When shooting a match....

[Bogey]

regardless of type, do you ever go through the mental processes of "I shot that like a 2 year old", or maybe "monkey's and footballs come to mind", or anything of the like only to find out you placed really well at the end?


I shot a match yesterday and thought I was going in super slow mo and felt really awkward. Just didn't feel like my "A" game was there. I was surprised to find out I took 4th overall.

[Steve Koski]

At local matches (and even some state matces) placement is all about who shows up. There's a local indoor match that attracts 50 odd shooters that I can win every damned time I show up. The crowd is 99% newbies, with a couple oldbies that I can beat.

My first state IDPA match, I didn't really shoot any stage ultra hot, but I didn't screw up anything either. There were a bazillion shooters there. I figured I was between 10th and 20th. They called out 5th, 4th, 3rd, 2nd, and when they got to 1st they called my name. I about passed out.

Nowadays I don't care so much if I'm 1st, 5th, or 25th. What really makes me happy is when I shoot a solid match consistent with my ability. Good trigger control, don't waste time, shoot, move, shoot. No "bonehead" stages. If some ultra hot shooters show up and are on their game there is no way I'm going to win, but shooting a solid match still feels like a win to me.

[Steve Koski]

The other thing I try and do is not get too wrapped up about lousy days. I'm a fairly consistent shooter, but I still have "bonehead" matches. I laugh about what an idiot I was and try and do some drills to brush up on my weak spots.

[ede]

couple of years ago i won 3 classes in a GSSF match in brighton, mi. not only that but my scores in all 3 classes were PB and if i recall two were top 5 scores for the year in GSSF. had no idea i had done so well while i was shooting it. i added up the scores back in the motel and thought a RO had screwed up recording the scores. other times the reverse is true i think i did much better than i actually did. my biggest problems have been more equipment or mechanical than shooter. i have a hard time leaving well enough alone and like to play with loads and guns.

[VN350X10]

slow & consistant, with no mikes or no shoots, sooner or later == FAST & consistant !
I'm currently a "C" in both Prod. & L-10, but if I'm having an exceptionally good day I will beat the "A & B" shooters at a match. Sooner or later that crap is going to get me into "B" ! Then I'll REALLY have to work hard.
Having a pistol & ammo that ALWAYS works plays a major factor here, it's easier to beat the competition if your equipment is on your side. A mechanical problem can destroy the best shooters "mental game".



uncle albert

[Rick]

I shot a match yesterday and thought I was going in super slow mo and felt really awkward. Just didn't feel like my "A" game was there. I was surprised to find out I took 4th overall.

Sometimes my best scores are when I felt the same way. I think it just means that you are more aware of everything that is happening around you.

I remember watching a guy shoot a stage and thinking how blazing fast he was. When it was my turn, I felt like I was in slow motion. Only to find out that I beat his time by several seconds and had better hits.

[killarbb]

i can kind of tell ho wthe match is going to go ahead of time. if i have been actually shooting things go pretty well and i can go top 4 overall. if i havent been shooting i get really sloppy, get dinged with procedurals, drop a lot of points, and really probably shoot too fast(thus the problems).


all of this reminds me, i really need to start a practice regimen again.

[ede]

i shoot USPSA and steel for fun and most of the time don't have the same level of commitment as i do in GSSF. anyway in GSSF it always feels like i'm in slow motion and that it takes forever to fire off my rounds. i think that's why when i have good scores i don't trust my math.

[ept000]

One of the things I see shooters do all the time is talk them selves into a COF being harder than it is. I shot a match that half way through you had to soot a steel popper at about 15 yards from your knees to trigger the next feature. Well while everybody was watching the match a guy choked on the popper and had to take several shots at it. Next thing you know everybody is talking about how hard it was to hit that popper. Sure enough the next several shooters had trouble with it. When it was my turn I ran over, got down on my knees behind the cover, let off one round and hit the popper, and moved on. The other shooter wanted to know what my secret was of making that COF easy. I told them it was simple, I just didn't believe them that a 7" target at 15 yards was a tough shot, and it's not. They had just talked themselves into it.
The other thing I have noticed is during a long day of shooting my speed and accuracy kind of come and go. When I'm on an up-swing I can't miss. When I'm on a down-swing I need to slow down and get back to the fundamentals. When I'm not doing great I just have to remember that if I keep calm an up-swing is just around the corner.