Tips on Pistol Shooting

[nmoharir]

Dear Hvj1,

I have recently taken up pistol shooting. I am 29 yrs old and It's been barely 15 days since I started shooting and I am looking forward to participating in Capt EzeKiel and MWCA next month.

Let me know if you recommend any change in the novice's schedule because there's less time to the competition.

My current dailyschedule is :
figure 8 exercise - (started 2 days ago) - did 20 reps on first day and 30 reps on second day.
SA holding - 20 reps
Dry fire - 20 to 30 reps

I also do pranayam and little bit of yoga daily, but I am not able to take time out for strength and cardio
training.

On Saturday and Sunday the range holds practice matches; and depending on the outcome they would allot range guns to qualifying members for the competitions.

Looking forward to your suggestions.

-Nikhil

[hvj1]

Dear Nikhil,
1. Dont expect too much from your shooting at this point of time. ENJOY your shooting.
2. When you come on the shooting range (Worli), dont discuss shooting with ANYBODY, there are more coaches than shooters there. And these fellows are all SHORT CIRCUITED in their heads.
3. Concentrate on warming up exercises and stretching exercises, there are plenty of senior international shooters there, who can help you out regarding warming up exercises.
4. Stick to your basics, provided on the NTP (novices trg prog)
5. Please start writing your experiences in a Diary.
Regards

[nmoharir]

Thanks. Will follow your advice. I have one habit that i need to work on the most: I tend to steal glances at the target instead of focusing on SA..... am working on it. Any exercise to improve on this?

[hvj1]

Thanks. Will follow your advice. I have one habit that i need to work on the most: I tend to steal glances at the target instead of focusing on SA..... am working on it. Any exercise to improve on this?

Use the Box drill, tick mark when you dont and cross when you do. Check %, then write goal for improving the next day, in diary then go and achieve it.
Regards

[son_of_a_gun]

i have always had a problem with my stance.Everyone says that my shooting arm shoulder is very tight and i need to relax more.But frankly speaking i do it to align my site properly.The foot stance is also a problem.I tend to make minor changes every month.I have been doing pistol for more than 3 years now,still i havent been able to find my perfect and comfortable stance.
Its a shame when people who start after you went on to score better than you and you are still figuring out your stance.

[son_of_a_gun]

Mental stability is very important.I remember in my early days how i used to have the last 10-15 shots BAD.after hitting a consistent 9-10 in the first 40-45 ,i always got excited ,and in that excitement i used to slip down to 6s,7s and 8s in the last round.That would really mess my score.

My sister in law gave me a great advice later on.She is a professional and has represented India.She wanted me to emulate her techniques which were way too much for a guy like me.

i would really like something which would stop me trying to compare with the shooters shooting in the adjacent lane.Most of the time i end up having an inferiority complex and a bad match.

-- Thu Apr 29, 2010 11:52 pm --

will check whether it has a english translation
jitu

yes it has an english translation.and it is a very popular book among shooters.I have read it.But i couldnt put things into practice.

[dev]

Shooting is a hugely mental sport. So remember to always have a positive mental attitude. Think good thoughts as you shoot. Forget the past and relax. Forget the bad shots and keep going.

[jitu sati]

hey hvj i am back after a gruelling tour. hope tobe back in proper practice from today. and though i am a novice too i feel son_ of _ gun u r concentrating too much on the scoring . first get the technique right. remember the aamir say in 3 idiots. pursue excellence. kamyabi jhak mar ke peeche ayegi
jitu

[hvj1]

Everyone says that my shooting arm shoulder is very tight and i need to relax more.But frankly speaking i do it to align my site properly

.
1.Young man, I would like to know, who are the people advising you, I presume that you are on the Worli SHooting Range, which basically comprise of 99% IDIOTS and only one or two seniors capable of guiding you correctly!
2. Secondly, are you comfortable with your stance, regarless of the BULLSHIT flying around your ears? If you are, then shut out the nonsense and focus on your self belief.
3. Have you read through the lesson on stance?
4. Have a video or photgraph taken of your stance from sides and back and email to me. If not, then make an appointment with me, come to Ahmednagar for a day (that is if you are that serious about your shooting), we will sort out your stance and also take a look inside your HEAD. To my mind it looks like you have absorbed a lot of CRAP, which is one the most dangerous element on Worli Range.

The foot stance is also a problem.I tend to make minor changes every month.I have been doing pistol for more than 3 years now,still i havent been able to find my perfect and comfortable stance.
Its a shame when people who start after you went on to score better than you and you are still figuring out your stance.

NO its not a shame, I COMMEND you on the fact that you are aware of the importance of the stance. So if you still feel so bad, come over we will sort out your problem
Best Regards

-- Tue May 04, 2010 11:30 am --

though i am a novice too i feel son_ of _ gun u r concentrating too much on the scoring . first get the technique right. remember the aamir say in 3 idiots. pursue excellence. kamyabi jhak mar ke peeche ayegi
jitu

Absolutely correct. Over a period of time, even the best shooter (Olympic and World Champions) has problems as errors creep into the technique, which only a coach can identify. A self styled Mental Guru and Author had proclaimed loftily " Coaches should wither away with time.." If that were so, then why does Ahinav, who is one of the most brilliant shooter, persevere with his german coach for 8 years? On the Worli range such self styled Gurus abound by the dozen. What even the greenest of green horn should be asking such fellows is ? Pardner, what has been your performance at the National and international level? How many world class shooters have you produced? Not get razzled dazzled by the BULLSHIT. What I am amazed with is the BLIND FOLLOWING such gurus can command, I can only infer that people lack self belief in themselves. I have yet to see these gurus and mental trainers tackle a students technical prblem in depth.
To my mind, the ONLY person who is qualified to talk with authority on the subject of pistol shooting on the Worli Range are Ashok Pandit and to some extent Ronak Pandit.
Regards

[jitu sati]

hey hvj now back to some serious practice. now i am back at toiling with the box drill. every trip out causes erosion. so first to dust off and then continue where i had left out. u were right the carriage of the ap helped. atleast the grip and the figure 8s were prac. now i amstarting the new ex u have given in page 13. be with me as ever
jitu

[jitu sati]

hey hvj how about a few more tips to relax during actual shooting
jitu

[hvj1]

All the Best

[hvj1]

Jitu
Will get back to you shortly. Tied up with work and travelling.
Regards

Shooting is a hugely mental sport. So remember to always have a positive mental attitude. Think good thoughts as you shoot. Forget the past and relax. Forget the bad shots and keep going.

Dev,
I couldnt put it any better than you have.
Regards

[dev]

Hi Guruji,

Ok need to ask something about pellets now as I am outa the match stuff. In Delhi the mastershot wadcutters are becoming the trend. Now I am on my first box given to me by Ollie to try out. I have found that the skirt sizes keep varying. Last Tuesday the shooting had more error shots then I care to look at anymore. Now I don't know if it the pellets or my mind? Do you think that if psychologically feel better with matchkugeln should i stick to them ? The desi pellet do help one to shoot till one is' knee deep in empties' to borrow an expression. So should I continue with p 10's maybe?

What do you think?

Regards,

Dev

[hvj1]

Hi Dev,
Indian pellets have high antimony content which makes the pellets very hard, ultimately screw up the barrel. Please stick to matchkugeln, beg, borrow, steal but shoot with matchkugeln.
Regards