sport pistol rapid: to anticipate, or not

[_trinity_]

For the rapid portion of SP, would you advise anticipating the targets turning/light turning green? Or would you wait to see the visual cue, react, then raise?

While I know roughly how long it is before the target is going live for the next shot, I am currently still waiting for the visual cue and then reacting to it. The problem is, my reaction time is not the fastest, and I don't really want to try to get a really low reaction time in a match since that'll make me all antsy and fidgety, but as it is, I am losing valuable time (up to half a second) that I could be raising, or aiming.

If I were to anticipate, the problem I see is, if I get it wrong, then what?

I have tried anticipating before, and sometimes I get it right on and feel that I've gained some extra time for the shot. Other times, I am early, so I end up doing this studder, where I raise a few inches, realize I am early, stop, and then raise for real... of course, this actually is slower than if I hadn't anticipated in the first place.

So what are your thoughts on this? What do the top shooters in the world do?

-trin

[Nicole Hamilton]

It doesn't seem quite right to begin raising your arm in anticipation of the target (or the light, if that's what you're using) turning. I think the intent is pretty clearly that you're supposed to start the raise when the target turns, not before. Before definitely seems unfair, like the runner who's already off the block before the gun sounds.

Nor does it seem like you should need to do more than just anticipate when the target will turn. Use your breathing to help count off the 7 seconds between. And when it does turn, I find the 3 seconds it faces to be a lot more reasonable than I expected.

But what I will do to help me get my shots off in time is take up the first stage on my trigger while I still have my arm down. Also, I check my natural point of aim carefully and lock my wrist after the load command to minimize problems trying to find my sights when I bring my arm up. Also, I found that to be able to acquire the sights against that huge black, I could not use the centerhold that would have been dictated if I kept my sights as they were for the precision stage. My eyes simply aren't good enough to pick out black sights against a black target. Instead, I had to move my sights up 22 clicks (on my Pardini HP) to let me continue to use a 6 o'clock hold. Beyond that, the trick seems to be the same "focus on the front sight" mantra we practice in every other event, the variation here being that you have to look at your gun and find the sights as you're raising it before you ever let your eye wander to the target.

[David Levene]

I must agree with Nicole regarding not raising your arm in anticipation of the targets, preparing for the targets by using a breathing pattern (rather than counting), locking the wrist and taking up the first stage at the ready position (providing your pistol is suitable).

With regard to sight adjustment, use what you are comfortable with.

[RobStubbs]

If you anticipate and get it wrong you risk being DQ'd. Far better to react to the turn of the target and heck 3 seconds is more than long enough to get up there and shoot in the middle. RF does 5 shots on 5 targets in 4 seconds so that's only one more second and 4 more shots and that's still done by reaction rather than anticipation.

Rob.

[Guest]

locking the wrist and taking up the first stage

Wouldn't recommend sitting there with the first stage taken up. You will more likely snatch the shot that way. There is plenty of time to take up first stage during the lift, that way the trigger finger is in constant motion.

And, to anticipate or not... the answer is NOT!

[David Levene]

locking the wrist and taking up the first stage

Wouldn't recommend sitting there with the first stage taken up. You will more likely snatch the shot that way.

Why? Providing that you have properly trained it and the gun is suitable for it then there is no problem at all.

You possibly wouldn't want to hold it for too long but you can easily take it up at, for example, 5-6 seconds.

[F> Paul in Denver]

After enough practice with the rapid fire stage, you'' develop a definite tempo and smooth rhythm which will make thinking about timing unnecessary.

It's much like dancing to a piiece of music that you already know very well - your body will move to the beat without having to consciously think about the beat.

If you arent developing that rhythm - you are focusing far too much on the timing of targets. Relax, let them turn and smoothly bring your shot plan together.

"Smoother is faster." - Erich Buljung 2002


F. Paul in Denver

[Mark Briggs]

Trinity - you've already had a good sampling of solid advice from earlier posters. I think the "smooth is fast" comment is of particular importance.

You've got 3 seconds to get the gun up and squeeze off one shot. That's a LOT of time. Consider 10 seconds for 5 shots in Standard Pistol. Then look at 5 shots in 4 seconds for rapidfire. One shot in three seconds is plenty of time, if you do it right.

I have a slow raise by any standard, and have no problem being the first shot to break in a line of shooters. The trick is to work on the fluidity of movement. Wait for the targets to go 'live' (for goodness sake don't try counting the seven seconds in your head - you've got far more important things to do in that time, like concentrating on breathing). Once they go live, raise the pistol deliberately, with no sense of haste. As your gun comes up through the bottom of the target (or maybe even lower) start to decelerate. The intent is to stop the raise in the centre of the target, with no overshoot.

Once you've got this part of the game down, work on trigger technique. I shoot with a 2-stage trigger, taking up the first stage as the gun is raising from 45degrees to about 70 degrees. By the time I've acquired the front sight it's coming up through the bottom of the black. Just about the time the pistol is ready to stop moving I'm already leaning on the trigger. The shot breaks quickly and cleanly, with no chance for the pistol to have wandered off target. This can happen in 1.5 seconds, or almost 3 seconds, depending on how 'deliberate' is was in the raise. If I'm training for rapidfire then I'm closer to the 1.5 seconds. If I'm really trying to shoot sport, then it's very close to 3 seconds.

The next thing to remember is follow-through. Do this AFTER the targets have gone inactive. Re-acquire the sights, place them in the proper aiming spot, then lower the pistol. There's no law against holding the gun up after the targets go inactive. You just have to have your arm down at the 45degree position when the targets go live again. Use the 7 seconds to your best advantage.

You don't have to be fast in Sport Pistol. You just have to be consistant.

[Spencer]

...Wouldn't recommend sitting there with the first stage taken up. You will more likely snatch the shot that way. There is plenty of time to take up first stage during the lift, that way the trigger finger is in constant motion...

but then, 25 years ago when LOTS of shooters were getting 290+ (on the old 'rectangular' target) many of these shooters were putting putting 2 1/2 lbs on a 3 pound trigger in the Ready Position.
Sure, we put the occassional shot into the ground during the training stage but it sure worked.

I still take up the first stage+ in the Ready position and have not popped one of accidentally for some quarter of a century (touch wood)

Spencer

[2650 Plus]

Try center hold. Move the pistol when the target moves or the light flashes . Place the trigger finger in its proper position during the seven seconds interval, Breathe and prepare mentally for the exposier of the target. As you raise the pistol, begin steadily increasing pressure while still passing through the white below the bull. Focus where the sights are going to appear when the pistol reaches the aiming area . Hold the pistol still and do the best you can to perfect sight allignment before the pistol fires.Tens are easy. Good shooting Bill Horton