What is "air pistol, supported"?

benenglish · Post by **benenglish** » Wed Dec 22, 2010 7:33 pm

A post in the Olympic pistol forum pointed to the Rink grip site, wherein I found that they make grips for "air pistol, supported". After googling a bit, I find several mentions of the discipline - at a senior Olympic event, a 4-H event, and in Germany (per Rink).

However, I have found no pictures. The Rink grip appears designed to rest on a flat surface. Is there a standard setup or rest used in these events?

I'm just curious - What is this event, anyway?

TIA for any info,

Ben

Brian M · Post by **Brian M** » Wed Dec 22, 2010 7:57 pm

The only supported position air pistol I know about is in the youth/PPP program:

http://www.usashooting.com/viewRelease.php?id=360

There's a photo there (along with some basic info). The support is to help kids with the mental aspect (I shoot 10's) before they have the physical ability, and then a little support help to keep those same kids from damaging joints. Anyway, some grips are better than others for sandbag support.

benenglish · Post by **benenglish** » Wed Dec 22, 2010 9:18 pm

Brian M wrote:There's a photo there (along with some basic info).

Great picture; it warms my heart to see such a young competitor.

Strangely, though, the text on the page and the picture don't match up at all. According to the text, the support contact point must be somewhere from grip to elbow, inclusive. The girl in the picture may not be touching the support at all; you can't tell from the camera angle. But if she is touching the support, she's touching it with the barrel, halfway to the muzzle.

I went back to the Rink site and found this photo: http://www.formgriffe.de/u/43026509_zz_aufgelegt-l.JPG

Between the information you provided and finally opening my eyes enough to see that there was a good picture on the Rink site, I now have an idea how this whole support thing is implemented.

Thanks so much for the help.

Brian M · Post by **Brian M** » Wed Dec 22, 2010 9:28 pm

There are different stages of "supported", for the younger kits it's like this:

For the older kids it's what you saw (and is shifting towards the standing w/ counter-balanced pistol weight more and more so they kids can learn the Position better). That contraption does hook under the pistol, runs up across the top of the 'T' and to weights on the other side. Adjust the weight more/less to take up more/less weight of the pistol.

Come to think of it, disabled shooters are coming out of the woodwork more and more, so they may have/need supported positions too. Talk about inspirational.

The last photo has a blind gentleman shooting using audio clues (tone that comes through the headsets).

Rutty · Post by **Rutty** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 12:48 pm

Under IBSA Rules Blind shooters either use the spring stand:

or shoot unsupported:

Rutty

benenglish · Post by **benenglish** » Thu Dec 23, 2010 6:15 pm

Brian M wrote:For the older kids it's what you saw (and is shifting towards the standing w/ counter-balanced pistol weight more and more so they kids can learn the Position better). That contraption does hook under the pistol, runs up across the top of the 'T' and to weights on the other side. Adjust the weight more/less to take up more/less weight of the pistol.

Again, I wasn't opening my eyes. Now that you point it out, I see the counter-balancing mechanism in the first link you posted.

Thanks, again, for helping me understand.