TargetTalk

[quote=".......Your problem here as a newbie on the block---is to develop a good sight picture and to learn to expect (wobble) movement---regardless of where you are "holding". Knowing that means that now you can with a good "consistent" sight picture and expecting the movement to occur---the next step is to start the sque-e-e-e-e-e-e-e-ze and continue the squeeze until the shot breaks or your mind says "put the gun down stupid it ain't gonna work this time." All of that being said will require hours of dry firing, grip development, sight picture, and stance development. ..........Try to read about stance, grips and practise, practise, practise. By all means good luck[/quote]


This describes me a lot. I am finally to a point that I see the sight picture as "acceptable or not". I can usually stop the shot, evaluate and begin again if things are not correct. I have to say "correct enough", because sometimes my hold just won't settle down as much as I know it can. But not today. That is my point and my problem. What to do on those 8 and 9 ring days when I know that i am capable of 9and 10 ring shooting and even mostly 10's on really good days. I need some advice to turn a good day into a really good shooting day. Jack

JackH:

Accept the hold you have- on any given day (or shot, for that matter), you will "settle" into a minimum arc of movement which can vary day to day.

Now, in the long run, you can affect the size of your wobble area through diet, training, determining optimum stance, grip, etc. HOWEVER once the match starts, all you can do- is the best you can do.

Therefore- you must shoot teh hold you have on any given day. Yes, work out the issues that will give you the best hold possible- then accept (for htat day) what is possible for you on that day.

If you do not accept the hold you are seeing- and try to "do something about it" trust me, all you are going to "do" is make things worse.

It's all about the shot process . . . you must understand the reality of exactly what is going on during the release of the shot. There are no shortcuts, but it is a simple (not easy! but simple) thing to shoot inside your maximum potential on any given day.

Now changing exactly where that maximum potential happens to be- Aye, There's The Rub!

Steve Swartz

Steve,

you said "diet"

can you elaborate, what your belief is about the effects of different foods, both long term and short term

anyone else can join it too....

i finally quit caffiene, I'm still wobbly... what now?

Also... what exercizes for a pistol shooter?

Poole

Bill et. al.:

Several good articles on diet and muscle efficiency available- I believe Don Williams has a pretty thorough literature review; alternately, do a library abstracting service on keywords "muscle" and "diet" or "endurance" and "diet"- articles on fine motor control and/or joint stability are best.

A really good place to start is the physiology section of Yur'Yev's book. Short answers (others will chime in I'm sure) include the following principles:

1) Looking for efficiency in slow twitch "endurance" muscles
2) Looking for dietary aids to "fine motor control" not "energy" or "strength"
3) Avoid simple carbohydrates . . . avoid stimulants . . . focus on small portion steady intake of complex carbohydrates (NO Adkins!) . . . etc.

For physical training- recommend a session with a physical therapist. Explain the motor skills involved in shooting. They will have a ton of exercises for you to do that focus on JOINT STABILITY particularly shoulder; as well as grip strength/endurance.

Again, the key is Endurance and Fine Motor Control- Not "strength" or "speed." Therefore, all weight/resistance training should focus on high repetitions of light weights- if you can't do 18 reps, rest 1 minute, then 16 more reps you are using too much weight. Also concentrate on form, and performing the exercises slo-o-o-owly.

There used to be some materials available through the USOC on these topics; try googling up some resources there.

BUT MUCH MORE IMPORTANT- how do stance/grip changes affect your hold area?

Steve Swartz

Excellent advice Col. Thank you.

And, "how do stance/grip changes affect your hold area?" is exactly one item that our friend Ed H says to "study".

Now back to the original question. I most likely am not really accepting the hold of the day. My mind, that little voice, wants it to be better so I hesitate to pull the trigger.

I have to do at least two things.
Ignore the little voice, and shoot as I know I should.
Second, train and practice as you say. Build physical condition to aid the skills. Keep shooting to the positive and build confidence.

Funny it is that when we get to a certain level, we speak of improving mental skill more than we speak of technique.

JackH:

Say "Hey" to Ed for me! Also- about "not being able to accept the sight picture:"

1) Worry about ALIGNMENT between front & rear sight; make it perfect
2) Worry about TRIGGER making it perfect, positive, smooth continuous pressure every single time
3) Bring the gun up, settle it down into your aiming AREA and tehn do 1) and 2) above

Okay- in order to train yourself to not screw up 1-3 above, how much dry firing do you do? How much dry fire AND live fire against a blank target?

Those drills- dry and live fire against a blank target- should occupy the bulk of your training time and effort.

That fuzzy black dot out there is really just an extraneous distraction . . .

Steve Swartz

Steve Swartz wrote:
1) Worry about ALIGNMENT between front & rear sight; make it perfect
2) Worry about TRIGGER making it perfect, positive, smooth continuous pressure every single time
3) Bring the gun up, settle it down into your aiming AREA and tehn do 1) and 2) above
Steve Swartz

Steve,
I've been reading Hickey & Sievers "Succesful Pistol Shooting" and trying to follow their suggestion of using stance and grip to have the sights perfectly aligned as the pistol comes up to the target. I find that this has significantly reduced the time to either get off the shot or start over.
Fred Mannis