TargetTalk

OK folks following on from some very interesting discussions including trouble reproducing good performances and keeping focused I would like to know how many people do any mental training. If you do then what sort and how often ? I will start by saying that I don't do anywhere near enough but I do a small amount of mental rehearsal - perhaps of a few shots once or twice a week as well as going through the shot cycle on the firing line or when seated in the middle of a match (or training).

Rob.

I attended a junior olympic shooting camp in 1984 at the U.S Olympic Training Center and the person running the camp,Ernie Vande Zande, was also the world record holder in the 60 shot prone match (with a 600 by 600). He gave a lecture on mental training that I have never forgotten and always reminder the gist of his lecture. He said ' the more you think and say something, the more likely it is to happen.' If you want a good performance, then just practicing may not be enough. If you think (mentally rehearsing like you mentioned too) good shots,talk about good shots, then you are more than likely going to get good shots. I think about a having a good performance on a daily basis, even if I can't physically get to the range. I coach a junior rifle and pistol team and always tell the shooters this the first week of practice and add 'which would you rather do, think about how to shoot bad shots or good shots?' Hope this helps.

Ted,
Yep it's deffinately worthwhile thinking about positive shooting scenarios and outcomes. If nothing else you feel better than thinking about the bad possibilities. It is however amazing when you hear people talk about the number of poor shots they had in a comp but ask them how many tens they had and they couldn't tell you. I must admit to catching myself talking slightly that way at the weekend, focusing on the poor elements - but I did catch myself and stopped and made a mental note not to do that again.

Rob.

I have found one of the best things is to be able to visualise a perfect group of five shots, all crowding the 10 ring. It is hard to visualise until you actually do it, but once you have achieved that perfect 50/50 score, you can dwell on it. It locks into your memory bank, there to be recalled as part of your match preparation.

I recently shot my first perfect series in rapid fire - not much to a lot of you guys - but for me it was a watershed in helping me to start to master a match I have treated as a bit of fun rather than something serious. Last weekend I shot the match again but beforehand psyched myself up by thinking about that previous perfect run. Guess what? The sighters were five 10s. Maybe I have turned the corner.

Next step is to learn how to repeat that score every series??

Colin,
Whilst that is a good thing to visualise it is more difficult to acheive than a single bull. The risk therefore can be when you have 3 or 4 in the ten ring you get the adrenaline rush trying for the next ten and a perfect 50. It is perhaps better to have a single card with a perfect 10.9 on it and remember that image. Remember it is the one single shot that we are trying to visualise and perfect rather than the series.

With something like rapid fire I find it more difficult. I only shoot it with air but the normal course of fire. I try and focus on the smooth flowing action, getting the sights in the right place first time and picturing each shot going through the x ring. I don't tend to have as much of a mental plan or do any specific mental training other than on the firing line. Once there I just try and clear my mind and picture a smooth raise and sight aquisition / alignment.

Rob.

Robstubbs,
When I practice air pistol I begin by dry firing 30 shots. Then I start shooting and I continue as long as I shoot tens or deep nines or as good as I am holding on that particular day. If I shoot a shot that is not up to standard either in value or execution I go back and dry fire ten more shots and then start again.
I work on shot preperation and execution each shot and try to duplicate the ritual for both dry fire and live fire. On my good days I continue firing until I complete the series. If I'm having a bad day and need to go back to dry firing too often I pack up the pistol and sit in the dark and reherse shooting tens in my mind until the end of the training session.
This is not my only training method but it is the one that produces the best results.

Shoot well,

Doug in Virginia

Like most, I don't do enough mental training, but here it is.

Self Talk - Almost daily and several times most days. This is easy to do in the car, while washing my hands, while working out, while falling asleep etc. I have a specific speach I say to myself each time. It evolves over time, changing a little every month or two, depending on where I see opportunites for improvement.

Mental Imagery / Visualization - Perhaps once or twice a week, except in the week(s) leading up to a big match I will do it almost daily.

Regards,
Steve T

Mental or mind training is essential if you are to progress in our sport.

I agree with RobStubbs the focus or visualization should be on the single shot, or should I say the shot process.

Concentrating on the process of releasing the shot regardless of where it ends up on the card, because if you can repeat this time after time, its just a matter of adjusting the sights to bring the group into the 10 ring.

This was taught to me by the late Malcolm Cooper, he advocated that shooting was 90% mental training.