Tips on Pistol Shooting

[jitu sati]

hey tirpassion
thx for posting my SOA. helped me to focus on it again. you are right i need to do box drills on the SOA. i also need to chk whether i am following this SOA in detail. most of it has become a drill and hence may have brought in some errors. let me become more conscious on SOA and let me come back to you about the details.

[airgun_novice]

Dear tirpassion, dev & Jitu, Was at the range today.

What a diff that POA sequence makes ! I mean I didn't write it out yet, but after reading Jitu's, I "walked" mentally every instance of what I was doing. Most important outcome was it helped focus on actions and slow down plus "squeeze the trigger" helped avoid those jerks during mid-shots. The other change I did was use of gsmith instead of MS. Shot 4 cards of 7 each and the result was better - a lot better Then I shot one card of 10 and ended up with 89. Thank you guys.

[tirpassion]

Shot 4 cards of 7 each and the result was better - a lot better

This says everything! You felt it! Excellent agn! I am really happy to know that because somewhere in this thread, I had written a similar sentence. I understand what is behind.

hope you had written down your experience in details in your shooting diary so as to read it before shooting next time and revive the same.

Now, you need to write down step by step YOUR SOA. Please remember to include 'Internal check', 'visualization' parts in Eyes closed state (Rest your eyes at the same time). Please share your SOA with us all .
To begin with, limit yourself to 10 points max. While shooting live during practice, keep your diary in front of you where you had written down your 'Point by Point SOA' and follow it (box drill: tick if all the steps were followed, cross if there was even one single error). Take out the %. Achieve 100%. THIS IS THE GOAL.
It will take a lot of time in the beginning. But once your subconscious mind is programmed with repetitions, the whole thing will just happen fast on it's own (MULE and the MONK).

And I repeat, the work to achieve.
- 100% SA hold
- 100% trigger control (Shot breaking in 3-5 sec)
- 100% SOA during live shooting.

You see that it is not much. Only 3 points and the necessary back-up (physical and mental training).
Now the reward part: hmm
If you achieve all of them, those dames of 93, 94, 95, 96... will run after you, frantically!

warm regards
tirpassion

[airgun_novice]

Dear tirpassion, hvji guruji, jitu, dev et al,

Please feel free to give your feedback and suggestions. Thought about this a few times before putting in down.

MY SOA V1.0
___________

1. Adjust feet and balance body weight. Seek zero balance; else iterate.
2. Pick up AP with LH & adjust grip in RH with settling in the web. Launch target.
3. Check SA against target *without* loading.
4. Adjust/ correct the grip etc. till OK
5. Shut eyes, take deep slow breathes to let the tension in eyes, forehead, neck and RH dissipate.
6. Load the AP, shut eyes again and visualize SA against target and shot break.
7. Execute but concurrently concentrate on breathing. Self-talk about trigger squeeze.
8. After the "thud" continue the squeeze & the SA. Pull the target.
9. Lower AP and re-do steps from #3.
10. Take a break after 3 shots and re-do from #1.

[airgun_novice]

[SNIP]
If you achieve all of them, those dames of 93, 94, 95, 96... will run after you, frantically!

warm regards
tirpassion

Ah ! These dames run after me only when my eyes are closed - when I open them it's stark reality of black and white going in concentric circles.

[airgun_novice]

OK - a quick update today. Made a BD of SOA. Rather surprisingly, could *not* get 100%. Missed a step here or there. Also looked like my focus was shifted to the SOA steps and shooting was a bit off as compared to day before but still better than ever before. BTW, now I noticed that I also tended to be imperfect in my FT as I was tempted to see where the shot struck. Could that be the reason some shots went downwards to #9 ring and in between #8 & #9 ?

So after the SOA BD (7/c * 4c), took some time off and then realigned for a 10-shot card. Kept talking (to self) through the steps and ended up with a 90. One of the shots I should have cancelled but shot on spur and it went awry just cutting #7 ring.

Was tempted to run 3 more cards - but refrained. My excess enthusiasm often tends to lower my ego; so to speak. Or as it is said wrt Shani Maharaj, "HE makes sure that Jiva gets to meet Shiva" i.e. ego gets reduced to dust.

