Through the wind, cold, and hail there were some valuable lessons to be learned from Tombstone. Dirty Dan was the #1 seed shooting in the final match against Patchem Quick. Patchem Quick had a definite advantage having come up through a Magnificent 1x shootoff. He reached the final match warmed up and on target. Dirty Dan on the other hand had to sit around for two hours in the cold and wind. Dan never found the target and Patchem won. Patchem Quick on this day was a 7 flat shooter (.65 to.75 at better than 60%).
This is not an uncommon occurrence. In the two titled matches in which I placed second last year, I came up through the shootoff to win one match against the #1 seed before the #1 seed found the target. At the Four Corners, Slow Poke came from the 6th seed to win and at Oklahoma the ladies champion came from the 7th seed. To win it is imperative that you are able too hit and hit right now. You need a routine that gets you on target quickly. Once you are on target in a magnificent shootoff you have the advantage because the higher seed is coming against you cold. For many of the shooters, it takes more than a few shots to get on target. By then the match should be over. Unfortunately for me at Tombstone, I was seeded 12th, the 11th seed was Old West, who knows how to get on target immediately.
My routine gets me on target, normally within one shot. I call it "walking the hits to the light." If you are interested in it I will discuss it with you in person. Each shooter has to find his/her own routine to get on the target quickly. This weekend we will be shooting Arizona Five again. That is a club drill to get on the target quickly. There is pressure to hit and to hit right now! For those who don't like Arizona Five, you are the ones that need it.
Dismal River Kid is moving away to Nebraska and I will no longer be able to mentor him. I have one last chance to share with him some training tips on being mental tough in a match. I will do this Wednesday, 25th, at the Camp at about 1:15 a.m., also training Lil James, and with Niobrara running the clock. If there are any other Alleluia shooters who want to get the good stuff come to the camp at that time. Probably have room for 6 other shooters. I have a specific mental toughness drill I am going to share with the Alleluia gang. These boys are both skilled athletes so they should pick up this training drill easily. We are shooting at the Camp because "We don't practice missing!"
Got a look at The Tempest. She has a champion's draw. Just got to get that draw aligned and she will be tough.
"If you wish to survive you need to cultivate a strong mental attitude." Col. Quaritch, Avatar.
