timer on your firing point can help with this.

Above all - enjoy the experience. One positive that will come from it is that you WILL shoot a personal best in competition as you have never shot in competition before :). That will then be your base for your next competition.

Enjoy it and I hope it goes well for you - keep positive and it will.

Let us all know how you get on.

Good shooting.

Mark

markwarren : Thank you alot for your advices, sure I will keep you posted.

Hey Guys
Happy Feast to all.

Reference to the first tobic kindly be informed that I went to the match from two days.
It was horrible, especially the first of the half time.
Actually my score was not good but it's okay as first competition..

The total of my score is 490/600

Score details in the below:
First Group : 79/100
Second Group: 76/100
Third Group: 77/100
Fourth Group: 91/100
Fifth Group : 84/100
Last Group:83/100
Just I would need to share with all of you the result.
Thanks for all your support.

Amr wrote:Hey Guys
Happy Feast to all.

Reference to the first tobic kindly be informed that I went to the match from two days.
It was horrible, especially the first of the half time.
Actually my score was not good but it's okay as first competition..

The total of my score is 490/600

Score details in the below:
First Group : 79/100
Second Group: 76/100
Third Group: 77/100
Fourth Group: 91/100
Fifth Group : 84/100
Last Group:83/100
Just I would need to share with all of you the result.
Thanks for all your support.

Remember the first post you wrote this?

Amr wrote: Actually I began the 10M air pistol from only six months and my score now is around 490 to 520 with LP10 air pistol.

I think you did very good. I don't exactly know what your goal is, but to achieve the same score that you do in training in a match, that is excellent because you have to deal with lots of factors that you do not have to deal with during your training. A typical example will be lighting.
So congrats. And if all your shots are all within the 6.5 ring, which averaged out to your scoring range, then doubly congrats because of your consistency and obviously a clear sign of having nice groupings. I am sure the next time you will do better and all your shots will be well within the bull.

Que cera cera.

Whatever will be will be.

Just Enjoy it.

It is not every day that one got to shoot in a match.

Enjoy every shot.

conradin wrote:

Amr wrote:Hey Guys
Happy Feast to all.

Reference to the first tobic kindly be informed that I went to the match from two days.
It was horrible, especially the first of the half time.
Actually my score was not good but it's okay as first competition..

The total of my score is 490/600

Score details in the below:
First Group : 79/100
Second Group: 76/100
Third Group: 77/100
Fourth Group: 91/100
Fifth Group : 84/100
Last Group:83/100
Just I would need to share with all of you the result.
Thanks for all your support.

Remember the first post you wrote this?

Amr wrote: Actually I began the 10M air pistol from only six months and my score now is around 490 to 520 with LP10 air pistol.

I think you did very good. I don't exactly know what your goal is, but to achieve the same score that you do in training in a match, that is excellent because you have to deal with lots of factors that you do not have to deal with during your training. A typical example will be lighting.
So congrats. And if all your shots are all within the 6.5 ring, which averaged out to your scoring range, then doubly congrats because of your consistency and obviously a clear sign of having nice groupings. I am sure the next time you will do better and all your shots will be well within the bull.

Thanks and Happy Feast.

seamaster wrote:Que cera cera.

Whatever will be will be.

Just Enjoy it.

It is not every day that one got to shoot in a match.

Enjoy every shot.

Yep, I will, thanks.