[tirpassion]

Very good work agn!

It is very nice to see you motivated. I would like to suggest some amendments in your SOA. I have also taken a bit of liberty to add on some points. Here they are with my comments against your steps.

1. Adjust feet and balance body weight. Seek zero balance; else iterate.
- GOOD, even better if done eyes closed.
2. Pick up AP with LH & adjust grip in RH with settling in the web.
- YES you do it in the beginning and do not de grip for every shot. You should continue at least 4 to 5 shots before degripping or more if you can. Launch target.
3. Check SA against target *without* loading.
- You should avoid it because you are lifting weight unnecessarily everytime and losing your energy.
- Natural SA should be acquired for good prior to any training or match. Seeing your SA against the target is also called placement. Before shooting, you should take your stance and check SA against target. Once in the sub six zone, close your eyes for 3/4 secs and open them again. See if you have moved from your sub-six zone. If yes, correct your placement by moving a bit to left or right as necessary. Check again. You should have the perfect SA image in your sub six zone after you have opened the eyes. It means that you are naturally in your alignment SA / sub-six aim zone. NEVER MOVE YOUR HAND TO BRING YOURSELF TO THE SUB-SIX ZONE. MOVE YOURSELF, THE WHOLE STANCE.
Once you have found your perfect placement you need not check it again and again until you have moved away from your position for rest/break.
4. Load AP, Adjust/ correct the grip etc. till OK
- No etcs please. Detail them. GRIP PRESSURE /FORCE CHECK + freedom of movement of your trigger finger. placement of your trigger finger pulp on the trigger blade. Make it step 5.
5. Shut eyes, take deep slow breathes to let the tension in eyes, forehead, neck and RH dissipate.
- Good. Make it step 4.
6. Shut eyes again and visualize SA against target and shot break.
- Good
7. Execute but concurrently concentrate on breathing. Self-talk about trigger squeeze.
- Deep breath, to lift and half breath out when on sub-six aim zone. Self talking part is very good.
8. After the "thud" continue the squeeze & the SA.
- Very good work on follow through! You should add the 'Call' here but do not stress on it right now.
9. Lower AP and bring back the target. Analyze the shot.
10. Take a break after 3 shots and re-do from #1.
- Please do not de grip in that case. Keep taking 3 shots with out degripping if you think 3 shots are good for you.

I am happy to know that you have started to understand what the MANTRA of SOA can bring to you. Remember what I told you about the Dames

best regards
tirpassion

[rahulbdelhi]

Hello HVJ1,

I am also a silent follower of this forum. Good to know about your knowledge and experience. I will get in touch with you for my queries.

Thanks,
Rahul.

[jitu sati]

hey guys
finally managed to reach the JDA range yesterday. took some time to reorient from my adhoc range to a proper range. hey hvj and tirpassion i have been trying to change from rt hand left aiming eye stance(cross stance) to rt hand rt eye (classical stance) because the cross stance was making me twist the body and forced me to twist my wrist too. it was not easy because my natural master eye is left. but i have put in some effort and did my first 40 shot shoot with my right eye with left blocked. it felt very unnatural and had to talk myself through every step to prevent stance from shifting and head from going back to left orientation. but finally first shoot with this modification over. the first two sets the groups were pretty close(took 4 shots on 10 cards). then the groups started opening. SA% 90,80,70,80. correspondingly the score was 93,88,85,87 (353). i am feeling relieved that after the change in the aiming eye i have slowly come back to the score near my previous comp. now to again concentrate on the SA, fig 8s and SOA. i hope with this shift i will be able to progress.

