TargetTalk

ISSF did a trial run in the Junior World Cup in Suhl where the 10m AP shooters have what appears to be a wireless SCATT MX-W2 on their pistols during the finals. Viewers are able to see some of the SCATT data during the competition. This includes the traces, including the last second and 0.2s, as well as the trace speed for the last 0.2s. Sometimes, they show the entire trace as well. They also show the hold time. The purported purpose of this was to improve the viewing experience (haha). Here are the links to the 3 livestreams where they had it for AP. The commentators said that this would be on the 10m AR as well (which will take place later).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64dLqDa67hQ&t=1254s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKmYUIEOY_E&t=2640s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZ0pnSLgMUQ&t=4376s

A couple of observations:

1. Predictably, it was a little glitchy at times--especially early on--but it seems like they were able to mostly work it out by the mixed team finals.

2. It appears they somehow linked the electronic targets with the SCATT. (I know that I have to periodically adjust my SCATT to correspond with the paper holes, but these seemed to be right on every time.)

3. For elite shooters (including at least 1 Olympian) who just shot 570+ during qualifications, the SCATT data seemed...surprisingly human. The traces were sometime all over the place, even during the last second (there were times when they failed to hold a relative 9-ring during the last second). The traces for the last 0.2s seemed pretty large for shooters of their caliber (more often than not, it was bigger than a relative 10-ring), which could suggest sloppy triggering. The trace speed for the last 0.2s was rarely under 100mm/s (although, it is possible that feature could have been glitchy, since some of the tight 0.2s traces still registered relative high speeds (or my SCATT could be messed up)).

Maybe they were tired, or it was the pressure of the finals, or the additional weight that they weren't used to, but it gives some encouragement and hope for us mortals.

Out of interest, what are people's views of SCATT?
It's the first time I've heard anyone say they have to adjust every so often so it corresponds to the holes.
I'm an okay pistol shooter, I'm improving and want to get to international standard. I'm calling my shots correctly and regularly. I know when I'm triggering poorly or have bad sight alignment. So what is the added benefit of SCATT, if I know this information already?
Everyone who has it, says its great, but can't seam to tell me how it would aid/improve my shooting given what I've just said. Also it's very expensive so anyone who wants to sell a second hand MX-W2, I am interested. If you have to have it to shoot in competitions at that level.

The SCATT typically won't exactly locate your shots to match what's on the target. The value is not in using it like an electronic target system to tell you where the shot went. The value is that it provides a lot of useful information on how it got there.

Knowing that you jerked the trigger to get a 7 can be determined without a SCATT. One thing it can tell you that you probably can't determine easily is details about the timing of your shots. All the pictures you see from SCATTs are of the target trace. I think the timing traces are far more useful, and there's no other way I know of to get that info.

When you come down into your "hold", there is usually a bit of "bounce", and then you settled into a period of minimum wobble. Ideally, you want the shot to break very shortly after you are fully settled. Examining the timing of a bunch of shots can show if you are holding too long, or occasionally getting the shot off before you've fully settled.

Here's a plot of a good shot from a Noptel system (competitor to SCATT, no longer around):


The pistol comes down, settles and the shot breaks about 1 second after the hold really stabilizes in the 10 ring. Here's a bad shot:


There's no telling how long the approach was before the trace started, but the shooter is settled into at least the 9 ring about 4 seconds before they finally fired. After that, their hold deteriorates badly, and they ended up with a 6. Yes, you can guess that maybe you held too long, but an electronic trainer can really show you the details.

Agree 100% with Gwhite. The end result isn't what matters.

I'm still a fairly new shooter, so take my views with a grain of salt. The big thing that it's helped me so far is calibrating what's going on in my mind with what's going on with the pistol during the entire shot process. This allows me to make targeted, meaningful adjustments. For example, even though I thought I knew what a decent trigger squeeze felt like before, after looking at the SCATT data, I realized I was often pushing the trigger slightly. Another example is getting a better understanding of generally how long my period of minimum wobble lasts, which allows me to get comfortable with the amount of movement that I see and feel during that time to execute a smooth, subconscious trigger release. I could go on and on.

That being said, re: the scoring--once calibrated (I have an MX-W2), most of the time, the holes are very close to the SCATT result (like 3mm or less), as long as I am holding the pistol consistently (esp with the same cant at trigger release) and my trace speed doesn't jump up to an abnormally high # at release. My guess is the cumulative tiny movements of the SCATT over time as it's touching the table over and over again and the changing lighting conditions where I practice contributes to the device being out of tune.

i am sure that the weight of the scatt altered the balance and made it worse for all the athletes in the final.
It weights 56gr and i dont think any shooter had thought or trained with it. of course this is for pistol shooters.
For rifle shooters the added weight impacts less the shooter.

Is home use of SCATT for Dry fire a thing? Is it worth the expense?

Yes

Ramon OP wrote: ↑Sat May 24, 2025 5:34 amYes

LOL, thanks Ramon :) Any specific model (I'm in Europe if this matters) for home use, if I don't have full 10m length at home you'd recommend?