[tirpassion]

Dear All,
Here in France, we learn to shoot without giving much importance to the master eye.
Right handed shooter aim with the right eye
Left handed shooter aim with the left eye
irrespective of what the master eye is.

regards
tirpassion

[jitu sati]

i guess that is how it should be. but initially i had taken to shooting with my left eye and the rt hand. it took considerable effort to change it to normal. but thank god i could. now it feels easier and hope to get better

[airgun_novice]

Lesson No.3 Sight Alignment.
[SNIP]
2. When we shoot with both eyes open, sometimes the sights get distorted or we see double sights, hence most shooters wear eye patches.[SNIP]

How could I have missed this one ? Good thing to revise every now and then. I think I might have raised this Q before; but no linkage to this point; hence,

I experience this double sight vision after a while. I shoot with both the eyes open and do not as yet use a patch. My stance is two legs parallel <= shoulder-width but at 45 degrees anti-clockwise with the normal to the target. I found this 45 degrees stance comfortable after reading hvj1 guruji's suggestion. BTW can I decrease it further by turning say 5-10 degrees clockwise ? Think I shall be a bit more comfortable that way and possibly eliminate those LHS going shots.I tried a patch but was terribly uncomfortable hence avoided it subsequently. What I see is vertical imprint of foresight only and not horizontal (sideways). Is point #2 the reason ?

Now why do I see it only as vertical double and not as horizontal double? In other words, after SA I see two parallel horizontal lines and sometimes I choose upper one which is more blur and sometime lower one which is sharper. BTW, I have hit #10 and low-on-the-ring 9s also with both the choices. Why do these double lines appear after a few shots have been fired and not right from the start ? Anyway, what do I do ?

Dear tirpassion, I shall adopt the revised SOA suggested by you after the MAWC as I am shooting for MQS in 2-3 days time and do not want those "dame" thoughts crowding and clouding. Hope it's OK ?

[tirpassion]

Dear agn,

it is of utmost importance to shoot with a patch on your eye. Having said that, I must say that THE BEST OPTION IS TO SHOOT WITH TWO EYES OPEN IF ONE CAN MANAGE IT. It is EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. So most of the shooters shoot with a patch. The patch should be translucent to let the light pass through without the image.

Adopt the position which is most comfortable for you. You should be spending the minimum possible energy, be it physical or mental for anything other than the 'SOA' part. So if you you are just a bit uncomfortable your sub conscious mind will go back to the discomfort time and again and disturb your performance. ELIMINATE ANYTHING THAT CAN CAUSE A MENTAL DISTURBANCE so as to unfetter your sub conscious mind.

I do not find any reason as to why you should see 2 vertical images with the patch on. If there is any reason whatsoever, I am totally ignorant about it. The position of the patch on your eye with respect to your stance is also important. Please verify its placement on your eye. Move it to find out if the problem is solved.
Are you tilting your head too much to the right if you are a righthander or to the left if you are a lefthander? Having the patch on, you might be tempted to do so, placing your eyes more towards a vertical position
So please try the following:
- Keep your head straight
- Adjust the position of the patch on your on aiming eye.

For the SOA part, please carry on with what you have written down except for degripping after every shot and verifying the natural alignment everytime. ASSURE YOUR PLACEMENT WITH RESPECT TO THE TARGET as discussed earlier 'eyes closed' 3/4 sec with SA on the sub six zone... You can de grip every 3 shots as you had written down. Flex you shooting hand and blow air on the palm. It revives the sensations of the palm quickly. Believe me, you will economise a lot of your energy for the shot execution.

Forget the dames. Ignore them and do your job. They remain elusive when you look for them. Reverse the pattern! More you ignore them, more they will crave for you .

best regards
tirpassion

[airgun_novice]

Dear agn,

it is of utmost importance to shoot with a patch on your eye. Having said that, I must say that THE BEST OPTION IS TO SHOOT WITH TWO EYES OPEN IF ONE CAN MANAGE IT. It is EXTREMELY DIFFICULT. So most of the shooters shoot with a patch. The patch should be translucent to let the light pass through without the image.
[SNIP]

Will start with the patch once done with the MAWC.

I do not find any reason as to why you should see 2 vertical images with the patch on. [SNIP]

I SEE DOUBLE WITHOUT THE PATCH ON.

Forget the dames. Ignore them and do your job. They remain elusive when you look for them. Reverse the pattern! More you ignore them, more they will crave for you .

"Ek-zact-lee" as Javed Jaffrey would say in Salaam Namaste.

best regards
tirpassion

[tirpassion]

A song flashed through my mind.

'Guruji is watching us, from a distance...'

Hope I am not wrong

tirpassion